Certification of REPS Status

REPS (Restored Entitlement Program for Survivors) is a program for the children of veterans who either died from a service-connected disability prior to August 13, 1981, or a veteran who later died as a result of a service-connected disability acquired before August 13, 1981. Eligible children of veterans may receive Social Security replacement payments. REPS benefits are payable to unmarried eligible children between the ages of 18 and 22, who are full-time students at an approved post-secondary institution, and whose income is below Social Security specified limits. Applications and information are available in the Veterans Affairs Office or from the VA. Benefits are awrded on the basis of an education institution's academic year. The academic year at IHCC begins with the first day of class in the Fall term.

REPS Certification

A Student Beneficiary Report - REPS (VA Form 21-8938) must be completed each year before eligibility is extended for the following academic year. To have your enrollment certified for REPS, complete Section I, Student Identification and Section II, Student Certification of the Student Beneficiary Report. Do not enter any information in Section III, School Official Certification, or a new form will be required. Bring the Student Beneficiary Report to the Veterans Affairs Office. The certification will be mailed and a copy of the form kept with your student record, if any, in Veterans Affairs.

General REPS Payment Guidelines

Breaks in School Attendance: REPS is generally payable during breaks, including summer breaks, as long as the breaks are not longer than four calendar months. If you do not enroll full-time for more than four months, your REPS benefit will stop.

Effective Date of Payments: Benefits begin the month in which you first satisfy all REPS eligibility requirements and submit a claim form to the VA. If you do not enroll as a full-time student for four months, the REPS claim must be re-established when you return to full-time enrollment status.

Marriage: REPS benefit entitlement ends effective the first of the month of marriage.

Less Than Full-Time Status: If your enrollment falls below full-time, your REPS enrollment will end effective on the last day of the month in which the reduction or termination occurred. Part-time enrollment must be reported to the REPS program office. You should also indicate when you expect to return to school on a full-time basis.

Earned Income from Wages or Self-Employment: REPS benefits are reduced by one dollar for each two dollars of earned income over the exempt amount for Social Security. The exempt amount of wages is announced at the beginning of each calendar year. The current annual exempt amount can be obtained by contacting any Social Security Administration office.

Re-entitlement to Any Social Security Benefit: If, as a surviving child, you establish entitlement to Social Security benefits on your own or any other account, you must notify the VA immediately, since it will cause a dollar for dollar reduction in the REPS benefits entitlement. If another family member re-establishes entitlement to Social Security, REPS benefit entitlement may change.