veterans benefits

UTB/TSC is approved by the Texas Workforce Commission for processing of Veterans' Administration Educational Benefits through all of the following:  Chapter 30, 31, 32, 35, 1606, 1607, and Student Work-Study Allowance Program.  Hazlewood Act benefits for Veterans and some eligible dependents are also available.

For procedures to follow under these provisions, contact Patricia Rodriguez at:

Phone:    (956) 882-8980
Fax:        (956)882-8229
Location: Tandy 206

UTB/TSC Parent Institution Letter (PDF) 

Chapter 30

Montgomery GI Bill:  Active Duty Educational Assistance
For prior active duty veterans who served at least 181 active duty days, contributed to an educational fund, and were honorably discharged.  (Based on active duty service beginning on or after 07/01/1985 or entered on active duty before 01/01/1977 and served on active duty for any number of days during the period 10/19/1984 to 06/30/1985 and continued on active duty through 06/30/1988.)

Website: Helpful Information on Veterans Benefits

VA Education Certification System: 1-877-823-2378

WAVE: https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/default.cfm

Documents needed:

Chapter 31

VA - Vocational Rehabilitation
Tuition, fees, books, supplies and a monthly subsistence allowance is available for veterans who are ten percent or more service connected disabled. Veterans may contact the VA Outpatient Clinic in McAllen to apply for the program.

For more information contact:

Mr. Arnaldo Perez
VA Clinic-McAllen
1901 So. 1st St., Ste. 400
McAllen, TX 78503
Office: (956) 668-0801
Fax: (956) 664-2406

Chapter 32

Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
For veterans who entered active duty for the first time after 12/31/1976 and before 07/01/1985 and contributed money to VEAP while on active duty.  Eligible veterans must have enrolled in and contributed to VEAP before 04/01/1987, served for a continuous period of 181 days or more and been discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable.

Documents needed:

• VA Application for Educational Benefits VA 22-1990/Certificate of Eligibility/On-line Application
• Copy of DD 214-(Member 4) 
• Copy of updated Degree Plan (see Advisor) 
• Academic Advising Worksheet (if enrolling in remedial courses)
• Statement of Charges (copy per semester)   

Website: Helpful Information on Veterans Benefits

• VA Application for Educational Benefits VA 22-5490/Certificate of Eligibility/On-line Application
• Copy of Birth Certificate
• Copy of updated Degree Plan (see Advisor)
• Academic Advising Worksheet (if enrolling in remedial courses) 
• Statement of Charges (copy per semester) 
  

Chapter 1606

Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve Educational Assistance Program
For qualified active reservists.

Website: Helpful Information on Veterans Benefits 

VA Education Certification System: 1-877-823-2378

WAVE: https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/default.ctm

Documents needed:

• VA Application for Educational Benefits VA 22-1990/Certificate of Eligibility/On-line Application
• Original DD 2384-Notice of Basic Eligibility 
• Copy of updated Degree Plan (see Advisor) 
• Academic Advising Worksheet (if enrolling in remedial courses)
• Statement of Charges (copy per semester) 

 Chapter 1607

Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
Generally, a member of a reserve component who serves on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 under title 10, U.S.C. for at least 90 consecutive days under a contingency operation is eligible for REAP.  

Effective April 1, 2008, individuals receiving benefits under chapter 1607 will be required to certify their enrollment in order to receive payment. Chapter 1607 recipients will be able to certify their enrollments through the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) application or from a touch-tone phone in the same manner as persons eligible for benefits under chapters 30 and 1606 verify their enrollments.

Website: Helpful Information on Veterans Benefits

VA Education Certification System: 1-877-823-2378

WAVE: https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/default.ctm

Documents needed:

• VA Application for Educational Benefits VA 22-1990 / Certificate of Eligibility /
  On-line Application
  OR
• VA Form 22-1995-Request for Change of VA Educational Program or Place of Training
• Copy of DD-214 (Member 4) 
• Copy of updated degree plan (see advisor)
• Academic Advising Worksheet (if enrolling in remedial courses)
• Copy of Statement of Charges (copy per semester)

Hazlewood Act 

The Hazlewood Act provides for an exemption from tuition and some fees for veterans and dependents. 

Qualifications to be eligible include:
 

• 181 days of active service.
• Residents of Texas when entered service
• honorable discharge
• resident at the time you use the exemption
• not in default on a loan made or guaranteed by the state or federal government
• have used all available federal veterans education benefits.

If you have served additional active duty since your discharge, your Muskogee letter must be current (no more than 3 months old)

Exemptions may also apply to:

• children whose parent(s) died while in the Armed Forces
• children of members of the Texas National Guard and Texas Air National Guard who died since January 1, 1946, while on active duty
• children of members of the Armed Forces whose death is directly attributable to their military service
• children of members who became totally disabled for purposes of employability according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans Affairs as a result of a service related injury
  

Students must:

• Complete a Hazlewood application each Fall/Spring and Summer terms (May, SI, SII).  Application deadline is three weeks prior to the beginning of the term (first class day).
• Provide a copy of the DD-214 (Member 4)
• Provide a copy of VA Letter 27-12 stating benefits have been exhausted or expired. Call 1-888-442-4551 to request letter.

The Hazlewood Application form can be downloaded from the following links:

Hazlewood Exemption Application Packet: for Previous Exemption Recipients (Veterans and Dependents)

Hazlewood Exemption Application Packet: for Veterans who have Never Used the Exemption

Hazlewood Exemption Application Packet: for Eligible Dependents of Texas Members of the U.S. Armed Forces Who have Never Used the Exemption

Student Work-Study Allowance Program 

Who is eligible?   You are, if you're training full-time or 3/4-time in college degree, vocational, or professional program.  A work-study allowance is available under most education benefits programs.

How much can I earn?   You can earn the federal minimum wage or your State minimum wage, whichever is greater.  The total hours you can work cannot be more than 25 time the number of weeks in your enrollment period.  If you elect to receive an advance payment, VA will make your first payment in advance for 40 percent of the total number of your work-study hours.  But the advance payment and any following payments can't be for more than 50 hours.  (If you elect not to receive an advance payment, VA will compensate you for those hours after you work them.)

What type of work may I do?  You may do the following types of VA-related work:

VA paperwork at schools or VA offices; 
Outreach services under the VA supervision; 
Work at VA medical facilities or National Cemetery System offices; OR 
Work at Department of Defense facilities related to education benefits under the GI Bill. 

How do I apply?  
Complete an application and submit it to the Financial Assistance-Veterans Affairs Office.

Click here for: Other VA Forms