As thousands of New York Veterans continue to return from conflicts around the world, they will begin to start the next chapter of their lives. For many, this will include pursuing their education using their hard earned benefits. As our college campuses begin to feel the influx of these unique students, the New York State Division of Veterans affairs encourages campuses to look at how "Veteran Friendly" these institutions are. By educating staff and students alike on benefits and services available, we may curtail the dropout rate among our student Veterans and ensure that Veterans are connected to all of their benefits. In the longer term New York will be positioned to attract these mature and tested students to its citizenry as Veterans look to continue their education at our countless quality schools. The Division of Veterans Affairs will travel to your school to provide insight into these unique students and the benefits of attracting them to your school.

Got Questions On
NYS Veteran Education Benefits?
Call Us at
1-518-474-7606 or
1-212-564-8414

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is for 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 Post-9/11 GI Bill will become effective for training on or after August 1, 2009. This program will pay eligible individuals:

1. tuition & fees directly to the school not to exceed the maximum in-state tuition & fees at a public Institution of Higher Learning. see chart listing 2008 - 2009 maximum rates
2. a monthly housing allowance based on the Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents at the location of the school. To determine the BAH for your school's ZIP code click here (link goes to a non-NYS website)
3. an annual books & supplies stipend of $1,000 paid proportionately based on enrollment
4. a one-time rural benefit payment for eligible individuals see comparison chart for more information.
   
   This benefit is payable only for training at an Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) (Find out if your school qualifies). If you are enrolled exclusively in online training you will not receive the housing allowance. If you are on active duty you will not receive the housing allowance or books & supplies stipend. This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits, generally benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty.
   
   To start the online application process with the VA click HERE
   
   The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions of higher learning (degree granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution. For more information on thge Yellow Ribbon Program click here.
   

Active Duty
The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 30.

See Payment Rates for current rates of payment.

$600 Buy-up Program
Some servicemembers may contribute up to an additional $600 to the GI Bill to receive increased monthly benefits. For an additional $600 contribution, you may receive up to $5400 in additional GI Bill benefits. The additional contribution must be made while on active duty. For more information contact your personnel or payroll office. For a listing of the increased monthly rates click HERE.

Selected Reserve
The MGIB-SR program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

See Payment Rates for current rates of payment.

Got Questions?
Visit http://www.gibill.va.gov/
or Call
1-888-GIBILL-1
(1-888-442-4551)

Veterans Tuition Awards (VTA) are awards for full-time study and part-time study for eligible veterans matriculated at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution or in an approved vocational training program in New York State.

NOTE: Students previously approved for this award must apply for payment each year. Those students attending a vocational school or who are attending an approved undergraduate or graduate program part-time may apply for payment for the current academic year by completing the supplement.

Award Amounts
For full-time study, a recipient shall receive an award of up to the full cost of undergraduate tuition for New York state residents at the State University of New York, or actual tuition charged, whichever is less. Full-time study is defined as twelve or more credits per semester (or the equivalent) at a degree-granting institution, or twenty-four or more hours per week in a vocational training program.
For part-time study, awards will be prorated by credit hour. Part-time study is defined as at least three but fewer than twelve credits per semester (or the equivalent) at a degree-granting institution, or six to twenty-three hours per week in a vocational training program.

2009 – 2010 Awards
For the 2009-10 academic year, the maximum annual full-time award is set at 98% of tuition or $4,895.10, whichever is less. For part-time study the initial award figure is estimated at the cost of full-time attendance. Upon certification of the student’s part-time status the award is recalculated according to the number of credits certified and the student’s actual part-time tuition liability. If a Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award is also received, the combined academic year award cannot exceed tuition. Thus, the TAP award may be reduced accordingly.

Duration

Full-time Study
Undergraduate Degree-Granting Programs - Awards are available for up to eight semesters (four years) of undergraduate study. Awards can be made available for up to semesters of undergraduate study for enrollment in an approved five-year program or for enrollment in an approved program of remedial study.
Graduate Degree-Granting Programs - Awards are available for up to six semesters (three years) of graduate study.
Vocational Training Programs - Awards are available for up to a maximum of four semesters (two years) of study in an approved vocational training program.

Part-time Study
Undergraduate Degree-Granting Programs - Awards are available for up to the equivalent of eight semesters (four years) of full-time undergraduate study in a four-year program. Awards can be made available for up to the equivalent of ten semesters (five years) of full-time study for enrollment in an approved five-year undergraduate study.
Graduate Degree-Granting Programs - Awards are available for up to the equivalent of six semesters (three years) of part-time graduate study.
Vocational Training Programs - Awards are available for up to a maximum of eight semesters (four years) of part-time study in an approved vocational training program.

Approved programs are defined as undergraduate degree, graduate degree, diploma, and certificate programs at degree-granting institutions, or noncredit vocational training programs of at least 320 clock hours specifically approved by the New York State Division of Veteran's Affairs' Bureau of Veterans Education.

Eligible Veterans
Eligible students are those who are New York State residents discharged under honorable conditions from the U.S. Armed forces and who are:

1. Vietnam Veterans who served in Indochina between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975.
2. Persian Gulf Veterans who served in the Persian Gulf on or after August 2, 1990.
   Afghanistan Veterans who served in Afghanistan during hostilities on or after September 11, 2001.
3. Veterans of the armed forces of the United States who served in hostilities that occurred after February 28, 1961 as evidenced by receipt of an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal or a Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal.

These students must also:

1. Establish eligibility by applying to HESC.
2. Be New York State residents.
3. Be US Citizens or eligible noncitizens.
4. Be matriculated full or part- time at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution in New York State or in an approved vocational training program in New York State.
5. Have applied for the Tuition Assistance Program for full-time undergraduate or graduate study.

How to Establish Eligibility
Complete the New York State Veterans Tuition Award Supplement or contact HESC. Be sure to print the Web Supplement Confirmation, sign and return it along with the required documentation according to the instructions.

Questions regarding eligible service or how to document service should be directed to the HESC Scholarship Unit at 1-888-697-4372.

How to Apply for Payment
Once you have established your eligibility, you must apply for payment. While you need only establish your eligibility once, you must apply for payment each year.

Apply for payment as follows:
Undergraduate and Graduate Full-time Study - Apply for payment by doing one of the following:

Apply online by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) — the form used by virtually all colleges, universities and vocational schools for awarding federal student aid and most state and college aid — and then linking to the TAP on the Web application,

or

For veterans who do not anticipate filing a FAFSA, complete a Scholarship Grant Payment Application. For a copy of the application call HESC at 1-888-697-4372.

Undergraduate Part-time Study - Complete only the Veterans Tuition Award Supplement.
Graduate Part-time Study - Complete only the Veterans Tuition Award Supplement.
Vocational Training Program - Complete only the Veterans Tuition Award Supplement.


Applications must be completed by May 1, 2009 for awards for the 2008-09 academic year.

Vocational Rehabilitation is a program whose primary function is to help veterans with service-connected disabilities become suitably employed, maintain employment, or achieve independence in daily living.

The program offers a number of services to help each eligible disabled veteran reach his or her rehabilitation goal. These services include vocational and personal counseling, education and training, financial aid, job assistance, and, if needed, medical and dental treatment. Services generally last up to 48 months, but they can be extended in certain instances.

Who Is Eligible?
Usually, you must first be awarded a monthly VA disability compensation payment. In some cases, you may be eligible if you aren't getting VA compensation. For example, if you are awaiting discharge from the service because of a disability you may be eligible for vocational rehabilitation.
Eligibility is also based on you meeting the following conditions:

You served on or after September 16, 1940 AND
Your service-connected disabilities (SCD) are rated at least 20% disabling by VA AND
You need Vocational Rehabilitation to overcome an employment handicap AND
It has been less than 12 years since VA notified you of your qualified SCD

Note:
You may be entitled to Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services if you are rated 10% disabled; however it must be determined that you have a serious employment handicap (SEH).

Regardless of your SCD rating percentage, you may have longer than 12 years to use your VR benefit if certain conditions prevented you from participating in a VR program or it is determined that you have a SEH.

How Much Does VA Pay?
If you need training, VA will pay your training costs, such as tuition and fees, books, supplies, equipment, and, if needed, special services. While you are in training, VA will also pay you a monthly benefit to help with living expenses, called a subsistence allowance. For details, call the toll-free number below.

How Can You Apply?
You can apply by filling out VA Form 28-1900, Disabled Veterans Application for Vocational Rehabilitation, and mail it to the VA regional office that serves your area. You can also apply online through our web site at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp.

Got Questions?
Visit http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/vrs.htm
or
Call Toll-Free
1-800-827-1000

The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) Troops to Teachers (TTT) Program is a national program designed to assist eligible military personnel to transition to a new career as public school teachers in targeted schools. The program does not provide jobs nor issue teaching certificates, however, for eligible military personnel, the program offers state specific certification counseling, referral services, financial assistance toward certification expenses, and financial incentives to teach in low income schools where there are critical teacher shortages.

Eligibility for the program can be found through this web page http://www.dantes.doded.mil/dantes_web/troopstoteachers/eligibility.asp?Flag=True

For more information on the program go to http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/career/ttt.html

You may also wish to contact the New York State TTT program coordinator.

Rick Jackson, NYS Troops to Teachers Program Coordinator

NYS Education Department
Office of Teaching Initiatives
89 Washington Ave, EB 5N
Albany, NY 12234

Email: nysedttt@mail.nysed.gov
Phone: Toll free (877) 493-2444
or (518) 474-4661 (Ask for Troops to Teachers)
Fax: (518) 473-0271 (Subject Troops to Teachers)