Veterans Administration and Department of Defense Student Benefits Procedures
A benefit recipient is anyone entitled to financial assistance for education from the Veterans Administration (VA) or the Department of Defense. Benefit recipients are permitted to attend, or participate in, their course of education beginning on the date that the recipient, the VA Case Manager, or the Department of Defense case manager provides a Certificate of Eligibility for benefits to CCC and ending on the date those government agency benefits are exhausted, rescinded, or expire.
Military-connected students must know the differences between the Veterans Administration and Department of Defense education benefits and provide a Certificate of Eligibility from the case manager authorizing benefits under one of the following chapters:
Chapter 30 [Montgomery GI Bill] is available to active duty members and Veterans who paid $1200 during their first year of service to their education fund. The VA matches those funds, and there are many different requirements that must be met to receive the maximum matched funds.
Chapter 31 [Veterans Readiness and Employment] is available to Veterans with at least a 10% disability rating, but approval is not guaranteed. Up to 48 months of entitlement are possible.
Chapter 33 [Post 9/11] is available to active duty service members and Veterans with qualifying active duty service and does not require a disability rating. Up to 36 months of entitlement are possible. The Post-9/11 GI Bill is more widely available and has more flexible eligibility requirements.
Chapter 35 [Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance] is for a child or spouse of a Veteran or service member who died while on active duty, died from service-connected injuries, is/was captured or missing or has 100% service-connected disabilities. There are other specific requirements to meet for qualification.
Chapter 1606 [Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)] offers up to 36 months of education and training benefits. Members of any Reserve Component or the National Guard may be eligible for this benefit.
My Career Advancement Account [MyCAA], a Department of Defense educational program for spouses of active duty service members, is also covered under this policy.
The Veterans & Military Resource Centers will assist military-connected students in applying for and managing earned VA or Department of Defense benefits.