"Back to School" - VA Education Benefits

1. Helen Budd
Veterans Certifying Evaluator
University of Michigan-Flint
“Back To School”
VA Education
Benefits

2. Which Benefit?
 Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (Ch. 30)
 Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (Ch. 1606)
 REAP (Ch. 1607)
 Post-9/11 GI Bill (Ch. 33)
 Survivors and Dependents Assistance
 Voc. Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31)

3. Montgomery GI Bill – Ch. 30
 Basic eligibility:
 Entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985.
 Received a high school diploma or equivalent before the
end of your first obligated period of service.
 Received an honorable discharge.
 Continuously served at least two years of a two-year
enlistment or three years of an enlistment of three years
or longer.
 Participated in the MGIB program (typically $1,200, plus
optional buy-up during first 12 months of service).
 Time limit: 10 years.

4. Montgomery GI Bill – Ch. 30
 Payment:
 Based on enrollment status (full-time, three-quarter, time,
etc).
 Paid at the END of each month of enrollment.
 Student must self-verify at the end of each month.
 Amount of $$ each month may differ depending on
semester or course start and end dates.
 Payment sent directly to the student, NOT to the school.

5. Montgomery GI Bill-SR –
Ch. 1606
 Basic eligibility:
 Signed a six-year obligation to serve in the Reserve or
National Guard after June 30, 1985.
 Completed Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT).
 Received a high school diploma or equivalent before
completing IADT.
 Remain in good standing in a drilling SR unit.
 Benefits generally end the day you separate from the
military.

6. Montgomery GI Bill-SR –
Ch. 1606
 Payment:
 Based on enrollment status (full-time, three-quarter, time,
etc).
 Paid at the END of each month of enrollment.
 Student must self-verify at the end of each month.
 Amount of $$ each month may differ depending on
semester or course start and end dates.
 Payment sent directly to the student, NOT to the school.

7. REAP - Ch. 1607
 Basic eligibility:
 Individuals who served in the Selected Reserve or IRR and
National Guard who are ordered to active service in
response to a war or national emergency, as declared by
the President or Congress (OEF/OIF).
 May be eligible after serving 90 consecutive days on active
duty after September 10, 2001.
 Can be eligible for 10 years after separating.

8. REAP – Ch. 1607
 Payment:
 Based on enrollment status (full-time, three-quarter, time,
etc).
 Full-time rate for college training after 2 consecutive
years of service is 80% of the MGIB-AD rate.
 Paid at the END of each month of enrollment.
 Student must self-verify at the end of each month.
 Amount of $$ each month may differ depending on
semester or course start and end dates.
 Payment sent directly to the student, NOT to the school.

9. Post-9/11 GI Bill - Ch. 33
 Basic eligibility:
 Individuals who served on active duty after September 10,
2001.
 May be eligible after serving 90 aggregate days on active
duty after September 10, 2001, and either still on active
duty or honorably discharged from active duty.
 Includes activated members of the National Guard and
Reserves under Title 10 U.S. Code.
 Includes National Guard members activated under Title 32
U.S. Code.
 Can be eligible for 15 years after separating.
 Can elect Ch. 33 if eligible for more than one benefit.

10. Post-9/11 GI Bill - Ch. 33
Individuals serving an aggregate period of active duty
after September 10, 2001, of:
Percentage of Maximum
Benefit
Payable
At least 36 months 100%
At least 30 continuous days and discharged due to
serviceconnected disability
100%
At least 30 months < 36 months 90%
At least 24 months < 30 months 80%
At least 18 months < 24 months 70%
At least 12 months < 18 months 60%
At least 6 months < 12 months 50%
At least 90 days < 6 months 40%

11. Post-9/11 GI Bill - Ch. 33
 Components:
 Up to 100% of tuition and fees. Eligibility tier dependent
upon total aggregate active duty. Range: 40% - 100%
 Paid directly to the school.
 Basic Allowance for Housing.
 Based on DoD BAH rate for zip code of school.
 Must have at least 1 credit on campus and be full-time to
qualify for full amount (according to eligibility tier).
 Paid directly to student.
 Books/Supplies Stipend
 Max. $1,000 or 24 credit hours per year. Renews each Fall.
 Paid directly to student.

12. Post-9/11 GI Bill - Ch. 33
 Transfer of Entitlement:
 Qualified active duty service members may be able to
transfer all or part of Post-9/11 entitlement to
dependents.
 New four-year commitment is generally required.
 Service member submits Transfer request to DoD.
 Once approved, family members must apply to the VA to use
transferred benefits.
 Benefits can be transferred to more than one person (no more
than 36 months combined).
 Children's benefit expires on their 26th birthday.

13. Survivors and Dependents
Education Assistance
 Chapter 35 - Basic Information:
 Offers up to 45 months of education benefits to
dependents of veterans who are permanently or totally
disabled or who died of a service-connected disability.
 Children must be between ages of 18 and 26.
 The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry
Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) is available for children
and spouses of Servicemembers who died in the line of
duty after September 10, 2001.
 Use VA form 22-5490 to apply for Ch. 35 OR Fry
Scholarship. Must relinquish one or the other.

14. Vocational Rehabilitation and
Employment – Ch. 31
 Chapter 31 - Basic Information:
 Have a VA disability rating of 20% or greater, or 10% with a
serious employment handicap.
 Must have an honorable or other than dishonorable
discharge.
 If approved, veteran is assigned to a VA Counselor who will
determine an appropriate rehabilitation plan.

15. Education
Benefits
Michele Traver
Operations Coordinator - Records
School Certifying Official
Mott Community College

16. Education
Benefits
How to find a school and apply for benefits.
Student responsibilities for using education benefits

17. WEAMS
Web Enabled Approval
Management System
WEAMS is used to store VA and State Approving Agency (SAA) approval
information. That information may be entered by VA Central Office
(VACO) personnel, Education Liaison Representatives (ELRs), Education
Compliance Survey Specialists (ECSSs) and, in some instances, SAAs.
The information is viewed by Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
personnel (e.g., Veterans Claims Examiners (VCEs) and Vocational
Rehabilitation and Education (VRE) case managers) and public users.
VBA personnel use this approval information to determine claimant
eligibility to benefits for education and training offered by schools and
job training establishments – and is what is reviewed when a
certification of enrollment (VA Form 22-1999) is received by VA for
processing. - 2013 NAVPA Conference Handout

18. WEAMS
Provided on the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website
as a school locator tool.
http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/school_locator.asp

19. WEAMS
What is the Veterans Affairs WEAMS Search?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LOsoO2W4Rk

20. VONAPP
Veterans On-line Application
The VONAPP website is an official U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) website that enables service
members, veterans and their beneficiaries, and other
designated individuals to apply for benefits using the
Internet.
https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/vonapp

21. VONAPP
Veterans can access VONAPP through the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs website at
http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/apply.asp at clicking on
the “Apply online” link

22. Student Responsibilities
 Apply for benefits
 Register and utilize eBenefits
 Verify Enrollment
 Visit school Veteran’s Services Office
 Present your letter of eligibility
 Choose a program of study
 Register for classes
 Turn in your schedule for certification
 Notify personnel of changes to your schedule or benefits
One school’s process may differ from another school’s process. ALWAYS
consult with the Veteran’s Services Office or Certifying Official!

23. Vocational
Rehabilitation &
Employment
John Riskovich, MSW
VA VR&E Counselor