ELIGIBILITY FOR THE RESERVE GI BILL

There are two reserve GI Bills, Chapter 1606 for regular drilling reservists and Chapter 1607 for reservists who have had extended mobilizations after September 11, 2001. The eligibility differs for each program, basic eligibility requirements are:

Chapter 1606:

• Must be an active drilling reservist
• Completed IADT
• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Good standing in your unit
• Remain in a drilling status
• Have at least a 6 year obligation

Chapter 1607:

All of the above qualifications above apply, plus:

• You must have performed full time active duty service for at least 90 consecutive days after 9/11/01

 

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The first thing you should do is complete a VA Form 22-1990 (Application for VA Education Benefits), this form is available at your school, by contacting the VA, or http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/How_to_Apply.htm. If applying online you must send the VA a signature card, we can't process any application without a signature.

Send any supporting documentation you think is necessary. This includes:

• a copy of your DD 2384 (Notice of Basic Eligibility)
• the Member 4 copies of your DD214 form
• call-up orders
• college fund contracts
• LES's
• anything else you think is important

If in doubt about the VA needing a specific document, send a copy just to be safe and avoid any delay in processing your claim due to missing documents. Ensure you send copies of any materials, NOT originals. The VA will return any original documents we receive, but you may need them to apply for other benefits such as VA home loans or state benefits.

Application processing times vary and average processing times are posted on the specific processing office website http://www.gibill.va.gov/Contact/contact.htm.

 

EDUCATION PROGRAMS COVERED UNDER THE RESERVE GI BILL

You can receive GI Bill payments for:

• attending classes that lead to a college degree such as:
  • Associate Degree
  • Bachelor Degree
  • Master Degree
  • Doctorate Degree
• vocational programs that lead to a degree or certificate
• independent study such as online or internet training
• correspondence training (55% of approved costs)
• on-the job (OJT) or apprenticeship training - reimbursed at:
  • 85% of the fulltime GI Bill rate for the first six months of training
  • 65% for the second six months
  • 45% for the remainder of the training
  • you also receive a salary from your employer
• flight training - up to 60% of approved charges (must have private pilot license and valid medical certificate)
• licensing & certification, up to $2000.00 per exam - pass or fail
• entrepeneurship classes offered through the Small Business Development Center or the National Veterans Business Development Center

Who notifies the VA of your enrollment?

• For colleges, vocational schools, independent study, flight, correspondence, and high-tech training, the school reports your enrollment to the VA
• For OJT and apprenticeship training, your employer or union notifies the VA
• For licensing & certification tests, you must report your enrollment and provide the VA with a receipt, your test results, and written permission for VA to view your records
• For entrepeneurship classes the Small Business Development Center of the National Business Development Center will report your enrollment to the VA

 

PAYMENTS, PROCEDURES AND TIME LIMITS FOR USE OF RESERVE GI BILL BENEFITS

Payment rates are based on a number of issues including:

• he type of training taken
• the number of classes you are enrolled in
• participation in a college fund program
• rates are determined by Congress and usually change each fiscal year

Current Rates

Current payment rates can be found http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/rates.htm.

College Funds

Some members are eligible for college fund programs, these are usually given to members who enlisted in specific job specialties. The college fund payments are added to the regular GI Bill payments and are prorated the in the same manner as regular GI Bill payments.

How to Receive Payments

Payments are always issued after the month is complete, you must certify your attendance with the VA each month. In some cases payments are issued in a lump sum.

You can certify your attendance either online at the GI Bill website or over the phone. If you have direct deposit, the payment usually takes about 3 working days before it reaches your bank, if you receive a paper check it will take up to 2 weeks to receive your check via domestic mail, longer for overseas.

Time Limits

You have 14 years from your date of eligibility (usually the date you completed IADT) to use your benefits, you may have this time period extended if you have a later period of active duty. Of course you will need to submit paperwork to qualify for this extension. Extensions for other reasons are extremely rare, contact your local VA office for more information.

If you terminate your drilling status your eligibility terminates, if you leave a unit you have 1 year to rejoin another unit to retain eligibilty, if you are discharged for a disability you may retain your eligibility.

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.

Amount of Benefits

You are entitled to 36 months of full time benefits. This is also prorated, for example, if you are only enrolled as a half time student you would receive 72 months of half time benefits.