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Veterans and Their Dependents

Federal educational benefits

The Montgomery GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve provide educational benefits for individuals entering military service or the reserves for the first time after June 30, 1985. Reservists who have enlisted for six or more years after July 1, 1985 may be eligible for the Selected Reserve Education Benefit.

Who is Eligible?

You may be an eligible veteran if you got an Honorable Discharge, AND you have a High School Diploma or GED or, in some cases 12 hours of college credit, AND you meet the requirements of one of the categories below:

Category I
  • Entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985
  • Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for first 12 months
  • Continuously served for 3 years, OR 2 years if that is what you first enlisted for, OR 2 years if you entered Selected Reserve within a year of leaving active duty and served 4 years ("2 by 4" Program)
Category II
  • Entered active duty before January 1, 1977
  • Served at least 1 day between 10/19/84 and 6/30/85, and stayed on active duty through 6/30/88, (or 6/30/87 if you entered Selected Reserve within 1 year of leaving active duty and served 4 years)
  • On 12/31/89, you had entitlement left from Vietnam Era GI Bill
Category III
  • Not eligible for MGIB under Category I or II
  • On active duty on 9/30/90 AND separated involuntarily after 2/2/91,
  • OR involuntarily separated on or after 11/30/93,
  • OR voluntarily separated under either the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) or Special Separation Benefit (SSB) program
  • Before separation, you had military pay reduced by $1200
Category IV
  • On active duty on 10/9/96 AND you had money remaining in a VEAP account on that date AND you elected MGIB by 10/9/97
  • OR entered full-time National Guard duty under title 32, USC, between 7/1/85, and 11/28/89 AND you elected MGIB during the period 10/9/96, through 7/8/97
  • Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for 12 months or made a $1200 lump-sum contribution

VEAP is the post-Vietnam era Veterans Educational Assistance Program for those who entered active duty for the first time between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985 and contributed to the VEAP fund while on active duty or had contributions made for them by the military.

To qualify you must meet the following requirements:

  • Entered service for the first time between January 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985;
  • Opened a contribution account before April 1, 1987;
  • Voluntarily contributed from $25 to $2700;
  • Completed your first period of service; and
  • Were discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable.

If you are currently on active duty and wish to receive VEAP benefits, you must have at least 3 months of contributions available.

Service-disabled veterans may be eligible for vocational rehabilitation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Benefits may include education or training to qualify for employment, counseling, tutorial assistance, and medical services.

Educational benefits also are available to veterans' dependents if the veteran (spouse or parent) died in service, was totally disabled, or is listed as missing in action or captured in the line of duty by a hostile force or a foreign government power.

With the Veterans' Work-Study program, eligible veterans are paid for working at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities. They earn the federal minimum or state minimum wage, whichever is lower.

For more information, contact your college's Office of Veterans Affairs, the local office of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (in the phone book under U.S. Government Offices), or call toll free (800) 827-1000.