Veterans Education Benefits

• Must have entered active duty after June 30, 1985.
• Discharge must be honorable.
• Must have completed initial contractual active duty obligation or separated early with a qualifying reason.
• A contributory program: $1200 through payroll deduction.
• Optional $600 "buy up" program or kicker.
• Up to 36 months of full-time entitlement; 10 years from date of discharge to use it.

• VA must determine whether you qualify.
• Once approved you will receive a 28-1905 which must be forwarded to BC3.
• Eligible tuition, fees, books, and supplies are billed to the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
• You must be enrolled at least half-time to receive a subsistence allowance.
• Deviations from your rehabilitation plan should be approved by your case manager prior to registration.
• Pays an additional subsistence allowance for dependents.
• Up to 48 months of full-time entitlement to be used over a maximum of 12 years.

Attention all POST 9/11 Applicants: You must submit a Certificate of Eligibility Letter to the VA Coordinator at BC3 to apply Post 9/11 benefits toward your tuition.

• New GI Bill® effective August 1, 2009.
• 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.
• Must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.
• The benefit level is determined based upon an individual's aggregate qualifying active duty service.
• Up to 36 months of entitlement and 15 years to use from date of last discharge separation.
• Three part benefit: Tuition and fees at the school of the veteran's choice - limited to the in-state tuition for the highest priced undergraduate public Institution of Higher Learning (IHL). Up to 100% reimbursement.
• Monthly housing allowance of up to the BAH payable for an E-5 with dependents located in the zip code of the educational institution where the individual is enrolled. The BAH is not payable to individuals on active duty or those enrolled at half time or less. You must be registered for 7 or more credits to receive the BAH benefit. If you are enrolled entirely in an online or distance learning program the BAH payment is limited to 50% of your percentage benefit level as determined by the VA.
• Up to a $1,000 annual stipend for books and supplies.
• Optional kicker.

Section 107:
Effective August 1, 2018, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® MHA is calculated based on the location of the campus where you attend the majority of your classes, rather than the location of the main or branch campus of the school where you are enrolled. If you are using your Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits to complete your program at different locations, your MHA rate will be based on where you are physically taking the majority of classes. If your residential course load is split equally at different campuses, you will be paid based on the location with the higher rate.

Some students took classes outside of the main or branch campus at a location VA defines as an “extension campus.” VA defines an extension campus as “a location that is geographically apart from the main or branch campus but is operationally dependent on that campus for the performance of administrative tasks.”

If you attend classes at an extension campus, it is important to check the MHA rate using the GI Bill® Comparison Tool at VA.gov/gi-bill-comparison-tool/ to see what your MHA rate will be beginning December 1. The GI Bill® Comparison Tool is updated with Academic Year 2019-2020 rates.

Section 501:
Effective January 1, 2018, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® monthly housing allowance (MHA) will be the same as the Department of Defense’s E-5 with dependents basic allowance for housing (BAH) rate.

You will receive this rate if you first used your Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits on or after January 1, 2018. If you started using your Post-9/11 GI Bill® before January 1, 2018, you will continue receiving MHA payments based on the slightly higher VA rate.

While making IT system updates to be able to process rates stipulated by 501, VA has continued paying MHA at the higher VA rate. For some beneficiaries, this means that you were/are being overpaid since August 1, 2018 and will begin receiving the corrected rate this year after December 1.

Please note: If you were overpaid because of these changes VA will automatically review your claim for waiver of the debt and provide additional information on this process to you. If you have any question, the letters will provide a phone number, or you can call the VBA Education Hotline at 1-888-GI-BILL (1-888-442-4551). For students outside the U.S., call 001-918-781-5678.

• Service members enrolled in the Post-9/11 GI Bill® program are able to transfer unused educational benefits to their spouses or children starting August 1, 2009.
• A family member must be enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS) and be eligible for benefits at the time of transfer to receive transferred educational benefits.
• The veteran must go to the Department of Defense (DOD) transferability application website to determine if your dependents are eligible to receive the transferred benefits. This website is only available to military members.
• Upon approval, family members may apply to use transferred benefits with VA by completing VA Form 22-1990e. VA Form 22-1990e should only be completed and submitted to VA by the family member after DOD has approved the request for TEB.

• For qualified dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled or deceased because of a service-connected disability.
• May receive benefits until your eligibility period ends or you use all of your entitlement, whichever one comes first.
• Requires a special file number or social security number of veteran which must be included on all VA paperwork.

• This program is for members of the reserve component of the Armed Forces who agreed to serve 6 years in the Selected Reserve beginning after June 30, 1985.
• Reserve components determine eligibility for the program. The payments are processed by the VA.
• Must complete your Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT) and maintain Selected Reserve Status.
• Entitlement ends the date you separate from the Selected Reserve or 10 years from the date your eligibility began, whichever is earlier.
• Optional kicker.

• For members of the reserve components.
• Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve who are called or ordered to active duty on or after September 11, 2001, for at least 90 consecutive days under a contingency operation, in response to a war or national emergency, as declared by the President or Congress. Eligibility will be determined by the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security as appropriate.
• The allowance payable under REAP is a percentage of the MGIB Active Duty rate based on the number of continuous days served on active duty.
• Selected Reserve and Ready Reserve members must remain eligible for this benefit by continuing to serve in the Selected Reserve.
• Members receive 36 months of entitlement after serving the minimum 90 days.
• Option $600 "buy up" program and kicker.

Applications and appropriate documentation should be completed at least 8-12 weeks prior to your term starting date to ensure timely processing.

If you are applying for the first time or switching to the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, you will need to do one of the following:

• Complete the VA application.
• Complete the BC3 VA Enrollment Form.
  • Please attach a copy of the online application or confirmation page.

If you are returning to BC3 after a break in enrollment or transferring to BC3, you must complete the BC3 Enrollment Form and a Change of Place Training Form. If you are utilizing benefits under the Chapter 35 program, you must use the Dependent Change of Place Training form.

Once the VA has determined your eligibility for Post 9/11 Chapter 33, you should send  a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility to the Veterans Coordinator at BC3.

GI Bill® funds are sent directly to the student electronically or by check, not the college. Chapter 30, Chapter 1607 (REAP) and Chapter 1606 veterans must verify their enrollment on the last day of each month enrolled before the next GI Bill® payment is issued.

You can verify your enrollment in the following ways:

• Phone in your enrollment information 1.877.823.2378
• Verify via website www.gibill.va.gov, then click on WAVE

Veterans are encouraged to contact the Department of Veterans Affairs at 1.888.442.4551 (option 2) for the most current information including questions regarding payment.

Together with the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, PHEAA administers this tuition assistance program for dependents (spouses and children) of PA Guard Members who enter into an additional 6-year service commitment with the Pennsylvania National Guard.

Grant Information: https://www.pheaa.org/funding-opportunities/aid-for-military-national-guard/military-family-education.shtml

Eligibility:

To be considered for the MFEP, you must be:

A Guard Member:

• Someone who completed an initial service obligation, on or after July 1, 2019, in the Pennsylvania National Guard and be eligible to reenlist in the Pennsylvania National Guard for a period of 6 years

A Family Member:

• Someone who is a spouse or child of a Pennsylvania National Guard member who meets the above criteria and has assigned the benefit to the family member.
• Someone who is enrolled in a degree or certificate-granting program of study at an approved Pennsylvania institution

Minimum/Maximums Awards

Undergraduates and Graduates Full-Time Attendance, the lesser of:
100% of the tuition plus technology fee at the institution where you are enrolled OR The annual tuition rate and technology fee charged to a Pennsylvania resident at a state-owned university

Undergraduates and Graduates Part-Time Attendance, the lesser of:
100% of the tuition plus technology fee for a part-time course of study OR The per credit tuition rate charged to a Pennsylvania resident at a state-owned university plus technology fee

• The MFEP grant can be used for a degree-granting curriculum or certificate-granting, course of study, or training programs required for entrance into a specific career as determined by PHEAA at an approved PHEAA institution of higher learning for up to 5 academic years.
• The PA Guard Member can assign the entire benefit to one dependent or a portion of the benefit to more than one dependent.
• If you fail to honor the service commitment with the Pennsylvania National Guard, you must repay your total MFEP award amount, plus interest.

Length of Dependent Eligibility

• A spouse can use the assigned MFEP benefit up to 6 years after the member’s separation from the PA Guard.
• Children can use the assigned MFEP benefit before reaching 26 years of age.

A state-funded program which awards an education grant in the amount of tuition to qualifying National Guard members.

Paperwork is initiated through the Guard unit, and should be submitted at least 2-3 months prior to the term. When eligibility is determined, the student receives an award letter indicating the amount of tuition payment; payment is made directly to the student's account. Students who receive EAP are also eligible for the GI Bill®.

Criteria for eligibility

• Must be enrolled in an accredited Commonwealth of PA college that is PHEAA approved.
• Must be enrolled in approved program of education.
• Must be a member in good standing of the National Guard with an obligation to serve for 6 years from date of entry into the program. This obligation may be incurred through enlistment/reenlistment/extension.
• Must be a resident of Pennsylvania 12 months prior to enrollment.
• Must be a Private through Sergeant major, Warrant Officer 1 or 2, or Lieutenant.
• May not possess a Bachelors degree or higher degree, if full-time.
• May not be an ROTC Scholarship participant.
• Failure to complete the 6 year service agreement of being deemed an unsatisfactory participant will result in repayment of all monies paid under the EAP, plus interest & fees.
• Eligibility is limited to five years of full-time or part-time grants, or the equivalent.

Application Process

• Enlist, reenlist or extend enlistment for 6 years.
• Obtain application from PANG Education Officer, submit application, cost and promissory note for the EAP to the PANG Education Officer.
• Enroll in an approved program at a PHEAA approved school.
• Have PANG Education Officer verify eligibility and send application to PHEAA.
• School and student are notified of student's EAP eligibility; school verifies enrollment; PHEAA disburses monies to the school.

Members of the Reserves or National Guard may be eligible for annual loan repayment of 15% of eligible loans or $500, whichever is greater.

Maximum payment will not exceed $10,000 in most cases; maximum annual payment will not exceed $1,500 plus interest. Contact the National Guard or Reserve recruiting station.

• Basic eligibility: enlisting for 6 years, 8 years, or extending enlistment of 3-6 years; AFQT score of 50+ for NPS only; not a permanent technician or AGR; MOS qualified, and have a position vacancy; must execute form through Reserve/Guard unit to select Student Loan Repayment (SLR).
• Which loans qualify for repayment: Stafford, Perkins, parental (PLUS), Federally Insured Student Loans (FISL), Auxiliary Loans (ALAS).
• Scope of repayment: loans secured prior to, on, or after date of enlistment, or those which have been secured for at least one year. SLR can be combined with enlistment bonus, retention bonus, GI Bill®, Tuition Credit or ACES programs.
• How to apply: Soldier completes Part I of form DD2475 (DOD Annual Loan Repayment Application) obtained from Reserve/Guard unit; unit completes Part II and sends to lender (bank); bank completes part III and returns form to unit for payment processing.
• Termination of repayment: termination will occur if soldier completes term of service, is reclassified to ineligible MOS, becomes an unsatisfactory participant, or separates from the Reserve/Guard as an enlisted person, fails to extend term of service for period of non-availability, or is enrolled in the Active Duty portion of the Montgomery GI Bill®.
• The federal government has special programs available for military related students in regards to interest and repayment of loans. Find more here.
• The branches of the military also offer Student Loan Repayment. Students who are eligible for this program should check with their unit regarding how to activate the program. The Army offers information online about its Loan Repayment Program.

The VA Work Study program permits eligible students to perform VA-related services in return for payment based on the higher of the Federal or State minimum wage. An eligible person may work up to 25 hours a week in the enrollment period and must have remaining entitlement under the below GI Bill® programs. Students may work at a school VA office, VA regional office or medical facility, or approved State employment office.
The VA work-study allowance is available to persons training on a full-time or ¾ time basis under the following programs: (https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/workstudy.asp#INTRO)

• Post-9/11 GI Bill®--(38 U.S.C. Chapter 33) (Veterans and transfer-of-entitlement recipients)
• Montgomery GI Bill®--Active Duty (38 U.S.C. Chapter 30)
• REAP Participants
• Montgomery GI Bill®--Selected Reserve (10 U.S.C. Chapter 1606)
  • Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (38 U.S.C. Chapter 35)
  • Eligible dependents under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 may use work study only while training in a State.
  • National Call to Service Participants
  • Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Program -- (38 U.S.C. Chapter 31)

The VA will provide money to help defray the cost of a tutor, with certain limitations. The maximum amount payable per month is $100 with a maximum total amount for any one student of $1,200 per year.

This benefit tuition reimbursement is paid directly to the college through paperwork submitted at the time of registration. There are no monthly benefits associated with this option. Your paperwork should be submitted to the Finance Office and not the VA Certifying Official.

It is recommended that you see your unit Retention or Education Officer early for advice on eligibility, unit processes, and timeframes for requesting tuition assistance so that after you enroll in courses you can be prepared to present all payment related documents i.e. tuition assistance form, degree audit signed by an advisor and school bill to the Finance Office before the payment deadline.

The period of eligibility for spouses of service members who died on active duty expires 20 years form the date of death. This is a change in law that became effective Dec. 10, 2004. Spouses of service members who died on active duty whose 10-year eligibility period expired Dec. 10, 2004, now have 20 years from the date of death to use educational benefits.

Chapter 35 - Survivors and Dependents Education Benefits

Survivors of deceased veterans, spouses of living veterans and children of either who are between 18 and 26 years of age may be eligible if the veteran's death or permanent/total disability was the result of service in the Armed Forces. Eligibility of spouses generally extends to 10 years from the date of death or establishment of total disability. In certain cases, the age limit for children may be extended. For detailed program descriptions go to www.gibill.va.gov/education/benefits.htm

REPS (Restored Entitlement Program for Survivors)

REPS benefits are a restoration of Social Security benefits that were reduced or terminated by the Omnibus Act (1981). The DVA pays the benefits to certain surviving spouses or children between 18 and 22 of a veteran who either died on active duty before August 13, 1981.

For eligibility information, contact the Dept of Veterans Affairs (DVA) at 1-800-827-1000.

Educational Gratuity Program (for dependents)

The applicant must be the child of a veteran whose 100% disability is war or armed conflict service-connected, or who died while on active duty or as a result of service-connected disability, hostile fire, or a terrorist attack during peacetime, as determined the Dept. of Military Affairs. An applicant must be between the ages of 16 and 24, a resident of Pennsylvania for 5 years immediately prior to filing for the benefit, attend an approved PA state institution and demonstrate financial need.

Contact the PA Dept. of Military Affairs, Ft. Indiantown Gap, at 717-861-8910.

Together with the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, PHEAA administers this tuition assistance program for dependents (spouses and children) of PA Guard Members who enter into an additional 6-year service commitment with the Pennsylvania National Guard.

Grant Information: https://www.pheaa.org/funding-opportunities/aid-for-military-national-guard/military-family-education.shtml

Eligibility:

To be considered for the MFEP, you must be:

A Guard Member:

• Someone who completed an initial service obligation, on or after July 1, 2019, in the Pennsylvania National Guard and be eligible to reenlist in the Pennsylvania National Guard for a period of 6 years

A Family Member:

• Someone who is a spouse or child of a Pennsylvania National Guard member who meets the above criteria and has assigned the benefit to the family member.
• Someone who is enrolled in a degree or certificate-granting program of study at an approved Pennsylvania institution

Minimum/Maximums Awards

Undergraduates and Graduates Full-Time Attendance, the lesser of:
100% of the tuition plus technology fee at the institution where you are enrolled OR The annual tuition rate and technology fee charged to a Pennsylvania resident at a state-owned university

Undergraduates and Graduates Part-Time Attendance, the lesser of:
100% of the tuition plus technology fee for a part-time course of study OR The per credit tuition rate charged to a Pennsylvania resident at a state-owned university plus technology fee

• The MFEP grant can be used for a degree-granting curriculum or certificate-granting, course of study, or training programs required for entrance into a specific career as determined by PHEAA at an approved PHEAA institution of higher learning for up to 5 academic years.
• The PA Guard Member can assign the entire benefit to one dependent or a portion of the benefit to more than one dependent.
• If you fail to honor the service commitment with the Pennsylvania National Guard, you must repay your total MFEP award amount, plus interest.

Length of Dependent Eligibility

• A spouse can use the assigned MFEP benefit up to 6 years after the member’s separation from the PA Guard.
• Children can use the assigned MFEP benefit before reaching 26 years of age.
  
  

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