Federal Benefits

 

There are many different benefits described below that are available to active duty, guard, reserve, and veteran students and/or their dependents. For more detailed information or to get questions answered, contact our Veterans Coordinator.

If you register in courses of different lengths you should be aware that your pay rates may vary if you receive federal benefits. More information may be found here. 

 

Post 9/11 GI Bill ® (Chapter 33)

 

If you have 90 days or more of aggregate active duty after September 10, 2001, and are still on active duty, or if you are an honorably discharged veteran or were discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days, you may be eligible for this benefit.  The Post 9/11 GI Bill will provide:

  • A tuition and fee payment directly to your school
  • A books and supply payment directly to you
  • A monthly housing allowance  payment

All payments will be prorated according to the number of credits you are registered for in combination with the amount of active duty you have completed.

You will receive 36 months of entitlement and be eligible to use the benefit for 15 years for veterans who left active duty before January 1, 2013.

 Harry W. Colmery Educational Assistance Act of 2017(Forever GI Bill ®) highlights:

  • The 15-year time limitation for using Post 9/11 Bill benefits is eliminated for veterans who left active duty on or after January 1, 2013
  • Reservists who had eligibility under the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) and lost it due to the program sunset provision will have that service credited toward the Post 9/11 GI Bill program
  • As of August 1, 2018:
    • Educational assistance under Post 9/11 GI Bill for those individuals awarded the Purple Heart
    • Inclusion of Fry Scholarship recipients and Purple Heart recipients in Yellow Ribbon Program
    • Calculation of monthly housing stipend under Post 9/11 GI Bill, based on location of campus where classes are attended.
    • Charge to entitlement for certain licensure and certification tests and national tests under Post 9/11 GI Bill
    • Monthly stipend for certain members of Reserve component individuals receiving Post 9/11 GI Bill
    • Duration of education assistance under Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA) from 45 to 36 months of entitlement
    • Eligibility of Reserve Component members for Post 9/11 GI Bill

       
  • As of August 1, 2019:
  • Additional benefits for pursuit of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs

For further details, visit Post 9/11 GI Bill .   

 

Montgomery GI Bill ®  

Important Note for Montgomery GI Bill Recipients
All students receiving either the Montgomery GI BILL Active Duty or Selected Reserve benefits MUST verify their enrollments monthly to receive payments.

This verification can be done either by using the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) OR by calling 1-877-823-2378 (IVR) and following the prompts.

Note: Generally, your VA claim number is your Social Security number. If classes start in September, you would use this on September 30 (last day of the month) or early October to verify your September enrollment.

 

 
Chapter 30: Active duty members who enroll and contribute $100/month for 12 months will be entitled to receive a monthly education benefit once you have completed at least two years of active duty.  This benefit is payable for 36 months with a delimiting date of 10 years following your honorable discharge.  For Chapter 30 GI Bill information, please visit: Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill.
 
 
Selected Reserve: This program provides education benefits to eligible members of the Selected Reserve, including the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve and the Army National Guard and Air National Guard.  Generally, 36 months of benefits are payable to those with a six year obligation to serve, have completed basic and advanced training,  are actively drilling, and remain in good standing.  For Montgomery GI Selected Reserve information, please visit: Montgomery GI Selected Reserve.
 
 

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E)

 

 

Chapter 31:  Veterans may be eligible for this program if you have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% from the VA, your discharge is other than dishonorable, and you apply for benefits. Services included in this benefit include a comprehensive evaluation to determine abilities, skills, and interest for employment, education benefits which cover tuition and fees, books and supplies, and a monthly stipend (more details here).  For additional services and eligibility details of the VR&E program, please visit: Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment.

 

Yellow Ribbon Program

 

UW-Stevens Point has entered into a limited Yellow Ribbon contract with the Department of Veteran Affairs for the 2015-16 academic year. The criteria for participation in the Yellow Ribbon program are as follows:

  • Eligible for the Post 9/11 (Chapter 33) GI Bill education benefits at the 100% level
  • Maintain good academic standing at UW-Stevens Point
  • Be admitted as a degree seeking student with net tuition and fee charges above the VA’s annual maximum rate as posted at www.gibill.va.gov
 
The Yellow Ribbon Program is available to qualified non-resident undergraduate students in all degree programs offered at UW-Stevens Point. The campus will fund 50% of the nonresident tuition and fee charges not paid under the Post 9/11 GI Bill with the remainder being paid by the Veterans Administration.  Awards will be made up to a total of 12 qualified non-resident undergraduates, including continuing students who are already receiving the Yellow Ribbon benefits from previous semesters.  New applicants are considered on a first-come, first-serve basis, have been accepted to the university, and have made a deposit.

 

For additional information about the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon program, please see the GI Bill website at www.gibill.va.gov.

 

RETURN POLICY FOR USERS OF FEDERAL TUITION ASSISTANCE ONLY 

Return of Federal Tuition Assistance:  Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded. To comply with the new Department of Defense policy, UW-Stevens Point will return any unearned TA funds on a prorated basis through at least the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending.

 DOD 60% TA Refund Schedule 2019


 
 

Dependents

 
There are three federal GI Bill programs that provide educational assistance to survivors and dependents of veterans:

 
The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship is available for children and spouses of Service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. For more details on this scholarship, please visit: Fry Scholarship.
 
 
Survivor’s and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)  provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or of veterans who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition. For more details on this program, please visit: Dependents Education Assistance Program.
 
 
Transfer of Post 9/11 GI Bill to Spouse and Dependents allows Service members to transfer all or some of their unused benefits to their spouse or dependent children.  There are several criteria that determine eligibility for transferring this benefit to dependents, please visit: Transfer Post-9/11 Bill to Spouse and Dependents.