Veterans Educational Benefits The Office of Veterans Affairs at William Paterson University is the liaison with the Regional Processing Office in Buffalo, New York, to assist veterans, dependents of veterans, reservists, and National Guardsmen/women with the application and certification process. This office will assist the eligible student to apply for his or her respective educational benefits for the Montgomery GI Bill ® under Chapter 30, 31, 32, 35, 1606 or Veterans Educational Assistance Program. Questions regarding the eligibility of a veteran or dependent can be answered by calling 1-888-GIBILL1. For more information, please go to the Office of Veteran's Affairs » Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 S.2248 Section 103.1.(b) A Covered Individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill ® Your policy must ensure that your educational institution will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33 Your policy must permit any covered individual to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 a “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) website – eBenefits, or a VAF 28-1905 form for chapter 31 authorization purposes) and ending on the earlier of the following dates: The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility. All 50 states are compliant with the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act that the President signed into law on August 2015. The law mandates that all veterans and their eligible dependents must be charged the in-state tuition at public schools or the schools will lose GI Bill ® funding Chapter 30 - New GI Bill ®Members of the armed forces who entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985, will receive monthly payments if they contributed to the program following enlistment and subsequently enroll in courses at an accredited educational facility. Chapter 31 - Disabled VeteransMembers having a service-connected disability that entitles them to veteran compensation can receive tuition and fees paid to the college under this program. Chapter 32 - Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)This program provides financial assistance for members of the armed forces who initially entered service after December 31, 1976. Chapter 33 - Post 9/11 GI Bill ®The VA is now accepting online applications for the Post 9/11 GI Bill ®, Chapter #33. Please see this link for details: www.gibill.va.gov.Please Note: Students who are receiving Chapter 33 benefits are not entitled to the Iraqi/Afghanistan waiver. Chapter 35 - Survivor and DependentsSons, daughters, and/or spouses of veterans are eligible for financial assistance if the veteran died in service as a result of a service-connected disability or became permanently and totally disabled while in the service. Chapter 1606 - Selected Reserve ProgramStudents who enlist in the Reserve component of the armed forces and contribute to the MGIB ® will receive monthly payments while attending courses at a state-approved accredited educational facility. Chapter 1607 - Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP) Established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005, REAP is a new Department of Defense educational benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the President or Congress. This new program makes certain individuals currently serving in the Selected Reserves, or who were activated after September 11, 2001, eligible for educational benefits and increased benefits. Tuition Assistance Program: The Department of Defense (DoD) Tuition Assistance (TA) program provides financial assistance to Service members for voluntary off-duty education programs in support of professional and personal self-development goals. TA is available for courses that are part of an approved academic degree or certificate program. The courses must be offered by schools that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and are signatories to the current DoD Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (DOD MOU). New Jersey National Guard - Tuition Waiver ProgramStudents who enlist in the NJ National Guard are entitled to a tuition-only waiver while attending courses, full or part time. The waiver is applied after submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and all federal and state grants are deducted from the tuition (if any). A Commander's Certificate must be submitted each semester he/she intends to enroll. Before Applying for VA Educational Benefits The Department of Veterans Affairs requires each applicant for VA educational benefits to be formally accepted to an approved curriculum/program of study before initial certification. (Under certain circumstances, up to 24 credits within one year may be certified as a non-matriculated student.) Service members who intend to utilize tuition assistance programs through the Department of Defense are required to receive approval from a Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within the Military Service prior to enrolling in courses. For assistance contacting your ESO contact The Office of Veteran & Military Affairs at VetMilitarySvcs@wpunj.edu To apply for admission (matriculation), please go to the following link:WPUNJ ADMISSIONS For information on the leave of absence/withdrawal policy please go to the following link: Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Policy For information on tuition, fees, room and board please refer to the following links: Main Campus Tuition & Fees WP Online Tuition & Fees Room & Board Rates For information regarding financial aid please follow the link below: Financial Aid For information on default rates please visit: Cohort Default Rate - William Paterson University's OPE ID is 002625. Default rates are reported to institutions annually, this rate is included in award offer notifications. Changes in the following year are indicated on award offer notifications for any subsequent award offers issued. Benefit Programs and Requirements There are VA forms necessary for application for educational benefits that can be easily completed and submitted on the VA website.How to Apply for Benefits Application benefits may vary from program to program. Your application package must be completed before certification. Requirements for each program’s initial application are: Chapter 30 - Montgomery GI Bill ®For veterans who served on active duty after June 30, 1985, those who had remaining entitlement under the Vietnam Era GI Bill®, and those who switched from VEAP before being involuntarily separated after February 2, 1991. Chapter 31 - Vocational RehabilitationThis benefit is designed to assist veterans with a service-connected disability to obtain and maintain employment. Veterans should apply for vocational rehabilitation through the Department of Veterans Affairs, Vocational Rehabilitation and Counseling Division, 20 Washington Place, Newark, New Jersey 07102-3174, 973-297-3200. They will give the veteran approval/eligibility documents to bring to the school's Veterans Certifying Official for certification of educational benefits. Chapter 32 - VEAP/Veterans Educational Assistance ProgramFor veterans who served between the Vietnam GI Bill ® Era and the Montgomery GI Bill ® Era - January 1977 and June 1985; Chapter 35 - Survivor's and Dependent's Educational AssistanceSurviving spouses and children of veterans who died of a service-connected death, disability, or surviving spouses and children of veterans with a permanent service-connected disability; Chapter 1606 - Selected Reserve For students who are currently serving in the Selected Reserves Chapter 1607 - REAPFor students who are currently serving in the Selected Reserves and were activated New Jersey National Guard Tuition WaiverStudents who enlist in the NJ National Guard are entitled to a tuition-only waiver after all federal and/or state grants. CorrespondenceBy using your educational benefits, you may generate a stream of school and VA correspondence. All correspondence is important and should be read carefully upon receipt. We urge you to create a file for all VA and/or school correspondence. Verify personal data such as address, date of birth, social security number and name. Pay particular attention to the enrollment dates reported. If any information is incorrect, please notify the veterans administrator immediately. Telephone and Internet Enrollment Verification for Montgomery GI Bill ®: www.gibill.va.gov GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
