GI Bill Program Overview For Soldiers

Transcription

1 GI Bill Support Team GI Bill Program Overview For Soldiers PRESENTED BY THE GI BILL SUPPORT TEAM AT PEC, NGB-EDU

2 Briefing Objectives Provide an overview of the GI Bill Programs Provide an understanding of the basic eligibility requirements for each GI Bill Program to determine a Soldiers current eligibility status. Provide understanding of the limitations of use with FTA Provide an understanding of the GI Bill application process with the Department of Veterans Affairs Provide an understanding of critical issues that cause a Soldier to be disapproved by Department of Veterans Affairs and steps Soldiers can take to proactively avoid a denial of benefits 2

3 Agenda GI Bill Programs Limitations with FTA GI Bill Processing with DVA Key Reasons for Denial of Benefits GI Bill Support Team Contact Information 3

4 MGIB Overview Multiple GI Bill Programs Each GI Bill Program has 36 months benefit Soldiers may receive up to 48 months of benefit if eligible for two or more GI Bill programs. *Each program still has a 36 month maximum Allowed to use one GI Bill Program per course Eligible Soldiers may possibly receive Kicker with Chap 1606, Chap 1607, Chap 30, or Chap 33 **Chapter 33 is covered in a separate briefing 4

5 GI Bill Program Structure Service Component determines initial eligibility Service Component notifies soldier of eligibility (1606/NOBE; 1607/EMS; 30/2366) Soldier applies with School / DVA for benefit *School Determines Training Time (Full, ¾; etc) DVA approves / denies claim / Appeals Process DVA administers payment to soldier 5

6 Uses of the GI Bill College Trade School Apprenticeship & On-the-Job Training Academies (Police & Fire) Cooperatives (combines school & work) Correspondence Flight Training (beyond a privates pilot s license) Licensing & Certification Tests Entrepreneurship programs 6

7 Chapter 1606 Overview The MGIB-SR (chap 1606) is an educational assistance program enacted by Congress to attract high quality men and women into the Selected Reserve Branch of the Armed Forces The MGIB-SR became effective: 1 July

8 Montgomery GI Bill-SR Chapter 1606 Eligibility Criteria: - 6 Year Contract or Officer Service Agreement in any RC 1 July, 1985 or later - High School Diploma or Equivalency - Completion of IADT/OBC Months of Entitlement: - 36 Months of Full-time Benefit 8

9 Chapter 1606 Suspension Enter AGR status Leave Selected Reserve status Allowed a one time break in service (to include time in IRR, ING, or Civilian) Three years for Missionary service One year for all other reasons. Potential Unsatisfactory Participant Benefits suspend upon 9 th AWOL until determination Receive Dedicated ARNG ROTC Scholarship 9

10 Chapter 1606 Reinstatement Soldier returns from AGR status Extend to finish six year contract if needed Soldier returns from break in service within required time Extend for period of break in service to finish six year contract if needed Soldier determined a Satisfactory Participant Completion of Dedicated ARNG ROTC Scholarship 10

11 Chapter 1606 Termination Soldier fails to re-affiliate from break in service within required time Soldier has a second break in service Soldier determined Unsatisfactory Participant after appeals process Soldier is deceased 11

12 Chapter 1606 Portability Mobilization Extension: Must have completed initial 6 year obligation upon ETS. Soldiers period of eligibility extends for the period of the mobilization plus four months. Medical Discharge: Soldiers retain eligibility for 14 years from their eligibility start date as long as they have discharge orders that reflect a medical discharge and the disability was not due to the Soldiers misconduct. 12

13 Chapter 1606 Payment Information CH 1606 SR Benefit pays the least of the GI Bill Programs REMINDER: Each school determines the training time (Full-time; ¾ time; ½ time; Less than ½ time-more than ¼ time; ¼ time or less) Payment Information can be found at click on GI Bill: Information for Benefit Recipients ; then on payment rates 13

14 Chapter 1607 Overview The Montgomery GI Bill Chapter 1607 is an educational assistance program enacted by Congress for Soldiers who have been called or ordered to active service in support of a contingency operation and served for 90 Consecutive Days or more on or after: 11 September, 2001 Program was established 28 October,

15 Chapter 1607 Program Overview Eligibility criteria: Serve at least 90 days in a contingency operation after September 11, 2001 Remains eligible as long as Soldier stays drilling in a Reserve Component Current policy allows a one time break in IRR or ING not to exceed 90 days Benefits terminate effective 91 st day of IRR/ING or immediately if second break or go civilian NDAA08 passed 28 Jan 08, changes Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP) benefits VA Web Site: 15

16 Chapter 1607 Payment Information CH 1607 has three payment rate categories 40% Rate- Payment for Consecutive service of 90 days but less than 1 year 60% Rate- Payment for Consecutive service of more than 1 year but less than 2 years 80% Rate- Payment for an Aggregate service of more than 2 years REMINDER: Each school determines the training time (Full-time; ¾ time; ½ time; Less than ½ time-more than ¼ time; ¼ time or less) Payment Information can be found at click on GI Bill: Information for Benefit Recipients ; then on payment rates 16

17 Chapter 30 Overview The MGIB-AD (chap 30) is an educational assistance program enacted by Congress to attract high quality men and women into the Active Duty Branch of the Armed Forces. It was designed to ease the service members transition back into civilian life. The MGIB-SR became effective: 1 July

18 Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chap 30) Complete a three year AGR Tour (Title 10 or Title 32) (Must complete a minimum of 30 months of tour to collect benefits) Serve at least two years mobilization. 20 months of a 730 day mobilization order and released Convenience of Government If already served tour, (Including Prior Service Active Duty) discharge must be honorable. High School diploma or equivalent. Does not meet any of the ineligibility criteria. 18

19 Chapter 30 Ineligibility Criteria Declined (any time, any service) Service Academy Graduate (i.e. West Point) Any ROTC Scholarship Recipient other than GRFD who rec d more than $3400 for each year of such participation Initial Active Duty prior to 1 Jul 1985 for Title 10 or 29 Nov 89 for Title 32 19

20 Chapter 30 Plus-Up Optional additional contribution Must pay while on Active Duty however benefit only received when NOT on active duty Up to $600 in $20 increments Increase monthly benefit rate up to $150 Enroll with GI Bill Support Team 20

21 Chapter 30 Top-Up Allows Soldiers to use their MGIB-AD benefits to pay the tuition amount not paid by the military through tuition assistance. Example: 3 Credit Course costs $ Tuition Assistance $ Soldier Share paid by Top Up $ Monthly benefit not subtracted until total Top Up amount received adds up to one full time month of benefit. 21

22 Chapter 30 Payment Information CH 30 has two payment rate categories 80% Rate- Payment for Consecutive service of more than 2 years but less than 3 years (Many Mobilized Soldiers who elected Chapter 30 failed to understand they only qualified for this lower rate) 100% Rate- Payment for Consecutive service of more than 3 years REMINDER: Each school determines the training time (Full-time; ¾ time; ½ time; Less than ½ time-more than ¼ time; ¼ time or less) Payment Information can be found at click on GI Bill: Information for Benefit Recipients ; then on payment rates 22

23 Chapter 30 Enrollment Process Enrollment with GI Bill Support Team AGR Soldier $ Lump Sum or Allotments Cashier s Check or Money Order to US Department of Treasury only Mobilized Soldier $ Lump Sum Only Cashier s Check or Money Order only 10 year delimination date Starts effective date of LAST honorable Fed Active Duty discharge Restart 10 year window by submitting a VA to DVA 23

24 MGIB-SR Kicker Overview Per NGB Directive Each State must fully implement MGIB-SR Kicker policy. The State Manger will issue or approve a control number for each ARNG GI Bill Kicker contract. At a minimum, the Kicker information must be entered into imarc and awarded a Control Number or the Contract will be considered invalid. 24

25 MGIB-SR Kicker State Responsibility The State Manager must verify eligibility criteria for the specific GI Bill Kicker category. The State Manager is responsible to identify the various status changes which occur to a Soldier s ARNG GI Bill Kicker and enter prompt and accurate status changes into imarc. 25

26 MGIB-SR Kicker Kicker Eligibility $100 or $200 Kicker Contracts Eligibility tied to policy in effect at time of contract 36 Months of Kicker benefit Current Policy as of 20 August 2007 Six year enlistment for all contracts Non-prior Service Critical MOS or UIC MTOE or Deployable TDA 31 or higher ASVAB (scores are based on policy in effect on the date of the kicker contract) 26

27 Enlisted MGIB-SR Kicker Eligibility Prior Service Sergeant or below Duty MOSQ upon enlistment MTOE or Deployable TDA Current ARNG Sergeant or below Duty MOSQ MTOE or Deployable TDA Served at least three continuous years in ARNG 27

28 MGIB-SR Kicker Suspend Enter AGR or Mil Tech status Leave Selected Reserve status Allowed a one time break in service (to include time in IRR, ING, or Civilian) Three years for Missionary service or one year for all other reasons Identified as Potential Unsatisfactory Participant Benefits suspend upon 9 th AWOL until determination is made Receive Dedicated ARNG ROTC Scholarship Voluntarily Transfer to non-kicker MOS and/or Unit To include Interstate Transfers Transfer to another RC or AC 28

29 MGIB-SR Kicker Reinstatement Soldier returns from AGR/Fed Tech status Extend to finish six year contract if needed Soldier returns from break within required time Extend for time of break in service to finish six year contract if needed Soldier determined a Satisfactory Participant Completion of Dedicated ARNG ROTC Scholarship Soldier returns to a Kicker qualified MOS and/or unit 29

30 MGIB-SR Kicker Termination Soldier fails to re-affiliate within required time Soldier has a second break in service Soldier determined Unsatisfactory Participant after appeals process Soldier is deceased Any other RC that Soldier transfers to will terminate Kicker based on their own policy Does not become MOSQ within 12 months for voluntary transfer or 24 months for involuntary transfer 30

31 $350 MGIB-SR Kicker College First enlistment for six years, meet all other NPS eligibility criteria **College First contracting ceased Officer or Commissioning Program Processing instruction can be found in the Information Papers in the GI Bill Manager Handbook found in the Information Center of IMARC Transfer Kicker to ARNG from USAR Processing instruction can be found in the Information Papers in the GI Bill Manager Handbook found in the Information Center of IMARC 31

32 FTA Use with MGIB & Kicker FTA used by: Kicker M-DAY YES YES YES YES CHOOSE 1 YES / Top-Up AGR Suspended Only Up To The Cost of Course Only Up To The Cost of Course Suspended MIL-TECH Yes Yes Yes Suspended / Depends / Dedicated Guard Scholarship Suspended Suspended Has Soldier received over every year? Suspended GRFD Scholarship Yes Yes / Depends / See Above Yes 32

33 DVA Issues Payment Semester Cycle Soldier Does Monthly Verification of Enrollment All Semester MGIB Initial Application Process New Semester School submits to DVA Benefit Approved Benefit Denied Soldier Either - Agrees with Determination OR - Takes Corrective Action and files appeal with DVA DVA Notifies Soldier of Determination GI Bill Support Team Determines Eligibility Answer sent to DVA DVA Files Formal Inquiry with ARNG Soldier is Eligible For an MGIB Benefit APPLY FOR BENEFIT - Complete VA Form / - Submit Signed VA Form to School & DVA - Submit Supporting Documents to School & DVA - NOBE for CH DD 214 for Mob. CH1607/CH33 - DD 214 for Active Duty CH30 / CH33 - DD 2366 for CH 30 - DD for Plus-Up - Kicker Contract / Guard Annex (For Kicker) - School Submits Attendance Certification form along with all supporting documents to DVA Soldier files Appeal to DVA Benefit Denied Benefit Approved 33

34 DVA Issues Payment Semester Cycle Soldier Does Monthly Verification of Enrollment All Semester MGIB Change Request Process New Semester School submits to DVA Benefit Approved Benefit Denied Soldier Either: - Agrees with Determination OR - Takes Corrective Action and files appeal with DVA Soldier Changes Place of Training / OR Soldier Becomes Eligible For a Different MGIB Benefit FILE all Changes using VA FORM DVA Notifies Soldier of Determination GI Bill Support Team Determines Eligibility Answer sent to DVA DVA Files Formal Inquiry with ARNG APPLY FOR BENEFIT - Complete VA Form / - Submit Signed VA Form to School & DVA - Submit Supporting Documents to School & DVA - NOBE for CH DD 214 for Mobilization CH DD 214 for Active Duty Service CH 30 - DD 2366 for CH 30 - DD for Plus-Up - Kicker Contract / Guard Annex (For Kicker) - School Submits Attendance Certification form along with all supporting documents to DVA Soldier files Appeal to DVA Benefit Denied Benefit Approved VA FORM IS THE ONLY CHANGE FORM EVER NEEDED 34

35 Key Reasons for Denial of Benefits Databases not updated / Bad Data - Education not updated in SIDPERS - State has not updated IMARC - No IADT feed from ATTRS **Soldiers should check with their State GI Bill Manager to ensure they are coded correctly in IMARC for GI Bill Eligibility Documents not on File in IPERMS OMPF **Soldiers should check their IPERMS OMPF to ensure all documents are on file. Soldier is not eligible 35

36 VA Inquiry Remarks in IMARC 36

37 GI Bill Support Team It is recommended that every Soldier first verify all documents are on file in Official IPERMS OMPF as recommended in this briefing. Soldiers should next contact their State GI Bill Manager for counseling on benefits and initial assessment of GI Bill eligibility and/or determination as to reason for denial of benefits NGB GI Bill Support Team can be contacted at: