You may receive benefits under only one VA education chapter at a time - even though you may have eligibility under more than one chapter.
VA Education Benefit Eligibility Requirements
Chapter 30 - The Montgomery GI Bill
The Montgomery GI Bill has four different categories of eligibility requirements based on your active service. The benefits available under each category may vary depending on your particular date of discharge and length of active duty. You need only meet one set of eligibility requirements to obtain Chapter 30 benefits.Category 1 Requirements
Generally, to be eligible under Cateory 1 of Chapter 30, you must have:
- become a member of the armed forces after June 30, 1985,
- contributed $100 per month for the first 12 months of service,
- served a minimum of two years continuous active duty,
- received an honorable discharge for your first enlistment period,
- received a high school diploma, or completed 12 semester hours leading to a college degree prior to completing your initial obligated period of active duty, and
- fully completed your first initial obligated period of active duty.
If you were separated from active duty due to either a service-related disability or hardship, you may be eligible for Chapter 30 benefits without meeting the length of service requirement. In these cases, you would be entitled to one month of benefits for each month of military service.
Category 2 Requirements
To be eligible under Category 2 of Chapter 30, you must have:
- basic Chapter 34 eligibility and served on active duty after July 1, 1985,
- been eligible for Chapter 34 benefits on December 31, 1989, and have remaining Chapter 34 entitlement,
- had active duty sometime during the period beginning on October 19, 1984, and ending on July 1, 1985, and continued on active duty without a break,
- have served continuously on active duty from July 1, 1985, for three years or served two year of continuous active duty followed by two years on the Selected Reserve,
- received an honorable discharge, and
- received a high school diploma or GED certificate prior to December 31, 1989.
Category 3 Requirements
To be eligible under Category 3 of Chapter 30, you must have:
- been on active duty on September 30, 1990,
- received an honorable discharge due to involuntary separation, have completed the requirements for a secondary school diploma, GED, or earned 12 credit hours leading to a standard college degree,
- if eligible under Chapter 32, elected to receive benefits under Chapter 30 (you can receive a refund of your Chapter 32 contributions), and
- had your pay reduced by $1,200 while on active duty.
Category 4 Requirements
To be eligible under Category 4 of Chapter 30, you must have participated in Chapter 32 (VEAP) and meet either of the following conditions:
- were on active duty on October 9, 1996,
- had money in your VEAP account, and
- elected Chapter 30 by October 9, 1997, and paid $1,200. (If the full $1,200 wasn't collected in service, the VA cn collect the remainder)
OR
- were a VEAP participant on or before October 9, 1996, even if you have no money in your VEAP account,
- served on active duty from October 9, 1996, through April 1, 2000,
- elected Chapter 30 benefits by October 31, 2001, and
- contributed $2,700 to the Chapter 30 fund. (If the full $2,700 wasn't collected in service, the VA can collect the remainder. You have 18 months from the date you elect Chapter 30 benefits to make the $2,700 contribution.)
In most cases, eligibility under Chapter 30 expires 10 years after your last discharge date or release from active duty.
Chapter 31 - VA Vocational Rehabilitation
To be eligible under Chapter 31, you must receive or be eligible to receive compensation for a service-connected disability at a rating of 20% or greater. You must have been discharged or released from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable. The need and nature of vocational rehabilitation necessary to overcome your disabilities are determined by the VA. Generally, you are eligible for Chapter 31 for a period of 12 years following the date you were notified of your eligibility for VA disability compensation. An extension is available under certain circumstances with further extensions granted by the VA when it has been determined that the extension is necessary due to the nature of your disability and your need for vocational rehabilitation. Benefits include payment of tuition, fees, books, supplies, transportation, and a monthly subsistence allowance.
For more information, contact Gary Beckman, VA Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.
Chapter 32 - Veterans Education Assistance Program (VEAP)
VEAP was established for persons who entered active duty after December 31, 1976, and before July 1, 1985. To be eligible, you must have:
- contributed money to VEAP while on active duty and enrolled in the VEAP program prior to April 1, 1987,
- served on active duty for a continuous period of 181 days or more, and
- been discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable.
You may be eligible if you were discharged for a service-connected disability before serving 181 days of active duty.
If you enlisted for the first time after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty as an officer or enlistee after October 16, 1981, you must have completed 24 months of continuous active duty. Under certain conditions, the 24-month active duty requirement may be waived. Waivers may be obtained from the VA.
Eligibility for education benefits under Chapter 32 end 10 years after your date of release from active duty or basic termination date, whichever is earlier.
Under certain circumstances, you may have your benefits under VEAP converted to Chapter 30 (Category 4). This conversion process should have been explained to you at the time you were discharged from military service. If you converted your VEAP benefits to Chapter 30, you should have received DD Form 2366, Election to Receive Chapter 30 Benefits.
If you have eligibility under Chapter 32, you will be entitled to a maximum number of monthly benefits payments for full-time training equal to the number of months you made contributions. However, the number of monthly benefit payments cannot exceed 36 even though you may have contributed for more than 36 months.
Chapter 34 - Vietnam Era GI Bill
Generally, payments of education benefits under Chapter 34 ended December 31, 1989. Chapter 34 benefits were provided to those who entered active duty between January 31, 1955, and December 31, 1976.
Under certain conditions, benefits formerly payable under Chapter 34 are now payable under Chapter 30 (Category 2).
Eligibility for any benefits from Chapter 34 ends on the 10th anniversary of the date of yoru release from active duty or your basic termination date, whichever is earlier.
Chapter 35 - Survivor's and Dependent's Education Assistance
Spouses and dependent children (aged 18 to 26 years) of veterans who died as a direct result of military service of 100% disabled veterans may be eligible for VA education assistance.
Also, spouses and children of service persons who have been listed for more than 90 days and who remain in one of the following three categories may be eligible for education benefits:
- Missing in action
- Captured in the line of duty
- Forcibly detained or interred in the line of duty by a foreign power
If you are an eligible child under the age of 18 and have either graduated from high school or are above the age of compulsory school attendance, the VA may begin your education benefits. In some cases, you may be able to begin receiving benefits for special or restorative courses as early as age 14 if you are physically disadvantaged.
If you are the child of a veteran, your period of eligibility for education assistance ends on your 26th birthday. However, the VA may extend your eligibility under certain conditions. If you are the spouse of a veteran, the period of eligibility is 10 years from the date you became eligible for Chapter 35 benefits.
If you are a surviving spouse, your remarriage will generally terminate your entitlement unless the remarriage is later terminated by death or divorce, at which time you can apply for reinstatement of VA benefits. A recently passed exception allow surviving spouses who remarry after their 57th birthday and on or after January 1, 2004, to retain their eligibility for Chapter 35 benefits.
There was a special rule for surviving spouses who remarried after turning 57 and before December 16, 2003. These surviving spouses had until December 16, 2004, to apply in writing for reinstatement of benefits. The reinstatement would allow benefits to be paid effective January 2004. Otherwise they will not be entitled to any reinstatment of benefits.
If you qualify under Chapter 35, you are entitled to 45 months of training, provided that the training is completed by your delimiting date.
Chapter 1606 - Montgomery GI Bill (Selected Reserves)
To be eligible under Chapter 1606, you must have enlisted, re-enlisted, or extended an enlistment in the Selected Reserves or National Guard after July 1, 1985, so that you had an obligation to serve for a period of not less than 6 years following your enlistment. In addition, you must have completed the requirements for a high school diploma or GED certificate prior to the enlistment establishing Chapter 1606 benefits. You must also complete your Initial Active Duty Training (IADT) and be satisfactorily participating in required training in your Reserve/Guard unit.
Your benefits will generally end 14 years from the date eligibility began or your date of separation from the Selected Reserve/Guard, whichever is earlier.
If you were separated as a result of a disability, you remain eligible for a period of 10 years from the date entitlement was established.
Under Chapter 1606, you are entitled to a maximum of 36 months of full-time training.
Chapter 1607 - Reserved Education Assistance Program (REAP)
Signed into law by President Bush in October 2004, Chapter 1607 provides enhanced benefits to those eligible for Chapter 1606 benefits who have been federally activated for a period of at least 90 days since September 1, 2001. The bill provides for increased monthly payments based upon the length of activation as follows:
As of this time, the exact eligibility requirements for 1607 have not been established by the VA and the Department of Defense.
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