Veterans Affairs

Chapter Information

• Veterans and Reservists
• Dependents
• VA Work-Study Program

VETERANS AND RESERVISTS

Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty
The GI Bill program provides up to 36 months of education benefits for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses can be approved under certain circumstances. Benefits are payable for 10 years following release from active duty.
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Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation & Counseling (Voc Rehab)
Vocational Rehabilitation and Counseling is an employment program to assist eligible disabled veterans. Under the Vocational Rehabilitation Program, eligible veterans are assisted in selecting a rehabilitation goal and developing an individualized rehabilitation plan that leads to employment.
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Chapter 32: Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
VEAP is available if you first entered active duty between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985 and you elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this program. The government matches your contributions on a $2 for $1 basis. This benefit can be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses can be approved under certain circumstances.  Benefits are payable for 10 years.
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Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reservist (MGIB-SR)
An individual who is or has served a six-year enlistment in the Selective Reserve. The Selective Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. This benefit can be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses can be approved under certain circumstances. MGIB-SR provides 36 months of full time benefits (no extension) which expire 14 years from eligibility date or separation from reserves.
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Chapter 1607: Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP)
Educational program for active members of the Selected Reserve called to active duty in response to a contingency operation declared by the President or Congress. The Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security (Coast Guard) determine who’s eligible for chapter 1607.
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DEPENDENTS

Chapter 35: Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA)
DEA provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty, or who is listed as a POW or MIA. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits can be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship and on-the-job training. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses can be approved under certain circumstances.
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California Veteran Fee Waiver (also known as California College Fee Waiver)
The dependent child, spouse or unmarried surviving spouses of a service connected disabled or deceased veteran may be entitled to tuition and fee waiver benefits at any campus of the California State University system, University of California or a California Community College.
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VA WORK STUDY PROGRAM    

The Work Study Allowance Program is a benefit available to Veterans and Dependent Students who are receiving a VA educational benefit (your eligibility for a VA education benefit must be established first). The student is required to be enrolled in a minimum of ¾ time (9-11 units).

A Work Study employee is paid the greater of the federal or state minimum wage in exchange for assistance to VA employees at a VA approved work site.

Chapter 30 - Who is Eligible?
CATEGORY I

• Entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985

• Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for first 12 months

• Continuously served for 3 years, OR 2 years if that is what you first enlisted for, OR 2 years if you entered Selected Reserve within a year of leaving active duty and served 4 years ("2 by 4" Program)

             Note: If you were on active duty between 12/1/88 and 6/30/89, AND withdrew your election not to participate in MGIB AND had your military pay reduced, you may be eligible under Category I. Call 1-800-827-1000 for details.

CATEGORY II

• Entered active duty before January 1, 1977

• Served at least 1 day between 10/19/84 and 6/30/85, and stayed on active duty through 6/30/88, (or 6/30/87 if you entered Selected Reserve within 1year of leaving active duty and served 4 years)

• On 12/31/89, you had entitlement left from Vietnam Era GI Bill

CATEGORY III

• Not eligible for MGIB under Category I or II

• "On active duty on 9/30/90 AND separated involuntarily after 2/2/91, OR involuntarily separated on or after 11/30/93, OR voluntarily separated under either the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) or Special Separation Benefit (SSB) program

• Before separation, you had military pay reduced by $1200

How Much Does VA Pay?
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"). Click here for payment chart.

Chapter 30 Kickers and Additional Contributions

Higher monthly benefits are paid to chapter 30 participants with “kickers” (also known as College Fund) and to chapter 30 participants who make additional chapter 30 payments. Veterans may have a kicker, additional contributions, or both. The higher benefit rates are paid automatically when benefits are paid. If veterans don’t receive the benefit they believe they are entitled to receive, they should call the Office of Veterans Affairs regarding the discrepancy so that VA can resolve the discrepancy with the Department of Defense.

 Chapter 31 - Who is Eligible?
                                                                                                                    To receive an evaluation for Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E) Services, a veteran must:

• have received, or will receive, a discharge that is other than dishonorable
• have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10%
• submit a completed application for VR&E Services

The basic period of eligibility in which VR&E services may be used is 12 years from the latter of the following:

• date of separation from active military service, or
• date the veteran was first notified by VA of a service-connected disability rating.

What Happens after Eligibility is Established?

The veteran is scheduled to meet with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) for a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether the veteran is entitled to services. The comprehensive evaluation includes:

• an assessment of the veteran's interests, aptitudes, and abilities
• An assessment of whether service connected disabilities impair the veteran's ability to find and/or hold a job using the occupational skills he or she has already developed
• vocational exploration and goal development

After the student meets with the VRC they are required to meet with the VA Counselor on our campus to set up an Education Plan based on the VRC recommendation.

How Much Does VA Pay?
The amount VA pays is based on the type of training program you're in, and your training time. Click here for payment chart.

 Chapter 32 – Who is Eligible?
To qualify, you must meet the following requirements: Entered service for the first time between January 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985; Opened a contribution account before April 1, 1987; Voluntarily contributed from $25 to $2700;
Completed your first period of service; and were discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable.

If you are currently on active duty and wish to receive VEAP benefits, you must have at least 3 months of contributions available. Contributions may be withdrawn if you do not meet the basic eligibility requirements or if you formally request a refund of the contributions withheld.

What Does VA Pay?
The total dollar amount of your benefits is the sum of:
Your total contributions, PLUS Matching funds from VA equal to 2 times your contributions, PLUS Any DOD contributions or "kickers"

The monthly amount you'll receive is based on the total (above), the number of months you contributed, the type of training you're in, and your training time. Click here for payment chart.  

Chapter 1606 - Who is Eligible?
You may be an eligible reservist or National Guard member if:
After 6/30/85, 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 become eligible for the program. You may have longer if you couldn't train because of a service-related disability. Your eligibility generally ends when you leave the Selected Reserves.

How Much Does VA Pay?
The monthly benefit paid to you is based on the type of training you're in. If you're attending school, your payment is based on your training time. Click here for payment chart.

1606 Kicker: An additional amount, called a kicker, may be added to the benefit of some chapter 1606 students. A chapter 1606 kicker may be a part of the original enlistment contract or part of a reenlistment contract. 

Chapter 1607: Who is Eligible?   

The Secretaries of each military service, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security (Coast Guard) will determine eligibility and establish the program to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserves of the armed forces who are called to duty for 90 days or more. Members may be eligible after serving 90 consecutive days on active duty after September 11, 2001.  

You may use your benefits under REAP as long as you remain within your component. Benefits must be terminated if you leave the Reserves or participate in a ROTC program under Title 10 Section 2107.

Members released early for disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty may receive REAP benefits at the 40% rate. If you are released for disability, you are entitled to REAP benefits for 10 years from your date of eligibility. Click here for payment chart.

How does it pay?                                                                                             The benefit payable under REAP is a percentage of the Chapter 30 three-year or more enlistment rate.

• If you serve 90 days but less than 1 year, you will receive 40% of the three-year rate.
• A service period of 1 year but less than 2 years of active duty will pay 60% of the three-year rate.
• A service period of more than 2 years on active duty will result in an 80% payment of the three-year rate.

If you are eligible for a Chapter 1606 kicker, you can still be paid that kicker while receiving REAP. (1606 Kicker: An additional amount, called a kicker, may be added to the benefit of some chapter 1606 students. A chapter 1606 kicker may be a part of the original enlistment contract or part of a reenlistment contract.)

Important Note: This benefit is retroactive to September 11, 2001. A reservist attending school will be paid a percentage of the MGIB three-year rate in effect during the time in which he/she was enrolled. For example: The three-year full time MGIB rate in June of 2002 was $800. Someone being paid the 40% rate for school enrollment in June 2002 would receive $320 for full time monthly benefits.

Chapter 35: Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) – Who Is Eligible?

·         A child (between ages 18 and 26, with some exceptions) of a veteran who is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition; or who died in service; or who died of a service-connected disability; or who died while evaluated as having total and permanent service-connected disability; or who is listed as a POW or MIA.

·         The surviving spouse of a veteran who died of a service-connected disability, or died in service, or died while evaluated as having total and permanent disability resulting from a service-connected disability.  Surviving spouses whose benefits stopped when they remarried can receive DEA benefits again if their remarriage ends by death or divorce, or they cease to live with the person to whom they presented themselves in public as married.

·         A spouse of a veteran or serviceperson who has a total and permanent disability resulting from a service-connected disability; or who is listed as a POW or MIA.

Click here for payment chart.

 California Veteran Fee Waiver: Who is eligible? 

• A child of a disabled veteran (0% or more disabled); or

• A spouse of a Veteran who is service-connected (S/C) deceased or rated 100% S/C disabled.

• Be a child earning less than $10,160.00 per year (student’s income, not parents’).  Note: No there is no income limit for a spouse or children of S/C deceased or 100% S/C veterans.

• Attend a California Community College, California State University, or a University of California school.

Applications are available in the Office of Veterans Affairs @ Solano Community College, Fairfield VA County Office, and Vallejo VA County Office and on the Web.  Applications can be turned into any of the VA Office locations.

Click here for application http://www.cacvso.org/uploads/dvs40.pdf