STILL SERVING AMERICA

New GI Bill Chapter 33 Timeline

It is estimated that 450,000 veterans will be applying for this new Chapter 33 education benefit. Following is the VA timeline for implementation of this new benefit:

Student Experience Timeline

• May 1, 2009 – VA begins processing applications for Certificates of Eligibility
  • Eligibility data provided from DoD via existing feed
  • VA mails Certificate of Eligibility to student showing:
    • Months of entitlement
    • Tier of eligibility
    • Delimiting date
• May-July – Veteran enrolls in school and provides Certificate of Eligibility to school
• July 6, 2009 – VA begins accepting enrollment information from schools
  • School reports enrollment and charges to VA via existing mechanism (VAOnce)
• July 6, 2009 – VA begins processing claims Jul 6, 2009
  • August 3, 2009 – VA pays first tuition and fees payments to schools
  • August 3, 2009 – VA pays first books and supplies stipend to student
  • VA provides notice to student of:
    • Tuition and fee payment amount
    • Book stipend payment amount
    • Monthly housing payment amount
    • Need to notify VA of changes in enrollment
    • Obligation to repay any observed versus predicted expenses resulting from changes in training
• September 1, 2009 – VA pays partial housing allowance for August attendance
• October 1, 2009 – VA pays first full monthly housing allowance

Elections – What a veteran should consider

• Which benefit pays you more?
  • Are you receiving other aid?
  • Will entitlement to that aid change?
  • What Chapter 33 tier are you eligible for?
  • Generally, if basic allowance for housing exceeds current monthly benefit, you gain under Chapter 33.
• What type of training
  • On-line?
  • Covered under Chapter 33?
• Is delimiting date important to you?
• Serving on Activity Duty on August 1, 2009
  • Eligible for Transfer of Entitlement?
  • What to transfer?
• Does the vet have remaining entitlement under other VA Education Programs?
  • Use that entitlement before using Post-9/11 GI Bill?

Resources

• American Legion site for new Post 9/11 GI Bill
• Military.com – Learn to Use Your GI Bill
• www.gibill.va.gov
• GI Bill Hotline: 1-888-GIBILL-1

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