GI Bill® Benefits

VA education benefit eligibility is based on individual service information and is specific to the service-member or veteran. The Veterans Services Coordinator can assist you in determining whether or not you should be eligible for any VA education benefits but final determination of eligibility will come from the VA.

In order to receive your VA education benefits at DMACC you must notify the Veterans Services Office when you are registered for classes each semester. The Veterans Services Office does not automatically certify anyone for VA education benefits. Failure to notify the Veterans Service Office of your enrollment may delay the payment of your benefits.

Changing Schools
If you have used GI Bill® benefits at a different school and are now coming to DMACC, the VA requires you to complete a Change of Place of Training form (VA Form 22-1995). You may complete this form online by visiting the VA's website www.benefits.va.gov/gibill and then launching the Veterans Online Application (VONAPP). You may also complete this form by contacting the Veterans Services Office.

Returning Student
If you were using the benefits last semester at DMACC there is no requirement for you to re-apply to the VA for benefits or complete any additional paperwork. You simply need to notify the Veterans Services Office when you have registered for classes.

Maintaining your Eligibility - Satisfactory Academic Progress
To remain eligible to use VA education benefits ta DMACC you must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. This means maintaining a 2.0 GPA or higher and having a completion rate of 67% or higher. If you fall below these marks you may be certified for one additional semester. If you are below a 2.0 GPA and 67% completion rate for two consecutive terms your VA education benefits will be suspended until you can raise your GPA above a 2.0 and raise your completion rate above 67%.

Chapter 33 - Post 9/11 GI Bill®

Click here to view the Chapter 33 Handout

The Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® is an education benefit for any member or former member of the Armed Forces who served on active duty after September 10th, 2001.

Eligibility
You may be eligible for Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® if you meet any of the following criteria
You served at least 90 days on active duty (including Title32 AGR) after September 10, 2001
2. You were honorably discharged from active duty for a service connected disability after serving 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001
3. You are the child of a member of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001 (Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship Program)
4. You are the spouse or dependent of a military member who is eligible to transfer Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits
You will remain eligible for Chapter 33 GI Bill® benefits for 15 years from the date of your separation from active duty (DD214). You may use any one GI Bill® benefit for up to 36 months of full time use and may be able to combine multiple GI Bill® benefits for up to 48 months of use.

Transferability
The transferability option under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® allows Service members to transfer all or some unused benefits to their spouse or dependent children. The Department of Defense (DoD) determines whether or not you can transfer benefits to your family. Once the DoD approves benefits for transfer, the new beneficiaries apply for them at VA. To find out more, please click here. *(www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/post911_transfer.asp )

Applying for Benefits
If you have never used Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits before you will need to apply for the benefits.

Visit the VA's website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill
Select the tab Apply for Benefits
Launch the Veterans Online Application (VONAPP)
Complete and submit the application (VA Form 22-1990)
a. In order to receive Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® you must relinquish another GI Bill®

The VA will mail you a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) (VA Form 22-0557) in 4-6 weeks. When you receive the COE please provide a copy to the Veterans Services Office.

The percentage of benefit you are eligible for depends on time spent on active duty. Note: Multiple deployments may increase your eligibility.

Full-time student = $1473.00 per month (+ kicker if eligible)
Three-quarters time = $1,104.75 per month (+ kicker if eligible)
Half-time = $736.50 per month (+ kicker if eligible)
One-quarter time - $368.25 per month (+ kicker if eligible)

There are three types of payments under Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill®.

Tuition payment - paid to school
Housing Allowance - paid to recipient
Book stipend - paid to recipient

Each payment is paid out depending on the percentage of eligibility from the table above.

Example 1: Former active duty member who served over 3 years on active duty with an honorable discharge - Eligible at 100%.

Tuition - The VA will pay 100% of veteran's tuition cost (including fees).
Housing Allowance - The VA will pay the recipient 100% of the Basic Allowance for Housing of an E-5, with dependents, in the zip code of the school. To see the current rate please click here, *(http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bahCalc.cfm) select zip code 50023, and a rank of E-5 to see the “with dependents” rate.
Book Stipend - The VA will pay up to $1,000 per school year. Typically this is paid in two equal installments of $500 but could be more or less depending on the number of credit hours you are registered in.

Example 2: Actively drilling or former member of the National Guard or Reserves with one deployment over 12 months - Eligible at 60%

Tuition - The VA will pay 60% of veteran's tuition cost (including fees).
Housing Allowance - The VA will pay the recipient 60% of the Basic Allowance for Housing of an E-5, with dependents, in the zip code of the school. To see the current rate please click here, *(http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bahCalc.cfm) select zip code 50023, and a rank of E-5 to see the “with dependents” rate. Multiply this amount by 60% to calculate your Housing Allowance.
Book Stipend - The VA will pay up to $600 per school year. Typically this is paid in two equal installments of $300 but could be more or less depending on the number of credit hours you are registered in.

Note: In order to receive the full housing allowance and book stipend the recipient must be enrolled as a full time student (12 credit hours or more during Fall/Spring or 8 credit hours or more during Summer semester). The VA pro-rates the housing allowance and book stipend payments for recipients enrolled at less than full time. In order to receive the housing allowance and book stipend payments at all a recipient must be enrolled over half time. At DMACC this means 7 credit hours or more during the Fall/Spring and 5 credit hours during Summer semester.

The VA prorates payments for partial months of school. As an example; if school begins August 20th the first housing allowance payment should be for August 20th to August 31st or 11 days of school. The housing allowance payment for August would be about 1/3 of the full monthly payment amount.

Taking All Online Courses
If all of the classes registered for are online courses, the VA will pay the Housing Allowance at half the national average of an E-5, with dependents multiplied by your percentage of eligibility. The effective rate for the 2013-2014 academic year for someone eligible at 100% is $714.50 a month. If you are eligible at less than 100% multiply $714.50 by your percentage to calculate your monthly payment.

Chapter 30 - Active Duty GI Bill®

Click here to view the Chapter 30 Handout

The Montgomery GI Bill®, Chapter 30 (commonly called the Active Duty GI Bill®) was created for former active duty members of all branches of the Armed Forces who receive honorable discharges and have a high school diploma or equivalent or have 12 hours of college credit.

Eligibility
Generally, you are eligible for Chapter 30 GI Bill® if you paid into Chapter 30 GI Bill® ($1,200), served on Active Duty for over 36 months, and have an honorable discharge. You may also be eligible if you paid into Chapter 30 GI Bill® ($1,200) and were medically discharged. You will remain eligible for Chapter 30 GI Bill® for 10 years from the date of separation from Active Duty (DD214). You may use any one GI Bill® benefit for up to 36 months of full time use and may be able to combine multiple GI Bill® benefits for up to 48 months of use.

Applying for Benefits
If you have never used Chapter 30 GI Bill® benefits before you will need to apply for the benefits.

Visit the VA's website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill
Select the tab Apply for Benefits
Launch the Veterans Online Application (VONAPP)
Complete and submit the application (VA Form 22-1990)

The VA will mail you a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) (VA Form 22-0557) in 4-6 weeks. When you receive the COE please provide a copy to the Veterans Services Office.

To receive the benefit payment you are required to complete a verification of attendance each month. The last day of the month is the first day you can verify attendance for that month. As an example; for a fall semester if school begins August 20th, the first day you can verify attendance is August 31st. Once you have completed the verification, the VA can process your payment. There are two ways to verify your attendance.

Visit www.benefits.va.gov/gibill then select the “Verify School Attendance” button.
Call 877-823-2378 and complete the automated attendance verification process.

The VA prorates payments for partial months of school. As an example; if school begins August 20th the first payment should be for August 20th to August 31st or 11 days of school. The payment for August would be about 1/3 of the full monthly payment amount.

Chapter 1606 - Reserve Component GI Bill®

Click here to view the Chapter 1606 Handout

If you are an actively drilling member of the reserve components, you may be eligible for Chapter 1606 Reserve Component GI Bill®. The reserve components consist of Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard and Air National Guard.

Eligibility
To be eligible for Chapter 1606 you must:

Be a high school graduate or equivalent
Have a 6 year service obligation (typically your initial enlistment)
Complete your initial entry training (Basic Training and AIT or Tech training)

You will remain eligible for benefits for 14 years from the date of eligibility (usually the day you graduate AIT or Tech Training). You may use any one GI Bill® benefit for up to 36 months of full time use and may be able to combine multiple GI Bill® benefits for up to 48 months of use.

Applying for Benefits
If you have never used Chapter 1606 GI Bill® benefits before you will need to apply for the benefits.

Visit the VA's website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill
Select the tab Apply for Benefits
Launch the Veterans Online Application (VONAPP)
Complete and submit the application (VA Form 22-1990)

The VA will mail you a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) (VA Form 22-0557) in 4-6 weeks. When you receive the COE please provide a copy to the Veterans Services Office. You may also provide a copy of your Notice of Basic Eligibility (DD Form 2384-1).

Receiving Payments
When you notify the Veterans Services Office that you are registered for classes, the Veterans Services Coordinator will submit a certification to the VA. The VA can take up to 4-6 weeks to process certifications.
To receive the benefit payment you are required to complete a verification of attendance each month. The last day of the month is the first day you can verify attendance for that month. As an example; for a fall semester if school begins August 20th, the first day you can verify attendance is August 31st. Once you have completed the verification, the VA can process your payment. There are two ways to verify your attendance.

Visit www.benefits.va.gov/gibill then select the “Verify School Attendance” button.
Call 877-823-2378 and complete the automated attendance verification process.

Chapter 1607 - Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP)

Click here to view the Chapter 1607 Handout

Chapter 1607 is an educational assistance program which provides benefits to members of the reserve components who are called to active duty in response to a war or national emergency. The reserve components consist of Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard and Air National Guard.

Eligibility
To be eligible for Chapter 1607 you must meet one of the following requirements:

Served on active duty on or after September 11th, 2001 in support of a contingency operation for 90 consecutive days or more (deployment)
Performed full time National Guard duty under section 502(f) of title 32 for 90 consecutive days or more when authorized by the President or Secretary of Defense for the purpose of responding to a national emergency declared by the President and supported by Federal funds

If you were ordered to active duty while drilling in the reserve component, you will remain eligible for Chapter 1607 only by continuing to actively drill in the reserve component. If you were called to active duty from the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) you will remain eligible for Chapter 1607 by continuing to serve in the IRR or by actively drilling in the reserve component. You may use any one GI Bill® benefit for up to 36 months of full time use and may be able to combine multiple GI Bill® benefits for up to 48 months of use.

Applying for Benefits
If you have never used Chapter 1607 GI Bill® benefits before you will need to apply for the benefits.

Visit the VA's website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill
Select the tab Apply for Benefits
Launch the Veterans Online Application (VONAPP)
Complete and submit the application (VA Form 22-1990)

The VA will mail you a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) (VA Form 22-0557) in 4-6 weeks. When you receive the COE please provide a copy to the Veterans Services Office.

Visit www.benefits.va.gov/gibill then select the “Verify School Attendance” button.
Call 877-823-2378 and complete the automated attendance verification process.

Chapter 35 - Dependent Education Assistance (DEA)

Click here to view the Chapter 35 Handout

The Dependent Education Assistance Program (DEA) Chapter 35 provides aid to a spouse, son or daughter (including stepchild or adopted child) of veterans who are either deceased or permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability.

Eligibility
As a son or daughter (including stepchild or adopted child) you can generally receive benefits under Chapter 35 from age 18 to 26 (8 years). Under certain circumstances you can begin before age 18 and continue after age 26. You can receive payments under Chapter 35 for a maximum of 45 months of full time benefit.

As a spouse of a veteran who is permanently and totally disabled based on a service-connected disability you generally have 10 years from one of the following dates:

Effective date of the veteran's permanent and total disability evaluation
Date the VA notifies the veteran of the permanent and total disability
Beginning date you choose between 1 and 2 above

As a spouse you can receive payments under Chapter 35 for a maximum of 45 months of full time benefit.

Applying for Benefits
If you have never used Chapter 35 GI Bill® benefits before you will need to apply for the benefits.

Visit the VA's website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill
Select the tab Apply for Benefits
Launch the Veterans Online Application (VONAPP)
Complete and submit the application (VA Form 22-5490)

The VA will mail you a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in 4-6 weeks. When you receive the COE please provide a copy to the Veterans Services Office.

If you have used GI Bill® benefits at a different school and are now coming to DMACC, the VA requires you to complete a Change of Place of Training form (VA Form 22-5495). You may complete this form online by visiting the VA's website www.benefits.va.gov/gibill and then launching the Veterans Online Application (VONAPP). You may also complete this form by contacting the Veterans Services Office.

Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation

The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program is authorized by Congress under Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 31. It is sometimes referred to as the Chapter 31 program or VocRehab. The VR&E program assists Veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs. For Veterans with service-connected disabilities so severe that they cannot immediately consider work, VR&E offers services to improve their ability to live as independently as possible.

To use VocRehab at DMACC you must first meet with a VR&E counselor and be approved.

Once approved for an educational program by your counselor you will:

Apply and be accepted as a student at DMACC (if you are not already a student)
Work with an academic advisor to register for classes in your program of study
Notify the Veterans Services Office of your registration

Your VR&E counselor will provide a VA Form 28-1905 (Authorization for Benefits)

The Veterans Service Office will:

Certify your registration to your VR&E counselor
Notify Student Accounts that VocRehab will pay for your tuition

Student Accounts will:

Place funds on your DMACC account to purchase books and supplies at the DMACC Bookstore
Funds will be available generally 1-2 weeks prior to the start date of your classes