You may be eligible for Chapter 30 benefits as a veteran or serviceperson if your active duty is under one of the four following categories. (Other eligibility requirements may apply in addition to the information noted below. Contact the Veterans Administration Western Region Office (Muskogee, Oklahoma) at 1-888-442-4551 to discuss your eligibility. Or visit the VA Education Benefits website.)

Category 1

• Entered active duty for the first time after 06/30/1985
• Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for the first 12 months
• Continuously served for 3 years, OR, 2 continuous years of active duty if you first signed up for less than three years OR have an obligation to serve four years in the Selected Reserve (the 2x4 program) and enter the Selected Reserve within one year of release from active duty.

Category 2

• Entered active duty before 01/01/1977
• Served at least 1 day between 10/19/1984 and 6/30/1985, and served on active duty for at least three continuous years beginning on 07/01/1985; or at least two continuous years active duty beginning on 07/01/1985, followed by a minimum of four years in the Selected Reserve beginning within one year of release from active duty.
• On 12/31/1989, you had entitlement left from Vietnam Era, VA education benefits

Category 3

• Not eligible for MGIB under Category I or II
• On active duty on 09/30/1990 AND separated involuntarily after 02/02/1991,
• OR involuntarily separated on or after 11/30/1993,
• OR voluntarily separated under the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) or Special Separation Benefit (SSB) program
• Before separation, you had military pay reduced by $1200

Category 4

• On active duty on 10/09/1996 AND you had money remaining in a VEAP account on that date AND you elected MGIB by 10/09/1997
• OR entered full-time National Guard duty under Title 32, USC, between 07/01/1985 and 11/28/1989 AND you elected MGIB during the period 10/09/1996 through 07/08/1997
• Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for 12 months or made a $1200 lump-sum contribution

You may be entitled to vocational rehabilitation services and benefits if you meet all of the following conditions. (Other eligibility requirements may apply in addition to the information noted below. Contact the Veterans Administration Western Region Office (Muskogee, Oklahoma) at 1-888-442-4551 to discuss your eligibility. Or visit the VA Education Benefits website.)

You have a combined 20 percent* VA compensable disability rating as a result of active service on or after September 16, 1940;

You have received or will receive a discharge or release from active duty under other than dishonorable conditions;

You need rehabilitation services because you have an employment handicap; and

Your period of eligibility has not expired. Even if your period of eligibility for full vocational rehabilitation benefits has passed, you may still receive services to assist you to find employment.

Note

You may also be entitled if you have a 10 percent compensable disability rating and either (1) VA finds that this disability causes serious employment and personal problems; or (2) you first applied for vocational rehabilitation before November 1, 1990, are now reapplying for this benefit, and VA finds you have difficulty getting and keeping a suitable job.

The Post-9/11 VA education benefits are 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 VA education benefits. The Post-9/11 VA education benefits will become effective for training on or after August 1, 2009. This program will pay eligible individuals:

• Tuition & fees directly to the school not to exceed the maximum in-state tuition & fees at a public Institution of Higher Learning (IHL).
• A monthly housing allowance based on the Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5
• An annual books & supplies stipend of up to $1,000 paid proportionately based on enrollment

This is just a thumbnail sketch of this chapter. If you think you want to apply for this chapter, it is very important that you review the information on the VA education benefits website.

The Post-9/11 VA education benefits is also available for spouses and dependents of active duty servicemembers. See the information sheet on this website entitled: Post-9/11 VA education benefits: Transferability.

You can also contact the Veterans Administration Western Region Office (Muskogee, Oklahoma) at 1-(888) 442-4551 to discuss your eligibility status.

You may be eligible for education benefits as a dependent or survivor if you meet the following criteria. (Other eligibility requirements may apply in addition to the information noted below. Contact the Veterans Administration Western Region Office (Muskogee, Oklahoma) at 1-888-442-4551 to discuss your eligibility status. Or visit the VA Education Benefits website.)

You must be the son, daughter, or spouse of a veteran or service member who

• Died or is permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability. The disability must arise out of active service in the Armed Forces, OR,
• Died from any cause while such service-connected disability was in existence, OR,
• Is missing in action or captured in the line of duty by a hostile force, OR,
• Is forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government or power.

If you are a son or daughter and wish to receive benefits for attending school or job training, you must be between the ages of 18 and 26. In certain instances, it is possible to begin before age 18 and continue after age 26. Marriage is not a bar to this benefit. If you are in the Armed Forces, you may not receive this benefit while on active duty. To pursue training after military service, your discharge must not be under dishonorable conditions. VA can extend your period of eligibility by the number of months and days equal to the time spent on active duty. This extension cannot generally go beyond your 31st birthday, but there are some exceptions.

If you are a spouse, benefits end 10 years from the date VA finds you are eligible or from the date of death of the veteran, OR 20 years if death occurred while on active duty.

The Montgomery VA education benefits – Selected Reserve 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.

Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components. VA makes the payments for this program.

To qualify, you must meet the following requirements:

• Have a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve signed after 06/30/1985. If you are an officer, you must have agreed to serve six years in addition to your original obligation. For some types of training, it is necessary to have a six-year commitment that begins after 09/30/1990;
• Complete your initial active duty for training (IADT);
• Meet the requirement to receive a high school diploma or equivalency certificate before completing IADT;
• Remain in good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit.

If your Reserve or National Guard unit was deactivated during the period 10/01/1991, through 09/30/1995, or you are involuntarily separated (e.g. reduction in force) from Reserve or National Guard service during this same period, you will retain eligibility for MGIB-SR benefits for the full 14 year eligibility period. You will also retain MGIB-SR eligibility if you were discharged from Selected Reserve service due to a disability that was not caused by misconduct. Your eligibility period may be extended if you are ordered to active duty.

Other eligibility requirements may apply in addition to the information noted below. Contact the Veterans Administration Western Region Office (Muskogee, Oklahoma) at 1-888-442-4551 to discuss your eligibility status. Or visit the VA Education Benefits website.