http://www.cuny.edu/about/resources/veterans/financing/federal-aid.html
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There are several federal aid programs for those who served or are currently serving in the military. The programs, with current eligibility requirements and payment information, can be found here along with links to The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The major educational assistance programs are:
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is for individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post- 9/11 GI Bill. This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits, generally payable for 15 years following release from Active Duty. The application is available on-line via the U. S. Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) on-line system, VONAPP. You may also receive an application from the school you wish to attend, through the VA Certifying Official (VCO) on campus.
The Post- 9/11 GI Bill became effective for training as of August 1, 2009. The Post- 9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvement Act of 2010 made significant changes to take effect in 2011. The programs' components are as follows, with changes noted: Tuition and fees are paid directly to the school. Effective March 5, 2011 Limits Active Duty members to the net cost for tuition and fees prorated based on the eligibility tiers (40%-100%) previously established for Veterans. The same limitations apply to spouses of active duty service members. Effective August 1, 2011 For veterans and their transferees - simplifies the tuition and fee rates for those attending a public school and creates a national maximum for those enrolled in a private or foreign school : Pays all public school in-state tuition and fees; Private and foreign school costs are capped at $17,500 annually; The Yellow Ribbon Program still exists for out-of-state fees and costs above the cap. For Active Duty Members and their transferees - creates a national rate for those active duty members enrolled in a private or foreign school pursuing a degree: Pays all public school in-state tuition and fees; Private and Foreign schools are capped at $17,500 annually. Allows VA to pay MGIB (Chapter 30) and MGIB-SR (Chapter 1606) 'kickers', or college fund payments, on a monthly basis instead of a lump sum at the beginning of the term. Provides a monthly housing allowance based on the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents at the location of the school. See the VA's BAH calculator.Prorates housing allowance by the student's rate of pursuit (rounded to the nearest tenth). A student training at a rate of pursuit of 75% would receive 80% of the BAH rate. Break or interval pay is no longer payable under any VA education benefit program unless under an Executive Order of the President or due to an emergency, such as a natural disaster or strike. * This means that when your semester ends (e.g. December 15th), your housing allowance is paid for the first 15 days of December only and begins again when your next semester begins (e.g. January 10th) and is paid for the remaining days of January. *Students using other VA education programs are included in this change. Monthly benefits will be pro-rated in the same manner. *Entitlement that previously would have been used for break pay will be available for use during a future enrollment. Provides an Annual books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000 , paid proportionately based on enrollment. Effective October 1, 2011 students attending school while on Active Duty are eligible for the stipend. Allows reimbursement of fees paid to take national exams used for admission to an institution of higher learning (e.g. SAT, ACT, GMAT, LSAT) Allows those who are eligible for both Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Chapter 31) benefits and Post- 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) benefits to choose the Post- 9/11 GI Bill's monthly housing allowance instead of the Chapter 31 subsistence allowance. Effective August 1, 2009 but not payable until October 1, 2011 Expands the Post- 9/11 GI Bill to include Active Service performed by National Guard members under title 32 U.S.C. for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting instructing, or training the National Guard; or under Section 502(f) for the purpose of responding to a national emergency. Effective October 1, 2011 Allows students to use the Post- 9/11 GI Bill for: *Non-college degree (NCD) programs: Non-college degree (NCD) programs offered at non-degree granting schools; Pays the actual net costs for in-state tuition and fees or $17,500, or whichever is less. Also pays up to $83 per month for books and supplies. *On-the-job and apprenticeship training: Pays a monthly benefit amount prorated based on time in program and up to $83 per month for books and supplies. * Flight Programs: Per academic year, pays the actual net costs for in-state and fees assessed by the school or $10,000, whichever is less. * Correspondence training: Per academic year, pays the actual net costs for in-state tuition and fees assessed by the school or $8,500, whichever is less. * Housing allowance is now payable to students (other than those on Active Duty) enrolled solely in distance learning. The housing allowance payable is equal to 1/2 the national average BAH for an E-5 with dependents. The full-time rate for an individual eligible at the 100% eligibility tier would be $673.50 for 2011.
Public Law 111-32, the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, amends the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) to include the children of service members who die in the line of duty after September 10. 2001. Eligible children attending school may receive up to the highest public, in-state, undergraduate tuition and fees, plus a monthly living allowance and books and supplies under this program.
Eligible children are entitled to 36 months of benefits at the 100% level; have 15 years to use the benefit beginning on his or her 18th birthday; may be married or over 23 and still be eligible; may use the benefit until his or her 33rd birthday; are not eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program . If the child is eligible under the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty, Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve, and/or the Reserve Educational Assistance Program, then he or she must relinquish eligibility under one of those programs to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. If a child is eligible for the Fry Scholarship, he or she may be eligible for VA's Dependent's Educational Assistance Program (DEA). Although the benefits cannot be used at the same time, a child may be eligible for up to 48 months of benefits between the two programs. For further information go to www.GIBill.va.gov. Apply: VA Form 22-5490, "Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits" is available at GIBill.va.gov from VONAPP, the online application.
The Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty, called "MGIB" for short, provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible veterans for:
Active-duty veterans who have not used any of their Chapter 30 benefits will need an original or certified copy of their DD Form 214 to send to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
If you are currently in service, you may be eligible after two years of active duty. Please consult with the Education Services Officer at your installation, or call 1-888-GIBILL-1, for information about your eligibility.
If you are separated from service, you may be an eligible veteran if you:
Note: Different rules apply if you entered active duty before July 1, 1985, and in certain other cases. Call the VA at 1-800-GIBILL-1 for more information.
You should be aware that the following pitfalls could cause you to lose all MGIB benefits:
General Discharge . You must have an honorable discharge to be eligible for education benefits. A "general" or "under honorable condition" makes you ineligible for education benefits.
Early Discharge. To be eligible with an early discharge, your separation reason must meet certain requirements. Call 1-800-GIBILL-1 (or if you are on active duty, check with your Education Services Officer) for more information.
The monthly benefit paid to you is based on the type of training you take, length of your service, your category, and if DoD put extra money in your MGIB Fund (called "kickers"). Typically, you have ten years to use your MGIB benefits. The current full-time rate for those with three or more years of service and enrolled in an institutional program is approx. $1,075 per month. For additional rate information, visit the G.I. Bill Chapter 30 Rate Information page: http://www.gibill.va.gov/resources/benefits_resources/rate_tables.html .
You can apply by filling out VA Form 22-1990, Application for Education Benefits . You can also apply online by visiting VONAPP. Application forms are also available at U.S. Offices of Veterans Affairs, through your college's veterans affairs representative, active duty stations, American embassies.
Veterans receiving benefits under Chapter 30 or Chapter 1606 must verify their enrollment each month to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in order to receive payment for that month. This monthly verification can be done using one of two systems:
Once either system confirms that the student is certified for the month, he/she can expect payment within 10-14 days for checks, or 3-5 days for direct deposit. Veterans and reservists must still notify their college's veterans affairs representative when their enrollment changes, even though the change has been reported to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs through the WAVE system.
An eligible reservist may get education benefits while in a program approved for VA training. For information about the types of training available, call the toll-free number listed at the bottom of the page.
Since July 1, 1985, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has been responsible for benefit payment, even though the funding of educational assistance under this program is provided by the Department of Defense.
You may be considered an eligible reservist or National Guard member if:
· after June 30, 1985, you signed a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve, AND
· you completed your Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT), AND
· you got your High School Diploma or GED before you completed your IADT, AND
· you are in good standing in a drilling Selected Reserve unit
If you stay in the Selected Reserves, benefits generally end 10 years from the date you became eligible for the program if you became eligible before October 1, 1992. Benefits generally end 14 years from the date you became eligible if you became eligible on or after October 1, 1992. Your period of eligibility may be extended, if you were unable to train because of a service-related disability. Typically, your eligibility ends when you leave the Selected Reserves.
One exception to this rule exists if you are mobilized (or recalled to active duty from your reserve status), in this case your eligibility may be extended for the amount of time you are mobilized PLUS four months. For example, if you are mobilized for 12 months your eligibility period is extended for 16 months (12 months active duty PLUS 4 months.) So even if you leave the reserves after mobilization, you may have additional eligibility to the MGIB-SR.
Note: If you are an officer in the Selected Reserve OR if you entered active duty from the Selected Reserve after November 29, 1989, call the toll-free number below for additional eligibility requirements.
The monthly benefit paid to you is based on the type of training. If you are attending school, your payment is based on your training time (i.e. full time, half time, etc). The current full-time rate for college training is approx. $309 per month. For additional payment information, visit the G.I. Bill Chapter 1606 Rate Information page .
Your unit will give you a Notice of Basic Eligibility (DD Form 2384 or 2384-1) when you become eligible for Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve. Once you find a program approved for VA training, complete VA Form 22-1990, Application for Education Benefits , and send it to the VA regional office that serves the state where you will train. You can apply online by visiting VONAPP <pdf>.
Veterans receiving benefits under Chapter 30 or Chapter 1606 must verify their enrollment each month to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in order to receive payment for that month. This monthly verification can be done using one of two systems:
REAP (Chapter 1607 of title 10, U.S. Code) is a new education program that provides 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.
This new program makes certain that individuals who were activated after September 11, 2001, are either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits.
Eligibility will be determined by the Department of Defense (DoD) or Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as appropriate. Generally, a member of a Reserve component who serves on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 under title 10, U.S. Code, for at least 90 consecutive days under a contingency operation, is eligible for REAP. There is no specific time frame to use REAP; however, your eligibility generally ends when you leave the Selected Reserves.
National Guard members are eligible if their active service extends for 90 consecutive days or more and their service is:
The educational assistance allowance payable under REAP is a percentage of the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (MGIB) rate based on the number of continuous days served on active duty. Persons released before 90 days due to an injury, illness, or disease incurred or aggravated in the line of duty receive the 40% rate.
The amount VA pays is based on the type of training program and training time (i.e. full time, half time, etc). If attendance is less than a month or less than full-time, payments are reduced proportionately. For additional monthly rates, visit the G.I. Bill, Chapter 1607 Rate Information page.
The following programs are available:
Note : VA does not approve schools or programs for benefits. Each individual state approves schools and courses. To find out if your school or program is approved for VA educational benefits under REAP, contact your school's VA Certifying Official, or call VA at the toll-free number below.
Once you find a program approved for VA training, complete VA Form 22-1990, Application for Education Benefits , and send it to the VA regional office that serves the state where you will train. Indicate on the form you are applying for REAP. You can also apply online by visiting VONAPP .
A federal needs-based program for students eligible for such aid. Application is made by filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) either at a college's Financial Aid Office or by using the FAFSA website.
The applicant may be a full- or part-time student. Hours available are determined by a student's Federal Work-Study award, and are arranged around the student's schedule. Wages will be, at least at the federal minimum hourly wage. Work will either be on campus, or at an off-campus, non-profit or government, employer.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs work-study program recipients must be receiving full-time G.I. Bill benefits to be eligible. Up to 750 hours per year are available to eligible veterans, at least at the federal minimum hourly wage. Visit the VA's Work-Study page for more information.
The Post-Vietnam Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) is an education benefit for veterans who paid into VEAP while they were in the service. Eligible veterans may be entitled to as much as 36 months of training. Eligibility usually ends 10 years after getting out of the service, but the time limit can be longer in certain cases. Eligible veterans may pursue any of the following types of training:
Note : VA does not approve schools or programs for benefits. Each individual state approves schools and courses. To find out if your school or program is approved for VA educational benefits under VEAP, contact your school's VA Certifying Official, or call VA at the toll-free number below.
To establish eligibility to VEAP, you must have:
Note : You may be eligible for education benefits if you are still on active duty, call the toll-free number below for details about your eligibility for VEAP or to find out if you may switch to the Montgomery GI Bill.
The total dollar amount of your benefits is the sum of:
The monthly amount you'll receive is based on the total (above), the number of months you contributed, the type of training you are pursuing, and your training time (i.e. full-time, half-time, etc).
Note : Contributions may be refunded. Please call the VA at: 1-800-GIBILL-1.
When you find a program approved for VA training, you can apply for VEAP by completing VA Form 22-1990, Application for Education Benefits . You can also apply online through VONAPP .
This benefit is available to full- and part-time veterans who have at least a 20% disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This includes payment for tuition, fees, and a monthly stipend. Visit the VA website for complete information.
Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Programs provide educational and training opportunities to eligible spouses and children of certain veterans.
Eligible persons can receive up to 45 months of full-time or equivalent benefits for:
The student must be the child or spouse of:
In addition to the aforementioned requirements, a student who wishes to receive benefits for attending school or job training must be between the ages of 18 and 26. In certain instances, it is possible to begin before age 18 and continue after age 26. Marriage is not a bar to this benefit. Students in the Armed Forces may not be eligible for this benefit while on active duty. To pursue training after military service, a discharge must not be under dishonorable conditions. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can extend the period of eligibility by the number of months and days equal to the time spent on active duty. This extension generally cannot go beyond a student's 31st birthday, however, there are some exceptions.
For spouses, benefits end 10 years from the date the VA finds the spouse eligible or from the date of death of the veteran.
Surviving spouses of veterans who died while on active duty have 20 years from the date of the veteran's death to use the benefit. (benefits can't be paid before December 10, 2004 for anyone whose 10 year period ended prior to that date).
Note : These time limits can be extended under certain circumstances. For details, call 1-888-GIBILL-1 or visit the G.I.Bill website.
The amount the VA pays is based on the type of training program and training time (i.e. full-time, half-time, etc). Benefits are paid monthly and in arrears. For example, effective October 1, 2006, the VA pays $860 a month for full-time training for a full month at a college or university. If attendance is less than a month or less than full-time, payments are reduced proportionately. Different payment rates can be found on the G.I. Bill website or by calling the VA at: 1-888-GIBILL-1.
After finding a program approved for VA training, complete VA Form 22-5490, Application for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance , and submit it to the VA regional office that serves the state where you will train. You can also apply online through VONAPP. If the student is a son or daughter under legal age, a parent or guardian must sign the application.
If the student has started training, he or she must take the application to their college's veterans affairs representative. Have that person complete VA Form 22-1999 and the Enrollment Certification form, and send both forms to the VA.
Public Law 111-32, the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, amends the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) to include the children of service members who die in the line of duty after September 10. 2001. Eligible children attending school may receive up to the highest public, in-state, undergraduate tuition and fees, plus a monthly living allowance and books and supplies under this program. Eligible children : are entitled to 36 months of benefits at the 100% level; have 15 years to use the benefit beginning on his or her 18th birthday; may be married or over 23 and still be eligible; may use the benefit until his or her 33rd birthday; are not eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program . If the child is eligible under the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty, Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve, and/or the Reserve Educational Assistance Program, then he or she must relinquish eligibility under one of those programs to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. If a child is eligible for the Fry Scholarship, he or she may be eligible for VA's Dependent's Educational Assistance Program (DEA). Although the benefits cannot be used at the same time, a child may be eligible for up to 48 months of benefits between the two programs. For further information go to www.GIBill.va.gov. Apply: VA Form 22-5490, "Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits" is available at GIBill.va.gov from VONAPP, the online application.
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