To
help servicepersons readjust to civilian life after their separation
from military service; assist in the recruitment and retention of
highly qualified personnel in the active and reserve components
in the Armed Forces by extending the benefits of a higher education
to those who may not otherwise be able to afford it; restore lost
educational opportunities to those who served on active duty; and
enhance the Nation's competitiveness through a more highly educated
work force.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Direct Payments for Specified Use. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
The
veteran may select a program of education to assist him or her in
attaining an educational, professional, or vocational objective
at any approved educational institution he or she chooses which
will accept him or her as a student. The Under Secretary for Benefits
will not approve enrollment in certain courses, such as those he
finds vocational or recreational in character. An individual must
have met the requirements of a secondary school diploma or the equivalent
before completing the initial obligated period of active duty or
successfully completed 12 college credits. Individuals may pursue
certain flight training. Benefits may not be paid for elementary
or secondary courses, or farm cooperative courses. Benefits may
be paid for preparatory courses for admission to an institution
of higher education or graduate training. Benefits may also be paid
for any test that is necessary for licensing and certification needed
to enter, maintain, or advance into employment in certain civilian
occupations. Service members can increase their benefits substantially
by making contributions above the basic $1200 at anytime while on
active duty. Individuals can make additional payments to VA in $4
increments up to a maximum of $600. Their monthly full-time MGIB
benefit will be increased by an additional $1 per month for each
$4 contributed. A maximum contribution of $600 would yield an additional
$5,400 of entitlement to MGIB participants who use their full 36
months of benefits. In addition, the military services can now pay
up to 100 percent of the tuition and expenses charged by the school.
At one time, the military could pay up to 75 percent in most cases.
If a service department pays less than 100 percent, a service member
eligible for the MGIB can elect to receive MGIB benefits for all
or part of the remaining expenses. Effective October 1, 2002, certain
MGIB trainees pursuing high technology training may qualify for
an 'accelerated payment'. This payment is a lump sum payment of
a maximum of 60 percent of the charged tuition and fees of an approved
program. In addition, there is now a transferability program. When
certain conditions are met, some individuals who have completed
at least six years of service in the Armed Forces may transfer a
portion of their entitlement (up to 18 months) to their dependents.
Each individual service will determine whether or not they will
allow their members to participate.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Individuals initially entering
military service on or after July 1, 1985 will have their basic
pay reduced by $100 a month for the first 12 months, unless they
specifically elect not to participate. Individuals who were eligible
for the Old GI Bill benefits as of December 31, 1989, who served
on continuous active duty for 3 years after June 30, 1985, are also
eligible, but will not have their basic pay reduced. They must have
served on active duty without a break at some time during the period
beginning on October 19, 1984, and ending on July 1, 1985, and continued
on active duty without a break through their qualifying period.
Certain veterans who were not on active duty on October 19, 1984,
and who were eligible for the Old GI Bill, may now be eligible for
the MGIB. In addition, individuals who were on active duty on September
30, 1990, or after November 29, 1993, and who are involuntarily
separated from active duty after February 2, 1991, may elect MGIB
benefits. However, they must have their basic pay reduced by $1,200.
Similarly, those who are voluntarily separated after October 23,
1992, under the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) or the Special
Separation Benefit (SSB) programs, may make such an election. They
too must have their basic pay reduced by $1,200. Other additional
VEAP individuals may elect benefits under chapter 32 on or before
October 9, 1996, and must have continuously served on active duty
since October 9, 1996, through at least April 1, 2000. There are
some other eligibility criteria which must be met. VEAP participants
must have made this election by November 1, 2001. Questions about
eligibility should be directed to the nearest VA regional office.
Individuals must have met the requirements of a secondary school
diploma or the equivalent before applying for benefits. A veteran
must be discharged from active duty with an honorable discharge
to receive benefits. Veterans and service personnel must serve 2
years before they are eligible for basic assistance. Participants
who do not complete the required obligated service must have been
discharged for a service-connected disability, for the convenience
of the Government, for hardship, for a pre-existing medical condition,
for involuntary separation due to certain reductions in force, or
separated for a physical or mental condition that was not characterized
as a disability.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Veterans and servicepersons.
Credentials/Documentation:
Military discharge certificate, certification of enrollment by
the educational institution in approved courses leading to an
educational, professional or vocational objective.
Pre-application
Coordination: None. This program is excluded
from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application
Procedure: An application (VA Form 22-1990)
may be obtained from any VA Regional Office and submitted to the
appropriate VA Regional Processing Office.
Award
Procedure: Awards are authorized at the designated
VA Regional Processing Office.
Deadlines:
Veterans have 10 years after release from service to complete
their education. The basic 10-year period may be extended for
those veterans who were prevented from beginning or completing
their chosen program of education because they were held by a
foreign government or power or because of a physical or mental
disability not the result of their own willful misconduct. The
10-year period can also be extended if they reenter active duty
for 90 days or more after becoming eligible.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: At least 97.2
percent of applications are processed within 90 days or less.
Appeals:
Appeals are available through a special board; response time is
220 days.
Renewals:
Possibility of adjustments to the basic eligibility period of
a medical condition, including alcoholism, which prevented a veteran
from entering or completing a program of education.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: Reductions from military
pay will be turned over to the Treasury. There will be no refunds
of any portion of these reductions. In the event of the service-connected
death of an individual on active duty or within 1 year after discharge,
a death benefit of unused amounts withheld from military pay may
be paid to a designated beneficiary under certain circumstances.
If an individual elects not to participate, he or she may not decide
at a later date to participate except for certain situations mentioned
in "Applicant Eligibility" above. Active duty for 3 years, or 2
years active duty plus 4 years in the Selected Reserve or National
Guard will entitle an individual to $800 monthly basic benefits
for 36 months. Two years active duty would entitle the individual
to $650 monthly for 36 months. Individuals who initially serve a
continuous period of at least 3 years of active duty, even though
they were initially obligated to serve less than 3 years of active
duty, will be paid at the higher basic rate. The Department of Defense
may provide a supplemental assistance benefit of up to $300 monthly
to individuals who serve an additional five continuous years of
active duty. Persons with critical military skills may be paid an
additional discretionary kicker by the Department of Defense. Basic
kickers may not exceed $400 monthly (for those who initially entered
service before November 29, 1989); $950 monthly (for those who initially
enter service after September 30, 1998); or $300 monthly as a supplemental
kicker. Also, the Department of Defense may offer certain participants
who have a skill or specialty in which there is a critical shortage
or for which it is difficult to recruit or retain qualified personnel,
in reserve components, an additional benefit not to exceed $350
per month if they make a commitment to serve in the Selected Reserve
for 6 years. Persons who were eligible for the Old GI Bill benefits
as of December 31, 1989, and who served on active duty without a
break at some time during the period beginning on October 19, 1984,
and ending on July 1, 1985, and continued on active duty without
a break through the qualifying period, will be eligible for basic
assistance under the MGIB, plus one-half of the amount they would
have received under the Old GI Bill.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Available
within 10 years of first date of discharge or release from service,
or until 36 months of entitlement is exhausted. Assistance checks
generally to be released on a monthly basis. For those who serve
2 years active duty, followed by 4 years in the Selected Reserve
(2x4 program), the 10-year period runs from the date of release
from active duty or 10 years from the completion of the 4-year
Selected Reserve obligation, whichever is later.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
The educational allowance will not be paid if participants do not
pursue their courses in accordance with established policies and
regulations of the educational institution they attend, and are
not making satisfactory progress as required by law and VA regulations.
Students must verify their pursuit at institutions of higher learning
and for courses not leading to a standard college degree on a monthly
basis. Attendance for OJT/apprenticeship training must be certified
monthly by the veteran. Absences do not need to be reported. Students
certify lessons completed under correspondence training on a quarterly
basis.
Audits:
None.
Records:
None.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 36-0137-0-1-702.
Obligations:
(Direct Payments) FY 01 $892,104,000; FY 02 est $1,376,127,000;
and FY 03 est $1,467,295,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
Up to a maximum of $28,800 basic assistance. Work study
allowance: Payment is based on the higher of the Federal minimum
wage, or the State minimum wage where work is performed. Tutorial
assistance can be up to a maximum of $1,200.
For fiscal year 2001, there were 279,949 trainees; trainee estimates
for fiscal years 2002 and 2003 are 510,300 and 648,300, respectively.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
38 CFR 21.7000 - 21.7320. "Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents,"
VA Pamphlet 80-01-1, $5.00, available from Superintendent of Documents,
P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. The stock number is:
0051-000-00224-5.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: See Appendix IV of the Catalog
for Veterans Benefits Administration field offices.
Headquarters
Office: Department of Veterans Affairs, Central
Office, Washington, DC 20420. Telephone: (202) 273-7132.
