1. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Massachusetts Town Agents VA Educational Benefits Welcome

2. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS #1 Recommendation Know & Understand the GI Bill Web Site! It will help you to answer the veterans’ questions!

3. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS http://www.gibill.va.gov This is the web site. Provide it to the veterans! It will make your work easier!

4. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS

7. To Open An VA Educational Claim Veteran must submit a VA Form 22- 1990 (Application for Educ. Benefits). Veterans can do this online.

8. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS To Reopen An Educ. Claim: A veteran must submit a VA Form 22-1995 (Request Change of Program or Place of Training)

9. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Any Further Questions About His/Her Enrollment The Veteran must contact the Certifying Official at the School to confirm his/her enrollment certificate was submitted to the VA.

10. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Actions of Certifying Officials The Certifying Official Can Contact The ELR for VA Action on the Claim or:

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13. Two Step Process for VA Educational Benefits Step 1.) Establish the Veteran’s Eligibility For VA Education Benefits by the submission of a VA Form 22- 1990 by either mail or online

14. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS VA Regional Processing Center is located at: 130 South Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, NY 14202-2478 (for “snail mail” processing)

15. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Step 2.) Veterans and the Schools’ Certifying Officials After submitting his application, the VA will send a Certificate of Eligibility to the Veteran. If the Veteran is eligible, the School’s Certifying Official will submit a VA Form 22-1999 (Enrollment Certificate) to the VA for processing.

16. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS What Happens When a Claimant Applies? TIMS Authorizer U. S. Treasury Austin, TX Claimant RPO VCE Enrollment Cert. (VA Form 22-1999)

17. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS How Long Does It Take To Process An Enrollment Cert.? Timeliness fluctuates. Right now timeliness is great. Original timeliness is 13.8 days and Reopened ones are 6.7 days. The timeliness increases around the end of July through early October because of the fall enrollment. Same situation during January to March. The best thing schools can do is to submit enrollment information 120 days before the term and to submit multiple terms on the same enrollment.

18. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Different Chapter Veterans Benefits  MGIB Active Duty Chapter 30  Veterans Educational Assistance Program Chapter 32 (VEAP).  Dependent’s Educational Assistance Chapter 35 (DEA).  MGIB Selected Reserve Chapter 1606.  Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP) Chapter 1607  Vocational Rehabilitation Chapter 31

19. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Chapter 30 (MGIB-AD) First entered active duty on or after July 1, 1985 or entered active duty before Jan 1, 1977 and remained on active duty until after July 1, 1985. Paid $1200 to participate. Initial term of service was 2 years or more. Honorable discharge. High school diploma or GED prior to applying for benefits.

20. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Chapter 32 (VEAP) First entered active service between January 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985. Contributed funds to a VEAP account. Has funds remaining to use. Benefit amount depends on amount contributed. Discharge can be anything other than Dishonorable. Very few veterans in this program.

21. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Chapter 35 (DEA) Spouse, surviving spouse, or dependent children of a claimant who: Died on Active Duty in the line of duty, Died from a service connected disability, Died while having a service connected disability evaluated as permanent in nature, Is rated as 100% permanently and totally service connected disabled, or Was held captive as a POW or was MIA for more than 90 days.

22. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Chapter 35 (DEA) Entitlement is 45 months of full time payments. Delimiting date is: 10 years from date of eligibility for spouses. 20 years from date of eligibility for surviving spouses. 8 years from date of eligibility for children.

23. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Chapter 1606 (MGIB-SR) First entered Guard/Reserves on or after July 1, 1985. Remain in an active drilling status with a Unit. Must have a minimum 6 year obligation. Completed Initial Active Duty for Training. Have a high school diploma or GED before applying for benefits. Chapter 1607 may revert back to 1606 after discharge for # months activated + 4 months

24. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Chapter 1607 (REAP) For Reservists called to active duty under a Title 10 contingency operation after 09/11/01, and who served 90 continuous days or more. National Guard eligible under Sec 502(f), Title 32. Benefit pays a portion of the MGIB Active Duty rate depending on activation period. Members must remain in their component to use benefits. May revert to remaining 1606 upon discharge.

25. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Chapter 1607 (REAP) New rules apply based on new legislation. Delimiting date of 10 years under certain conditions. $600 Buy-up authorized. Eligibility retained during breaks in service. 80% Rate for REAP under new conditions May receive Accelerated payment.

26. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Chapter 31 (Vocational Rehabilitation) Program for disabled veterans Voc Rehab Counselor works with veteran Testing process determines eligibility If eligible, veterans receives full tuition, fees, books, & approved supplies. Veteran also receives monthly subsistence payment This a great program for eligible veterans!

27. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Additional $600 MGIB Buy Up Claimants eligible for Chapter 30 Active Duty under MGIB Category I benefits are eligible to contribute an additional $600 while on active duty. This will give the claimant as much as an additional $150 per month for full time training. ($1.00 per month for each $4.00 contributed.)

28. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Other Funds VA refers to these as “kickers.” There are kickers for chapters 30, 32, 1606 and 1607. College funds are also paid with VA benefits. Dollar amount established by DOD. Prorated for non completion of contract (chapter 30). Paid in addition to monthly benefits. Prorated monthly for less than full time training.

29. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Federal Tuition Assistance Benefits available to: Active Duty & AGR service persons (Army - www.GoArmyEd.com) Army National Guard (www.nationalguardbenefits.com) Army Reserve (https://rcms.ocar.army.pentagon.mil/education) Air Force Reserve Navy Reserve Coast Guard Reserve Program varies by component Pays tuition and fees (normally 100%) Student applies IAW component policies Student provides approval to school – school only reports to VA the classes not covered by Tuition Assistance.

30. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Tuition Assistance Top Up (Chapter 30 Only) “Top up” this is the portion of school cost that DOD TA doesn’t cover. VA pays top up for any course paid by DOD. These courses do not have to be approved for VA benefits. Claimant applies on VA 22-1990. Requires Education Officer Signature.

31. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Entitlement The amount of monthly full-time benefits a claimant will receive. Up to 36 months for MGIB. Up to 48 months for combined benefit types. (Example: If a claimant used 36 months under MGIB chapter 30, they may use an additional 12 months of Chapter 1606 or 1607 benefits.) Entitlement is charged one day for each day of full-time training.

32. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Delimiting Date Different than entitlement. The amount of time a claimant has to use his/her education benefits from their eligibility date. Benefits are stopped on the delimiting date. No need to keep submitting enrollments.

33. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Delimiting Dates Chapter 30 – 10 years from date of discharge. Chapter 1606 – 14 years from eligibility date on NOBE effective Oct 1, 1992 and later. Chapter 1606 – 10 years from eligibility date on NOBE effective Sept 30, 1992 and earlier. Chapter 1607 – 10 years from date of discharge under certain conditions. Chapter 32/34 – Call the VA 1-888-442-4551 Chapter 35 – Varies from date veteran became 100% disabled or deceased.

34. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS References for Veterans Education Benefits – 1-888-442-4551 www.gibill.va.gov www.gibill.va.gov – “Ask a Question” General Info – 1-800-827-1000 Direct Deposit – WAVE or 1-877-838-2778 www.fafsa.ed.gov

35. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS Apprenticeships and VA Educ. Benefits Veterans can use their Educational Entitlement to train as apprentices for carpenters, plumbers, different trades and occupations.

36. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS VA Apprenticeships and Public Safety Positions More and More Local Fire and Police Departments Are Seeking Approval As VA Training Facilities For Their Veteran Recruits.

37. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS For additional information on VA education benefits, contact: Tom Coleman, ELR, Boston, MA Telephone #: 617-303-4264 Email: tom.coleman@va.gov

38. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS For information on VA approved apprenticeship programs in Massachusetts, contact Charles A. Pace, ELR, VARO, Providence, RI Telephone Number 401-223-3762 or Email: charles.pace@va.gov

39. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS What about Chapter 33, the new “Post-9/11 Veterans’ Education Assistance” Act???? August 1, 2009 is the effective date.

40. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS For additional information, Inform the Veteran to see the VA web site at: www.GIBILL.va.gov for the most current information

41. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS What about Chapter 33, the new “The Post-9/11 Veterans’ Education Assistance Act”? Please visit www.GIBILL.va.gov www.GIBILL.va.gov for the most current information.

42. GOING TO BAT FOR OUR VETERANS  Welcome to the GI BILL web site President Bush has signed into law the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. Check back often for updates. Sign-up to receive e-mail messages as new information is added on this new program to our Frequently Asked Questions page. it's easy and only takes a minute. We have added an RSS feed for Post-9/11 GI Bill Information. Check our RSS page for more information. Direct veterans to this website for the most recent information on Chapter 33 benefits.