Veterans Benefits and Mississippi National Guard

News Bulletin...
Are you waiting for your VA Education Benefits?
The Department of Veterans Affairs has made funds available for Veteran students who are still awaiting for their education benefit claim to be processed.  Eligible veterans can receive up to a $3,000 advance, which will be recouped from future benefit payments.  If you are a student who applied for one of VA's education programs and have not yet received your monthly benefit payment for the Fall 2009 term, you can request a one-time advance payment at your local VA Regional Office or through VA's website, www.va.gov.

Montgomery GI Bill (Veterans Benefits)
VA Toll Free Telephone Number – 1-888-GI-BILL (1-888-442-4551) - Monday-Friday (7 a.m.-5 p.m.)
GI Bill Website: www.gibill.va.gov
Apply Online: http://www.vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/  
Monthly Verification of Enrollment: https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave or 1-877-823-2378
Payment Rates: www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/rates.htm

The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) provides educational benefits under the Montgomery G.I. Bill - Active Duty Educational Assistance program (Chapter 30), the Montgomery G.I. Bill - Selected Reserves (Chapter 1606), the Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP/1607), the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill (Chapter 33), and the Post Vietnam Veteran's Educational Assistance Program (VEAP).

Chapter 30, 33,  and VEAP - Complete VA Form 22-1990 (Application for Educational Benefits)*, present it to the Veterans Office at ICC and provide a copy of your DD214.  Students who drop or add a class or change a major should report this information to the VA Office at ICC.

Chapter 1606 and 1607 (REAP) - Service members enrolled in the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill program are able to transfer unused educational benefits to their spouse and/or children.  The service member must receive a transferability authorization form and complete form 21-68c.  The family member must also complete a Transfer of Entitlement Application.  The preceding forms and additional information can be found at http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/Transfer.htm  - Each eligible person who entered the National Guard or Military Reserve after July 1, 1985, and elected educational benefits will be entitled to educational benefits after completing the following:

  1. Obtain Selected Reserve Educational Assistance Program Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) from the unit.
  2. Complete VA Form 22-1990 - Application for Educational Benefits.*
  3. Present both forms to the VA Office at ICC.

* VA Form 22-1990 (Application for Educational Benefits) can be submitted online at http://www.vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/

Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Programs

Chapter 35 - This program provides financial aid for the education of dependent sons, daughters, and spouse of:

  1. 100 percent disabled veterans.
  2. Veterans who died from any service-connected mishap.
  3. Service persons missing in action or captured in the line of duty.

To qualify, students should contact the VA Office of Itawamba Community College.

Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational Rehabilitation from VA - The VA determines the eligibility of service people that need vocational rehabilitation to overcome an impairment to their ability to prepare for employment.  Contact the local VA Office or the Financial Aid Office of Itawamba Community College.

Students above the age of 16 with a qualifying mental or physical handicap may obtain corrective treatment, braces, prostheses, guidance and counseling services, plus costs of tuition, books, and supplies if they qualify for Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services.  Interested students should contact the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services for further information.

Mississippi National Guard and Army National Guard Federal Tuition Assistance
MS National Guard Educational Services Office: www.ngms.state.ms.us/edu
Virtual Armory: www.virtualarmory.com
Help Desk: 1-866-403-1289
Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) - Apply online at:  https://minuteman.ngb.army.mil/benefits

Army Reserves
Tuition Assistance (TA):  https://rcms.ocar.army.pentagon.mil/
Phone: 205-912-6960
Army and Army Career Center: 662-842-4125

Maximum Pell Grant for Dependents of Deceased Soldiers

A dependent student of a deceased soldier may be eligible for the maximum Pell Grant if:

  1. Parent/Guardian was killed as a member of the armed forces as a result of military services in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11/01, AND
  2. At time of death, dependent was less than 24 years old, or
  3. Enrolled full time or part time at an institute of higher education, and
  4. Must have a Pell-eligible EFC

Please contact the ICC Financial Aid Office if you think you meet these requirements.

ICC VA Counselor
Bob Walker
Phone: 662.862.8223
Fax: 662.862.8225
rdwalker@iccms.edu
or
Financial Aid Office
on either campus

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