POST 9/11 GI BILL (Chapter 33) Presented by Spokane Community College Veterans’ Affairs Office

POST 9/11 GI BILL (Chapter 33)

Presented by Spokane Community College Veterans’ Affairs Office

We are all in this together… learning together

Ana Roney,Spokane Community College VA Certifying Official

THE GOOD NEWS…

…at this point in time…

What does Chapter 33 Provide?

Cost of tuition and fees (for applicable credits only) not to exceed the highest

cost of in-state undergraduate tuition at a public institution of higher learning in

the state you are attending school

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 (takes the

place of prior chapter monthly payments)

Yearly books and supplies stipend of up

to $1,000 per year

Extended delimiting date allows 15 years

from date of discharge to use benefits

Effective August 1, 2009:

Additional Provisions:

Tutorial Assistance:

Up to $100 per month not to exceed

a total of $1200.

VA Approved Licensing and Certification

test:

Only one test may be reimbursed, not to

exceed the cost of the test up to a maximum

of $2000.

Work Study:

Authorized for individuals training at

¾ time or higher. Only at VA approved

facilities

Rural Program: One time payment of $500 if student resides in a county with 6 persons or less per sq. mile and either:• Physically

relocates at least 500 miles or…

• Travels by air to physically attend an IHL (no other transportation exists)

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?Do you have the following?

90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001?

Discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days?

Exhausted your months of entitlement… or are about to exhaust your entitlement? (Can receive up to 12 more months if Chapter 30 entitlement exhausted!)

~~Then you may be eligible for Chapter 33 benefits~~

IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE…HOW MUCH WILL YOU RECEIVE? This chart is an indication only of the percentage you may be allowed. There are many variables in how applicable active duty time is calculated. Officially applying for this new bill is the only way to find out exactly what you will receive. VA must check with Department of Defense for full service information

POST 9/11 GI BILL (Ch 33) Benefit ChartIndividuals serving an aggregate period of active duty after 9/10/01 of:

Percentage of Maximum Benefit Payable (books at 100% = $1000 maximum per year):

At least 36 Months 100% of tuition, monthly housing allowance, books

At least 30 continuous days and discharged due to service-connected disability

100 % of tuition, monthly housing allowance, books

At least 30 months…less than 36 months 90 % of tuition, monthly housing allowance, books

At least 24 months…less than 30 months 80 % of tuition, monthly housing allowance, books

At least 18 months...less than 24 months 70 % of tuition, monthly housing allowance, books excludes service on active duty in entry level and skill training

At least 12 months…less than 18 months 60 % of tuition, monthly housing allowance, books excludes service on active duty in entry level and skill training

At least 6 months…less than 12 months 50 % of tuition, monthly housing allowance, books excludes service on active duty in entry level and skill training

At least 90 days…less than 6 months 40 % of tuition, monthly housing allowance, books excludes service on active duty in entry level and skill training

YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM

Tuition is covered up to the highest in-state

undergraduate tuition at a public institution.

Some schools charge higher

tuition than allowed

Those schools may enter into an agreement with the VA to contribute money up to 50% of the difference in

tuition for the student

VA will match school’s 50% contribution

Not all schools will offer Yellow Ribbon Program and may

offer it as they see fit

Only those veterans with

100% benefits will be eligible

Access www.gibill.va.gov

for more information

Chapter 30 (MGIB) Contribution Refund

Once you have exhausted your entitlement under the Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) you will be refunded a portion of your $1,200 contribution.

If you do not exhaust your Post 9/11 entitlement you will not receive a refund.

Refund of Extra $600 contribution is not authorized.

THE NOT SO GOOD NEWS…

Well…Some things to be mindful of:

To be eligible servicemember must:

Be on active Duty on August 1, 2009 Complete 6 years of active duty Enlist for 4 more years

More Questions? Check with your branch for further DOD information

Transfer of Entitlement:DOD (Department of Defense) is in complete charge of this

program (subject to change at any time)

You must have 36 months of active duty after 9/11 to receive 100% of the bill’s benefits. Anything less will allow for prorated amounts.

Tuition will be sent to the school. Quarterly prorated book amount and allowed college fund and education kicker payments will be sent to the student as lump sum separate payments at the beginning of each quarter.

REMEMBER: VA will pay tuition only for classes that are required for graduation in your specific program.

Other Things to Consider:

Housing allowance replaces current monthly payment. Housing allowance is scheduled to be received monthly but may not be received in a fluid manner and may be received later than usual.

Schools must certify each quarter/semester separately (instead of certifying the school year) to the VA. Many schools will be unable to certify a student until a completed, final registration is received from the student.

…This new certifying process will cause a delay in your monthly payments.

There is a potential for much larger VA overpayments. Now overpayments may also include prorated amounts of VA paid tuition. Best Advice to limit overpayments: Be very careful to select applicable classes. Do not submit your registration to the Veterans Office until you have completely finalized your schedule.

Rate of pursuit must be greater than 50% to receive anything more than tuition and books. VA Work Study pursuit must be 75% (9 credits) . Seven credits is usually 51% of pursuit at quarter system institutions.

If rate of pursuit is 50% or below (1-6 credits) no housing allowance available…books and tuition will be prorated down.

$600 Buy-Up kicker will not be recognized under Chapter 33 (and is not refundable)

(Other kickers, such as College Fund, Guard/Reserve kickers will apply)

Distance Learning such as online courses, telecourses, etc are not recognized for payment unless at least one class is campus based.

Vocational type training , including flight training and apprenticeship/OJT are not covered under Chapter 33 and will be paid at the Chapter 30 rate.

If a vocational/professional technical program is approved for a IHL (institution of higher learning such as SCC, SFCC, EWU, WSU, etc.) Program may be paid using Chapter 33 benefits.

Once you elect to receive Chapter 33 benefits --

it is irrevocable

REMEMBER

Review everything available by accessing information contained on the VA Education Website www.gibill.va.gov before you make a decision.

Use the website to submit questions or call the VA. Schools are unable to advise you regarding this important decision.

REMEMBER

How Does this all Work at Spokane Community College?

1. Access the application for

Chapter 33 online at

www.gibill.va.gov.

You may apply online using

VONAPP

OR…Download the

application and mail to the

Muskogee, OK address

provided..

2. After VA processes your application they

will send you a Certificate of Eligibility

letter (COE).

3. Register for your classes. Be

certain your schedule is in its

final stage . Bring your COE

letter and completed schedule to

SCC;s Veterans Office for

Processing

A VIEW OF THE WWW.GIBILL.VA.GOV WEBSITE

Again…Bring your Certificate of Eligibility letter and completed schedule to SCC’s Veterans Affairs Office for processing.

Please be patient

The VA is doing the best they can to administer this new GI Bill without all the processing needs in place. They may be late in processing your award .

A side note: The VA is in place to administer the laws …not create them. If you are unhappy with GI Bill regulations please contact your Federal legislative representative(s)

MORE INFORMATION?:VA Website: www.gibill.va.gov

Military Website: www.military.com

VA Phone: 1-888-442-4551

SCC Veterans Office: 1-509-533-7027SCC Veterans Affairs Website:

http://www.scc.spokane.edu/stsrv/va/