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| 64.120 POST-VIETNAM ERA VETERANS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE |
| (Voluntary-Contributory Matching Program) |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| Public Laws 94-502, 99-576, 100-689, 101-237, 102- 16, 102-127, 102-484, 102-568, 103-446, 104-275, 105-114, 105-368; 106- 117, 106-419, 107-103; 38 U.S.C. 3221. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To provide educational assistance to persons entering the Armed Forces after December 31, 1976, and before July 1, 1985; to assist persons in obtaining an education they might otherwise not be able to afford; and to promote and assist the all volunteer military program of the United States by attracting qualified persons to serve in the Armed Forces. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Direct Payments for Specified Use. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| Participants may pursue: (1) courses at colleges and universities leading to associate, bachelor or graduate degrees (including courses taken via accredited independent study, provided those courses lead to a standard college degree or a certificate that reflects educational attainment offered by an institution of higher learning); (2) courses leading to a certificate or diploma from colleges or universities or from business, technical or vocational schools; (3) apprenticeship or on-the-job training programs for individuals not on active duty; (4) correspondence courses, under certain conditions; (5) flight training, if the individual holds a private pilot license and meets the medical requirements upon beginning the training program; (6) state-approved teacher certification programs; (7) preparatory courses for tests necessary for admission to a college or graduate school; (8) reimbursement for licensing and certification tests approved for veterans; (9) entrepreneurship training; (10) reimbursement for national exams for admission to college or for college credit. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| The participant must have entered on active duty on or after January 1, 1977, and before July 1, 1985, and either served on active duty for more than 180 continuous days receiving an other than dishonorable discharge, or have been discharged after January, 1, 1977 because of a service-connected disability. Also eligible are participants who serve for more than 180 days and who continue on active duty and have completed their first period of obligated service (or 6 years of active duty, whichever comes first). Participants must also have satisfactorily contributed to the program. (Satisfactory contribution consists of monthly deduction of $25 to $100 from military pay, up to a maximum of $2,700, for deposit in a special training fund.) Participants may make lump-sum contributions. No individuals on active duty in the Armed Forces may initially begin contributing to this program after March 31, 1987. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| Post-Vietnam era veterans. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| Military discharge certificate, certification of enrollment by educational institution in approved courses leading to an educational, professional or vocational objective and such other certifications as may be developed by VA and the Department of Defense. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. |
| Application Procedure |
| An application form (VA Form 22-1990) may be obtained from any VA office or regional office and submitted to the appropriate VA regional processing office. |
| Award Procedure |
| Awards are authorized at the designated VA Regional Processing Office. |
| Deadlines |
| Generally, eligibility ceases at the end of 10 years from the date of the participant's last discharge or release from qualifying active duty after January 1, 1977. Participants may use their entitlement at any time during this 10-year period and are not required to use it in consecutive months. The basic 10-year period may be extended for those veterans who were prevented from beginning or completing their chosen program of education because they were held by a foreign government or power or because of a physical or mental disability not the result of their own willful misconduct. The 10-year period can also be extended for those who reenter active duty for 90 days or more after becoming eligible. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| At least 84.76 percent of applications are processed within 90 days or less in 2006 and 99.59 percent in 2007. |
| Appeals |
| Appeals are available through a special board; response time is 109.0 days in 2006 and 112.4 days in 2007. |
| Renewals |
| None. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| Contributions to the program will be accumulated from service persons electing to participate in the program; the Department of Defense (DOD) matches the service person's contributions at a rate of $2 for each $1 contributed by the participant. In some cases, additional contributions may be made by DOD. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| Available within ten years of first date of discharge or release from service or until the amount of money in the special fund, converted to months of entitlement (to a maximum of 36) is exhausted. Assistance checks generally to be released on a monthly basis. |
| Reports |
| The educational allowance will not be paid if the participant does not pursue his or her course in accordance with established policies and regulations of the educational institution he or she attends, and is not making satisfactory progress as required by law and VA Regulations. Certification by the educational institution as to the participant's enrollment must be made for each period for which assistance is sought. Certifications for course enrollment and pursuit not leading to a standard college degree must be made monthly by the participant; for courses leading to a standard college degree, periodic verifications of pursuit are required. |
| Audits |
| None. |
| Records |
| None. |
| Account Identification |
| 36-8133-0-7-702. |
| Obligations |
| (Direct Payments) FY 07 $2,256,000; FY 08 est $2,256,000; and FY 09 est $2,172,000. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| Up to a maximum of $8,100 of basic benefits. Work study allowances: Payment based on the higher of the Federal minimum wage or the State minimum wage where work is performed. Tutorial assistance up to a maximum of $1,200. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| For fiscal year 2007, there were 439 students trained; estimates for fiscal year 2008 and fiscal year 2009 are 550 and 550 students, respectively. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| 38 CFR 21.5001 - 21.5270 "Federal Benefits For Veterans and Dependents," VA Pamphlet 80-0-01, $5.00, available from Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954 or from the online government bookstore at www.bookstore.gpo.gov. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| See Appendix IV of the Catalog for Veterans Benefits Administration Field Offices. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Department of Veterans Affairs, Central Office, Washington, DC 20420. Telephone: (202) 461-9800. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www.GIBILL.va.gov |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| 64.124, All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance; 84.007, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants; 84.032, Federal Family Education Loans; 84.038, Federal Perkins Loan Program_Federal Capital Contributions; 84.063, Federal Pell Grant Program. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| Not applicable. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| Not applicable. |
|
General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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