U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Education Benefit ProgramPrograms and EligibilityPost 9/11 GI Bill-Chapter 33 The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. As of August 1, 2009, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is effective for training. The Post 9-11 GI Bill will pay eligible individuals: ·Tuition & fees directly to the school not to exceed the maximum rate of USD439.69 per hour ·A monthly housing allowance which is currently fixed at USD1,333.00 ·An annual books & supplies stipend of USD1,000 paid proportionately based on enrollment. ·A one-time rural benefit payment for eligible individuals. The Post-9/11 GI Bill also offers some service members the opportunity to transfer their GI bill to dependents.
Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill – Active DutyGeneral Eligibility: - You must have first enlisted on or after July 1, 1985;
- You must have served honourably;
- You must have had a pay reduction of USD$1,200.00; and
- You must have had continuous active duty equal to or greater than your initial enlistment period.
Maximum entitlement
36 months. Extensions may be granted to the end of the Semester if the entitlement expires during the Semester. Timeframe
You have ten years from your discharge date to use your educational benefits. ‘Kickers’ and the $600 Buy-up Program
A kicker is part of an enlistment contract. For example, if a contract has a USD$3,600 kicker, then the monthly kicker is USD$100 (USD$3,600 divided by 36 months). Some service members may contribute up to an additional $600 to the GI Bill to receive increased monthly benefits. For an additional $600 contribution, you may receive up to $5400 in additional GI Bill benefits. The increased benefit is only payable after leaving active duty, and the additional contribution must be made while on active duty. Chapter 35: Dependents Educational AssistanceA child or spouse of a service-connected deceased or 100 percent disabled veteran may be eligible for VA educational benefits. Benefits may be used until the dependent has reached the age of 27 or 8 years from the date of eligibility is determined, whichever is later. Maximum entitlement
45 months. No extensions except for a child in special restorative training. Timeframe
A child has eight years to use the educational benefits. A spouse has ten years to use the educational benefits. Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill – Selected ReserveThe 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. Eligibility for this program is determined by the Department of Defence (DoD) or Department of Homeland Security (DHS). VA makes the payments for this program. To qualify, you must meet the following requirements: - Have a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve signed after June 30, 1985. If you are an officer, you must have agreed to serve six years in addition to your original obligation. For some types of training, it is necessary to have a six-year commitment that begins after September 30, 1990;
- Complete your initial active duty for training (IADT);
- Meet the requirement to receive a high school diploma or equivalency certificate before completing IADT. You may not use 12 hours toward a college degree to meet this requirement; and
- Remain in good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit.
Maximum entitlement
You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits. No extensions will be granted. Timeframe
If your eligibility to this program began on or after October 1, 1992, your period of eligibility ends 14 years from your beginning date of eligibility, or on the day you leave the Selected Reserve. Chapter 1607: Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP)This program provides 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 DoD or DHS. 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; however, your eligibility generally ends when you leave the Selected Reserves. Maximum entitlement
You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits. No extensions will be granted. Timeframe
No end date while continuing to serve in the Selected Reserve or in the Inactive Ready Reserve. Other programs include Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation, Chapter 32: Veterans Education Assistance Program (VEAP) and Chapter 34: Vietnam Era GI Bill. Please go to www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/benefits.htm for more information.
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