Awarding our Veterans and their Families

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

• The Post 9-11 GI Bill

• Montgomery GI Bill

• REAP

• VEAP

• DEA

• TA ‘Top-Up’

What Benefits Are Available?

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").

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.

Veterans Education Assistance Program (VEAP, Chapter 32)

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

The Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33 benefits)

• 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

The Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33 benefits) - Percentages

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/

The Process

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

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*

*See Volume 3 of the FSA Handbook for more details

The Veteran’s Award: Regulatory Requirements

Public Law 111-377Institution must report the in-state tuition and fees assessed by the institution not to exceed the highest in-state 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.

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

Putting it all Together

Tuition/Fees

Room & Board

Books & Suppl.

Transportation

Miscellaneous

$30,000

$12,000

$2,000

$1,000

$1,000

Tuition Specific Sch

Pell Grant

Subsidized

Unsubsidized

Post 9/11 GI Bill @ 80%

$16,000

$2,000

$3,500

$4,000

Josephine Sergeant – Post 9/11 Beneficiary, Independent 1st year student

VA says it will give Josephine 80% of cost of national average (up to $17,500) after her scholarship has been applied:

$11,200

Total: $34,900

$30,000 - $16,000 = $14,000 $14,000 x $80% = $11,200

Comprehensive costs: $46,000

Putting it all Together

Tuition/Fees

Room & Board

Books & Suppl.

Transportation

Miscellaneous

$30,000

$11,000

$2,000

$1,000

$1,000

General Scholarship

Pell Grant

Subsidized

Unsubsidized

Post 9/11 GI Bill @ 100%

Yellow Ribbon

$16,000

$2,000

$3,500

$4,000

Josephine Sergeant – Post 9/11 Beneficiary, Independent 1st year student

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

$17,500

$11,500

Total: $53,500Comprehensive costs: $46,000

$29,000 - $17,500 = $11,500

Putting it all Together

Tuition/Fees

Room & Board

Books & Suppl.

Transportation

Miscellaneous

$30,000

$12,000

$2,000

$1,000

$1,000

Tuition Specific Sch.

Pell Grant

Subsidized

Unsubsidized

Montgomery GI Bill

$16,000

$2,000

$3,500

$4,000

Pedro Jiminez – Montgomery GI Bill Beneficiary, Independent 1st year student

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

$14,832

Total: $40,332Comprehensive costs: $46,000

Yellow Ribbon

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

Institution contribution is always counted towards EFA

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

Tuition

Room & Board

Fees

Books & Suppl.

Transportation

Miscellaneous

$30,000

$12,000

$1,000

$2,000

$1,000

$1,000

Tuition Specific Sch.

Pell Grant

Subsidized

Unsubsidized

Post 9/11 GI Bill @ 100%

Yellow Ribbon*

Rosie Riveter – Post 9/11 Beneficiary, Independent 1st year student, distance learner living on military base

$16,000

$2,000

$3,500

$4,000

Total: $29,500

$5,000

$40,000

VA Pays 100% of tuition minus scholarship $30,000 - $16,000 = $4,000

$4,000

None

Comprehensive Costs

*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 8/13/09Institutions 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 Universitymdeflori@norwich.edu802-485-2019