Veterans: Eligibility & Chapters

For information regarding your eligibility to receive VA benefits, contact the DVA at 1(888) 442-4551. Detailed information regarding VA can also be obtained at the following website: https://www.gibill.va.gov

Chapter 30 – Montgomery GI Bill
This program provides benefits to individuals who entered active duty after July 1, 1985, and participated in the Pay Reduction Program (pay reduced $100 a month for 12 months) and served honorably for two years or more. Veterans or service persons cannot withdraw money paid into the fund.

Chapter 31 – Vocational Rehabilitation Program
This program is available to certain veterans who have a service-connected disability of 10% or greater. Eligibility for the program is determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Chapter 32 – Veterans Educational Assistance Program
This program provides benefits to persons who entered active duty service between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985, and who served a continuous period of 181 days or more and contributed toward the education programs. Monthly benefits are determined by adding the amount of personal contributions and DOD contributions made during the years of active service.

Chapter 33 – Post-9/11 GI Bill
This program provides benefits to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability. This is a new chapter which became effective in August 2009. Please visit the GI Bill Web site (www.gibill.va.gov) for more information.

Chapter 35 – Survivors'/Dependents' Assistance Program
This program provides benefits for dependent children and spouses of veterans who died or are 100% disabled due to service-connected causes.

Chapter 1606 – Montgomery GI Bill for Reservists
This program provides benefits for members of the Reserve/National Guard who enlisted, re-enlisted or extended their enlistment of a period of six years after July 1, 1985.

Chapter 1607 – Reserve Educational Assistance Program
This new benefit makes certain individuals who were activated after September 11, 2001, either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits. It is a new DOD 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.

Qualifications for the College Fund are established by the military branches. The qualifications are usually based on a critical occupational specialty. The VA does not determine eligibility of this additional benefit.

If you qualify for the College Fund, you do not receive it in one lump sum payment. Your total College Fund is divided into monthly payments (based on the 36 months of eligibility under the MGIB) that are added to regular MGIB payments. You cannot receive your College Fund money without receiving MGIB benefits; it is an add-on to your MGIB benefit.

To speed processing of your College Fund, please send the VA Regional Processing Office a copy of your Enlistment Contract to P.O. Box 8888, Muskogee, OK 74402-8888. It is best to send this with your initial "Application for Educational Benefits" (form 22-1990).

Currently, the VA does not have a way to interface with the U.S. Department of Defense to verify service members who pay the $600.00 additional contribution. The VA requests each service member who paid this contribution to submit Xeroxed copies of the following:

• DD form 2366
• Copy of LES's – if deductions are payroll deducted
• DD form 1131 – Cash Voucher if paid cash in full

These documents provide proof to the VA that the $600.00 was paid and they will process your claim to include this kicker.

To speed processing of your kicker, please send the VA Regional Processing Office a copy of the above listed documents to P.O. Box 8888, Muskogee, OK 74402-8888. It is best to send this with your initial "Application for Educational Benefits" (form 22-1990).

The kicker is divided by the number of months of eligibility available under the MGIB or MGIB-Selected Reserve. It is an add-on to your MGIB or MGIB-Selected Reserve benefit.