Veterans' Information Page

Click here for Application Forms and Procedures for any of the below benefits except Chapter 31.

Click here for a list of Programs of Study at DCCC eligible for veteran's benefits.

Click here for frequently asked questions.

Chapter 31 - Vocational Rehabilitation
Any veteran with a compensable disability rating of 10% or more is invited to file application for Vocational Rehabilitation by completing VA Form 28-1900 and submitting it to your local VA Office. Once the application is filed, an appointment will be scheduled for you to discuss your educational plans, test your aptitude, interests and abilities as well as review the nature of your disability and how it affects your ability to gain employment. A decision of your entitlement to the benefit will be rendered after the counseling appointment. For more information click here (this link takes you away from DCCC website).

Chapter 32 - VEAP (Veterans' Educational Assistance Program)
VEAP is available if you first entered active duty between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985 and you elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this education benefit program. Your contributions are matched on a $2 for $1 basis by the Government. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. For more information click here (this link takes you away from DCCC website).

Chapter 35 - Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA)
Dependents' Educational Assistance provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. 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. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

New Information under Chapter 35:
Section 301 of Public Law 109-461 adds a new category to the definition of “eligible person” for DEA benefits. The new category includes the spouse or child of a person who:

• VA determines has a service-connected permanent and total disability; and
• at the time of VA's determination is a member of the Armed Forces who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient medical care, services, or treatment; and
• is likely to be discharged or released from service for this service-connected disability.

Persons eligible under this new provision may be eligible for DEA benefits effective December 23, 2006, the effective date of the law.

Ten-Year Extension of Delimiting Period for Chapter 35 Surviving Spouses of Members who Die on Active Duty - Section 105 of Public Law 108-454, The Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004, which was enacted into law on December 10, 2004 states that a surviving spouse of a person who dies on active duty will have 20 years to use his/her chapter 35 educational assistance benefits. This provision applies to deaths that occurred before the date of enactment. However, payment of benefits may not be made before December 10, 2004 for anyone whose former 10-year period had expired before that date. For more information click here (this link takes you away from DCCC website).

Chapter 1606 - The Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. For more information click here (this link takes you away from DCCC website).

Reserve Education 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 new 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 reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits. For more information click here (this link takes you away from DCCC website).

Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) - The Post-9/11 GI Bill is for individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Post-9/11 GI Bill will become effective for training on or after August 1, 2009. This program will pay eligible individuals:

• tuition & fees directly to the school not to exceed the maximum in-state tuition & fees at a public Institution of Higher Learning
• a monthly housing allowance based on the Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents at the location of the school
• an annual books & supplies stipend of $1,000 paid proportionately based on enrollment
• a one-time rural benefit payment for eligible individuals.

This benefit is payable only for training at an Institution of Higher Learning (IHL). If you are enrolled exclusively in online training you will not receive the housing allowance. If you are on active duty you will not receive the housing allowance or books & supplies stipend. This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits, generally benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty. Click here for more information. (this link takes you away from DCCC website).

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