Federal Benefits for Veterans

Education Benefits:

The VA pays monthly benefits to eligible veterans, dependents, reservists, and service members while they are in an approved training program such as college, on-the-job training, and various kinds of technical training.

Student's eligible for federal veterans' educational benefits should contact the veterans' coordinator in the financial aid office for applications needed and information on the veterans' deferral program. For eligibility questions and receipt of benefits, please contact the Veterans Administration at 1-888-442-4551 or visit their website at www.GIBILL.VA.GOV. Questions regarding National Guard benefits should be directed to the Student Accounts Office.

Our major programs are:

Post 9/11 GI Bill (goes into effect 8/1/09): New education benefit for individuals who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. Persons may be eligible if they served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty after September 10, 2001 and are still on active duty or were honorably discharged from active duty. Additionally, the following criteria may apply: released from active duty and placed on the retired or temporarily disabled list, released from active duty and transferred to the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve or released from active duty for further service in the reserves. See www.gibill.gov for more specifics about this new program.
Montgomery GI Bill: Persons who first entered active duty after June 30, 1985, and had money deducted from their military pay are generally eligible. You can use these benefits in service or out of service. Some Vietnam Era veterans and certain veterans separated under special programs are also eligible. The Montgomery GI Bill also includes a program for members of the Selected Reserve and National Guard members.
Veterans Education Assistance Program (VEAP): This program is for veterans who entered active duty for the first time after December 31, 1976, and before July 1, 1985, and contributed to an education fund.
Survivors and Dependents' Education Assistance: Some spouses and children are eligible for education benefits.

What are the time limits for using benefits?

Generally, the following time limits apply. These time limits can sometimes be extended.

VETERANS have 10 years from the date they were last released from active duty to use their education benefits except for the new Post 9/11 GI Bill recipients who have 15 years of eligibility.
RESERVISTS and NATIONAL GUARD members have 10 years from their eligibility date, which is determined by the Department of Defense or the Department of Transportation.
SPOUSES have 10 years from the date VA determines them eligible.
CHILDREN are generally eligible from age 18 through age 26.

How do you find out if you are eligible?

To find out if you are eligible for VA educational assistance, you must complete one or the other of the VA Applications below. (Click on the application you need to download a copy.)

If you are a service member, veteran, reservist, or National Guard, use VA Form 22-1990, Application for Education Benefits.
If you are the child or spouse of a veteran, use VA Form22-5490, Application for Survivors' and Dependents' Education Assistance.

Application forms are available at the Financial Aid Office, and online. To download any Veterans Benefits Administration applications, click here.

All Veteran application forms must be returned to the Financial Aid Office for processing.

For more information, visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website at www.gibill.va.gov, or call 1-888-442-4551.

Financial Aid Office
Vanderlyn Hall Room 105
SUNY Ulster County Community College
Stone Ridge, New York 12484
(845) 687-5058 FAX (845) 687-5172
financialaid@sunyulster.edu