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Below is a brief
description of current VA education benefit programs. If you would
like a
detailed description of VA education benefits, please contact the
Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) or visit them on the web at
www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/benefits.htm
Chapter
30 – Montgomery GI Bill-Active
Duty (MGIB-AD)
The
MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits to qualified veterans. Generally, benefits are payable for up to 10 years
following the veteran's release from active duty.
A
student veteran may be eligible if s/he received an honorable
discharge, AND has a high school diploma or GED or, in some cases 12
hours of college credit, AND meets the following requirements:
-
Entered
active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985
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Had
military pay reduced by $100 a month for first 12 months
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Continuously
served for 3 years, OR 2 years if that is what s/he first enlisted for, OR
2 years if s/he entered Selected Reserve within a year of
leaving active duty and served 4 years ("2 by 4"
Program)
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Chapter 33- Post-9/11 GI Bill
The Post-9/11 GI
Bill provides up to 36 months of full-time education benefits for
service members or veterans who have served at least 90 aggregate
days on active duty. However, individuals honorably discharged for
a service-connected disability who served 30 continuous days after
September 10, 2001, may also establish eligibility. Individuals who
are eligible for this benefit may begin using it August 1, 2009, for
training that begins on or after that date.
The maximum basic benefit under the
Post-9/11 GI Bill provides the following:
-
Cost of tuition and fees, not to
exceed the most expensive in-state undergraduate tuition at a
public institution of higher learning in the state you are
attending school;
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Monthly
housing allowance equal to the basic allowance for housing
payable to an E-5 with dependents, in the same zip code as the
school; and
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Yearly books and supplies stipend of
up to $1,000 per year.
The maximum basic benefit is earned
after serving an aggregate of 36 months of active duty service or
after 30 days of continuous service for those individuals who were
discharged for a service-connected disability. Individuals serving
between 90 days and 36 months of aggregate active duty service will
be eligible for a percentage of the maximum benefit.
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Chapter
1606 - The Montgomery GI Bill -
Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
The
MGIB-SR program provides up to 36 months of education benefits to
qualified members 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.
If eligibility to this program began on
or after October 1, 1992, the period of eligibility ends 14 years
from the beginning date of eligibility, or on the day s/he leaves
the Selected Reserve. If eligibility began prior to October 1, 1992,
the period of eligibility ends 10 years from the beginning date of
eligibility, or on the day s/he leaves the Selected Reserve.
A
student may qualify if s/he meets the following requirements:
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Has
a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve signed
after June 30, 1985. If s/he is an officer, s/he must have agreed
to serve six years in addition to his/her original obligation. For
some types of training, it is necessary to have a six-year
commitment that begins after September 30, 1990;
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Completes
the initial active duty for training (IADT);
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Meets
the requirement to receive a high school diploma or equivalency
certificate before completing IADT. S/he may not use 12 hours
toward a college degree to meet this requirement
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Remains
in good standing while serving in the active Selected Reserve
Unit.
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Chapter 1607 -
Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
The
REAP program provides up to 36 months of education benefits to members
of the Selected Reserves, Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), and
National Guard, who are called or ordered to active service in
response to a war or national emergency, as declared by the
President or Congress.
Eligibility will be determined by the Department of Defense (DoD) or
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as appropriate.
Generally, a member of a Reserve component who serves on active duty
on or after September 11, 2001 under title 10, U.S. Code, for at
least 90 consecutive days under a contingency operation, is eligible
for REAP. There is no specific time frame to use REAP;
however, a student's eligibility generally ends when he leaves the
Selected Reserves.
National Guard members are eligible if their active service extends
for 90 consecutive days or more and their service is:
-
authorized under section 502(f), title 32, U.S. Code,
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authorized by the President or Secretary of Defense for a
national emergency, and
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supported by federal funds.
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Chapter
35 -
Survivors'
and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA)
The
DEA program 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.
A
student must be the son, daughter, or spouse of:
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A
veteran who died or is permanently and totally disabled as the
result of a service-connected disability. The disability must
arise out of active service in the Armed Forces.
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A
veteran who died from any cause while such service-connected
disability was in existence.
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A
servicemember missing in action or captured in line of duty by a
hostile force.
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A
servicemember forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a
foreign government or power.
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A servicemember who is hospitalized
or receiving outpatient treatment for a service connected
permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged
for that disability. This change is effective December 23, 2006.
If
the student is a son or daughter, s/he must generally
be between the ages of 18 and 26.
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Chapter
31 - VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E)
The
VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program helps
veterans with service-connected disabilities by offering them services
and assistance to help them prepare for, find, and keep suitable
employment.
The basic period of eligibility in which VR&E services may be used
is 12 years from the latter of either the date of separation from
active military service, or the
date the veteran was first notified by the VA of a service-connected
disability rating. The basic period of eligibility may be extended
if a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor determines that a veteran
has a serious employment handicap.
To receive an evaluation for VR&E
services, a veteran must:
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have received, or will receive, a
discharge that is other than dishonorable
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have a service-connected disability
rating of at least 10%
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submit a completed application for
VR&E services
Once
the VA has received the above information, the veteran is eligible to
participate in an evaluation to determine his/her need
for rehabilitation services.
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About
the Student Financial Services Office
VA
Education Benefit Programs
VA
Education Benefit Application Process
Application
Status and Payment Information
PA
National Guard Educational Assistance Program
Additional
Information for Dependents of Veterans
College
Credit for Military Training
FAQs
Withdrawal Checklist
Related
Links
Contact
the VA Certifying Official
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