Columbia International University

Q. How was the GI Bill created?
Q. Doesn’t the GI Bill cost the government a lot of money?
Q. Who extended the GI Bill to reservists and what new name was given to the GI Bill in 1985?
Q. Who do I contact if I have questions about veteran’s educational benefits?
Q. How do I apply for veteran’s educational benefits?
Q. Who is the CIU VA Certifying Official?
Q. What forms am I required to submit to the CIU VA Certifying Official?
Q. When should I contact the CIU VA Certifying Official?
Q. What is the role of the CIU VA Certifying Official?
Q. Who determines whether I am eligible for benefits and what the amount will be?
Q. Where is the location of the VA Office that determines my eligibility and otherwise handles my case file?
Q. How does the CIU VA Certifying Official certify my enrollment?
Q. How is my payment rate determined?
Q. How much are the benefits?
Q. For which types of study can I receive benefits?
Q. How do I receive payment?
Q. For how long can I receive benefits?
Q. What types of educational benefits are there for veterans?
Q. How do I know that I am eligible for benefits?

Q. How was the GI Bill created?

A. On June 22, 1944 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the "Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944," better known as the "GI Bill of Rights." The act provided up to a maximum of $500 per year toward a veteran’s educational expenses. Today, a vet can receive up to $1,075 per month.

Q. Doesn’t the GI Bill cost the government a lot of money?

A.  It has been calculated that during the lifetime of the average veteran the U.S. Treasury receives from two to eight times as much in income taxes as it paid out to the veteran in GI Bill education benefits. James A. Michener, the novelist, wrote in January 1993 that the original GI Bill is one of the two or three finest laws Congress has ever passed.

Q. Who extended the GI Bill to reservists and what new name was given to the GI Bill in 1985?

A. In 1985 the bill was re-named the “Montgomery GI Bill.” Under the new plan, sponsored by Rep. G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery, chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, military reservists also are eligible for education benefits. For the Active Duty part of the program, benefits generally are for individuals who enter active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985.

Q. Who do I contact if I have questions about veteran’s educational benefits?

A.  Dial 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to speak with a Veterans Benefits Counselor.

Q. How do I apply for veteran’s educational benefits?

A. Apply online at: www.gibill.va.gov/ and then select “apply online” and select “education”

Q. Who is the CIU VA Certifying Official?

A.  Bob Patton, contact him at: 1-800-777-2227 ext.5031, or rpatton@ciu.edu.

Q. What forms am I required to submit to the CIU VA Certifying Official?

A. None. The information that he needs can be communicated via telephone (i.e. SSN, address, date of birth, etc.)

Q. When should I contact the CIU VA Certifying Official?

A. When you are initially accepted to CIU and wish for your benefits to begin, and then at the beginning of each term when you register for classes

Q. What is the role of the CIU VA Certifying Official?

A. He certifies (communicates officially) to the VA that you are enrolled, and what your status (full-time, half-time, etc) is

Q. Who determines whether I am eligible for benefits and what the amount will be?

A. The U.S. Veterans Administration

Q. Where is the location of the VA Office that determines my eligibility and otherwise handles my case file?

A. If you are receiving vocational rehabilitation (chapter 31) benefits, the answer is:

VA Regional Office

1801 Assembly Street

Columbia, SC 29201

For all other veterans, the answer is:

VA Regional Office

PO Box 100022

Decatur, GA 30031

Q. How does the CIU VA Certifying Official certify my enrollment?

A. If you are receiving vocational rehabilitation (chapter 31) benefits, the answer is: by fax

For all other veterans, the answer is: via the Internet

Q. How is my payment rate determined?

A. Payment is based on the number of classes you attend:

12 hours or more – full time

9 - 11 hours - ¾ time

6 - 8 hours - ½ time

less than 6 hours - reimbursed at a rate not to exceed the tuition & fees charged for the course(s).

For graduate level training, the training time is determined by the school - for example, if a 2 hour class is considered full time in a graduate program at your school, the VA will pay you the full time rate.

Q. How much are the benefits?

A. Payment rates are based on many factors, including:

• the length of your original enlistment
• the type of training taken
• the amount of classes you are enrolled in
• participation in the GI Bill $600 buy-up program
• participation in a college fund program
• rates are determined by Congress and usually change each fiscal year

For full time the monthly rate is $1,075.00

For ¾ time the monthly rate is $806.25

For ½ time the monthly rate is $537.50.

For less than ½ time and more than ¼ time the monthly rate is $537.50.

For ¼ time or less the monthly rate is $268.75.

Q. For which types of study can I receive benefits?

A. You can receive GI Bill payments for:

• attending classes that lead to a college degree like an Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's or 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, and 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
• entrepreneurship classes offered through the Small Business Development Center or the National Veterans Business Development Center
• high cost/high tech courses - up to 60% of the charges may be reimbursed

Q. How do I receive payment?

A. You will normally receive your payments monthly, payments are prorated for less than fulltime training and training that is less than a full month. 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 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.  To verify enrollment, call: 1-877-823-2378

Q. For how long can I receive benefits?

A. You have 10 years from your date of discharge to use your benefits, you may have this time period extended if you have another period of active duty that lasts for at least 90 consecutive days. Of course, you will need to submit paperwork to prove you qualify for this extension. Extensions for other reasons are extremely rare.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.

Q. What types of educational benefits are there for veterans?

A.  Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation
The Department of Veterans Affair's Veterans Benefits Administration's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) service is vested with delivering timely, effective vocational rehabilitation services to veterans with service-connected disabilities. Enabling our injured soldiers, sailors, airmen, and other veterans with disabilities for a seamless transition from military service to a successful rehabilitation and on to suitable employment after service to our Nation. For some severely disabled veterans, this success will be to live independently, achieving the highest quality of life possible with a realized hope for employment given future advances in medical science and technology. The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment service strives to exceed the service delivery expectations of veterans and their families.

VR&E's primary benefit program is vocational rehabilitation services for veterans who have a service-connected disability. To receive services a veteran must be found both eligible and entitled. The outcome of these services lead to suitable employment that is consistent with their aptitudes and interests, or achieving independence in their daily living.

VR&E also provides the following benefit services. Educational and Vocational Counseling is provided for eligible service members, veterans, and veterans' dependents. The outcome of this counseling is assistance in the selection of an educational or vocational goal and / or assistance in the selection of training institutions where this goal may be pursued. Additionally the VR&E program provides educational and training benefits for certain dependent children who have the disease of spina bifida as a result of a veteran-parent's service in the Vietnam Theater.

Chapter 30: The Montgomery GI Bill 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 10 years

Chapter 35 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. The 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 may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

REAP: REAP was established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It is a new Department of Defense education benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the President or Congress.  This new program makes certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits.

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.

Active duty personnel could participate in VEAP if they entered active duty for the first time after Dec. 31, 1976, and before July 1, 1985, and made a contribution prior to April 1, 1987. The maximum contribution is $2,700. Active duty participants may make a lump-sum contribution to their VEAP account.

Service members who participated in VEAP are eligible to receive benefits while on active duty if:

1. At least three months of contributions are available, except for high school or elementary, in which only one month is needed.

2. And they enlisted for the first time after Sept. 7, 1980, and completed 24 months of their first period of active duty.

Veterans must receive a discharge under conditions other than dishonorable for the qualifying period of service. Veterans who enlisted for the first time after Sept. 7, 1980, or entered active duty as an officer or enlistee after Oct. 16, 1981, must have completed 24 continuous months of active duty, unless they meet a qualifying exception.

Eligibility generally expires 10 years from release from active duty, but can be extended under special circumstances.

Q. How do I know that I am eligible for benefits?

A. The VA will issue to you DD Form 2384-1 (Notice of Basic Eligibility or NOBE).

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