Transcript Document

The Post-9/11 GI Bill
(chapter 33 of title 38 U.S.C.)
U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Education Service
Washington, D.C.
Objectives
This presentation will provide you with an
overview of the following:
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Education Benefits Background
Eligibility to the Post-9/11 GI Bill
Payments under the Post-9/11 GI Bill
Yellow Ribbon Program
Transfer of Entitlement
Overpayment of Benefits
Plans - Timeline
2
Education Benefits Usage Rates
WWII Era
Korean Era
Post Korea Era
Vietnam Era/Post Vietnam Era
MGIB-AD (Ch 30) 1985-2001
MGIB-AD (Ch 30) 2002-2008
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Percentage of eligible persons who participated in an
education benefit program
3
80%
VA Education Beneficiaries
Number of participants in VA education programs
(in thousands)
600
550
500
450
400
350
300
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
4
Beneficiaries by Training Type
Beneficiaries by Training Type for Fiscal Year 2008:
Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), Reserve Educational
Assistance Program (REAP), MGIB-Selected Reserve
Graduate
8%
Graduate
4-year college
2-year college
NCD
Apprenticeship
2-year college
36%
4-year college
46%
On-the-Job Training
Correspondence
Licensure and
Certification
Tution Assistance Top
Up
Flight
5
Education Benefit Programs
 Post-9/11 GI Bill (chapter 33)
 Montgomery GI Bill—Active Duty (MGIB-AD, MGIB, or
chapter 30)
 Montgomery GI Bill—Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR or
chapter 1606)
• DoD program - VA administers for DoD
 Reserve Educational Assistance (REAP or chapter 1607)
• DoD program - VA administers for DoD
 Post-Vietnam Era Veterans’ Educational Assistance
Program (VEAP or chapter 32)
 National Call to Service (NCS)
• Dod program - VA administers for DoD
 Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA
or chapter 35)
6
Post-9/11 GI Bill Overview
Post-9/11 GI Bill Eligibility
An individual who served on active duty
after 09/10/01 may be eligible for the
Post-9/11 GI Bill if the individual—
 Served for an aggregate period of at
least 90 days.
Exception: An individual discharged due to a serviceconnected disability after serving at least 30 continuous
days on active duty after 9/10/01, may also be eligible.
8
Eligibility Criteria
Service Requirements
(after 9/10/01 an individual must serve an
aggregate of)
Payment Tiers
Percentage
At least 36 months
100
At least 30 continuous days on active duty
(Must be discharged due to service-connected disability)
100
At least 30 months, but less than 36 months
90
At least 24 months, but less than 30 months
80
*At least 18 months, but less than 24 months
70
*At least 12 months, but less than 18 months
60
*At least 06 months, but less than 12 months
50
*At least 90 days, but less than 06 months
40
*Excludes time in Basic Military Training and/or Skill Training
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Payment Tiers
Calculating qualifying service to determine tier
level—
 Less than 24 months: Entry level training and
skill training performed after 9/10/01 must be
excluded from the total aggregate service.
 At least 24 months but less than 30 months:
VA must exclude entry level and skill training
time to see if the individual qualifies at the 70%
tier level. If so, VA must pay 70% instead of 80%.
 At least 30 months of service: Entry level and
skill training is included in total service.
10
Eligibility Criteria
Qualifying active duty does not include the
following:
 Title 32 AGR; or
 Service Academy Contract Period; or
 ROTC contract period under 10 U.S.C.
2107(b); or
 Service terminated due to an erroneous or
defective enlistment; or
 Service used for loan repayment; or
 Selected Reserve Service used to establish
eligibility under chapter 30, 1606, or 1607.
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Eligibility Criteria
In order to retain eligibility after
meeting the service requirements,
an individual must—
 Continue on active duty; or
 Be honorably discharged from
Armed Forces; or
 Be honorably discharged for further
service in a reserve component; or
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Eligibility Criteria
 Be honorably discharged and placed
on the retired list, temporary
disability retired list, transferred to
Fleet Reserve, or to Fleet Marine
Corps Reserve; or
 Be discharged or released for:
 Injury Existing Prior to Service (EPTS),
 Hardship (HDSP), or
 Condition Interfered with Service (CIWD).
13
Period of Eligibility
Generally, individuals will remain eligible for
benefits for 15 years from:
 Date of last discharge from active duty service
of at least 90 continuous days.
If an individual establishes eligibility for the
Post-9/11 GI Bill by aggregating multiple
periods of active duty service of less than 90
days each, the individual will have 15 years
from the last period of service used to meet
the minimum service requirements for
eligibility.
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Period of Eligibility
EXAMPLE: John is a pilot in the Air Force Reserve with the
following periods of 30+ days of call-up service:
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05/15/07 –
10/03/07 –
03/12/08 –
10/30/08 –
06/13/07
11/11/07
05/10/08
11/28/08
He meets the eligibility minimum requirement of 90 aggregate
days of service during the 3/12/08 – 5/10/08 call-up.
John is eligible through 5/10/23 (delimiting date is 5/11/23),
15 years after meeting the minimum service requirements for
eligibility. He can only receive a new period of eligibility if he
has a subsequent period of active duty service of at least 90
continuous days.
15
Post-9/11 GI Bill Elections
VA’s GI Bill website has some case
scenarios to review to help individuals to
compare VA benefit programs.
When reviewing them, keep in mind that—
 Each student’s situation is unique.
 Case scenarios should be used as
“things to consider” but not as hard
and fast rules.
16
Post-9/11 GI Bill Elections
An individual who, as of August 1, 2009, is—
 Eligible for MGIB-AD (chapter 30), MGIB-SR (chapter
1606) or REAP (chapter 1607);
 A member of the Armed Forces who is eligible to receive
chapter 30 benefits and who is making the basic $1200
contribution toward chapter 30; or
 A member of the Armed Forces who previously declined
to elect chapter 30
AND who is eligible for chapter 33 (on the date
of election), may elect chapter 33 in lieu of either
chapter 30, 1606, or 1607. The election is an
irrevocable election.
 Election must be in writing
 Use newly revised VA Form 22-1990 (will be available on
VA’s website by May 1st)
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Things to Consider When Electing
 If tuition is waived at your school (you are not charged), you
are enrolled more than ½ time, and you are not on active
duty or taking all of your classes online, then you should
consider—
– Whether or not the housing stipend for your school’s ZIP
code is more than your MGIB, MGIB-SR, or REAP
monthly amount (if you paid $600 for “buy-up,” include
appropriate amount per month, up to $150 for full-time
training).
– If you are not eligible for the 100% tier (based on your
length of service), reduce the amount of the monthly
housing stipend by the appropriate percentage (40%90%) and compare to MGIB, MGIB-SR, or REAP (include
buy-up) monthly amount.
18
Things to Consider When Electing
 If tuition is waived at your school (you are not
charged) and you are enrolled at exactly ½ time
training, you should consider the following—
– You are not eligible to receive a tuition and fees
payment or the monthly housing allowance under
chapter 33.
– You will be able to receive the monthly rate payable
for ½ time training (including an increase for the
$600 buy-up, if applicable) under the program you
are currently eligible for (MGIB, MGIB-SR, or REAP)
if you do not elect chapter 33.
19
Things to Consider When Electing
 If tuition is waived at your school and you are
enrolled at less than ½ time, you should consider the
following—
– You may receive a monthly payment for MGIB
and/or MGIB-SR kickers under the program you
are currently eligible for (MGIB, MGIB-SR, or REAP)
if you do not elect chapter 33.
– You may receive a lump sum payment under
chapter 33 for—
• MGIB and/or MGIB-SR kickers; and
• The books and supplies stipend.
20
Things to Consider When Electing
 The ending date of your period of eligibility for
your current benefit (e.g., 10 years for MGIB)
and the ending date you would receive under
chapter 33.
 Individuals will receive the same amount for
MGIB and MGIB-SR kickers whether they
receive a lump sum payment under chapter 33
or monthly payments under their existing
program.
21
Entitlement
Generally, entitlement provisions under the
Post-9/11 GI Bill are similar to those under other
education benefit programs:
 Individuals may receive up to 36 months of
benefits;
 If an individual’s entitlement exhausts during a
quarter or semester, benefits may be extended
until the end of the term (except for dependents
using TOE);
 Individuals eligible for more than one program
administered by VA are limited to 48 months of
benefits using a combination of programs.
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Entitlement
EXCEPTION: Individuals transferring to the Post-9/11 GI
Bill from the Montgomery GI Bill (chapter 30) will be
limited to the amount of their remaining chapter 30
entitlement.
This provision applies when an individual:
 Is eligible for MGIB-AD on August 1, 2009;
 Is eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill on the date of the
election; and
 Elects to receive Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits in lieu of
MGIB-AD benefits.
NOTE: This provision does not prevent an individual who
is eligible for more than one benefit program from
receiving a maximum of 48 months of combined benefits.
23
Entitlement
EXAMPLE: Dave used 28 months of benefits under
MGIB-SR (chapter 1606) before establishing
eligibility under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Because he may receive up to 48 months of benefits,
he is entitled to 20 months of benefits under the
Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Maximum combined entitlement
48 months
Used under MGIB-SR
28 months
Available Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement 20 months
24
Entitlement
EXAMPLE: Jamie previously established eligibility
for the MGIB-AD and used 10 of 36 months of
benefits. She establishes eligibility for the Post-9/11
GI Bill.
The law limits her to the amount of her remaining
MGIB-AD benefits. Therefore, she is entitled to 26
months of benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Original MGIB-AD entitlement
36 months
Used MGIB-AD entitlement
10 months
Available Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement 26 months
25
Entitlement
EXAMPLE: Robert established eligibility for the MGIB-AD and
used 14 of his 36 months of benefits. While in the Individual
Ready Reserve (IRR), he was called to active duty and
established eligibility for REAP.
On August 1, 2009, he is eligible for MGIB-AD and REAP. If
he elects to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill in
lieu of another benefit, the amount of entitlement he has will
be determined based on his election.
If Robert elects the Post-9/11 Bill in lieu of REAP, he is
entitled to up to 34 months of Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement:
Maximum combined benefits
Used REAP entitlement
Available Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement
48 months
14 months
34 months
26
Entitlement
EXAMPLE (cont.): If Robert elects the Post-9/11 Bill in
lieu of MGIB-AD, his Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement will be
limited to his remaining MGIB-AD entitlement:
Original MGIB-AD entitlement
Used MGIB-AD entitlement
Available Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement
36 months
14 months
22 months
Although his Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement is limited to
his remaining MGIB-AD entitlement, he will also remain
eligible for REAP. He may use up to 12 months of benefits
under REAP, thereby allowing him to receive a maximum
of 48 months of combined benefits.
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Approved Programs
 All programs approved under chapter 30 and offered at
an institution of higher learning (IHL). IHLs are degree
granting institutions.
 Individuals who were previously eligible for chapter 30,
1606, or 1607 may continue to receive benefits for
approved programs not offered by IHLs (flight*,
correspondence, apprenticeship/on-the-job training,
preparatory courses, and national tests)
– Individuals will be paid AS IF they are still receiving
benefits under chapter 30, 1606, or 1607
– No books and supplies stipend or housing allowance.
* Flight may be approved under chapter 33 if part of a
degree program at an IHL.
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Benefit Payments
 Tuition and Fees
 Monthly Housing Allowance
 Books and Supplies Stipend
 Kickers/College Fund/”Buy-Up”
 Yellow Ribbon Program
 Miscellaneous Payments
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Chapter 33 Effective Date
August 1, 2009
Chapter 33 benefits can be paid for
training pursued on or after August 1,
2009. No payments may be made for
training pursued before that date.
30
Tuition and Fees
 Established charges means the actual charge for tuition
and fees that similarly circumstanced nonveterans
enrolled in the program of education are required to pay.
 Fees means any mandatory charges (other than tuition,
room, and board) that are applied by the institution of
higher learning for pursuit of an approved program of
education. Fees include, but are not limited to:
–
–
–
–
health premiums,
freshman fees,
graduation fees, and
lab fees.
 Fees do not include those charged for a study abroad
course(s) unless the course(s) is a mandatory
requirement for completion of the approved program of
education.
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Tuition and Fees
 Schools must report charged tuition and fees.
 State benefits are governed by State law:
– If State prohibits public IHL from charging student tuition
(and/or fees), no charges should be reported to VA.
– If State waives tuition (and/or fees) after the student is
charged, tuition and fees should be reported to VA.
 VA cannot consider financial aid or scholarships
when determining a student’s payment.
– Financial aid offices are responsible for determining if an
individual remains entitled to aid or scholarships based
on VA benefits.
– VA does consider federal military tuition assistance (TA)
when an individual requests “Top-Up”.
32
Tuition and Fees
 Individuals on active duty are eligible for the lesser of:
– Tuition and fees charged; or
– The amount of charges that exceed the amount paid by
the military’s federal tuition assistance (TA).
 Individuals not on active duty are eligible for the
applicable percentage (based on aggregate active duty
service) of the lesser of:
– Tuition and fees charged; or
– Highest amount of tuition per credit hour and fees per
term charged for full-time, undergraduate training at a
public institution of higher learning in the state where
the student is enrolled.
Note: Tuition and Fees payments are paid directly to the school.
33
Tuition and Fees
 An individual eligible for the 100% tier will
have all tuition and fees* paid if he or she is—
– Enrolled at a public institution;
– In an undergraduate program; and
– Charged in-State tuition and fees.
 An individual at one of the 40%-90% tiers,
enrolled as above, will receive 40%-90% of the
charged tuition and fees*
*Assumes the individual has months of entitlement
available for the enrollment period
34
Tuition and Fees
 VA lists each State’s maximum amount of in-State
tuition per credit hour on the GI Bill website
 VA compares actual tuition charged per credit
hour vs. maximum in-State tuition payable per
credit hour and then pays the lesser amount
EXAMPLE: Maximum in-State tuition rate is $500 per
credit hour. Joe is at the 100% tier for chapter 33. Joe’s
school reports he is enrolled in 15 credit hours for the Fall
‘09 semester and is charged $3,000 tuition.
–Determine in-State maximum: $500 x 15 = $7,500.
–VA pays lesser amount: $3,000.
35
Tuition and Fees
 VA lists each State’s maximum fees per term
(for a quarter, semester, or non-standard term)
on the GI Bill website
 VA compares actual fees charged for term vs.
maximum in-State fees per term and pays the
lesser amount
EXAMPLE (cont.): Maximum in-State fees rate is
$1,000 per term. Joe’s school reports he was charged
$900 in fees for the Fall ‘09 semester.
– VA pays lesser amount: $900
Joe is eligible at 100% tier level (based on length of
service), so his total T&F payment = $3,900 for Fall ’09.
36
Tuition and Fees
Calculating tuition and fees payment if individual
has less than 36 months of service:
 Using previous example, except Joe is eligible
for 50% tier
 VA determined 100% tier payment is $3,000 for
tuition and $900 for fees
 50% of those amounts is $1,500 for tuition and
$450 for fees
 Total due to Joe at 50% tier is $1,950
 VA pays $1,950 to school on behalf of Joe
37
Tuition & Fees
 Changes to VA-Once will allow schools
to submit:
– Tuition and Fees amounts separately.
– The dollar amount the school will
contribute for a student who is eligible to
participate in the Yellow Ribbon program.
38
Tuition & Fees Payment to Schools
 Benefit payments made to the school
will be direct deposited via Electronic
Funds Transfer (EFT).
– If EFT payment information is unavailable,
payment will be sent to the school’s mailing
address as currently on file in WEAMS.
– Payments will include student identification
information as well as the semester, quarter,
or term the payment is covering.
Very Important: It is critical that schools ensure their EFT data is current.
If EFT data changes, it is imperative the schools notify VACO immediately.
39
Monthly Housing Allowance
 Equivalent to the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for
an E-5 with dependents.
 Amount determined by ZIP code of the IHL where the
student is enrolled (Student does not have to live in same
ZIP code)
– http://perdiem.hqda.pentagon.mil/perdiem/bah.html
 Prorated based on the percentage of the individual’s
payment tier (i.e.: 40% to 100%).
 Active duty members, anyone training at ½ time or less,
and those pursuing training solely by distance learning
are not eligible for the monthly housing allowance.
Note: Housing allowance payments are paid directly to the
eligible person on a monthly basis.
40
Monthly Housing Allowance
 Individual does not have be paying rent,
room and board, or mortgage to qualify
 If a husband and wife are each eligible
for chapter 33 and attending school more
than ½ time, then each of them may be
paid a separate monthly housing
allowance
 Three children living at home using
transferred benefits could also each
receive a monthly housing allowance
41
Parent/Supplemental Schools
 Parent/Supplemental School –
Individuals will be paid based on
enrollment at each school, even if in
different states:
– Tuition and fees paid to each school that
submits enrollment certification
– Monthly housing allowance paid based on
primary school or based on where resident
courses are being pursued
42
Books and Supplies Stipend
 Up to $1,000 per academic year
– $41.67 per credit hour
– Up to 24 credit hours in a single academic year
– Lump sum payment (each quarter, semester or
term attended) paid directly to the individual
 Prorated based on the percentage of the
maximum benefit payable
 Active duty members are not eligible
43
Books and Supplies Stipend
 Example:
– If Susan enrolls in 15 credit hours for the Fall
Term, she will receive a lump sum payment of
$625.05 ($41.67 x 15 credit hours = $625.05)
– During the Spring term she enrolls in an
additional 12 hours. Susan is only eligible to
receive the books and supplies stipend for 9 of
the 12 credit hours, she can not receive
payment for more than the maximum of 24
credit hours in a single academic year. Her
payment for the Spring term will be $375.03
($41.27 x 9 = $375.03)
44
Kickers/College Fund/”Buy-up”
 MGIB (ch30) or MGIB-SR (ch1606) kickers
– Paid in lump sum to student each enrollment
period based on rate of pursuit
– Paid to spouses/children if they are using
transferred benefits
 New chapter 33 kicker
– Not available yet
– Will be paid with the monthly housing allowance
 $600 buy-up does not transfer to chapter 33
45
Yellow Ribbon Program
 Only individuals entitled to the 100 percent
benefit rate (based on service requirements)
may receive this funding
– Spouses and children using transferred benefits
from a service member are also eligible for the
Yellow Ribbon Program
 IHLs may voluntarily enter into an agreement
with VA to fund tuition and fees costs that
exceed the highest in-state undergraduate
tuition and fees for the State where the IHL
is located
46
Yellow Ribbon Program
 VA will match each additional dollar that an IHL
contributes, up to 50% of the difference between
the student’s tuition benefit and the total cost of
tuition and fees.
 The combined amounts may not exceed the full
cost of the IHL’s established charges.
 Yellow Ribbon payments will be issued to the
school on behalf of each student via EFT (or
paper check if EFT information is not available).
 Payments will include student identification
information and the semester, quarter or term
the payment is covering.
47
Yellow Ribbon Program
IHL must agree to:
 Select eligible students on a first-come-first-served basis;
 Provide contributions during current academic year and all
subsequent years if student maintains satisfactory progress;
 State maximum number of students for academic year;
 State how contributions will be made (grant, scholarship, or other);
 State yearly maximum dollar amount per student by specifying a
dollar amount for each:
– Student; or
– Undergraduate, graduate, and/or doctoral student; or
– Student enrolled in a specified college or professional school;
 Provide maximum amount payable to student each term (not to
exceed yearly maximum dollar amount for student).
48
Yellow Ribbon Program
 Yellow Ribbon paid as lump sum directly
to school
 Yellow Ribbon Information will be
displayed in the Web-Enabled Approval
Management System (WEAMS) or on the
GI Bill website
– Maximum Yellow Ribbon Payment information
– Maximum number of participants at the school
49
Yellow Ribbon Program
 EXAMPLE:
– IHL agreed to pay $1,000 during academic year for
each Yellow Ribbon student.
– Jim’s tuition and fees for Fall ’09 are $6,500. VA
pays maximum in-State T&F of $4,000 under the
basic Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit.
– IHL’s Yellow Ribbon contribution is $1,000 and VA
matches that amount, making a $1,000 payment to
the school. Jim must pay remainder of $500.
– Jim has used maximum contribution from school
for academic year.
50
Yellow Ribbon Program Timeline
 12/01/08 – Sent Yellow Ribbon Program
informational letter to IHLs
 01/05/09 – Sent Yellow Ribbon Program
inquiry letter to IHLs to determine the level of
interest
 March 2009 – Received approximately 1,000
surveys from interested IHLs
 April 2009 – VA will begin accepting Yellow
Ribbon agreements
 June 2009 – VA will post IHLs participating in
Yellow Ribbon on the GI Bill website
51
Miscellaneous Payments
 Licensing and Certification Tests
– Eligible individuals may be reimbursed for
one licensing or certification test
– Test must be approved for VA benefits
– Test must be taken on or after August 1, 2009
– Reimbursement may not exceed $2,000
NOTE: Payment issued directly to the student in a lump sum
52
Miscellaneous Payments
 Rural Relocation Benefit
– One-time payment of $500 for individuals who
reside in a county with six or less persons per
square mile, if individual
• Physically relocates at least 500 miles, or
• Travels by air to attend school if no other
transportation exist
NOTE: Payments issued directly to the student in a lump sum
53
Miscellaneous Payments
 Interval Payments:
– Payment of the monthly housing allowance may be
authorized during intervals.
– Follows current interval payment rules.
– Entitlement charged for interval payments.
 Extending payment to end of term:
– If individual exhausts entitlement during the quarter
or semester, we can pay to end of the term, unless
the individual exhausted 48 months of benefits.
– Spouses and children using transferred entitlement
are limited to 36 months of entitlement; entitlement
may not be extended to end of term.
54
Miscellaneous Payments
 Work-Study:
– Individuals training at a rate of pursuit of at
least 75% may apply for work-study
 Tutorial Assistance:
– Individual’s training at a rate of pursuit of at
least 50% may receive tutorial assistance
– Amount payable cannot exceed $100 per month
– Total amount payable cannot exceed $1,200
55
Refund of Contributions
 Available to category I participants only - not available
to individuals eligible for chapter 30 under category III
or IV (VEAP conversions or voluntary/involuntary
separations).
 A proportional amount of the basic $1200 contribution
will be included in the last monthly housing allowance
payment when chapter 33 entitlement exhausts.
 Individuals will not receive a refund of chapter 30
contributions if they—
– Do not exhaust entitlement under chapter 33, or
– Are not eligible to receive the monthly housing
allowance when entitlement exhausts.
 Refund of $600 additional contribution is not
authorized.
56
Transfer of Entitlement
Department of Defense Benefit
Administered by VA
Transfer of Entitlement
 Only the following entities may authorize
transfer of benefits—
– Secretary of Defense (when the Coast Guard is
operating as a service of the Navy)
– Secretaries of Army, Navy, or Air Force
– Secretary of Homeland Security (for Coast
Guard)
 PHS/NOAA members are not eligible to
transfer benefits as only the Secretaries
above may offer transfer of benefits
58
Transfer of Entitlement
 To be approved to transfer member must—
– Be in Armed Forces on 8/1/09, and
– Have completed 6 years in the Armed Forces, and
– Agree to serve 4 more years
 DoD/DHS may prescribe rules to address
situations when individuals cannot (by
military rules or retirement) serve 4 more
years after 8/1/09.
– VA can’t make these decisions
– If DoD does offer transfer of benefits to this group
of individuals, VA will post this information on the
GI Bill website
59
Transfer of Entitlement
 An individual approved to transfer may—
– Transfer up to 36 months of benefits (unless
DoD/DHS restricts number of months an
individual may transfer).
– Transfer to spouse, child, or children in any
amount up to amount transferor has available or
amount approved by DoD/DHS.
– Revoke or modify a transfer request for any
unused benefits unless the transferor’s 15-year
eligibility period is ended.
– Not transfer benefits to a new dependent once the
transferor is no longer a member of Armed Forces.
60
Transfer of Entitlement
Spouses—
– May use after transferor completes 6 years in Armed
Forces
– Paid at transferor’s rate - Cannot be paid housing
allowance or books and supplies stipend if the transferor
is on active duty when the spouse is receiving benefits
– Can, unless the transferor revokes transfer, continue to
use benefits if divorced after the transfer
– Can use benefits up to transferor’s 15-year eligibility
period expires unless transferor specifies an earlier
ending date
– Under law, benefits are not marital property and are not
subject to division in a divorce or other civil proceedings
61
Transfer of Entitlement
Children—
– Must be transferred to an unmarried child who has not
reached the age of 18 or, if in school, before child is 23
years of age
– May use after transferor completes 10 years in Armed
Forces
– To commence training, child must have–
• attained age 18; or
• completed requirements of secondary school diploma (or
equivalency certificate)
– Receives veteran rate, including housing allowance & book
stipend, even if transferor is on active duty
– May use until age 26 – even if transferor’s 15-year eligibility
period ended
– May continue to use benefits after marriage (unless
transferor revokes)
62
Transfer of Entitlement
 IMPORTANT !!
– Transferor and individual using
transferred entitlement are jointly
liable for any overpayment of
chapter 33 benefits
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Overpayment of Benefits
Overpayment of Benefits
 VA will determine the amount of an overpayment
for an individual in receipt of chapter 33 benefits
 An individual who does not complete one or
more courses in the certified period of
enrollment, and who does not substantiate
mitigating circumstances for not completing
such course(s), will be charged an overpayment
equal to the amount of ALL educational
assistance paid for such course(s) for that period
of enrollment (except for the books and supplies
stipend).
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Overpayment of Benefits
 Six credit hour exclusion still applies
to first reduction or withdrawal
 If mitigating circumstances exist,
student may be due partial payment
– Tuition and fees (and Yellow Ribbon)
prorated to date last attended for
complete withdrawals and end of the
month for reductions
– Housing allowance paid until end of
month in which the reduction or
withdrawal occurred
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Overpayment of Benefits
 The student is responsible for any overpayment
incurred as a result of not completing courses.
 In the event a student does not complete a
course, schools should follow their established
student refund policy.
Important: Tuition and Fees payments are
paid to the school on behalf of the student;
overpayments for Tuition and Fees will be
charged to the student.
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Overpayment of Benefits
 School must make a refund (return
payment) to VA—
– When students never attend classes for a
certified period of enrollment.
 Returned payments must include the
student identification information as well
as the intended quarter, semester, or
term for which the payment was made.
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Overpayment of Benefits
 If an individual is “called up” to active duty, VA
will restore entitlement if the individual does
not receive credit for the course. In these
instances VA will—
– Not charge an overpayment for chapter 33
tuition and fees payment or Yellow Ribbon
benefits for the certified enrollment period;
– Not charge an overpayment of the book stipend
for the enrollment period; and
– Discontinue the monthly housing allowance at
the end of the month during which the
individual last attended.
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Overpayment of Benefits
 VA’s Debt Management Center (DMC) will send
notification of the overpayment and provide due
process rights.
 Notifications will also inform the individual of
the overpayment amount and how to contact
VA’s Debt Management Center to establish a
repayment schedule.
 Overpayments are collected by the VA Debt
Management Center.
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Overpayment of Benefits
 In most cases, overpayments will not be
collected during the due process period, which
is 30 days from the day of notification.
 Students with existing overpayments on their
record may attend school; however, their
benefit payments (including Tuition and Fees)
may be applied to the overpayment until it is
repaid.
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Plans - Timeline
 May 1st – VA accepts applications
 Spring thru early July—VA will issue
certificates (letters) of eligibility (COE)
 COE will show—
– Payment tier (40%-100% based on qualifying service)
– 15-year eligibility date (if individual is not currently
on active duty)
– Number of months of entitlement
– Approved program (if individual indicated program
desired)
 July 6th – accept enrollment certifications from
schools for chapter 33 claims and begin
processing claims for payment
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Plans - Timeline
 August 1st – Begin issuing payment tapes to
Treasury for:
– Tuition and fees payment
– Books and supplies stipend
– Kicker/college fund
 August 3 – First payments released by Treasury
 September 1 – Housing allowance for those who
attended school in August
 October 1 – Housing allowance for those who
first attended in September
Note: These dates apply to those claims processed and
completed by VA prior to August 1, 2009
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References
 GI Bill Website
– www.gibill.va.gov
• Sign up for FAQ updates!
• Sign up for RSS feeds to be notified of any change on
web page (orange block on page that says RSS)
 GI Bill Call Center (VA staffed)
– 1-888-GIBILL-1
 Yellow Ribbon Mailbox
– [email protected]
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