Veterans Benefits

 Montgomery GI Bill - Chapter 30 - Active Duty

 Montgomery GI Bill - Chapter 1606 - Selected Reserve

 Post 9/11 GI Bill - Chapter 33

 Hazlewood Act

Hazlewood Legacy Program

 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program - Chapter 31

Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) - Chapter 35

 Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) - Chapter 1607

Sloan White, Assistant Registrar

817-735-2202

Sloan.White@unthsc.edu

 Muskogee, OK Regional Processing Office

This program generally provides up to 36 months of education benefits for those who served in active duty.  They typically must be used within 10 years following your release from active duty.

• You must have applied for benefits: Application for Benefits Form (VA Form 22-1990)
• Must be accepted to UNT Health Science Center
• Enroll in classes for an approved degree-seeking program
• Our office must receive the following forms:

1. Certificate of Eligibility
2. Copy of DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
3. Form 22-1995* - Request for Change of Program or Place of Training
   

This program may be available for those with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2011, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days.

• You must have applied for benefits: Application for Benefits Form (VA Form 22-1990)
• Must be accepted to UNT Health Science Center
• Enroll in classes for an approved degree-seeking program
• Our office must receive the following forms:

1. Certificate of Eligibility
2. Copy of DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
3. Form 22-1995* - Request for Change of Program or Place of Training

The Hazlewood Act may provide qualified veterans and dependents with an education benefit of up to 150 of tuition and fee exemptions.

Eligibility Requirements

• Are Texas residents,
• Designated Texas as Home of Record, or
• Entered the service in Texas.
• Have served at least 181 days of active military duty excluding training, as indicated as "net active service" (the sum of 12(c) and 12(d)) on the DD214),
• Have received an honorable discharge or separation or a general discharge under honorable conditions,
• Have no federal veteran's education benefits, or have federal veterans education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only (such as Chapter 33 or 31; Pell and SEOG are not relevant) for term or semester enrolled that do not exceed the value of Hazlewood benefits,
• Are not in default on a student loan made or guaranteed by the State of Texas, and
• Enroll in classes for which the college receives tax support (i.e., a course that does not depend solely on student tuition and fees to cover its costs), unless the college's governing board has ruled to let veterans receive the benefit while taking non-funded courses.

Veterans who are granted their first Hazlewood exemption beginning fall 2011 must reside in Texas during the semester or term for which the exemption is claimed. This requirement does not apply to veterans who received the exemption prior to the 2011-2012 academic year. 

Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veteran:

• Of veterans who, at the time of entry into the U.S. Armed Forces:
  • Are Texas residents,
  • Designated Texas as Home of Record, or
  • Entered the service in Texas.
• Have a parent or is the spouse of a veteran of the U. S. Armed Forces, Texas National Guard, or Texas Air National Guard who died as a result of service-related injuries or illness, is missing in action, or became totally disabled (100%) as a result of a service-related injury or illness or is entitled to receive compensation at the 100% rate due to individual unemployability (IU) due to a service-connected injury or illness.
• Have no federal veteran's education benefits, or have federal veterans education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only (such as Chapter 33 or 31; Pell and SEOG Grants are not relevant) for the term or semester enrolled that do not exceed the value of Hazlewood benefits, and
• Are residents of Texas as of the term or semester in which they enroll.

Eligible children who receive the Hazlewood exemption for the first time beginning fall, 2011 must be 25 years of age or younger on the first day of the semester or term for which the exemption is claimed (unless granted an extension due to a qualifying illness or debilitating condition). This requirement does not apply to children who received the exemption prior to the 2011-2012 academic year.

The benefit may not be used for correspondence courses unless the courses are part of the student's degree plan.

To Apply:

To use Hazlewood benefits applicants must complete the proper application(s).  Veterans and eligible children and spouses that meet the criteria stated above need to provide:

• A Completed HE-V Application Packet for the Veteran
• A Copy of a DD-214 for the veteran.
• Proof of eligibility or ineligibility for federal benefits for both benefits for both veterans and dependents.  This may be obtained by requesting an Education Benefits Letter from the VA office in Muskogee, OK at (888) 442-4551.
• Proof of the Online Database Registration

• Provide Proof from the Department of Defense or from the VA regarding veteran's death or disability related to service.
• Only a completed HE-D Application Packet is needed by the children or spouse applying for benefits through Hazlewood.
  

Transferability of Benefits (Legacy Program):

Eligible veterans may assign unused hours of exemption eligibility to a child under certain conditions. To be eligible, the child must:

• Be a Texas resident,
• Be the biological child, stepchild, adopted child, or claimed as a dependent in the current or previous tax year,
• Be 25 years or younger on the first day of the semester or term for which the exemption is claimed (unless granted an extension due to a qualifying illness or debilitating condition), and
• Make satisfactory academic progress in a degree or certificate as determined by the institution.

If a child to whom hours have been delegated fails to use all of the assigned hours, a veteran may re-assign the unused hours that are available to another dependent child.

Effective with tuition and fee changes fall 2011, a veteran's spouse or a child's guardian, conservator, custodian, or other legally designated caretaker may re-assign unused hours to an eligible child (through Legacy) on behalf of the veteran if the veteran died prior to requesting the transfer of hours.

Veterans' spouses are not eligible to receive a transfer of unused hours.

Award Amount

Eligible children or dependents may receive an exemption from the payment of all tuition, dues, fees, and other required charges, including fees for correspondence courses, but excluding deposit fees, student service fees, and any fees or charges for books, lodging, board, or clothing for up to 150 semester credit hours. Awards may not be used to pay tuition and relevant fees for continuing education classes unless one of the following applies: (1) the college receives state tax support for the classes, or (2) the governing board has specifically approved this benefit.

Application Process

To transfer unused benefits to an eligible child, applicants must complete both application/release form. Please choose the appropriate application below:

Veterans using the Exemption must complete the HE-V application form.

HE-V Application Packet for Veterans

Eligible Children and Spouses Who Have Never Used the Exemption must complete both the HE-V and the HE-D application forms.

HE-D Application Packet for Eligible Children and Spouses

In Addition to the Application Packets listed above, we will also need:

• A Copy of a DD-214 for the veteran. 
• Proof of the Online Database Registration

This program may give benefits relating to a service-connected disability, beneficiaries must be found eligible and entitled in order to qualify.  These benefits may be used 12 years from separation of active military service or from the date which the VA notified the beneficiary of a service-connected disability rating.

This program is handled by a VA case manager.  To determine eligibility contact the nearest Veteran's Administration Office at 800-827-1000.

Benefits for this program are given to students with a 100 percent service-related disability or dependent of the disabled veteran.  This program offers up to 45 months of education benefits.  Certain restrictions and Eligibility requirements apply, please visit the US Department of Veteran's Affairs website to learn more.

• You must have applied for benefits: Application for Benefits Form (VA Form 22-1990)
• Must be accepted to UNT Health Science Center
• Enroll in classes for an approved degree-seeking program
• Our office must receive the following forms:

1. Certificate of Eligibility
2. Copy of DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
3. Form 22-5490 (Application for Survivor's and Dependents' Educational Assistance)
   

This benefit program is designed to provide education 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.  Certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 may be eligible for benefits.

• You must have applied for benefits: Application for Benefits Form (VA Form 22-1990)
• Must be accepted to UNT Health Science Center
• Enroll in classes for an approved degree-seeking program
• Our office must receive the following forms:

1. Certificate of Eligibility
2. Copy of DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
3. Form 22-1995 - Request for Change of Program or Place of Training