COVID-19 Update: All CCV programs have been approved for online delivery, so military-connected students enrolled in spring 2020 courses will not see a change in their Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA). Students planning to enroll in summer 2020 should contact the Veteran and Military Services Team for updated information.
Benefits pay for some or all of your educational expenses, which include tuition, fees, materials, supplies, books, and parking. Some benefits also come with a monthly housing allowance. There are two sources of military benefits: the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD). VA benefits are called the GI Bill® (use the GI Bill Comparison Tool to explore) and DoD benefits are called “Tuition Assistance” and “MyCAA.” Payment received by the VA and/or DoD may not, under any circumstances, exceed 100% of the cost of student tuition and fees.
We know that navigating all these benefits, options, decisions, and applications can be confusing, but you are not doing this alone. CCV staff members have worked with many students to secure their benefits. We are here to help. Contact your Veteran & Military Resource Advisor for assistance.
Additionally, you can always track and manage all your benefits, including your education benefits, on the VA/DOD eBenefits website. Military records, including DD214, can be obtained through the federal Military Service Records office.
Veterans Administration
If you have never before used veteran education benefits, you need to apply online (for all benefits except Chapter 35) through the vets.gov link, ideally six to eight weeks prior to registering for classes. To complete the form you may need to upload documentation such as your most recent DD214 and/or a Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE).
To apply for Chapter 35 benefits, you need to complete VA Form 22-5490 Application for Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance and submit it to the appropriate VA regional office (for Vermont, that is the Buffalo, NY office).
If you have previously applied to use veteran education benefits (for all benefits except Chapter 35) at another college, please use VA Form 22-1995 Request for Change of Program or Place of Training to transfer your benefits to CCV.
To transfer Chapter 35 benefits to CCV, you need to complete VA Form 22-5495 Dependents’ Request for Change of Program or Place of Training.
The GI Bill Help Desk is a great place to find FAQs (account needed); you can also call the Help Desk at 1-888-GI- BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) with questions.
Chapter 30, Montgomery GI Bill
Chapter 30 Information: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Information
- Eligible to individuals with active service in one of four categories and were honorably discharged.
- Benefits generally expire 10 years after your final separation from active duty.
- Typically, benefits cover 36 months of school. Months you are not enrolled in classes do not count against you.
- When combining benefits from more than one education program, there is a maximum of 48 months of benefits
- A monthly allowance is paid directly to you by the VA during the months you are enrolled in classes.
- The amount of this monthly payment is based on the level of your enrollment (full-time or portion thereof) as well as your length of service.
- You must arrange payment to CCV (cash or financial aid) for tuition and fees by your due date (prior to the semester starting); your check from the VA will reimburse you for these costs.
- Rate increases are effective October 1 each year.
- If you were discharged within the past three years, and would be classified as an out-of-state student, under Section 702 of the Choice Act, you may be eligible for in-state tuition rates.You will be contacted during the admissions process with details about what additional information to provide.
In order to activate your Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (Chapter 30) benefits, you must submit a Request for Enrollment Certification to your CCV Certifying Official each time you add or drop a class.
Additionally, you must verify your attendance monthly using Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE), or you will not receive your check from the VA
Know Your Responsibilities to avoid costly mistakes.
Chapter 31, VA Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment
Chapter 31 Information: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Eligible to veterans with a declared service-connected disability and an “employment handicap,” as determined by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.
- The VR&E eligibility period is generally within 12 years of discharge from active service.
- You will work closely with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to create a plan for training and future employment.
- When combining benefits from more than one education program, there is a maximum of 48 months of benefits.
- Tuition, fees, and costs for course materials, supplies, parking, and books are paid directly to the school.
- A Subsistence Allowance is paid directly to you each month during the months you are enrolled in classes.
- The amount of this monthly payment is based on the level of your enrollment (full-time or portion thereof) as well as your length of service.
- If you also qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you may choose to receive the Post 9/11 rate of pay (at the 100% level) instead of the VR&E subsistence allowance.
In order to activate your benefits, you must submit a Request for Enrollment Certification to your CCV Certifying Official each time you add or drop a class.
Know Your Responsibilities to avoid costly mistakes.
Chapter 33, Post 9/11 GI Bill
Chapter 33 Information: U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
- Eligible to individuals with active service after September 10, 2001 (can include Guard members).
- Benefits expire 15 years after your last 90 day period of active duty. If discharged after 2013 there is no delimiting date.
- Typically, benefits cover 36 months of school. Months you are not enrolled in classes do not count against you.
- When combining benefits from more than one education program, there is a maximum of 48 months of benefits.
- Benefits are on a tiered structure based on your length of service, ranging from 40%-100%. For instance, if an in-state student is covered 100%, they pay $0 for tuition and fees out-of-pocket (see information below about Section 702 of the Choice Act and the Yellow Ribbon program for out-of-state students).
- Tuition and fees are paid directly to the school.
- A Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is paid directly to you, during the months you are enrolled in classes (at least 1 credit over full-time).
- The amount of this monthly payment is based on the level of your enrollment (full-time or portion thereof) as well as your length of service.
- Your MHA is generally the same as the military Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents.
- Your MHA rate is based on the Zip Code of the CCV site where the majority of your classes are located.
- MHA rate increases based on BAH increases are effective August 1 each year.
- Please note, students on active duty and/or their spouses will not receive MHA through Chapter 33 benefits; this does not pertain to a child who is using a parent’s Chapter 33 benefit.
- A Books and Supplies Stipend is paid directly to you, up to $1000 per year.
- If you were discharged within the past three years, and would be classified as an out-of-state student, under Section 702 of the Choice Act, you may be eligible for in-state tuition rates—you will be contacted during the Admissions process with details about what additional information to provide.
- CCV is a Yellow Ribbon school. Students who do not qualify for in-state tuition under Section 702 of the Choice Act and are in the 100% benefits tier who are out-of-state should complete a Yellow Ribbon application to be charged in-state tuition.
- Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits may be transferred to a spouse or dependent.
In order to activate your Post 9/11 benefits, you must submit a Request for Enrollment Certification to your CCV Certifying Official each time you add or drop a class.
Know Your Responsibilities to avoid costly mistakes.
Chapter 35, Dependent’s Educational Assistance Program
Chapter 35 Information: U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
- Eligible to spouses and children of veterans who are deceased on active duty, deceased due to a service-related disability, permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected injury or illness, missing in action/captured in the line of duty and currently held by a hostile force, forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government or power, hospitalized or receiving outpatient medical care, services, or treatment, or likely to be discharged or released from service for a service-connected disability.
- Dependent children can generally receive benefits between the ages of 18 and 26.
- For spouses of living veterans, benefits generally expire 10-20 years from the date of the veteran’s permanent and total disability evaluation. Divorce ends the benefit.
- For surviving spouses of deceased veterans, benefits expire 10-20 years from the date of death.
- Remarriage before the age of 57 ends the benefit.
- Typically, benefits cover 36 months of school. Months you are not enrolled in classes do not count against you. If consistently in the program prior to August 2018 you retain the unused portion of 45 months.
- When combining benefits from more than one education program, there is a maximum of 48 months of benefits.
- A monthly allowance is paid directly to you by the VA during the months you are enrolled in classes.
- The amount of this monthly payment is based on the level of your enrollment (full-time or portion thereof).
- You must arrange payment to CCV (cash or financial aid) for tuition and fees by your due date (prior to the semester starting); your check from the VA will reimburse you for these costs.
- Rate increases are effective October 1 each year.
Additionally, if you are enrolled in one of CCV’s certificate programs, you must verify your attendance monthly using VA Form 22-8979 (Student Verification of Enrollment), which the VA mails to you, or you will not receive your check from the VA. If you do not receive the form, immediately call your CCV Certifying Official (this step does not apply to students enrolled in associate degree programs).
Know Your Responsibilities to avoid costly mistakes.
Chapter 1606, Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve
Chapter 1606 Information: U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
- Eligible to members of the Selected Reserve and National Guard.
- Reserve and Guard components determine individual eligibility; talk with your Education Services Officer (ESO) at your branch for details.
- If you leave the Selected Reserve the benefit generally expires the day you separate.
- If you stay in the Selected Reserve, the benefit generally expires 10-14 years after you became eligible.
- Typically, benefits cover 36 months of school. Months you are not enrolled in classes do not count against you.
- When combining benefits from more than one education program, there is a maximum of 48 months of benefits.
- A monthly allowance is paid directly to you by the VA during the months you are enrolled in classes.
- The amount of this monthly payment is based on the level of your enrollment (full-time or portion thereof) as well as your length of service.
- You must arrange payment to CCV (cash or financial aid) for tuition and fees by your due date (prior to the semester starting); your check from the VA will reimburse you for these costs.
- Rate increases are effective October 1 each year.
In order to activate your Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) benefits, you must submit a Request for Enrollment Certification to your CCV Certifying Official each time you add or drop a class.
Additionally, you must verify your attendance monthly using Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE), or you will not receive your check from the VA.
Know Your Responsibilities to avoid costly mistakes.
Tuition Assistance DECIDE – Department of Defense Comparison Tool
Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is a benefit for eligible members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Congress has given each service the ability to pay up to 100% for the tuition expenses of its members.
Each service has its own criteria for eligibility, application process, and restrictions. This money is paid directly to CCV by the individual services. For service-specific information, please see the links below.
- Army – www.armyignited.com
- Air Force – www.my.af.mil/
- Marines – www.marines.com
- Navy www.navycollege.navy.mil
- Coast Guard – www.uscg.mil/hq/capemay/education/ta-a.asp
Contact your Education Services Officer (ESO) for information specific to your circumstances.
To utilize Tuition Assistance, you will need to work with your CCV academic advisor to complete a projected degree plan, which you will upload as part of the Tuition Assistance application.
My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA)
The MyCAA Scholarship is a workforce development program that provides up to $4,000 of tuition assistance to eligible spouses. The scholarship helps military spouses pursue training and education necessary to gain employment in high-demand, high-growth, portable career fields and occupations. CCV is an approved institution for the MyCAA Scholarship program.
To determine eligibility visit the MyCAA Spouse Portal and provide the required Spouse Profile information or call 1-800-342-9647 to speak with a MyCAA Career and Education Consultant.
Vermont National Guard Tuition Benefit Program (VNGTBP)
This program creates free college for National Guard members. The legislature passed a bill that will be phased in to grant tuition to National Guard members. It covers our tuition at CCV but is not a grant; it is a forgivable loan. Guard members will need to satisfy the duty requirements for the no interest loan to be forgiven. The loan is first come, first-served and limited to available funding.
Contact with your Education Service Officer is required to process an application. The ESO of your unit needs to be engaged in the application process and sign off on your eligibility.
Eligibility:
- The student must be a member in good standing and have completed basic training.
- The student needs to be in a certificate or degree program or in continuing education purposefully relevant. An example of this might be taking courses as a prerequisite for admission to a VTC program.
- Students cannot have completed a BA.
- Students need to use Federal Tuition Assistance benefits they are eligible for first.
- Students need to use 9/11 GI Bill benefits first if they have already applied for and received a Certificate of Eligibility.
- Agreement to complete additional service time forgives this interest-free loan, making it free tuition. Not meeting the duty commitment means students will pay the loan back.
‘‘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 http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill