Montgomery GI Bill® – Active Duty (Chapter 30)
Under Chapter 30, individuals who entered military service on or after July 1, 1985 and had their basic military pay reduced by $100 per month for the first 12 months of service are generally eligible.
GI BILL® is a registered trademark of the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official US government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Montgomery GI Bill® – Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
Under Chapter 1606, individuals who are satisfactorily participating in required training or who are fulfilling an obligated service of not less than six years in the Selected Reserve are eligible for benefits. Eligible reservists are entitled to $369 in full-time training for a maximum of 36 months of educational assistance or the equivalent in full-time training.
Montgomery GI GI Bill® – Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) (Chapter 1607)
REAP was established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It is a Department of Defense education 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 program makes certain that reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 are either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits.
- Current REAP beneficiaries - Veterans who were attending an educational institution on November 24, 2015, or during the last semester, quarter, or term ending prior to that date, are eligible to continue to receive REAP benefits until November 25, 2019.
- REAP beneficiaries not attending school - Veterans who applied for REAP but were not attending an educational institution on November 24, 2015, or during the last semester, quarter, or term ending prior to that date, are no longer eligible to receive REAP benefits. You may be eligible to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Veterans who have not enrolled in school and applied for REAP benefits prior to November 25, 2015, are no longer eligible for REAP benefits. However, in most cases, you will be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
The Colmery Act, also known as the Forever GI Bill, enacted August 16, 2017, provides an opportunity for reservists who lost their REAP benefits to elect to credit their REAP eligibility toward the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Montgomery GI Bill® – Survivor’s and Dependent’s Educational Assistance Program (DEA) (Chapter 35)
DEA provides education benefits and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. A spouse may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances by the Veterans Administration.
Chapter 33 (Post–9/11 GI Bill)
The Post–9/11 GI Bill is a new education benefit program for individuals who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. Eligibility ranges from 40% to 100% of tuition, fees and BAH, based on service from 90 days to 36 months.
Recruitment Incentive and Retention Program (RIRP)
This is a New York State tuition assistance program for active members of the New York Army National Guard, the New York Air National Guard and the New York Naval Militia. It provides tuition assistance for active members enrolled in a first-degree program of study. The award covers tuition after all other financial aid has been applied to the tuition charges. Students must apply for federal and state aid and file a DMNA 96-1 form, which can be obtained from their individual national guard units. Continuation of the award will be dependent on good military standing, making satisfactory progress toward the degree and on maintaining good academic standing for financial aid purposes.
Federal Tuition Assistance
The Tuition Assistance (TA) program provides financial assistance for voluntary off-duty education programs in support of a soldier’s professional and personal self-development goals. TA is available for courses that are offered in the classroom or by distance learning. The courses must be offered by schools that are registered in GoArmyEd (http://www.goarmyed.com/) or the AI Portal (https://aiportal.us.af.mil/aiportal/Account/ConsentToMonitor) and are accredited by accrediting agencies that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The Department of Defense (DoD) has directed a uniform TA fiscal policy across the military services. Per semester hour cap is $250 and the fiscal year ceiling is $4,500. The Army will pay 100 percent of the tuition charged by a school up to the established per semester hour cap and fiscal year ceiling.
Veterans Tuition Awards
Veterans Tuition Awards (VTA) are available for New York State residents who served in Indochina between December 22, 1961 and March 7, 1975; in the Persian Gulf on or after August 2, 1990 and in Afghanistan during hostilities on or after September 11, 2001. Veterans are eligible to receive up to 98 percent of the tuition cost each semester at in-state, degree-granting institutions or approved vocational programs.
New York veterans must first complete both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) applications.
Veterans must also complete the New York State Veterans Tuition Award Supplement or contact HESC. Be sure to print the WEB supplement Confirmation, sign it, and return it along with the required documentation according to the instructions. Questions regarding eligible service or how to document service should be directed to the HESC Scholarship Unit at 888.697.4372. Questions regarding Veterans Benefits may be directed to the Financial Aid Office.
HESC requires a student to be in good academic standing and also be registered for classes in their program of study. Students are advised to use each semester DegreeWorks: the degree audit program to find the required classes needed. Students can access DegreeWorks through the CUNY website. Under "Log In," click on DegreeWorks to view your degree audit. You will need to log in using your CUNY Login Credentials.
In-State Tuition Benefit for Veterans and Military Personnel
Effective Spring 2015, individuals who are eligible for educational assistance under federal G.I. bills will be charged the in-state rate at the CUNY senior colleges. This includes individuals who served in active military, naval or air service, members of the National Guard, and reservists who meet the requirements for benefits under federal G.I. bills. A veteran who meets the above eligibility criteria is entitled to the in-state rate even if the individual is not actually receiving benefits under a federal G.I. bill. Spouses and dependents who are eligible for educational assistance under federal G.I. bills are also entitled to the in-state rate.
- In order to prove veteran status, a student must provide U.S. Department of Defense Form DD214 or a Certificate of Eligibility from the U.S. Department of Defense or the Veterans Administration.
- In order to prove status as a child or spouse of a veteran, the child or spouse must provide a Certificate of Eligibility from the U.S. Department of Defense or the Veterans Administration.
Pending Veterans Benefits
In accordance with Title 38 U.S. Code 3679 subsection (e), John Jay College adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.) Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Readiness and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the V.A. This school will not:
- Prevent nor delay the student’s enrollment;
- Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
- Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
- Deny the student access to any resources available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution, including but not limited to access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities.
However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:
- Produce the Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class;
- Provide written request to be certified;
- Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.
For more detailed information on any of the above benefit programs, please visit the JJC Military and Veteran Services page.
Fry Scholarship
The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) provides Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to the children and surviving spouses of Service members who died in the line of duty while on active duty after September 10, 2001. Eligible beneficiaries attending school may receive up to 36 months of benefits at the 100% level. Find out more information on payment rates. See our fact sheet, which provides more detailed information.
Eligibility
Children and surviving spouses of an active duty member of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, are eligible for this benefit.
Children
Children are eligible as of their 18th birthday (unless they have already graduated high school). A child may be married or over 23 and still be eligible, although their eligibility ends on their 33rd birthday.
Spouses
Spouses have 15 years from the date of death of the service member to use the benefit.
Because certain provisions of the law that extended these benefits to spouses did not go into effect until January 1, 2015, some surviving spouses' benefits would have expired in 2016. However, a new provision of the law signed on December 16, 2016, extends the benefit eligibility to January 1, 2021, for the spouses of Service members who died in the line of duty between September 11, 2001, and December 31, 2005. This allows surviving spouses additional time to use the Fry Scholarship benefits. See our letter to spouses for further clarification of the new policy.
Spouses will lose eligibility for this benefit upon remarriage.
Fry and DEA Eligibility
If you are eligible for both Fry Scholarship and DEA (Dependents Educational Assistance), you will be required to make an irrevocable election between the two programs when you apply. Dependents are not eligible to receive both DEA and the Fry Scholarship based on the same event (like a service member dying in the line of duty) unless they are a child whose parent died before August 1, 2011. A child of a parent who died before August 1, 2011, may still be eligible for both benefits, but they may only use one program at a time, and combined benefits are capped at a total of 81 months of full-time training. In this situation, the two benefit programs cannot be used concurrently.
Other Factors to Consider
Surviving spouses are eligible to receive Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC) while using the Fry Scholarship. Children, over the age of 18, in receipt of DIC will relinquish DIC payments upon the start of using VA education benefits such as the Fry Scholarship.
Apply
To apply, take these steps depending on your situation:
- Make sure that your selected program is approved for VA training. Please visit our GI Bill Comparison Tool for help in choosing a school.
- To apply, obtain and complete VA Form 22-5490, Dependents Application for VA Education Benefits. Please send it to the Regional Processing Office with jurisdiction over the state, where you will advance your education and training. If you are a son or daughter under the legal age, a parent or guardian must sign the application. When applying, you will be required to make an irrevocable election between the Fry Scholarship and the Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program to receive benefits. Children of a service member who died in the line of duty before August 1, 2011, may be eligible for both DEA and Fry, but they cannot be used at the same time.
- If you have started your educational program, take your application to your school or employer. Ask them to complete VA Form 22-1999, Enrollment Certification, and send both forms to VA. They can submit an Enrollment Certification electronically using VA-ONCE. (Note: Schools must contact their VA representative to receive this form.)
My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA)
The My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Scholarship Program is a workforce development program that provides up to $4,000 of financial assistance to eligible military spouses who are pursuing a license, certification or Associate’s degree in a portable career field and occupation. To see if you are eligible, browse careers, or search for programs, schools or more information, visit the MyCAA website:
https://mycaa.militaryonesource.mil/mycaa
Military Enhanced Recognition Incentive and Tribute (MERIT) Scholarship
The Military Enhanced Recognition Incentive and Tribute (MERIT) Scholarship provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of members of the United States Armed Forces or state organized militia who at any time, while New York State residents, died or became severely and permanently disabled while performing their military duties, whether in combat
General Information
MERIT provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of members of the United States Armed Forces or state organized militia who provided eligible military service, while New York State residents and who:
- died or became severely and permanently disabled as a result of injury or illness suffered or incurred while performing their military duties, whether in combat or not; or are classified as missing in action;
- A member of the United States Armed Forces or state organized militia who provided eligible military service, is considered severely and permanently disabled when a doctor of medicine or osteopathy, licensed to practice in a state, has determined that such person is unable to engage in any occupation for remuneration or profit due to a physical or mental impairment.
MERIT is also available to members of the United States Armed Forces or state organized militia who provided eligible military service at any time while New York State residents, and who became severely and permanently disabled as a result of injury or illness suffered or incurred while performing their military duties, whether in combat or not.
Eligibility
Students must:
- Study at an approved postsecondary institution in New York State.
- Have graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma by passing a General Educational Development Test (GED), or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department;
- Be enrolled as a full-time student taking 12 or more credits per semester.
- Be matriculated in an approved program of study.
- Be in good academic standing.
- Not be in default on any State or federal student loan or on any repayment of state awards.
Apply for MERIT here: https://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/financial-aid/types-of-financial-aid/nys-grants-scholarships-awards/msrs-scholarship.html
Regents Award for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans
Through the New York State Higher Education Services (HESC), the Regents Awards is for Children of Deceased & Disabled Veterans provides up to $450 per year to students whose parent(s) served in the United States Armed Forces during specified times of war or national emergency, and as a result of such service, the Veteran either died, suffered a 40 percent or greater United States Department of Veterans Affairs service-connected disability rating percentage, was classified as missing in action, or was a prisoner of war. The Veteran must currently be a New York State resident or have been a New York State resident at the time of death. For more information, including how to apply, visit here: https://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/financial-aid/types-of-financial-aid/nys-grants-scholarships-awards/nys-regents-awards-for-children-of-deceased-and-disabled-veterans.html
VA Pending Payment Compliance
In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), this school adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Readiness and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. This school will not:
- Prevent nor delay the student’s enrollment;
- Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
- Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
- Deny the student access to any resources available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution, including but not limited to access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities.
However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:
- Produce the Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class;
- Provide written request to be certified;
- Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.