Transcript Slide 1

Benefits 101
A Presentation for the PASFFA
08 April 2014
Don Accamando
Duquesne University School of Leadership
Military Program Director
412-396-5366
[email protected]
Overview
The Veterans Administration (VA)
 Benefit types
 Who’s on the team?
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◦ Recommendations from the players
Observations from a distance
 Questions
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The VA
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Contact the VA office near you
◦ Haven’t seen them yet? Problems will come.
◦ Partner with them for presentations.
◦ Any forum for veterans on campus is good
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It is a Bureaucracy!
◦ Some vets are leery of the system
The VA
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That being said, they need the VA
◦ Must have a Certificate of Eligibility, “COE”
◦ Apply online VONAPP
◦ http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/default.asp
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Six weeks is the normal line…
Certifying Official tips
A good CO will explain what’s needed to
get started and briefly explain the benefit
options
 Contact the CO once registered
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◦ Reconnect each semester
Don’t bill until after drop/add
 Weigh the options
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◦ May want to use other funding for summer
Contact the CO
Drop / Add / Withdraw
 Cancellation
 Stop Attending
 Graduating
 Mitigating Circumstances
 Change of Major
 Change of Benefit
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Benefit Types
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Ch. 30 (MGIB) Old GI Bill:
◦ Enlisted after 07of ’85, pay $1,200 up front
◦ Monthly Payment approx. $1,600
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Ch. 31 Vocational Rehabilitation (Voc Rehab)
◦ Service-connected disability requires rehab
◦ Disability of 10% or greater. (hearing loss)
◦ Covers tuition plus, a monthly COLA : $585.11
Benefit Types
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Chapter 33 (Post 9/11)
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Active Duty or Reserve Component
AD > than 90 days following 9/11/2001
Based on months of service,
Entitlement ranges from 40% to 100%
Tuition and Fees, Book & Supply Stipend and
Housing Allowance, $1,600
Benefit Types
Chapter 33 (Post 9/11) cont.
 Transfer of Eligibility (ToE)
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◦ Dependent(s) and/or spouse of AD vets
◦ Must transfer while still active!
◦ Approved through the branch and DOD.
Benefit Types
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Ch. 35 (DEA) Survivors and Dependents
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As the name implies
Spouse and/or Children (ages 18-26)
100% service connected disability
Their death was service connected
Monthly Stipend: Approximately $1,000
Time for a break
Keep in mind that Ch. 33 may be
transferred, (ToE)
 Think about the circumstances of the
Survivor Benefit option.
 Both cases, may not be talking with a vet,
and think about the circumstances tied to
the survivor.
 Something to ponder.
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Benefit Types
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Ch. 1606
◦ 6-years Reserve Component after July1985
◦ Complete initial training and in good standing
◦ Monthly Stipend: $362.00 (Kicker Available)
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Ch. 1607 Reserve Ed. Assist. Pro. REAP
◦ Reserve Component > 90 days post 9/11
◦ Response to a war or national emergency
 Monthly Stipend: 2+ years $1,300,
 1 year but < 2: $988.80, 90 days <year: $659.20
Benefit Types
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National Guard EAP
◦ 6 year enlistment or reenlistment
◦ Successfully complete Basic Training
◦ Complete EAP form 1 and PHEAA
Promissory Note
◦ Fall & Spring Term app deadline June 30th
◦ Pays 100% Tuition (Does Not Pay Fees!)
Benefit Types
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Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA)
Member of Guard or Reserves
 Must be in the unit while using FTA
 May use with MGIB (TA top-up)
Pays 100% Tuition and Fees (cap 250$ per
semester hour)
$4,500 Fiscal Year Max
Apply @ www.GoArmyEd.com
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TA tips
Navy, USMC, USCG and USAF must
submit TA forms to the and we bill
 AD Army, Army Guard and Reserve
students use the Go Army Ed portal.
 Navy, USMC, and USCG invoices are
submitted through the WAWF portal
 Best to wait until after Add/Drop before
invoicing, ensure, proper billing
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TA tips
USAF Air Force portal as the Tuition
Assistance forms are received.
 Active Army, Army Guard and Reserve
students, submitted through Go Army Ed
portal quarterly; to ensure payment, we
bill late in the quarter.
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Observations
Plenty of benefits
 Most new students are confused
 Connect with the VA for help
 Ensure your team is informed
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QUESTIONS ?