Unclassified. Post-9/11 GI Bill. Ann Hunter. Unclassified

Transcription

1 Post-9/11 GI Bill Ann Hunter

2 Overview of Post-9/11 GI Bill Eligibility 30 Jun 08, Title 38, US Code was amended by adding Chpt 33, Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Benefits available to veterans and members of the Armed Forces (active duty or Selected Reserves) for education pursued on or after 1 Aug aggregate days or more active duty, beginning on or after 11 Sept 01 Full benefits available after 36 months of qualifying service Pro-rated benefits for veteran s and SELRES based upon qualified time in service Active duty eligible 90 days after completion of entry level and/or skill training SELRES qualifying time includes: both voluntary and non-voluntary periods of mobilization, ADSW, ADOS and ADT. It does not include AT Exceptions to qualifying service Academy / NROTC graduate qualifying start date follows completion of commissioning source statutory service obligation (AC, RC & Veterans) College Loan Repayment Program qualifying start date follows completion of service obligation (AC, RC and Veterans) Boot Camp and A school training are excluded for service less than 24 months (Veterans and RC with fewer than 36 months on active duty) Eligibility based on Qualifying Active Duty Service as Determined by VA 1

3 Overview of Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits Tuition and fees paid to institution not to exceed cost of highest priced public undergraduate in-state tuition in the state individual has chosen to study Yellow Ribbon program could be used to off set costs Monthly stipend paid to the individual based on BAH for E5 w/dependents if; more than half-time, in a classroom setting Up to $1,000 annually for books and supplies May be reimbursed for one licensing or certification test not to exceed $2,000 May receive funding for tutoring up to $100/month, maximum 12 months Up to 36 months of benefits, payable up to 15 years from last release date of 90 or more days with Honorable Discharge SELRES benefits for qualified Service members includes both the monthly and book stipend Monthly and book stipend are not authorized while member is on active duty Tuition and fees are the actual education institution established charges or amount not covered by military tuition assistance for active duty Benefits may be used for an approved program offered by an Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) (graduate, undergraduate and some votech training) 2

4 Transferability Service Obligation Transferability is a retention tool, not a benefit and is based on time in the Armed Forces, NOT active duty time Current Law Requires The election to transfer benefits to family members must be entered into while the member is in the Armed Forces Member must first be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill Member to have served at least 6 years in the Armed Forces Member to agree to serve at least another 4 years AC or RC 3

5 Transferability Service Obligation Member who has served at least 10 years and either standard policy (Service or DoD) or statute preclude them from committing to four additional years, may still transfer benefits but must commit for the maximum amount of time allowed by such policy or statute Interim provisions for retirement eligible Service members Eligible for retirement (20 years or more) on or before August 1, 2009, no additional service required Approved retirement dates on or before July 1, 2010, no additional service required Eligible for retirement on or after August 1, 2009, and before 1 August 2010, one year service required Eligible for retirement on or after August 1, 2010, and before 1 August 2011, two years service required Eligible for retirement on or after August 1, 2011, and before 1 August 2012, three years service required Service obligation begins when member elects transferability 4

6 Criteria For Transferability to Family Members To be eligible, family member must be enrolled in DEERS at the time of transfer but does not have to be in DEERS when used May transfer all or a portion of the benefits to spouse, one or more dependent children or a combination up to 36 months of unused benefits Spouse of Active Duty Member May use once the sponsor has achieved 6 years of service and agrees to 4 additional years Is not authorized the monthly or books/supplies stipends as long as sponsor is on active duty Has a 15-year limitation on benefit use from sponsors last Honorable Discharge Spouse of Selected Reserve or Veteran is eligible for all benefits Dependent child, regardless of sponsor status (AC, RC, Veteran) May use after sponsor has completed 10 years of service Is authorized both the monthly and books/supplies stipends Must meet the requirements of secondary school diploma or 18 years of age Is not subject to the time limitation but may not use after reaching the age of 26 5

7 Other Transferability Criteria Modification or revocation May add, modify or revoke entitlement while serving in the Armed Forces May modify or revoke entitlement after separating from the Armed Forces Funds received are not taxable income Is not considered in any property settlement Death of sponsor does not affect the transferred entitlement Failure to complete Service agreement Subject to collection of used benefits by VA May result in loss of transferability option as determined by Navy policy Exceptions Discharge for a non service connected medical condition Discharge for hardship Discharge for physical or mental condition (not a disability) that interferes with performance of duty 6

8 Application Process For Transferability STEP 1 SERVICE OBLIGATION Service members must meet the service obligation before applying for transferability 20 years on 1 August 09, service obligation met years on 1 August 09, reduced service obligation Officers no additional documentation required Enlisted must have a hard EAOS that meets the requirement or execute a reenlistment or short term extension Between 6-16 years Officers must submit a page 13 in NSIPS Enlisted must reenlist or complete short term extension that equals 4 years Service obligations may be served concurrently with other service obligations Career Counselors and PSDs will assist Sailors with their service obligation 7

9 Required Service Obligation Flowchart Enlisted Servicemember EAOS/EOS obligation Less then 12 mo. to EAOS/EOS No Greater than 12 mo Less then 24 mo. to EAOS/EOS Yes Received SRB/ESRP for current contract Yes STE Yes No No Reenlist Greater than 24 mo. but less than 48 mo. to EAOS Reenlist Officers Eligible to retire prior to 1 August 2012 No Sign Pg13 Enter in NSIPS Verify in ESR Yes Yes STE No Pg13 required All service members must be eligible to reenlist or extend to take advantage of these opportunities 8

10 Application Process For Transferability STEP 2 Complete Transferability Request On-line transferability portal (Transferability Education Benefits TEB) is available Transferability applications will be validated by the Services before submitted to the VA electronically Service members must check TEB website periodically for status Applications will be rejected if: Service obligation is not visible in Sailor s Electronic Service Record OR TEB application is missing any information such as, months to transfer, start or stop date 9

11 Transfer of Education Benefits 10

12 Transfer of Education Benefits 11

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15 Application Process For Transferability STEP 3: COMPLETE VA FORMS VA Form E must be completed before the member can attend school E may be accessed at by logging onto VONAPP VA will send Certificate of Eligibility to member which will be taken to the institution for enrollment Prospective student will take Certificate of Eligibility to academic institution to verify enrollment First tuition checks will be issued after 3 August 2009 Expect monthly and book stipend to arrive the following month 14

16 Transferability Process Map Servicemember EOS / EAOS insufficient to effect obligation SM directed to receive counseling and execute required obligation Servicemembers who bypass retention and/or EOS / EAOS verification risk having application disapproved Approved SM ensure EOS / EAOS updated in EDVR / LOPG prior to proceeding to DMDC Transferability Web Portal EAOS sufficient -or - Retirement eligible SM completes VA Form E and forwards to VA with screen shot of approved TEB application DMDC Web Portal Servicemember apply for transferability BUPERS-26/COMNAVRESFOR Service Representatives Verify: Six years service complete EOS/EAOS documented to support required service obligation VA forwards certificate of eligibility to dependent Servicemember Retirement eligible EAOS sufficient to meet obligation EAOS insufficient Disapproved Dependent takes certificate of eligibility to academic instituion for processing Servicemember required to reapply for transferability (establish new obligation start date) and ensure EOS / EAOS sufficient for new obligation start date Academic institution processes for payment through the VA 15

17 Application Process Member or Veteran STEP 1 - Complete VA Form 1990 STEP 2 Obtain Certificate of Eligibility STEP 3 Take Certificate of Eligibility to academic institution for enrollment 16

18 Selected Reserve Application Percentage of benefit is based on qualifying active duty time Applications for transferability are processed at COMNAVRESFOR and may take more time than active duty COMNAVRESFOR verifies the 90 day eligibility only VA will verify eligibility beyond 90 days Applications for individual use should be send to VA using 1990 as soon as possible Point of contact for, COMNAVRESFOR (SELRES) is Mr. Paul Dowd 17

19 QUESTIONS? Ann Hunter, N or ETCM Tom Smith, NETC NPC Website NKO 18