Texas Veterans Commission

1
Hazlewood Exemption Program Update

• Texas Veterans Commission
• Fernando Conejo
• Veterans Education

2
Purpose

• To encourage Texas veterans and family members
  to pursue a higher education by providing an
  exemption from payment of tuition and most fees
  to eligible Texas veterans and their (eligible)
  dependent children and spouses.

3
Hazlewood Basics

• Provides exemptions from tuition and fees (no
  deposit and student service fees) for 150
  Semester Credit Hours unlimited clock hours.
• Courses at public institutions that receive
  formula funding (distance learning courses may
  qualify) schools board may choose to allow
  exemption for other courses (non formula-funded
  such as continuing ed).

4
Hazlewood Basics Continued

• For qualified veterans who
• served at least 181 days active military service
  (excluding training)
• honorable discharge/separation or general
  discharge under honorable conditions.
• For children and spouses of TX members of
  military
• Killed in the line of duty or died as a result of
  injuries/illness related to service
• 100 unemployable due to service-related
  disabilities
• To use the benefit, vets or dependents complete
  the appropriate application submit to
  institution.

5
New Eligibility Requirements

• Veterans must meet one of three requirements at
  time of entry into service
• Resident of TX
• Designated TX as Home of Record on DD214 OR,
• Entered the service in the state of Texas.

6
Eligibility Requirements for a Veterans Child or
Spouse

• Eligible dependent (child or spouse) of a member
  of U.S. Armed Services or Texas Natl Guard or
  Texas Air Natl Guard
• Who were killed or missing in action
• Who died while in service
• Whose death is documented to be service-related
  or
• Who are rated at 100 unemployable due to
  service-related disability.

7
Supporting Documentation

• Appropriate Hazlewood application
• Plus
• DD214 for the veteran, or
• DD1300 for surviving dependent or,
• a Rating Decision Letter for the dependent of a
  qualified disabled vet.
• Ed Benefits letter (CH 33)

8
Legacy Act

• Allows veteran to assign unused hours to a
  child.
• Eligible child must be
• Biological, step-child, or adopted child, or
  claimed as dependent child on federal income
  tax return (preceding or current year).
• Resident of Texas
• 25 years or younger, unless granted extension
  due to debilitating illness or condition

9
Legacy Act Continued

• Example
• An eligible veteran who has never used Hazlewood
  has 150 SCH (School Credit Hours) to use or
  transfer to an eligible child.
• An eligible veteran who has used 50 Hazlewood
  hours would have the balance of 100 SCH to use or
  transfer to an eligible child.
• Note If a veteran is (technically) not eligible
  for HW due to receiving CH33, he/she may still
  transfer up to 150 hours (or the amount that is
  unused)

10
Legacy Applications

• HE-V must be on file at institution (proves vets
  eligibility)
• TUHH App Packet for the Transfer of Unused Hours
  to Eligible Child
• HE-T App Packet for a Child who has received
  Transferred Hours
• Note All Applications must be submitted to the
  institutions Veterans Education Office or
  Financial Aid Office

11
81st Legislature Changes

• Expanded eligibility to spouses
• of veterans killed in line of duty, MIA or 100
  unemployable due to service-related disability
  and
• of National Guard Members killed in service of
  the state or US or 100 unemployable due to
  service-related disability.
• Spouses must be residents of Texas when using the
  exemption.

12
81st Legislature Changes

• Establishes Legacy program
• Allows vet to assign unused hours to a child
• If first child does not use all hours, balance
  can be assigned to another child
• Child must be
• stepchild, biological,or adopted child or claimed
  as dependent (previous or current year)
• less than 26 (hardship extensions possible) and
• Meet satisfactory academic progress

13
81st Legislature Changes

• Stacking with federal benefits
• To allow stacking, federal benefits that can be
  used ONLY for paying tuition and fees may not
  exceed Hazlewood exemption value. Limits issue to
  Title 38, Chapter 33 benefits.
• Federal benefits for various costs excluding
  tuition and fees are not relevant.
• Combination Federal benefits for tuition and fees
  and Hazlewood may not exceed tuition and fee
  charges for the term.

14
81st Legislature Changes

• Combat exemption from tuition only

• For dependent children (including stepchildren)
  of US Armed Forces members deployed on active
  duty for the purpose of engaging in a combative
  military operation outside the United State.
• Child must be a resident of Texas or entitled to
  pay the resident tuition rate.
• Effective with charges for fall 2009.

15
81st Legislature Changes

• Waiver of nonresident tuition
• Member must be eligible for federal veterans
  benefits
• Applies to member, spouse and children (including
  stepchildren)
• Provide school letter of intent to make TX home,
  and reside in TX while attending college
• Child must be lt25, unless granted a hardship
  waiver due to severe illness or debilitating
  condition

16
Montgomery GI Bill Benefits

• Chapters 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 1606, and 1607 only
  
• 95 of service members sign up for MGIB
• Note Chapter 33 requires no contribution by
  service member
• 71 of service members use their MGIB benefits
• 29 DO NOT USE their benefits
• MGIB benefits must be used within 10 -15 years
  of the last date of service depending on chapter
  used

17
Post 9/11 GI Bill
Note - Housing allowance and books and
supplies stipend are not payable to individuals
on active duty. - Housing Allowance is not
payable for those pursuing training at half-time
or less, or for total distance learning.

• What is received
• Amount of tuition and fees charged not to exceed
  the most expensive in-State public institution of
  higher learning
• Monthly housing allowance equal to the basic
  allowance for housing amount payable to E-5 with
  one dependent, in the same zip code as the
  school
• Yearly books and supplies stipend of up to
  1000.00
• Transfer of benefits to dependents Approval by
  the Department of Defense (DOD).

18
Post 9/11 GI Bill

• All programs approved under MGIB and offered at
  an IHL (degree program schools).
• Note It is possible to receive Chapter 33
  benefits at an NCD school if the veteran was
  eligible under other chapters, but they will be
  paid at that chapters rate, and chapter 33
  entitlement will be charged. No BHA or book and
  supply stipends are payable.
• Individuals who were previously eligible for
  chapter 30, 1606, or 1607 may continue to receive
  benefits for approved programs not offered by
  IHLs (i.e. flight, correspondence, APP/OJT,
  preparatory courses, and national tests) but
  under the previous chapter rate.

19
Post 9/11 GI Bill Chapter 33 Overview (Cont.)
Service Requirements (after 9/10/01 an individual must serve an aggregate of) of Maximum Benefit Payable
At least 36 months 100
At least 30 continuous days on active duty (Must be discharged due to service-connected disability) 100
At least 30 months, but less than 36 months 90
At least 24 months, but less than 30 months 80
At least 18 months, but less than 24 months 70
At least 12 months, but less than 18 months 60
At least 6 months, but less than 12 months 50
At least 90 days, but less than 6 months 40
20
POST 9/11 TRANSFERABILITYWho is Eligible?

• Any member of the Armed Forces (active or
  reserve) who is eligible for Post 9/11 GI Bill
  and
• Has at least 6 yrs service and agrees to serve 4
  additional years or
• Has at least 10 yrs service and is precluded from
  committing to 4 more yrs, and agrees to serve for
  the maximum amount of time allowed or
• Has an approved retirement date prior to 1 Jul
  2010, no additional service is required.
• Members retirement eligible after on/after 8/09
  and before 8/10, 1 additional year of service is
  required.

21
POST 9/11 TRANSFERABILITYWho is Eligible? (cont)

• For those retirement eligible for retirement
  on/after 8/1/10 and before 8/1/11, 2 more yrs of
  service
• For those retirement eligible for retirement
  on/after 8/1/11 and before 8/1/12, 3 more yrs of
  service
• Benefits may be transferred to a spouse,
  individual children, or a combination of spouse
  and child.
• Family member must be enrolled in DEERS
• Member must make election prior to leaving
  service
• Member retains the right to revoke or modify at
  any time

22
POST 9/11 TRANSFERABILITYWho is Eligible? (cont)

• Spouse may start to use the benefit immediately
• Spouse not eligible for monthly stipend or books
  and supplies stipend while member is on active
  duty
• Spouse can use the benefit for up to 15 years
  after members last separation from active duty
• Child may not use the benefit until they have a
  HS Diploma (or equivalency certificate) or reach
  18 yrs of age
• Child is entitled to monthly stipend and books
  and supplies stipend even if the member is on
  active duty
• Can use the benefits up to age 26
• Transfer benefits at https//www.dmdc.osd.mil/TEB
  /

23
Veterans Education

• Toll-Free Number 1-877-898-3833
• E-mail VetsEd_at_tvc.state.tx.us
• Website www.tvc.state.tx.us
• Department of Veterans Affairs
• www.gibill.va.gov
• Fuzzy Conejo
• San Antonio Area
• Phone [phone]