Education Program
The following program descriptions are up-to-date, thumbnail
descriptions. Detailed descriptions are available at the Education Benefits
and Services Homepage. From the menu in the left frame of the
page, click "Education Benefit Programs" to view a general
description of each program.
NOTE: All students who feel they may be
eligible for education benefits should submit an application. Even
if someone appears ineligible, VA should review his or her
application and officially grant or deny benefits.
Chapter 30: Montgomery G.I. Bill - Active Duty
(MGIB-AD)
The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education
benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate
programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and
correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses
may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits
are payable for ten years following your release from active
duty.
- Kickers and Additional
Contributions
Higher monthly benefits are paid to Chapter 30 participants with
"kickers" and to Chapter 30 participants who make additional
Chapter 30 payments. 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
VA about the discrepancy so that VA can resolve the discrepancy
with the Department of Defense. A kicker is part of the enlistment
contract. It's often referred to by it's Madision Avenue name: Army
College Fund, Navy Sea College Fund, or whatever the newest
recruitment ads call it. If a contract has a $12,000 kicker, than
the monthly kicker is $333.33 ($12,000 over 36 months).
- Tuition Assistance "Top-Up"
On October 30, 2000, the President signed into law an amendment to
the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty education program that
permits VA to pay a Tuition Assistance Top-up benefit. The amount
of the benefit can be equal to the difference between the total
cost of a college course and the amount of tuition assistance that
is paid by the military for the course.
Chapter 1606: Montgomery G.I. Bill - Selected
Reserve
Educational program for active members of the Selected
Reserve. Selected Reserve components of the Ready Reserve include
the Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps
Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, and Air National
Guard. Chapter 1606 eligibility is determined by the Department of
Defense of by the Department of Transportation (Coast Guard), not
by VA. Basic eligibility requires a six-year oblication to serve in
the Selected Reserve and satisfactory participation in required
Selected Reserve training.
- Kickers
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 re-enlistment
contract.
Chapter 32: Veterans Education 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
education benefit program. Your contributions are matched on a
$2-for-$1 basis by the Government. This benefit may be used for
degree and certificate programs, flight training,
apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and correspondence courses.
Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under
certain circumstances.
Chapter 35: Survivors' and Dependents' Education
Assistance Program
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 as a result of a service related condition. This
program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These
benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs,
apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you
make take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and
refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
Persons who may be eligible are:
- 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 permanant service-connecty 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
remarraige 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.
Tutorial Assistance Program
Tutorial assistance is available if you are receiving VA
education assistance at the half-time or more rate and have a
deficiency in a subject making tutoring necessary. If you have
questions on this program please contact the VA Education
assistance office at 1-888-442-4551 (toll-free).
Education Program Monthly Rates