U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs March 2009 Today�s Objectives Post-9/11 GI Bill Eligibility Criteria Eligibility Criteria Post-9/11 GI Bill Eligibility Period Post-9/11 GI Bill Entitlement Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefit Payments * Tuition and Fees Charged * Monthly Housing Allowance * Stipend for Books and Supplies Fees Defined * FEES � Any mandatory charges (other than tuition) that are universally applied by the IHL to each and every student enrolled in an undergraduate program for that quarter, semester, or term. Tuition and Fees Charged * Individuals not on active duty are eligible for the applicable percentage (based on aggregate active duty service) of the lesser of� * Tuition and fees charged; or * Highest amount of tuition and fees charged for full-time, undergraduate training at a public IHL in the State the student is attending. (Determined by the State Approving Agency) Tuition and Fees Charged * Individuals on active duty are eligible for the applicable percentage (based on aggregate active duty service) of the lesser of � * Tuition and fees charged; or * Tuition and fees charged minus any military tuition assistance (TA) received. Monthly Housing Allowance * Equivalent to the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents � Amount determined by zip code of the IHL where the student is enrolled � http://perdiem.hqda.pentagon.mil/perdiem/bah.html � Prorated based on the percentage of the maximum benefit payable * Active duty members, anyone training at � time or less, and those pursuing training solely by distance learning are not eligible for the monthly housing allowance. Books and Supplies Stipend * Up to a $1,000 per year � $41.67 per credit hour � Up to 24 credit hours in a single academic year � Lump sum payment (each quarter, semester or term attended) * Prorated based on the percentage of the maximum benefit payable * Active duty members are not eligible Books and Supplies Stipend * Example: � If Susan enrolls in 15 credit hours for the Fall Term, she will receive a lump sum payment of $625.05 ($41.67x15 credit hours=$625.05) � During the Spring term she enrolls in an additional 12 hours. Susan is only eligible to receive the books and supplies stipend for 9 of the 12 credit hours, she can not exceed the maximum of 24 credit hours in a single academic year. Her payment for the Spring term will be $375.03 ($41.27x9=$375.03) Approved Programs * All programs approved under chapter 30 and offered by an IHL. * Individuals who were previously eligible for chapter 30, 1606, or 1607 may continue to receive benefits for approved programs not offered by IHLs (i.e. flight, correspondence, APP/OJT, preparatory courses, and national tests). Post-9/11 GI Bill Elections An individual who has met the requirements to establish eligibility under the Post-9/11 GI Bill (chapter 33) and, as of August 1, 2009 is: * Eligible for either chapter 30, 1606, or 1607, (must make an irrevocable election to use benefits under chapter 33); or * A member of the Armed Forces and making the basic $1200 contribution toward chapter 30; or * A member of the Armed Forces who previously declined to elect chapter 30. Refund of Contributions * A proportional amount of the basic $1200 contribution will be included in the last monthly housing allowance payment when chapter 33 entitlement exhausts. * Individuals who do not exhaust entitlement under chapter 33 will not receive a refund of contributions paid under chapter 30. * Refund of $600 additional contribution is not authorized. Transfer of Entitlement (Department of Defense Benefit) * On or after August 1, 2009, DoD may allow an individual to elect to transfer entitlement to one or more dependents if he/she � � Has served at least 6 years in the Armed Forces; and � Agrees to serve at least another 4 years in the Armed Forces. * Spouses may use transferred benefits after 6 years of service; dependent children after 10 years. Transfer of Entitlement (Department of Defense Benefit) * DoD determines eligibility for transferability and may, by regulation, impose additional eligibility requirements and limit the number of months transferable. Post-9/11 GI Bill Effective Date August 1, 2009 Post-9/11 GI Bill (chapter 33) benefits can be paid for training pursued on or after August 1, 2009. No payments may be made for training pursued before that date. Yellow Ribbon Program * Institutions voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition costs above the highest in-state undergraduate tuition rate. * VA will match each additional dollar that an institution contributes toward an eligible student�s tuition costs, up to 50 percent of the difference between the student�s tuition benefit and the total cost of tuition and mandatory fees. Yellow Ribbon Program (Cont�d) * Yellow Ribbon Information will be displayed in the Web-Enabled Approval Management System (WEAMS) � Maximum Yellow Ribbon Payment information � Number of participants at the Institution * WEAMS updates will be available in phases � You may notice changes in WEAMS; however, we will notify you when they can be utilized Overpayment of Benefits Overpayment of Benefits (Cont�d) Overpayment of Benefits (Cont�d) * In the event a student does not complete a course, the student may (or may not) receive a refund from the school. Bottom Line: If an overpayment is charged, the student will make repayment arrangements with VA�s Debt Management Center (DMC) regardless of whether or not a refund was received from the school. Overpayment of Benefits (Contd) * If an overpayment is charged, VA will notify the student. * Overpayment notifications will inform the student of the overpayment amount and whom to contact to establish a repayment schedule. * Overpayments are collected by the VA Debt Management Center. Overpayment of Benefits (Contd) * In most cases, overpayments will not be collected during the due process period, which is 30 days from the day of notification. Bottom Line: Students with existing overpayments on their record may attend schools; however, their benefit payments (including Tuition and Fees) may be applied to the overpayment until it is repaid. Claims Processing Strategies * The application and payment process will be supported two ways: � Interim Solution (8/1/09 to 12/1/10) � Minimal modification to existing IT Infrastructure � Hire significant additional term staff � Long-term Solution (12/1/10 Onward) � Automated processing using �rules-based� technology References * GI Bill Website (www.gibill.va.gov) � Sign up for FAQ updates! * GI Bill Hotline: 1-888-GIBILL-1 * Yellow Ribbon mailbox (yellow.ribbon@va.gov)