Confused about Veteran's Education Benefits? Come to the NASFAA Conference!

When families ask you about veteran's education benefits at financial aid nights, do you have answers or do you just give them a name and number in the Veteran's Affairs office? Can you speak knowledgeably to your institution's executive offices about veteran's education assistance and how it relates to your students? Do you feel in the dark about Post-9/11 veteran's education benefits?

With more veterans returning to school, and additional students considering entering military service, you need to arm yourself with the kind of information they need to make good choices, as well as the information needed to ensure a smooth flow of information among offices at your school. This year, the NASFAA Conference will feature three interest sessions specifically targeting VA education benefits. In advance of her 2009 NASFAA Conference interest sessions on this topic Lynn Nelson, deputy director of Education Service at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, agreed to address a few questions for Today's News to help readers understand some of the issues that surround this source of financial assistance.

Question 1: Unlike any other current VA educational benefits, the Post-9/11 tuition and fee benefits will be paid directly to schools. How will a school know how much the student will receive?

Answer: The school will only be able to estimate. If the school has a copy of the student's certificate of eligibility letter, the school will know the student's payment tier, 40% to 100%. The school would also need to know the amount of tuition and fees the student will be charged and the number of credit hours in which the individual is enrolled during a given term, quarter, or semester. If the school has all the above information, the school could visit our Web site (at http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/Tuition_and_fees.htm) to learn the maximum tuition and fees payable. If the student is eligible for the 100% tier and the established charges are less or equal to the amounts on the chart, the school could estimate that the student would receive the amount charged.

For example, suppose a student is enrolled in 12 credit hours and charged $1200 tuition and $700 fees. To find out the amount the student will receive, you would go to the chart and find the maximums for the state in which the school is located and compare the amounts. Using the numbers for Washington DC, ($105 per credit hour and $657 fees), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would pay $1200 for tuition and $657 in fees. Why? Maximum tuition is $105 per credit: $105 x 12 = $1260. The veteran is charged less than maximum, so VA could pay actual charges of $1200. The maximum fees are $657. The veteran is charged more than the maximum, so VA could only pay $657 of the $700 the veteran will be charged. Total estimated payment is $1857 for this particular semester at the 100% tier. If the veteran were entitled to the 70% tier, VA would pay $129.90 (70% of $1857).

Note: The rates currently on the Web site are 2008/2009 school year. We do not have the information for the upcoming year yet.

Question 2. The "Yellow Ribbon" component of the Post-9/11 GI Bill allows private colleges and universities to contribute to the difference between the basic Post-9/11 benefit and actual tuition and fee costs, which the VA will then match. How will schools determine which veterans may receive Yellow Ribbon benefits?

Answer: Those students that have filed for an eligibility determination will have a certificate of eligibility letter verifying they are entitled to 100% rate and informing them they are potentially eligible for Yellow Ribbon participation if the school they choose participates. Individuals need to file with VA for a formal eligibility determination to learn if they are entitled.

Question 3: Under the law as currently written, a veteran may elect to receive the new Post-9/11 benefits rather than educational benefits from older VA programs, but that election is irrevocable. How does a veteran decide which program is most beneficial to him or her?

Answer: We have information on our web site at www.gibill.va.gov that provides veterans with things to consider. The direct link is: http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/Benefit_Comparison_Chart.htm Several case study examples on the web site can help individuals decide the best choice for their personal circumstances.

Some considerations include:

Which benefit pays you more?
What Post-9/11 GI Bill tier are you eligible for?
Are you receiving other aid?
Will your eligibility for that aid change?
What type of training will you pursue (i.e., bachelor's degree, flight training, on-the-job, etc.)?
Is your preferred training covered under Post-9/11 GI Bill?
How much, if any, of your training will be online/distance learning?
Where will you be living when you pursue training?
Is the timeframe to utilize benefits important to you?
Will you be a member of the Armed Forces on August 1, 2009?
Are you eligible for Transfer of Entitlement? Do you want to transfer entitlement? (Your military service branch determines if you are eligible to transfer entitlement.)
Do you have remaining entitlement under other VA Education Programs?
Are you planning to use that entitlement before using the Post-9/11 GI Bill?

Learn More at the NASFAA Conference

There is so much to know about changes in veteran's education benefits. To learn more, add Lynn Nelson's July 14 sessions (10:45 a.m.: "The Post 9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act: Overview and a School Perspective"; 3:15 p.m.: "Q&A with the Department of Veterans Affairs" at 3:15 p.m.) and West Virginia University's July 14 session (1:30 p.m.: "A Veteran Friendly Campus: West Virginia University's Journey" at 1:30) to your online conference scheduler.

And if you still haven't registered for the conference, sign up today and take advantage of the extended preregistration deadline for NASFAA members. The preregistration rate saves you $100 and expires at close of business on Wednesday, June 24. For hotel reservations at the conference site, go to http://www.nasfaa.org/SubHomes/AnnualConference2009/housing.html.

Don't forget to tell your institution's Veteran's Affairs Office that they can register for the single-day rate and attend all three sessions targeted to VA issues. Your NASFAA membership extends to your entire institution, so other offices are welcome to register for the entire conference or just the portions that interest them, at the low NASFAA-member rates.

In a year with reauthorization, negotiated rulemaking, proposed changes in the student loan programs, and even more needy students seeking aid, only one thing is certain: You cannot afford to miss the 2009 NASFAA Conference!

By Linda Conard
NASFAA Director of Development

Posted 06/24/09 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.