Benefits
Chapter 33 - Post 9/11 GI Bill The Post 9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a
service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
The VA pays tuition and fees directly to the school (the amount covered depends on the students eligibility rating) and then a monthly housing payment directly to the student. The housing payment is based on the zip code of
the school that the student is enrolled in. Currently, the housing payment for La-Crosse is $1068. It is important to remember that this amount is for someone who has a 100% eligibility rating. Lower ratings mean a lower
housing allowance. The VA also pays a book stipend of up to $1000 dollars per school year.
Approved training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill includes graduate and undergraduate degrees, and vocational/technical training. All training programs must be offered by an institution of higher learning (IHL) and approved for
GI Bill benefits. Additionally, tutorial assistance, and licensing and certification test reimbursement are approved under the Post- 9/11 GI Bill
http://gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/index.html
It is important to notify our office of any changes in your enrollment information as soon as possible, as waiting may create a substantial debt to the VA. Click here to notify us of changes to your enrollment status.
Chapter 30 - Montgomery GI Bill
The Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) assists students who entered active duty for the first time after July 1, 1985, and who agreed to have their pay reduced by $100 for 12 months. Veterans must have received an honorable
discharge and active-duty personnel must have served at least two years to be eligible to use their benefits.
Certain veterans and active-duty military personnel who were eligible for educational assistance under the Vietnam Era GI Bill (Chapter 34) on December 31, 1989, may be eligible for benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill if
they have served on active duty since October 19, 1984, without a break in service and served three continuous years on active duty from June 30, 1985, through June 30, 1988, or served two continuous years on active duty
followed by four years in the selected reserves after June 30, 1985. A break in service of 90 days or less during the period October 19, 1984, through June 30, 1985, will not disqualify a person from eligibility for benefits.
However, a break in active duty of any length after June 30, 1985, will disqualify a person for Chapter 30. These participants are not required to make contributions to the program. Certain individuals who are voluntarily or
involuntarily separated from active duty with an honorable discharge may elect to participate and make a $1,200 contribution to the Montgomery GI Bill program before separating from active duty. This includes individuals who
may have participated in the Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP - Chapter 32).
Individuals are allowed 36 months of full-time entitlement. Participants who have eligibility through the Vietnam Era GI Bill have 36 months of entitlement or the amount of entitlement they have remaining from Chapter 34,
whichever is less. Benefits must be used within 10 years from the date the individual was last discharged from active duty.
The current payment rate for a full time student is $1473 a month. The amount you receive might be higher if you have a buy up or a kicker.
Click here to see the current payment rates as of October 1, 2011 http://www.gibill.va.gov/resources/benefits_resources/rates/CH30/ch30rates100111.htm
Chapter 30 - Montgomery GI Bill Tuition Assistance Top-up
Tuition Assistance Top-up is available to students on active duty and approved to use federal tuition assistance and eligible for Chapter 30, the Montgomery GI Bill.
On October 30, 2000 an amendment to the Montgomery GI Bill was signed into law which permits the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay a Tuition Assistance Top-up benefit. Prior to this law, all branches of the military could
pay up to 75% of a service member's tuition and expenses through the Tuition Assistance program. Service members were required to pay the remaining costs of their tuition bill themselves and they were not allowed to receive
Tuition Assistance and use their Montgomery GI Bill for the same course. With the passing of the law, all branches of the military are allowed to pay 100% of the service member's tuition and expenses. When the military cannot
or does not cover 100% of the tuition and expenses, a service member, eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill can elect to receive his or her benefits for all or part of the remaining expenses.
The use of Tuition Assistance Top-up reduces future entitlement to the Montgomery GI Bill and service members should carefully consider their situations.
Chapter 31 - Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31) provides assistance to veterans who have a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent and are in need of vocational rehabilitation. Vocational rehab covers a student's tuition
and fees , books, school supplies and also pays a monthly housing allowance.
Currently, veterans eligible for this program can choose to receive either the Post 9/11 GI Bill monthly payment amount or the Vocational Rehab Subsistence allowance. Click here for the current subsistence allowance rates for
Ch. 31 http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/sa.htm
Eligible veterans may be allowed up to 48 months of full-time benefits. Veterans generally have 12 years from the date they are notified of their entitlement to the program.
Chapter 1606 - Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserves
Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserves (Chapter 1606) benefits are available to reservists who enlist, reenlist, or extend an enlistment in the Selected Reserve for not less than six years on or after July 1, 1985. For officers,
the six-year period is in addition to any other obligated period of service. Eligibility for the program requires that the reservists have obtained a high school diploma or equivalent. In addition, the reservist must have
completed Initial Active Duty Training (IADB). Finally, a reservist must be participating in training at the time benefits are used.
A reservist is allowed 36 months of full-time benefits.
Click here for the current payment rates http://www.gibill.va.gov/resources/benefits_resources/rates/CH1606/ch1606rates100111.htm
Chapter 35 - Survivors and Dependents Benefits
Survivors and Dependents Benefits (Chapter 35) provide educational benefits to spouses and children of veterans who either died while in service, died as a result of a service-connected disability, or became totally and
permanently disabled as a result of their military service.
Survivors and dependents are allowed 45 months of full-time benefits. Spouses have 10 years from the date of the veteran's effective date of permanent and total disability rating or the veteran's death. Dependents' benefits
end on their 26th birthday or eight years from the veteran's effective date of permanent or total disability rating or the veteran's death, but not after the dependent's 31st birthday.
Click here for current payment rates http://www.gibill.va.gov/resources/benefits_resources/rates/CH35/ch35rates100111.htm
Wisconsin GI Bill
The Wisconsin GI Bill provides a full waiver (remission) of tuition and fees for eligible veterans and their dependents for up to 8 full-time semesters or 128 credits at any University of Wisconsin System (UWS) or Wisconsin
Technical College System(WTCS) institution for continuing education, or for study at the undergraduate or graduate level.
You will first need to fill out an application, which can be done at the La Crosse County Veteran's Services Office. Once the State has processed your claim, they will send you an eligibility form. Please contact our office
once you have received your eligibility form to ensure that we have also received our copy. We cannot apply your waiver until we have your eligibility form on file.
The tuition remission is covers 100% of tuition and segregated fees. The Wisconsin GI Bill is a state program that is entirely separate from the federal VA's Montgomery GI Bill.
The state requires that Federal benefits are exhausted before the Wisconsin GI Bill can begin paying if the veteran or dependent is eligible for 100% of the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
"If you served after September 10, 2001, and are currently using the WI GI Bill or plan to use the WI GI Bill; DO NOT MAKE AN IRREVOCABLE CHOICE TO CHANGE TO POST 9/11 Chapter 33 FEDERAL BENEFITS UNTIL YOU HAVE ALL THE FACTS.
Visit the Wisconsin GI Bill Changes webpage for additional information.
Click here for more information about the Wisconsin GI Bill http://gibill.wisconsin.edu/WI_GI_Bill_Revisions1.pdf
Wisconsin National Guard Tuition Grant
You must be an actively drilling, enlisted soldier or warrant officer of the Wisconsin National Guard who has not already earned a bachelor's degree. You must not be flagged for unexcused absences or failing to meet guard
standards. Being in the Inactive Ready Reserve makes you Ineligible.
After completing the student portion, submit the application to your school certifying official at the same time. The school has instructions to forward the certified application to DMA. It is vital that your application reach
DMA within 60 days of completing your course(s). If you question the status of your application, call the POC listed above prior to the 60 day deadline. DMA strives to process applications for reimbursement within 30 days.
Click here to fill out the form http://dma.wi.gov/dma/SHR/forms/2009_tuition_grant_application.pdf
Click here for frequently asked questions about the program
http://dma.wi.gov/dma/SHR/tuition_grant_information.asp.