Agenda
• Point of Contact
• Types of benefits available
• Regulatory requirements
• Packaging
Who are our veteran beneficiaries?
• Nontraditional students whose academic paths are shaped
by military service
• Persist in their education despite numerous challenges
• Are largely enrolling in and graduating from public schools
• Pursue high-growth, high-demand fields
• Use benefits to achieve higher levels of education
Student Veteran Graduation Rate*
*SVA Million Records Project
Who is our point of contact?
• Certifying official
• Director
• Veterans Affairs
• Advisor
• Other
What Benefits Are Available?
• The Post 9-11 GI Bill
• Montgomery GI Bill
• REAP
• VEAP
• DEA
• TA ‘Top-Up’
Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30)
• Up to 36 months of education benefits.
• Paid monthly to the student directly
• The monthly benefit paid is based on the type of training
received, length of service, category, and if DOD put extra
money in student’s MGIB Fund (called "kickers").
Veterans Education Assistance Program (VEAP,
Chapter 32)
VEAP is available for those who entered active duty between January 1,
1977 and June 30, 1985 and elected to make contributions from military
pay to participate in this program.
Reservist Education Assistance Program (REAP,
Chapter 32)
REAP is an education program providing 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.
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance
Program (DEA, CH35)
DEA 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.
Tuition Assistance Top-Up
• Must be active duty; if student is not, he/she will be
required to re-enlist to get benefit
• The benefit equals the cost of a course minus the total
tuition assistance paid
• Must be eligible for GI Bill benefits (Ch30 or Ch33)
• Benefit cannot exceed cost of course
• Used mostly by part-time students and distance learners
• Paid Directly to School
• Transferable
• Public school tuition covered 100%
• Private tuition covered up to
academic year National Maximum*
• Yellow Ribbon Matching
• Monthly Housing Allowance
• Stipends
*with the exception of Private IHL in the following states: AZ, MI, NH,
NY, PA, SC, and TX
Eligibility %
Cumulative Active Duty
Service since 9/11/01
100%
36+ months
90%
30-35 months
80%
24-30 months
70%
18-23 months
60%
12-17 months
50%
6 months
40%
90 days
30 days + service connected
discharge
100%
http://newgibill.org/calculator/
1. Student completes Veterans On- Line Application (VONAPP)
2. Eligibility is determined and a certificate of eligibility (COE) is sent
to the student
3. The student sends a copy of the COE to the school’s certifying
official
4. Certifying official confirms student’s enrollment status and reports
through the VAONCE system
5. Financial aid office confirms eligibility and determines student’s
final award package with the benefits included
The Veteran’s Award: Regulatory Requirements
34 CFR 673.5(c)(2)(v)
The Secretary does not consider as estimated financial
assistance Federal veterans’ education benefits including
but not limited to Chapters 30 and 33, REAP, and DEA*
Public Law 111-377
Institution must report the in-state tuition and fees
assessed by the institution not to exceed the highest instate tuition rate minus any scholarships and/or discounts.
The VA will pay the resulting net in-state tuition/fee charges
after all applicable aid has been applied.
*See Volume 3 of the FSA Handbook for more details
Putting it all Together
ED mandates that VA Education Benefits cannot reduce a
student’s need for federal student aid.
VA mandates that it will only pay for tuition and fees after
all other aid (except Title IV) has been taken into
consideration
A student with in-state tuition of $18,000 receiving a
tuition specific scholarship of $16,000 will only be eligible
to receive $2,000 from her Post 9/11 GI Bill, even if she is
eligible at 100% for up to $18,000 a year.
However, the student’s $2,000 will not count against her
eligibility for Pell Grant money or other federal funds.
Putting it all Together
Josephine Sergeant – Post 9/11 Beneficiary, Independent 1st year student
Tuition/Fees $30,000
Room & Board $12,000
Tuition Specific Sch $16,000
Pell Grant $2,000
Books & Suppl. $2,000
Subsidized $3,500
Transportation $1,000
Unsubsidized $4,000
Miscellaneous $1,000
Comprehensive costs: $46,000
Post 9/11 GI Bill @ 80% $11,200
Total: $34,900
VA says it will give Josephine 80% of cost of national average (up to
$17,500) after her scholarship has been applied:
$30,000 - $16,000 = $14,000
$14,000 x $80% = $11,200
Putting it all Together
Josephine Sergeant – Post 9/11 Beneficiary, Independent 1st year student
Tuition/Fees $30,000
Room & Board $11,000
General Scholarship $16,000
Pell Grant $2,000
Books & Suppl. $2,000
Subsidized $3,500
Transportation $1,000
Unsubsidized $4,000
Miscellaneous $1,000
Post 9/11 GI Bill @ 100% $17,500
Yellow Ribbon $11,500
Comprehensive costs: $46,000
Total: $53,500
VA says it will give Josephine 100% of cost of tuition (capped at $17,500) but scholarship
can be applied towards all comprehensive costs including books. She was also awarded
the Yellow Ribbon scholarship:
$16,000 – $15,000 = $1,000
$29,000 - $17,500 = $11,500
Putting it all Together
Pedro Jiminez – Montgomery GI Bill Beneficiary, Independent 1st year
student
Tuition/Fees $30,000
Room & Board $12,000
Tuition Specific Sch. $16,000
Pell Grant $2,000
Books & Suppl. $2,000
Subsidized $3,500
Transportation $1,000
Unsubsidized $4,000
Miscellaneous $1,000
Comprehensive costs: $46,000
Montgomery GI Bill $14,832
Total: $40,332
VA says it will give Pedro his full monthly benefit of $1,648 each month enrolled full-time,
regardless of any other scholarships applied. Pedro will be taking 9 months of classes.
$1,648 x 9 months = $14,832
Section 480( c) of the HEA includes information about
excluding veterans’ education benefits from EFA.
However, only the
Yellow Ribbon
portion of the
institutional award
is excluded as EFA.
Tuition Gap = $11,500
VA Pays $5,750
Institution Pays $5,750
The Veteran’s Award: Housing Allowance
HEA Sec. 472: Cost of Attendance and BAH
For students living in housing located on a military
base or housing for which they receive a military
housing allowance (Basic Allowance for Housing,
“BAH”), the room and board COA component shall
include an allowance for board only.
The Veteran’s Award: Housing Allowance
SCO Handbook V3: Distance Learning and the Housing
Allowance
Effective October 1, 2011. Individuals only enrolled in
distance learning courses will be eligible for a monthly
housing allowance equal to 50% of the national average of
all Basic Allowances for Housing.
Putting it all Together
Rosie Riveter – Post 9/11 Beneficiary, Independent 1st year student,
distance learner living on military base
Tuition $30,000
Tuition Specific Sch.
$16,000
Room & Board $12,000 $5,000
Pell Grant
$2,000
Fees $1,000
Subsidized
$3,500
Books & Suppl. $2,000
Unsubsidized
$4,000
Transportation $1,000
Post 9/11 GI Bill @ 100%
$4,000
Miscellaneous $1,000
Yellow Ribbon*
Comprehensive Costs $40,000
VA Pays 100% of tuition minus scholarship
$30,000 - $16,000 = $4,000
None
Total: $29,500
*Rosie is still active duty, so therefore
ineligible for Yellow Ribbon funds
Student is packaged above the COA. How
can this be?
ED Electronic Announcement 8/13/09
Institutions may not exclude from COA the
amount of VA education benefits
VA Awarding Considerations
• Limiting veteran student loan debt
• Transparency surrounding the combination of VA
Benefits with institutional aid
• Gap between FAFSA and VONAPP: how to identify
students sooner
QUESTIONS?
Melody DeFlorio, Associate Director Norwich University
[email protected]
802-485-2019