U S Department of Veterans Affairs New SCO

U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs New SCO Overview WACRAO Conference Eau Claire, Wisconsin JUNE 11, 2015

Student Responsibilities

Original GI Bill The original GI Bill provided the opportunity for millions of GI’s returning from service in WWII to attend colleges and universities. The impact of the GI Bill was felt throughout American society. The GI Bill is considered by many historians to be the most successful government sponsored social program in U. S. history. In the 70 years since the signing of the first GI Bill the program has changed, but its goal remains the same. Today’s VA Education programs aim to extend the benefits of higher education to eligible persons who might not otherwise be able to afford to attend

VA Regional Processing Offices and Jurisdictions

Types of Training – GI Bill • • • College undergraduate, and post graduate Non college degree institutions – Vocational level On-the-job or Apprenticeship Vocational Flight Training Recognition of payment for certified testing in career fields • VA work study program for veterans who are enrolled in college and can work on campus

Education Benefit Chapters • Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) Chapter 30 – Veterans • Montgomery GI Bill-Selective Reserves Chapter 1606 for Members of Reserves or National Guard • (REAP) Chapter 1607 – mobilized under DOD Title 10 (called to active duty) • Dependents Educational Assistance Program Chapter 35 (spouse, children, surviving spouse • (Public Law 110 -181 – affecting Ch 1606/1607) enacted January 28, 2008 • Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) – veterans & dependents TOE • Fry Amendment – CH 33 dependent benefit death of service member

Montgomery GI Bill CH 30 • The MGIB-AD program—sometimes known as Chapter 30—provides education benefits to Veterans and Service members who have at least two years of active duty. There is a higher benefit rate for 3 or more years of qualifying military service • Entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985 • Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for first 12 months • Eligible veterans may receive up to 36 months of education benefits • 10 years from date of release from active duty to utilize this benefit • Provides for a monthly benefit paid to the veteran student based on attending approved institution and provides for full time and less than full time monthly rate of pursuit

Selected Reserves – CH 1606 • Have a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve signed after June 30, 1985. • Meet the requirement to receive a high school diploma or equivalency certificate before completing IADT • Remain in good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit. • Your eligibility for the program normally ends the day you leave the Selected Reserve. • You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits • Example: October 1, 2014 full time monthly benefit rate is $367. 00

Selected Reserves Deployed – CH 1607 REAP • Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) • REAP provides educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency declared by the president or Congress. • Example: October 1, 2014 full time monthly benefit rate is based on amount of federal Title 10 deployed activated time – three rates are • 90 days and less than 1 year $686. 80 • 1 year but less than 2 years $1, 030. 20 • Consecutive 2 years plus $1, 373. 60 • Department of Defense determines eligibility for this benefit and VA administers the program

Dependent Education Assistance CH 35 – There are two main GI Bill programs offering education assistance to survivors (spouse) and dependents of veterans • The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John Fry Scholarship is available for children and spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. • Chapter 35 DEA benefits to eligible dependents (including spouse) who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability rating by VA of veterans or who died on active duty as a result of a service-connected condition • Dependents – can begin at age 18 with 45 months of entitlement Example: October 1, 2014 full time monthly rate $1, 018. 00

Fry Scholarship CH 33 • The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John Fry Scholarship is available for children and spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. – Children and surviving spouses of an active duty member of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001 are eligible for this benefit. Children are eligible as of their 18 th birthday (unless they have already graduated high school). A child may be married or over 23 and still be eligible, although their eligibility ends on their 33 rd birthday. A spouse will lose eligibility to this benefit upon remarriage. A spouse has 15 years from the date of death of the Servicemember to use the benefit.

Fry Scholarship CH 33 – Fry Scholarship eligibility is under Post-9/11 GI Bill which provides for VA payment to institutions of tuition and fees for students, a monthly benefit rate based on DOD housing allowance rates, and additional monetary benefit to the student for books and supplies – * Surviving spouses are eligible to receive Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC) while using the Fry Scholarship. Children, over the age of 18, in receipt of DIC will relinquish DIC payments upon the start of using VA education benefits such as the Fry Scholarship

Post-9/11 GI Bill – CH 33 – If you have at least 90 days of aggregate active duty service after Sept. 10, 2001, and are still on active duty, or if you are an honorably discharged Veteran or were discharged with a serviceconnected disability after 30 days, you may be eligible for this VAadministered program – For approved programs, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits, generally payable for 15 years following your release from active duty. Institutions of higher learning participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program may make additional funds available for your education program without an additional charge to your GI Bill entitlement

Post-9/11 GI Bill – CH 33 • Individuals should carefully consider their education goals before applying and electing benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill • VA can provide general benefit comparison information, however, an individual’s unique circumstances must also be considered • Benefit comparison information is available at www. gibill. va. gov • Individuals who establish eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill must make an irrevocable election if they are: • Eligible for either MGIB-AD, MGIB-SR or REAP; or • A member of the Armed Forces who is eligible to receive MGIBAD benefits and who is making the basic $1200 contribution toward MGIB-AD

Post-9/11 GI Bill – CH 33 • Other benefit options provided for Post-9/11 GI Bill are: – Additional benefits towards tuition for private colleges and universities when the annual academic cost of tuition and fees (8/1/14 – 8/1/15) exceed $20, 235. 02 • Colleges and universities agree to participate in YRP which means for total amounts over the above amount – College agrees to reduce tuition by an approved amount with VA matching up to 50% of the unmet cost. – Example: total cost of tuition and fees are $28, 235. 02 with college reducing that amount by $4, 000. VA will match the $4, 000 and send payment directly to institution – To qualify individual must be attending Institution of Higher Learning and be at the 100% military service qualifying period served

Post-9/11 GI Bill – CH 33 • For service members who served on active duty after 9/10/01 • Pays up to full in-state tuition and fees at Public Schools • Pays up to $ 21, 084. 89 (eff 10/1/15) for tuition and fees per academic year at Private School. Pubic school limited to instate tuition charges • Housing stipend—E 5 w/dependents rate and Stipend for Books and Supplies • Tuition, Fees, Yellow Ribbon are all paid on behalf of the student to the school • All payments are paid at the percentage level as determined by student’s length of service active duty service

Chapter 33 Service Requirements (after 9/10/01 an individual must serve an aggregate of) % of Maximum Benefit Payable 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 *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 17 90 40

Post-9/11 GI Bill – CH 33 • Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) Chapter 30 – Veterans • Montgomery GI Bill-Selective Reserves Chapter 1606 for Members of Reserves or National Guard • (REAP) Chapter 1607 – mobilized under DOD Title 10 (called to active duty) • Dependents Educational Assistance Program Chapter 35 (spouse, children, surviving spouse • (Public Law 110 -181 – affecting Ch 1606/1607) enacted January 28, 2008 • Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) – veterans & dependents TOE • Fry Amendment – CH 33 dependent benefit death of service member • VRAP – awarded benefits under Chapter 30 – closed March 2014

VA Application Forms • VA Form 22 -1990 – All Chapters except Chapter 35 for original claims • VA Form 22 -1990 e – Chapter 33 Transfer of Entitlement • VA Form 22 -5490 – Chapter 35 original claims and Fry *Updated Form • VA Form 22 -1995 – All Chapters except Chapter 35 & • VA Form 22 -5495 – Chapter 35 subsequent claims

Vocational Rehabilitation CH 31 (disabled veteran) • Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) Chapter 30 – Veterans • Montgomery GI Bill-Selective Reserves Chapter 1606 for Members of Reserves or National Guard • (REAP) Chapter 1607 – mobilized under DOD Title 10 (called to active duty) • Dependents Educational Assistance Program Chapter 35 (spouse, children, surviving spouse • (Public Law 110 -181 – affecting Ch 1606/1607) enacted January 28, 2008 • Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) – veterans & dependents TOE • Fry Amendment – CH 33 dependent benefit death of service member • ADMINISTERED BY VA REGIONAL OFFICES

E-Benefits • The e. Benefits web portal is an online resource for tools and benefitsrelated information. • The portal serves Wounded Warriors, Veterans, Service Members, their families, and their caregivers. • Two main services: – A catalog of links to military and Veteran benefits on other sites – A personalized workspace giving quick access to online tools that enable you to apply for benefits, download your DD-214, see your benefits status online, and more • Access GI Bill web site for more details

E-Benefits Registration • There are two levels of e. Benefits registration, Basic and Premium. – Basic Registration (Level 1 access) enables you to view general e. Benefits information. This level of access does not allow you to view information about yourself from VA and Do. D systems. – Premium Registration (Level 2 access) provides you the highest level of access to e. Benefits. With Level 2 access, you will have a secure, personalized e. Benefits account that pulls information from your Do. D and VA records.

E-Benefits Registration • Both levels require a Do. D (DS) logon. – With a DS logon, you can use a single user name and password to access various websites, including many VA and Do. D sites – All Do. D sponsors, veterans spouses, and other beneficiaries who are registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) can obtain a DS logon

WI GI Bill and VA GI Bill • Public institutions in WI • VA legal opinion April 2011 resulted in WI GI Bill exempt from deduction when determining net charges • VA does NOT administer WI GI Bill

Role of SCO • Ensure that accurate and timely enrollment certification documentation is provided to VA • Refer VA students to contact VA with question about benefits • Monitor student enrollment certifications to ensure propriety

Information • VA uses many computer software applications involving GI Bill education program benefits: – BDN, WEAMS, LTS, VAONCE, TIMS • What is ARF – Annual Reporting Fee? • What is a compliance survey • What is the State Approving Agency

Information • What do I certify to VA for student enrollments? • What academic and financial records do I have to review? • What does net charges mean? • What is Section 702? • Modality of Instruction - ? ?

Contact Information • To contact VA: – Johnson, ELR • 612 -970 -5456 • John. johnson 11@va. gov • To Contact National Call Center: – Public – 1 -888 -442 -4551 – SCO Hot Line – 1 -855 -225 -1159

QUESTIONS