The first step is to fill out form 22-1990, the Application for Educational Benefits, and turn it in to a VA certifying official in one of our Financial Aid Offices. Depending on your veteran status, you may need to turn in other forms:

• If you are filing under the Montgomery GI Bill, Chapter 30 or 32 (VEAP program), you need a certified copy of your DD-214.
• If you’re an active duty guardsmen or reservist filing under Montgomery GI Bill, Chapter 1606, you need to obtain a DD-2384, Notice of Basic Eligibility, from your unit.
• If you’re a reservist filing under Chapter 1607, you need the member 4 copy of your DD-214.
• If you’d like to claim dependents, we’ll need a written statement proving your marriage or the birth of a child.

By the way, if you’ve done all this before and have already used educational benefits, we’ll only need form 22-1995 (Change of Program or Place of Training).

You may be eligible for Chapter 33 or Post 9/11 GI Bill if you served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty after September 10, 2001, and you are still on active duty or were honorably:

• discharged from active duty released from active duty and placed on the retired list or temporary disability retired;
• released from active duty and transferred to the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve; or
• released from the active duty for further service in a reserve component of the Armed Services.

You may also be eligible if you were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and you serve 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001

The Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) provides the following benefits.

• Pays tuition and fees directly to the school not to exceed tuition and fees charged at the most expensive state institution
  • Tuition and fees will be prorated based on the number of months the veteran served activity duty after 9/11/01
• Provides a monthly living allowance of $1,530 maximum
  • Students must enroll in over half-time (at least 7 hours) and one of the classes must a one ground or hybrid class in order to receive living allowance.
  • Living allowance will be prorated based on the number of months the veteran served activity duty after 9/11/01
• Makes available an annual book stipend of $1,000 paid proportionately based on enrollment
  • Book stipend is $333.33 per semester. If the student does not enroll year round, they will not receive $1,000
• Provides a one-time rural benefit payment of $500.00 to veterans who reside in a county with 6 persons or less per square mile (as determined by the most recent decennial census) and:
  • either physically relocate at least 500 miles to attend an educational institution or travel by air to physically attend an educational institution if no other land-based transportation exists

GI Bill Rates Educational Benefits Effective October 2007

Disabled veterans who plan to attend school under the VA Vocational Rehabilitation program should contact the Counseling and Training Office at the VA Regional Office in Houston at 713-383-1985. Dependents of deceased or disabled veterans may also be eligible to receive VA benefits. For information, contact one of our Financial Aid Offices.

Veterans receiving educational benefits have the same academic requirements as other students receiving financial aid. There are a few exceptions and special cases for veterans, which you can learn about at a San Jac Financial Aid Office. Here are a couple more things to keep in mind:

Course Withdrawal

If you’re receiving VA benefits and you withdraw from a course or get an incomplete (I), you may have to pay some of the money back. Exceptions are sometimes made based on special circumstances. If this applies to you, submit a written explanation for your withdrawal to the VA. Call one of our Financial Aid Offices if you need a little help with this.

Tutoring

All veterans (as well as wives, widows, and children of disabled or deceased veterans) who receive educational benefits are eligible for tutorial assistance. If you’d like tutoring, contact a San Jac Financial Aid Office.

If you were a Texas resident when you joined up, served on active duty for at least six months, and were honorably discharged, you may be exempt from paying tuition and certain fees. As long as you’re not in default on an educational loan, you’re eligible for these benefits for up to 150 credit hours. We’ll just need the following documents:

1. The member 4 copy of your DD-214 (separation papers).
2. Proof of Texas residency for at least one year prior to registration.
3. A letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying that you’re not eligible to receive benefits under the GI Bill. If you are eligible and would like to apply for the Hazlewood Exemption, we’ll need a copy of your award letter.
4. An application for Hazlewood Act benefits.
5. A transcript from all schools attended since fall 1995, showing credit hours attempted under the Hazlewood Act.
6. Qualifying dependents must submit Form DD-1300.

Contact one of our campus Financial Aid Offices if you need help with any of this.

If you’re called to active duty during a semester, make sure you request to be withdrawn at the Registrar’s Office. Present a copy of your orders and you’ll receive a full refund on tuition and fees.

If you wish to complete courses rather than withdraw, ask your instructors about receiving an “Incomplete” in your courses. With instructor approval, you can complete the coursework when you’re released from active duty.

The Veterans’ Education Network (VEN) is a campus-based network of qualified staff who are specifically identified and trained to assist our veteran students. Network members can be found in Campus Financial Aid Services Offices and the Center for Student Development/Counseling & Advising Offices at all three campuses. Network members participate in training geared toward veteran education issues. Through specialized training, the VEN is able to provide accurate and timely information to our students and prospective students who are veterans or active-duty service members. Each VEN staffer has an area of expertise that is vital to the success of our students, including financial aid, VA benefits, academic advising, personal and career counseling, and disability services and accommodation