VA Education Benefits VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION August 2016

VA Education Benefits VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION August 2016

VA Education Benefits Basics VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

VA Education Benefit Programs • Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)/Transfer of Entitlement/ John D. Fry Scholarship • MGIB-Active Duty (Chapter 30) • MGIB-Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) • Reserve Education Assistance Program (Chapter 1607/REAP) Program was sunset 11/25/15 • Dependents Educational Assistance (Chapter 35/DEA) • Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Chapter 31/VR&E) VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 2

VA Education Benefit Programs VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 3

Common Ground • Eligibility is based, for the most part, on length and type of service and an honorable discharge • Those who entered on duty after August 1, 2011 can’t use the same period of service duty to establish eligibility for more than one benefit • Limited to 48 months of entitlement under any combination of VA Education programs* • Programs of study at schools and training establishments must be approved for VA benefits • These approvals are done by State Approving Agencies (SAA) and concurred with by VA ELRs *In rare circumstances, ch 31 users can exceed 48 months of entitlement based on the nature of their service connected disabilties VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Education Benefits can be used for: üCollege courses leading to a degree üBusiness/technical/vocational courses leading to a certificate or diploma üTests for a license or certification or National Exams üApprenticeship or OJT training üForeign schools (degree program only) üCorrespondence courses üEntrepreneurship courses üFlight (need private pilot license first) üTutorial Assistance (if needed) üAugmenting Do. D Tuition Assistance VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

FY 2011 – FY 2015 Trainees/Dollars Paid Benefit Education Programs Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) -AD Chapter 32 Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) *Chapter 33 FY 11 Trainees Dollars Paid FY 12 Trainees Dollars Paid FY 13 Trainees Dollars Paid FY 14 Trainees Dollars Paid FY 15 Trainees Dollars Paid 185, 220 / $1. 4 B 118, 549 / $932 M 99, 755 / $775 M 77, 389 / $512 M 61, 403 / $442. 2 M 112 / $1. 3 M 76 / $682 K 29 / $496 K 8 / $359 K 4 / $35 K Post-9/11 GI Bill 555, 329 / $7. 7 B 646, 302 / $8. 5 B 754, 229 / $10. 2 B 790, 408 / $10. 8 B 790, 507 / $11. 2 B Chapter 35 Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA) 90, 657 / $463 M 87, 707 / $455 M 89, 160 / $483 M 90, 789 / $514 M 91, 755 / $493. 2 M Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIBSR) 65, 216 / $201 M 60, 393 / $157 M 62, 656 / $156 M 63, 745/ $150 M 63, 030 / $141. 1 M Chapter 1607 Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) 27, 302 / $95 M 19, 774 / $77 M 17, 297 / $70 M 13, 784/ $56 M 9, 965 / $40. 5 M Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) N/A 12, 251 / $6. 1 M 67, 918 / $428 M 52, 288 / $413 M N/A 923, 836 / $9. 8 B 945, 052 / $10. 1 B 1, 091, 044 / $12. 1 B 1, 088, 411 / $12. 4 B 1, 016, 664 / $12. 3 B Total Note: Dollars may not add due to rounding As of July 7, 2016, VA issued $65 billion in Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit payments to VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 1, 597, 874 individuals since program inception (August 2009). 3

VA Education Benefits Entitlement Basics VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Chapter 33 Entitlement • In general, individuals remain eligible for Ch 33 benefits for 15 years from last date of discharge of at least 90 continuous days (30 days if disability). Service members maintain open-ended eligibility while on duty. • Veterans receive a maximum of 36 months of benefits under CH 33, which may extend to the end of a term when exhausted within that term. • Entitlement limited to no more than 48 months of combined benefits under educational assistance programs administered by VA. NOTE: Individuals transferring to the Post-9/11 GI Bill from the Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) will be limited to the amount of remaining Chapter 30 entitlement, unless none remains. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 8

Ch 33 Election Issues • Individuals also eligible for Ch 30 or Ch 1606 benefits for the same period of qualifying active duty may be required to make an irrevocable election to receive Ch 33 benefits. • Those who entered on duty after August 1, 2011 can’t use the same period of service duty to establish eligibility for more than one benefit. Public Law No 114 -315 (Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016, ) allows VA to make an alternative election. In the case of an individual who, on or after January 1, 2017, submits an election that is determined clearly against the interests of the individual, or who fails to make an election under this section, the Secretary make an alternative election on behalf of the individual that the Secretary determines is in the best interests of the individual. • Students also eligible for Chapter 31 are not required to make an irrevocable election, however they can only use one benefit per term. Once payment for one benefit has been received, that term can’t be changed. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

How Entitlement is Charged at IHLs Full-time: Generally 12 or more undergraduate credits per standard term (commonly 4 courses @ 3 credits each ) Term Dates: Fall 08/25 thru 12/13 Interval 12/14 thru 01/25 Spring 01/26 thru 05/16 Full-time training entitlement charge = 3 mos. 19 days = 1 mos. 10 days = 3 mos. 21 days = 7 mos. 10 days (Interval pay ceased effective 7/31/2011) Note: Standard Semester is 15 -19 weeks, Standard Quarter is 10 -13 weeks. Entitlement charge based on 30 day months, regardless of actual days in month. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 10

VA Education Benefits Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) Fry Scholarship VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Transfer of Entitlement • Do. D determines if an individual can transfer entitlement to one or more dependents • Dependents eligible to receive entitlement include spouses and natural, adopted, or step-children. • Transferees use entitlement in the same manner as the veteran. Changes to transferred entitlement can be made at any time by the veteran. • Eligibility percentage levels may change with additional active duty service. • Dependents file VAF 22 -1990 E to receive benefits. Note: The fact that Do. D permitted a transfer of entitlement to occur does not guarantee Chapter 33 benefits can be paid. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 12

Transfer of Entitlement SPOUSES • Spouses receive benefits in the same manner as the transferor (can’t receive housing payments if transferor is on active duty) • Period of eligibility is the same as the veteran; 15 years from latest release from active duty • Transferred MGIB entitlement cannot be treated as marital property, is not subject to division in divorce or civil proceeding CHILDREN • Child must have completed high school (or the equivalent) or reached 18 years of age. Child always receives benefits like a veteran. • Entitlement not subject to the veteran’s 15 year delimiting date, but may not be used after reaching age 26. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 13

John D. Fry Scholarship • Eligibility for children and spouses of an active duty member killed in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001. • Spouses initially not included, but became eligible as of January 1, 2015. PL 114 -315 extends the period of eligibility for some spouses through Dec. 31, 2021. • Will receive tuition & fees payments, monthly housing allowance and the books & supplies stipend at the 100% rate. (No Yellow Ribbon) • All dependents receive 36 months of entitlement (not divided up from veteran’s entitlement like TOE) • Will also be eligible for Ch 35 benefits, must elect one of the two • Dependents must file VA Form 22 -5490 to receive benefits. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 14

VA Education Benefits Enrollment Reporting Concerns VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

“Zero Tuition” • If net tuition and fees are unknown, you may wish to submit the term dates and actual credit hours, but report $0. 00 as charges • This allows the student to receive timely housing and books & supplies stipend payments while the school can avoid debt due to amended charges • Permits fin aid to be resolved prior to reporting charges to VA • No correlation to school’s refund policy re drop/add period • MUST submit an amended cert, effective the First Day of the Term to ensure accurate payment when net T&Fs are reported! (Don’t include T&Fs along with an adjustment made after the first day of the term. ) VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 16

85% - 15% Ratio SCO must monitor enrollment numbers of veterans Verification of the 85% enrollment limitation must be performed • Schools must provide documents verifying that the provisions of the 85 – 15 % ratio are met for each approved course (generally, this is a statement of total school/campus enrollment v. VA student enrollment) (38 CFR § 21. 4201) GUIDANCE • • Monitor enrollment Waiver of reporting requirements for schools with fewer than 35% VA students VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

VA Education Benefits Post - 9/11 GI Bill Payments VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Ch 33 Active Duty Requirements • The Post 9/11 GI Bill has eligibility tiers based length of qualifying active duty service after September 10, 2001. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 19

Post-9/11 GI Bill Payments • Net Tuition and Fees Charged • Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) • Books and Supplies Stipend • Kickers (also known as College Fund) • Licensing and Certifications Tests, National Exams • Work Study • Tutorial Assistance • Refund of $1, 200 MGIB Contribution (All payments are subject to Eligibility Level Percentages. ) VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 20

Tuition and Fees Effective Aug. 1, 2011: Changed tuition & fees rates for those attending public schools; Created a national annual maximum rate for those enrolled in private or foreign schools * • Pays all public school net in-state tuition and fees; • Private and foreign school reimbursable costs are capped annually (Aug. 1 st to July 31 st); • The Yellow Ribbon Program remains for out-of-state charges and costs that exceed the private school cap at participating schools. * All T&F payments are subject to proration based on Eligibility Tier (i. e. 40% - 100%) VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Net Charges VA was initially considered ‘First Payer’ for Ch 33 tuition & fees reporting purposes. Effective August 1, 2011, schools must report the net cost of tuition & fees after deducting: • Any waiver of, or reduction in Tuition and Fees; and • Any scholarship, or other Federal, State, institutional, or employer based aid that is provided directly to the school towards tuition and fees for the sole purpose of defraying tuition and fees”* • Title IV Funds (Pell Grants and Federal Loans) are excluded from net charge assessments. * TAP and VTA benefits are tuition-specific, but NYS was granted a waiver, excluding those funds from consideration when the T&Fs are reported to VA VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 22

2017 -2018 Tuition & Fees Cap Eligibility Tier 100% Max T&F Payable/Year $22, 805. 34 90% $20, 524. 81 80% $18, 244. 27 70% $15, 963. 74 60% $13, 683. 20 50% $11, 402. 67 40% $ 9, 122. 14 In general, VA will pay the lesser of the net T&Fs or the individual’s annual cap rate for all Ch 33 students VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Yellow Ribbon Program • Only individuals entitled to the 100 percent benefit rate (based on service requirements) may receive this funding. • VA will match each additional dollar that an institution contributes toward an eligible student’s established charges, not to exceed 50% of unmet allowable charges above the annual cap at private schools or to cover out of state charges at public schools. • Funds used by the institution as Yellow Ribbon contributions become part of the veterans education benefit and cannot be included as estimated financial assistance (EFA). • The following are NOT eligible for Yellow Ribbon: – Active duty personnel and their spouses – Fry Scholarship recipients VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 24

VA Tuition and Fees Payments • With CH 33, payment of benefits is made by a CCD+ Payment Format. This includes an 80 character addenda record where the student identifying information is passed. • National Automated Clearing House Association, (NACHA), General Operating Rules apply: Bank must provide receiver all payment related info contained within the addenda. • VA recommends those having difficulties retrieving the addend record contact a representative from the ACH department at your bank, as customer service may not have the information needed. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

EFT Payment Details VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Ch 33 Vet Rep Listing • Ch 33 Vet Rep Listing is automatically sent out weekly, details all Tuition & Fees Payments and Yellow Ribbon Payments made during the reporting period. – Non-Ch 33 Vet Rep Listing is available monthly upon request, reflects students paid previous month by benefit & training time. • Contact your Education Liaison Representative (ELR) to request the Non. Ch 33 Listing or to report receipt problems of either report. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Annual Reporting Fees • Active student data is collected each January for the previous calendar year, representative of all students in receipt of VA benefits during that period. Payment issued later that spring. • Sent by EFT (Mailed from Treasury to generic address of the school if no EFT. ) • Sent with corresponding letter and student listing – $6. 00 per standard enrollment certification of each student. – $12. 00 per advance pay enrollment certification (advance pay not available for Chapter 33) • By law, funds must be used to support veteran certification and programs. Usage will be reviewed during compliance survey. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 28

Chapter 33 Debt Vet Debt • Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) • Books and Supplies Stipend • Kickers (also known as College Fund) • Tuition and Fees Charged to Vet ----------------------------School Debt • Tuition and Fees Charged to School VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 29

VA Education Benefits VA-Once Tips VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

User Accounts Page Designate persons, such as workstudy students, to access VAONCE. Add user: Click Add, then complete the new user info at bottom of screen. Login name must be at least 8 characters and serve as a way to identify the assistant. ‘Delete’ includes viewing, editing, & deleting certifications, (not records). ‘Edit’ includes viewing and editing student certs, (not recs). By choosing ‘Neither’, the user will have read-only permission. You must click the Save button. This will generate the user’s password. The user can change this password. Be sure to delete the account when the user leaves school or is no longer assisting. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Recent Changes VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Public Law 114 -315 • Education Service is currently in the process of implementing 13 of the 15 sections of the law that affect Education benefits • Two sections have been fully implemented • Section 401: Clarification of eligibility for Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship • Section 412: Modification of reductions in reporting fee multipliers for payments by VA to educational institutions • The remaining 13 sections in the law still are under review and at various stages of implementation. There a variety of effective dates for the remaining provisions. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Public Law 114 -315 VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Public Law 114 -315 § 3693. Compliance surveys (a)(1) Except as provided in subsection (b), the Secretary shall conduct an annual compliance survey of educational institutions and training establishments offering one or more courses approved for the enrollment of eligible veterans or persons if at least 20 such veterans or persons are enrolled in any such course. The Secretary shall(A) design the compliance surveys to ensure that such institutions or establishments, as the case may be, and approved courses are in compliance with all applicable provisions of chapters 30 through 36 of this title; (B) survey each such educational institution and training establishment not less than once during every 2 -year period; VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

VA Education Benefits Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

VR&E (Chapter 31) • For veterans with service connected disabilities rated 20% or more (certain disabilities qualifying at 10%) • Usually 48 months of entitlement, can extend based on nature of disability • Voc Rehab Counselor works closely with veteran and a testing process determines eligibility • If eligible, veterans receives full tuition, fees, books, & approved supplies. • Veteran receives monthly subsistence or Ch 33 housing if Ch 33 eligible (no tiers - always 100% rate) • Ch 31 uses separate payment and processing systems than used for other Education benefits. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

VA Education Benefits Work Study VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

VA Work-Study • Students are eligible if in receipt of VA education benefits and attending school at ¾ training time or greater during an enrollment period • Work-Study Services may be utilized at: a) Educational Institutions b) VA Regional Offices c) VA Medical Centers d) Veteran Centers e) State & local VA offices VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 39

VA Work-Study • Eligible Students: To apply, complete VA Form 22 -8691 (Application for Work-Study Allowance) E-mail application to workstudy. vba. buf@va. gov Or fax to 716 -551 -3241 • To Become an Approved Work Site: Send your request for approval via e-mail or fax as indicated above VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Contact Information For Students: • Toll free: 1 -888 -442 -4551 for Education Questions • Toll free: 1 -800 -827 -1000 for other VA questions • Submit a Question via www. gibill. va. gov For School VA Certifying Officials (only): • Local Education Liaison Representative (ELR) • Certification, regulatory requirements, VAONCE assistance – Hardship cases (i. e. certified student has no payment or communication from VA and has exhausted other contact resources) • National Hotline for School Certifying Officials 1 -888 -225 -1159 • General questions on student eligibility, claim status, payment status • Allow a passage of time before making an inquiry re: a 1999 Schools may establish account/make inquiry direct to the Buffalo RPO via www. gibill. va. gov “Submit A Question”. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 41