The FReeper Foxhole - Profiles the GI Bill Education Benefits - Dec 28th, 2002

http://www.gibill.va.gov/education/GI_Bill.htm ^

[SAMWolf]

Description of Current Programs

38 U.S.C. Chapter 32, Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)

VEAP was the first GI Bill program which required a contribution by the service member. It was available to people who entered on active duty between December 31, 1976, and July 1, 1985. These service members could volunteer to contribute between $25 and $100 a month which would be matched on a 2-for-1 basis by the government. Total contribution by the service person could be no more than $2700, but DOD could make additional contributions, or "kickers", into the fund on behalf of individuals in critical military fields to encourage enlistment or reenlistment in the Armed Forces. In 1996, Public Law 104-275 provided that certain VEAP participants who were on active duty on October 9, 1996, could elect MGIB. The deadline for this election was October 8, 1997. 41,041 veterans and servicepersons took advantage of this opportunity to elect MGIB. Here is a summary of the main features of VEAP:

First entered on active duty after December 31, 1976 and before July 1, 1985
Contributed to VEAP while on active duty and before April 1, 1987
Maximum contribution of $2700
Government matches $2 for $1
Maximum entitlement is 36 months
Must be used within ten years of discharge from the service
Refunds of unused contributions available
Additional "kickers" from DOD
Current full-time VEAP rate is $300 per month plus any DOD "kicker"

38 U.S.C. Chapter 30, Montgomery G. I. Bill - Active Duty Educational Assistance Program (MGIB)

MGIB is the education program for individuals initially entering active duty after June 30, 1985. Payments for MGIB benefits currently represent 78 percent of the total VA educational assistance payments. MGIB was enacted not only to help with the readjustment of discharged service members, but also to support the concept of an all volunteer armed force. With this in mind, a provision was made to allow certain veterans with remaining entitlement under the Vietnam Era GI Bill, to qualify for MGIB benefits if they continued their active duty.

MGIB is available to honorably discharged veterans and to service-members. Although there are a number of categories of eligibles, generally, veterans must:

meet their basic service requirement,
have completed their high school education or its equivalent, and
receive an honorable discharge.

MGIB is a contributory program. Service pay is automatically reduced by $100 per month for 12 months unless the service person declines to participate at the time of enlistment. Individuals on active duty must complete a minimum of two years of continuous active duty to be eligible. Qualified service members with remaining Vietnam Era entitlement are exempt from the pay reduction requirement.

The MGIB benefit rate varies depending on active service and Selected Reserve obligation.

MGIB has proven to be extremely popular among young people enlisting in the services. 94.8 percent of those who enlisted in service in Fiscal Year 1996 enrolled in the program. 75.7 percent of all enlistees since the inception of the program have enrolled.

The following briefly summarizes major MGIB provisions:

Served on active duty after June 30, 1985.
Must fulfill one's basic service obligation.
Must have completed high school.
Received an honorable discharge.
Maximum entitlement is 36 months.
Additional "kicker" as determined by DOD.
Generally must use benefits within 10 years following discharge.

10 U.S.C. Chapter 1606, Montgomery G. I. Bill - Selected Reserve Educational Assistance Program (MGIB-SR)

MGIB-SR is the first GI Bill to provide educational assistance to members of the Selected Reserve (including National Guard units.) This program is primarily an incentive for recruitment into the Selected Reserve. DOD funds this program and is responsible for determining eligibility to MGIB-SR. VA administers the program. In general to be eligible, a reservist must:

have accepted a six year reserve obligation after July 1, 1985,
have completed high school or its equivalent,
have completed Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT), and
continue to satisfactorily participate in required Selected Reserve training.

Eligible reservists are currently entitled to full-time education benefits of $208.93 monthly in MGIB-SR benefits. Some states are now offering their own tuition assistance programs to complement the MGIB-SR benefits. Generally reservists must maintain their Selected Reserve status to receive benefits. While other VA programs usually give the veteran ten years from the date of military discharge to use benefits, MGIB-SR must be used within 10 years from the date eligibility began. Here is a summary of the main features of MGIB-SR:

Based on a 6-year Selected Reserve obligation after July 1, 1985

Must have completed high school education
remain a member in good standing
Maximum entitlement is 36 months
Current full-time rate is $208.93 per month
Generally must use benefits within 10 years of date eligibility began

38 U.S.C. Chapter 35, Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA)

DEA is the only VA educational assistance program designed for students who have never served in the Armed Forces. Public Law 84-634, The War Orphans' Educational Assistance Act of 1956, established this benefit program. It is therefore the oldest active VA educational assistance program. DEA provides educational assistance to the spouses and children of living veterans who:

are permanently and totally disabled because of a service-connected disability, or
have been listed for more than 90 days as missing in action, or
were captured in line of duty, or
are detained or interned in line of duty by a hostile force or foreign government.

DEA provides educational assistance to surviving spouses and children of veterans who: died while on active duty, or
died as the result of a disability arising from active duty, or
died from any cause while rated permanently and totally disabled from service-connected disability.

Here is a summary of the main features of DEA:

Eligibility is based on the veteran's service-connected death, total service-connected disability, or MIA/POW/hostage status.
Current full-time DEA rate is $404 per month.
Maximum entitlement is 45 months.
Children generally have eight years in which to use benefits.
With some exceptions, children must be between ages 18 and 26.
Spouses have ten years in which to use benefits.
A spouse's remarriage bars further benefits, but a child's marriage does not affect eligibility.

[SAMWolf]

Who to Contact For Current VA Education Benefits:

The Education Service administers the following benefit programs. We are also including documents and forms which will aid school officials, veterans and dependents. We trust you will find what you are looking for in our program descriptions. If you need additional assistance, please call our toll-free number 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to speak with a Veterans Benefits Counselor.

Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (MGIB)

The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 30.

VA now reimburses for some Licensing and Certification Tests.

You can receive reimbursement for licensing and certification tests you take on or after March 1, 2001. These tests must be specifically approved for the G.I. Bill. VA can pay only for the cost of the tests and not other fees connected with obtaining a license or certification.

Tuition Assistance "Top-Up" General Information

On October 30, 2000, the President signed into law an amendment to the Montgomery GI Bill
- Active Duty education program that permits VA to pay a Tuition Assistance Top- up benefit. The amount of the benefit can be equal to the difference between the total cost of a college course and the amount of Tuition Assistance that is paid by the military for the course.

Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)

The MGIB-SR program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)

VEAP is available if you first entered active duty between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985 and you elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this education benefit program. Your contributions are matched on a $2 for $1 basis by the Government. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA)

DEA provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition.. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

Summary of Benefits Under the Educational Assistance Test Program Section 901 of Public Law 96-342

Section 901 is an Educational Assistance Test Program created by the Department of Defense Authorization Act of 1981 (Public Law 96-342) to encourage enlistment and reenlistment in the Armed Forces. Benefits are available to individuals who entered on active duty after September 30, 1980, and before October 1, 1981 (or before October 1, 1982, if entry was under a delayed enlistment contract signed between September 30, 1980, and October 1, 1981).

NOTE: Although Public Law 96-342 established a beginning date for the test program as October 1, 1980, the military service departments did not start offering the test program to new enlistees until December 1, 1980.

Work-Study Program

This program is available to any student receiving VA education benefits who is attending school three-quarter time or more. An individual working under this program may work at the school veterans' office, VA Regional Office, VA Medical Facilities, or at approved State employment offices. Work-study students are paid at either the state or Federal minimum wage, which ever is greater. If you have questions on this program contact our toll-free number 1-888-442-4551.

Tutorial Assistance Program

Tutorial assistance is available if you are receiving VA educational assistance at the half-time or more rate and have a deficiency in a subject making tutoring necessary. If you have questions on this program please contact our toll-free number 1-888-442-4551.

VA Education Manual for School Officials (AACRAO)

This Education Manual is used by School Certifying Officials to gain information about VA education programs and as a guide to aid them in the completion of forms for submission to VA. It is mainly intended for School Certifying Officials but we feel the information may be helpful to anyone interested in VA Benefits. (This manual is currently under revision.) Education Forms

This area has common VA forms and related forms available for you to print. Contact our toll-free number 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to request Education forms.

<=== Click to go to the VA Education Benefits Website

[SAMWolf]

GI Bill toll-free number:
1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551)

If you have a service connected disability,
you may be eligible for this benefit.
1-800-827-1000

Information for the home buying veteran.
1-800-827-1000

Information on Service Connected Disability Compensation,
Survivors' Benefits,
Non-Service Connected Disability Compensation.
1-800-827-1000

Information on VA Life Insurance.
1-800-669-8477

Information on the VA's National Cemetery System.
(National Cemetery Administration)
1-800-827-1000

Information on VA Medical Benefits.
1-877-222-8387

Information on resolving debts resulting from participation
in the following VA programs:

Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty,
Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve,
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance,
Compensation and Pension and Loan Guaranty
(home loans).
1-800-827-0648

[MistyCA]

Excellent research and report, Sam! Thanks!

[MistyCA]

GI Bill Express.com™ is dedicated to serving veterans, active duty military personnel and dependents, that want info on vocational, technical or higher education programs.

[MistyCA]

Click below for GI Bill dot com, Non-government assistance site:

GIBill Rates *NEW 10-1-02* Accelerated Payment!!

GIBill Latest News *NEW*

GIBill Eligibility & Certification

GIBill Home Loans

GIBill Monthly Certification! WAVE or 1-877-823-CERT(2378)

GIBill Careers

GIBill Travel Try Veterans Holidays!

GIBill Newsletter *SIGNUP*

GIBill Marketplace

Find Your Buddy! - Military Connections

[MistyCA]

National Association of State Directors of Veteran Affairs

Links to each State and Territory's Veteran's Affairs Office

Click on Logo

[larryjohnson]

I always thought well of the GI bills. When in college, I found the Korean Veterans much more focused than us kids. My brother went to business school after an AF enlistment and he was motivated to always find a job. The AF sent me to grad school in service so I never felt I needed to take advantage of the GI bill. I took one course in service that I needed and the paperwork seemed reasonable. OK,Jeneral, I need a ping to these threads as well as a NHH. Thank you. It was 03 deg F in Maine this am before the sun came up. I went xc skiing yesterday in one ft of snow. After the storm the Caribou weather office called me for a report. I am now a valued spotter

[Jen]

Incoming! Dive on in to the FReeper Foxhole!

The FReeper Foxhole is a new Daily Thread in the VetsCoR Forum.

If you would like to be removed from this daily ping list, it takes only two clicks. Click this link and send a BLANK FReepmail to AntiJen. You will be removed promptly.

If you have comments you would like me to read, use this link. Thanks!

[E.G.C.]

Bump for the Foxhole.

[firewalk]

Good morning & Bttt (-:

[patton]

The part that they don't tell you is how long you will wait for your check. I didn't see a dime for 18 months after I started school.

[M Kehoe]

FWIW. The Vietnam era bill gave me the opportunity to get my college education, and my house. Plus medical benefits, discipline in the service, and travel throughout the world.

And I got shot at only once. Not bad.

5.56mm

[Pippin]

GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE IN THE FOXHOLE!

[Jen]

Good morning LJ! That's cool about you being a weather spotter. Brrrrrr! It's COLD up there!

I added you on to the daily ping list so you can easily find your way to our Foxhole. Here's your {{{HUG}}}!!! You can get a 'real' hug. (I give the 'non-homo' kind of hugs to girlz.) ;-)

The GI Bill was one of the main reasons I joined the AF after high school. While I was in the AF, I used some of my GI Bill benefits to complete a BS degree which qualified me for OTS. Now that I'm retired, I'm using my remaining GI Bill benefits to train for a new career as a Web Site Designer.

[Jen]

18 months? Wow! I've never had that problem. It took a couple months for my benefits to start, and when I changed from one school to another there was a delay of a few months because the new school official sat on the paperwork then it had to go to VA for their approval. But otherwise, the direct deposit goes to my bank around the first of each month. VA has made the monthly certification process easier too with an online form.

[patton]

Online form? My experience was before Gore invented the internet.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Jen and all.

[ActionNewsBill]

Please remove me from your bump list thank you.

[MistyCA]

Sam? Did you hear that? Larry wants a NHH! LOL! Good to see you Larry! :)