1. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION WACRAO 2016 June 2016

2. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION What’s on the agenda? Introduction and background of your new ELR How things have changed in the Compliance and Liaison (C&L) unit VA, SCO, and Veteran roles Policy and procedural updates 1

3. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 2 New Wisconsin ELR

4. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION How things have changed in the Compliance and Liaison (C&L) unit? 3

5. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION VACO CELO Buffalo Regional Office- Michelle Mendola CELO St. Louis Regional Office-Marie George Supervisory ELR Ben Berck (Lincoln, NE) ELR: IA, IL, MO, KS, NE ECSS: IA, IL, MO, KS, NE Supervisory ELR Carin Anderson (St. Paul, MN) ELR: IN, OH, MI, ND/SD, WI, MN ECSS: IN, OH, MI, ND/SD, WI, MN CELO Atlanta Regional Office-Jerome Marshall CELO Muskogee Regional Office-Michael Marks VACO-Department of Veterans Affairs Central Office, Washington, D.C. CELO-Chief Education Liaison Officer ELR-Education Liaison Representative (11) ECSS-Education Compliance Survey Specialist (12) 4 Compliance & Liaison Structure

6. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION Compliance & Liaison Unit VA C&L Nationwide VA C&L hired 30 NEW full-time ECSS FY2015 New leadership at VACO – Supervisor of Oversight & Outreach (formerly known as “Super CELO”), Cheryl Amitay – Asst. Director of Oversight & Outreach, Bill Spruce – Director of Oversight and Outreach, Jeff Harbeson Midwest Region Brought 13 full-time ECSS employees onboard New ELR Wisconsin, Minnesota, North and South Dakota 5

7. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION How do these changes affect you? ELR focus shifts from compliance back to Liaison responsibilities – Provide training – Answer the phone – Respond to email – Present challenges to leadership from the field (YOU! SCOs!) ECSS staff is adequately trained and have one focus – May provide different feedback than you’ve received in the past – May find more errors than you expected – Are there to help! 6

8. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION Why are we here? 7

9. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION Student Applies RPO School Certifies VA Form 22-1990(E), 22-5490 VA Form 22-1999 How it Begins…

10. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION The Image Management System (TIMS) VCE U. S. Treasury Austin, TX Request Info ELR SCO Student Authorizer + Write Award RPO

11. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION What is my role? Education Liaison Representative Review Approvals from SAA Liaison between SCO and VA Assist the SCO – Provide training – Keep everyone informed – Answer certification questions Technical assistance for VA ONCE Unfamiliar scenarios 10

12. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION What is your role? School Certifying Officials Timely reporting to VA of student enrollment status Stay current on VA rules and benefits Maintain adequate documentation at your institution to support certifications Inform VA and SAA of new programs, changes in programs, institutional changes, etc. Apprise supervisors of any internal challenges which may affect service to VA students Page 16-19 of the SCO Handbook 11

13. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION What is their role? Student Responsibilities Apply for VA benefits Inform VA of address or direct deposit change Assist VA in paying them correctly – Read VA award letters – Promptly notify SCO of change in enrollment – Inform VA and SCO of any change in active duty status – Provide mitigating circumstances Verify enrollment using WAVE (non-33 beneficiaries) 12

14. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION Up Next…Policy & Procedural Updates… 13 But First…

15. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION Policy & Procedural Updates 14

16. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION Policy & Procedural Updates June 1, 2016 – Refunds of Tuition and Net Charges When a Student Reduces or Terminates Enrollment May 5, 2016 – New 2016-2017 Academic School Year Tuition and Fee Caps and BAH Information April 25, 2016 – Clarification of the Term “Calendar Week” for the Commencement of Award Payments January 14, 2016 – Retention of Eligibility for REAP Benefits 15

17. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION Policy & Procedural Updates November 17, 2015 – Chapter 33 Mitigating Circumstances October 28, 2015 – Clarification and Guidance Regarding “Deemed Approved” Programs September 4, 2015 – Utilization of the VA Enrollment Certification for Tuition Assistance Top-Up under the Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty Program 16

18. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION June 1, 2016 – Refunds of Tuition and Net Charges When a Student Reduces or Terminates Enrollment At this time, I’ve been asked to hold off on providing any training or guidance on this advisory. We are awaiting VACO to sort out practical application. 17

19. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION May 5, 2016 – New 2016-2017 Academic School Year Tuition and Fee Caps and BAH Information Training TypeAmount Private IHL$21,970.46 NCD @ Non-IHL$21,970.46 Flight$12,554.54 Correspondence$10,671.35 18 The Long Term Solution (LTS) has been updated with the new caps for terms beginning on or after August 1, 2016:

20. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION May 5, 2016 – New 2016-2017 Academic School Year Tuition and Fee Caps and BAH Information 19 The entitlement charge for Licensing and Certification Tests and National Exams has been updated: Also, the national average for Foreign and Distance Learning BAH rates have been updated: NOTE: The Department of Defense BAH rates will show $33 less than the approved VA rate. LTS is programed to pay the higher rate. TypeAmount National Average$1,611.00 Foreign$1,611.00 Distance Learning$805.50 Entitlement ChargedAmount Received 1 MonthUp to $1,832.96

21. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION April 25, 2016 – Clarification of the Term “Calendar Week” for the Commencement of Award Payments Effective for any term, quarter, or semester with a start date after April 25, 2016 The term calendar week will be understood to mean 7 calendar days Only applies to standard terms as defined in the SCO Handbook 20

22. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION Calendar Week 21 Term Start Class 1 Start Class 2 Start Class 3 Start

23. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION January 14, 2016 – Retention of Eligibility for REAP Benefits Background: The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2016 ended the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) on Nov. 25, 2015, for new school enrollments. Due to Congressional mandate, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can only grant REAP eligibility to those enrolled in school on November 24, 2015, or during their school’s last term, quarter, or semester ending prior to that date. 22

24. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION January 14, 2016 – Retention of Eligibility for REAP Benefits Issue: The Department of Defense (DOD) has provided guidance to VA regarding when an individual is eligible to continue receiving benefits under REAP (Chapter 1607) beyond November 24, 2015. In order to retain eligibility, a claimant must have been enrolled in the term, quarter, or semester “immediately preceding” November 25, 2015. The following two scenarios meet the “immediately preceding” requirement. 23 The individual was (or is) enrolled in a term, quarter, or semester that spans November 25, 2015; or The individual was enrolled in the school’s last term, quarter, or semester ending prior to November 25, 2015 (i.e., no subsequent term started prior to that date). NOTE: VA’s authority to pay benefits for REAP will end on November 25, 2019.

25. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION November 17, 2015 – Chapter 33 Mitigating Circumstances Background: Effective November 17, 2015 the Regional Processing Office (RPO) will no longer process claims under streamlining procedures as instructed on September 30, 2009 What does this mean? Due to processing system limitations, VA was automatically assuming Mitigating Circumstances existed for ALL Post-9/11 GI Bill students if they reduced or terminated credits after the drop period. Mitigating Circumstances are no longer assumed for Post-9/11 GI Bill recipients What are Mitigating Circumstances? Defined as circumstances beyond the student’s control which prevent the student from continuing in school or cause the student to reduce credits 24

26. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION November 17, 2015 – Chapter 33 Mitigating Circumstances When are Mitigating Circumstances an issue? When a student terminates or reduces after the drop period and a non-punitive grade is assigned Acceptable mitigating circumstances must be provided in order to pay benefits for the period of attendance. If they are not provided, or not accepted, any benefits paid from the beginning date of the term will be considered an overpayment, and a debt may be established Who is responsible for submitting Mitigating Circumstances? The student. If you know Mitigating Circumstances exist at time of reduction/termination, you may inform VA of the Mitigating Circumstances through VA ONCE** **DOCUMENTATION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCE PROVIDED BY THE STUDENT MUST BE RETAINED IN THE STUDENT’S INSTITUTIONAL FILE 25

27. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION November 17, 2015 – Chapter 33 Mitigating Circumstances What are acceptable documents to support Mitigating Circumstances? A statement from the student or school explaining the situation, does NOT have to be formal (email, handwritten note, active duty orders) If you don’t have documentation of the student’s circumstance when you report the reduction/termination, or you are unsure if it would be considered a circumstance beyond the student’s control, leave the Mitigating Circumstance box blank. The VA will ask the student to provide evidence and adjust the record according SCO Handbook page 75 lists examples which can be selected in VA ONCE 26

28. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION October 28, 2015 – Clarification and Guidance Regarding “Deemed Approved” Programs Issue: There is still confusion and misunderstanding among schools and officials (SAA and VA) regarding the application of approval processes which apply to “deemed approved” programs Clarification and Action: “Deemed Approved” is specifically conditioned upon the U.S. Code requirements being met, and no such program may be considered to be approved for VA educational assistance until the SAA of jurisdiction verifies that those applicable conditions and requirements are met. Educational institutions must apply to the SAA of jurisdiction for formal approval of any new programs, or changes to existing programs, including those programs that are “deemed approved” 27

29. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION September 4, 2015 – Utilization of the VA Enrollment Certification for Tuition Assistance Top-Up under the Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty Program Background: Service members were historically able to receive TATU benefits for enrollment in non- approved programs (i.e. at schools without VA Facility Codes or School Certifying Officials). Consequently, VA required MGIB – AD beneficiaries to request TATU by submitting a copy of a TA authorization form, as opposed to having the information submitted by the school. Issue: In 2014, the Department of Defense (DoD) changed its rules regarding TA (DoD Instruction 1322.25, Change 3). First, DoD now requires GI Bill approval in order to qualify for Federal TA. Second, TA is limited to tuition charges (i.e. not fees) for post- secondary programs, even though such associated fees may be covered by MGIB – AD benefits under TATU. Following these changes, it has been reported that some TA authorization forms do not include fees and, therefore, not all payable out-of-pocket costs are displayed on the forms submitted to VA. 28

30. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION September 4, 2015 – Utilization of the VA Enrollment Certification for Tuition Assistance Top-Up under the Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty Program Change: SCOs should certify those classes for students on active duty using the following additional procedures: Only include those classes for which Federal TA is paying for some, but not all, of the tuition and fee charges Only report the remaining “out-of-pocket” charges for tuition and fees, or a lesser amount if desired by the Service member Enter “Top-Up” into the Remarks field This will allow Service members to receive reimbursement for the full out-of-pocket charges. Note: If a Service member also wishes to receive “regular” MGIB – AD benefits for enrollment in classes not supported by TA, you must certify those classes on a separate VA Form 22-1999. 29

31. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION Summary Introduction and background of your new ELR How things have changed in the Compliance and Liaison (C&L) unit VA, SCO, and Veteran roles Policy and procedural updates 30

32. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION Questions? 31