Federal & State Benefits

Offices and Administration

Federal & State Benefits

GI Bill^® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at .

What is Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)?

VR&E is an employment program for veterans with service-connected disabilities. Services include employment assistance, training, purchase of supplies and equipment, and on-the-job training.

To use VR&E, the veteran must:

Have not received a dishonorable discharge, and
Have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% from the VA.

How long do I have to use VR&E?

If you were discharged from active duty before January 1, 2013, your basic period of eligibility ends 12 years from one of these dates, whichever comes later:
- The date you received notice of your date of separation from active duty, or
- The date you received your first VA service-connected disability rating.
If you were discharged from active duty on or after January 1, 2013, the 12-year basic period of eligibility doesn't’t apply to you. There’s no time limit on your eligibility.

*The basic period of eligibility may be extended if a VRC finds that you have a serious employment handicap (SEH).

I'm still on Active Duty, can I apply?

You may be eligible for VR&E benefits and services if you’re a service member and you meet at least one of these requirements.

At least one of these must be true:
- You have a 20% or higher pre-discharge disability rating (memorandum rating) and will soon leave the military, or
- You’re waiting to be discharged because of a severe illness or injury that occurred while you were on active duty

Can I use the GI Bill and VR&E?

You cannot use both programs at the same time, but VR&E will match the GI Bill stipend rate given that you still have at least 1 day of GI Bill^® benefits remaining.

How do I apply for VR&E?

Veteran Affairs hosts the VR&E program. You can through the VA website. A VA representative will reach out to you to schedule an interview to determine your eligibility.

How to use Chapter 31 at UNA:

�Ӱ�ֱ�� to UNA and be accepted.
Transfer your prior education transcripts. (This can take a few months)
Complete the .
Talk to your advisor and sign up for classes.
Complete a certification request each semester by submitting a . We can not complete your enrollment certification until this form has been submitted.
1. How to submit a copy of your Degree Audit and Class Schedule.
Each semester, send a copy of your class schedule to your VR&E Representative.
Have your VR&E Representative send authorizations for book stipends to bookstore@una.edu.

Read more about

What is the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance program? (DEA)

The Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans.

Do I qualify to use the DEA program?

Yes, if one of these is true:

The Veteran or service member is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, or
The Veteran or service member died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability, or
The Veteran or service member is missing in action or was captured in the line of duty by a hostile force, or
The Veteran or service member was forcibly detained (held) or interned in the line of duty by a foreign entity, or
The Veteran or service member is in the hospital or getting outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability.

How long do I have to use DEA?

If you're the child of a veteran or service member:

You can get benefits if you’re between the ages of 18 and 26, except in certain cases.

If you're the spouse of a veteran or service member:

Your benefits start on the that you qualify or on the date of the Veteran’s death, and last for 10 years.
If the Veteran was rated as permanently and totally disabled, with an effective date that’s 3 years after discharge from active duty, you’ll qualify for benefits for 20 years from that effective date.
If the service member died on active duty, your benefits end 20 years from the date of death.

How can I apply for DEA?

�Ӱ�ֱ�� website.

How to use Chapter 35 at UNA:

�Ӱ�ֱ�� to UNA and be accepted.
Retrieve your COE. You can request one by calling the VA Education Call Center at 888-442-4551.
Complete the .
Talk to your advisor and sign up for classes.
Complete a certification request each semester by submitting a . We can not complete your enrollment certification until this form has been submitted.
1. How to submit a copy of your Degree Audit and Class Schedule.
Start a payment plan, pay in full, or utilize a student loan to hold your schedule. Your first payment will most likely not arrive in time for the payment deadline.

What is the Alabama GI Dependent Scholarship?

The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs offers this scholarship to dependent children, stepchildren, spouse, or widow(er) of disabled veterans (living or deceased), who were permanent residents of Alabama prior to entry into military service.

To use the Alabama GI Dependent Scholarship, the veteran must:

Have an honorable discharge from the Armed Forces and have served for at leat 90 consecutive days of active duty. or
Served less than 90 consecutive days but released with a qualifying service-connected disability.

Veteran Disability Requirement:

The veteran must be rated at least 40% or more due to a service connected disability, or held the rating at time of death. Have been a Prisoner of War, declared Missing in Action, died due to a service-connected disability, or died while on active military service in the line of duty.

Veteran State Residency Requirements:

The veteran must have been a permanent civilian resident of the State of Alabama for at least one year immediately prior to their initial entry into active federal military service. Initial entry into federal active military service or any subsequent entry into federal active military service where a 12 month break in service occurred,

AND one of the following:

Current resident for at least two years immediately prior to the date of your application, or date of veterans death; or
Current resident who was discharged within the last 12 months; or
Filed a resident Alabama income tax return for the past 10 consecutive years.

Student Requirements, if applying for the benefit:

Must be a current resident of Alabama.
Must complete a FAFSA for each year while under the program.
Must complete a FERPA release for each educational institution.
Must comply with the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for their institution.

What does the Alabama GI Dependent Scholarship give me?

All other forms of grants, scholarships, and entitlements must be applied first prior to using the Alabama GI Dependent Scholarship...after these are utilized;
The Alabama GI Dependent Scholarship currently covers up to $400 per credit hour and $1,000 for books and fees combined. If your fees exceed $1,000 you will not have remaining funds sent to the bookstore. Students are responsible for tuition costs exceeding $250/per hour or fees surpassing the $1,000 allowance.
This scholarship is only available to students who are financial aid eligible. Students receiving this scholarship must complete the FASFA each year and complete any requirements on their financial aid dashboard before the scholarship will be applied.

How long do I have to use it?

Age Deadline: The child/stepchild must initiate training prior to their 26th birthday, but in some situations up to their 30th birthday. If the applicant is a stepchild, the veteran and stepchild's parent must be married prior to the child's 19th birthday.
Children/Stepchildren may receive 10 semesters for undergraduate study. Students have 8 years from the date of application is received by the Alabama VA.
Spouses/Widow(ers) of a veteran rated 100% disabled may receive 10 semesters for undergraduate study. Students have 8 years from the date of application is received by the Alabama VA.
Spouses/Widow(ers) of a veteran rated 40-90% disabled receive 6 semesters for undergraduate courses. Students have 6 years from the date of application is received by the Alabama VA.

How do I apply for the scholarship at UNA?

To apply, the applicant needs to contact the Alabama VA office in Montgomery, Alabama by

Florence, Alabama also has a regional Alabama VA office downtown that can assist in filing the application. You can

How to use Alabama GI Dependent Scholarship at UNA:

�Ӱ�ֱ�� to UNA and be accepted.
Transfer your prior education transcripts. (This can take a few months)
Submit a for UNA.
Complete a FERPA Release and submit it to the .
Contact to verify your enrollment in the program.
Talk to your advisor and sign up for classes.
For any questions, contact .

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