WORKSTUDY ALLOWANCE PROGRAM Peter Nastasi VETERANS BENEFITS Work
WORK-STUDY ALLOWANCE PROGRAM Peter Nastasi VETERANS BENEFITS Work Study Supervisor ADMINISTRATION Buffalo RPO VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION October 7, 2016
Presentation Overview What is the VA Work-Study Program Who can Participate in VA the Program How does it benefit my school How can my school get an approval to participate in the VA Work-Study Program • How are Work-Study students paid • How can I get additional information • • VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 1
What is the VA Work-Study Program? • Supplemental program to VA’s education benefits • An additional allowance paid to students for performing VA-related activities • May be that special increment that makes a program of education or training feasible VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 2
Who Can Participate? Students must be receiving VA education benefits through Title 38 or Title 10 under one of the following education programs : • • Ch 30: Montgomery GI Bill® (MGIB) Ch 31: Vocational Rehabilitation Ch 32: Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) Ch 35: Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) Ch 1606: MGIB – Selected Reserve (SR) Ch 1607: Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) Ch 33: Post-9/11 GI Bill, including Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) and Fry Scholarship recipients GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 3
Student Qualifications • Students must be in receipt of VA education benefits at a minimum of ¾ training time or more. • Students must work at a VA approved work site VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 4
Work Site Types • VA Facilities (VBA, VHA, NCA) • Educational Institutions • Department of Defense (Do. D), Coast Guard or National Guard Facilities • Other state and local governments that service Veterans VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 5
How Does the Work-Study Program Benefit My School? • No cost to the school b/c VA pays the student • Students help with VA related activities • Students can assist other Veteran students • Potential to transition to full-time employment • Veterans helping Veterans VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 6
What Are Site Supervisor Responsibilities? • Provide direct supervision to WS Students • Provide appropriate training • Ensure only approved tasks are performed • Ensure only approved hours are worked and properly reported for payment • Read and understand the Work-Study Allowance Program Supervisor Handbook VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 7
What Duties Can and Cannot Be Performed? • Must perform work specifically listed in the site’s job description • 100% of tasks must be VA and Veteran related • Must work solely at the specific work site listed on the Work-Study time record • Work-Study students CANNOT provide transportation or operate a motorized vehicle VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 8
Job Duties… Approved duties include: – Dissemination of general information regarding veteran benefits and/or services – Preparation, processing, maintaining and organizing veteran-related files – VA outreach in a cooperative supervisory effort with a VA employee who is controlling the work activities. *** Any Outreach MUST be on campus. *** VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 9
Maximum Hours of Service • The maximum number of hours of Work-Study service that a student may perform during or between a period of enrollment is limited to 25 times the number of weeks in the applicable enrollment period excluding the period between the enrollments. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 10
Maximum Hours of Service (continued) • Students are not limited to the number of hours they may work each day, but are limited by the number of hours approved on their contract • Students are not eligible to receive overtime compensation • Students are covered under Worker’s Compensation laws for the duration of their Work-Study contract, but are not considered employees of the Department of Veteran Affairs VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 11
Becoming a Work Site location • Complete a Position/Job Description and return it to the Work-Study department for review and approval • We also need to know the number of student you are requesting (send emails to increase this number) • Once approved, VA will issue you a site approval letter and you may begin to recruit students • Send all information to WORKSTUDY. VBABUFF@va. gov VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 12
How do Students Apply for Work-Study benefits? • Student must complete VA Form 22 -8691, Application for Work-Study Allowance; NOTE: please ensure field 11, “Work Site Preference” has been completed. • Please send only the completed application; no other documents are necessary. • Email the completed application to: WORKSTUDY. VBABUFF@va. gov • Or fax the completed application to: (716) 551 -3241 VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 13
What Happens After VA Receives the Application? • The application is reviewed for accuracy – If approved, a Work-Study contract (22 -8692) is initiated, and the contract (22 -8692) and Time-Record (22 -8690) is emailed to the work site. – The contract will clearly state the time frame and number of approved hours – The contract MUST BE signed by the student and returned to VA – If the application is NOT approved, a detailed denial letter is sent to the student. A courtesy email may be sent to the site supervisor VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 14
What is the Difference Between a Contract and an Extension? • A contract is an original agreement between the student and VA • An extension is a continuation of the original agreement for up to one year from the beginning of the original contract; can be extended multiple times VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 15
How are Payments Made? • • Students can be paid every 50 hours or every two weeks Site supervisors review all time records for errors Site supervisors email or fax Work-Study student’s time to VA Time record is reviewed for accuracy by VA Work-Study VA CANNOT make time record corrections Time records are processed in order of receipt (2 Weeks) Students are paid the higher of either the state or federal minimum wage rate. (Tax Free) VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 16
VERY IMPORTANT!! • Work-Study students can only begin working after the contract or extension is approved by the VA • Agreements may not begin earlier than 30 days before term (might be able to work 30 days after) • Hours worked prior to approval, after a contract ends, or are in excess of the approved hours CANNOT be paid VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 17
More Information? • Refer to the Work-Study Allowance Program Site Supervisor Handbook • GI Bill website: www. gibill. va. gov • Contact the Buffalo RPO Work-Study Department Supervisor (Peter Nastasi) 716 -857 -3155 peter. nastasi@va. gov VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 18
How Do I Contact the Buffalo RPO Work. Study Department? Monday - Friday from 8 am to 4 pm EST Phone: (716) 857 -3155 ***Note: This line is for SITE SUPERVISORS ONLY*** Fax: (716) 551 -3241 Email: WORKSTUDY. VBABUFF@va. go Mail: Work-Study Department Buffalo Regional Processing Office 130 S. Elmwood Ave Buffalo NY 14202 VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 19
Thank You! Questions? VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 20
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