There
are programs, financial aid, and scholarships that help veterans,
active duty service members, and eligible dependents foot the bill for a
higher education. In one of the largest programs, many people who
served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere will be heading to
universities under the terms of the new Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.
Apply for Veterans Affairs Education Benefits
If you've enrolled at Rutgers and are eligible for Veterans
Affairs (VA) education benefits, your next step is to get needed
paperwork completed and submit it to the VA.
The first form, VA Form 22-1990, is your application for VA education
benefits. Forms can be completed online through the Veterans Online Application website or printed and mailed in.
On this form, you select the benefit program you are applying for.
The G.I. Bill
You may be eligible for VA education benefits under more than
one program, including the new Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. The VA started
accepting applications for benefits under the new Post-9/11 G.I. Bill
program on May 1, 2009. If you elect to receive benefits under this
program, you have to give up your eligibility for the other programs,
and you can't revoke that decision.
Which program is right for you? That depends on your personal
circumstance, so it's up to you to get information to weigh your
decision carefully.
There are some tools to help you compare.
Check out the Veterans Affairs website,
which has put together a comparison chart on the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill
(which is also referred to as Chapter 33 and other programs such as the
Montgomery G.I. Bill).
Read about the bill at newgibill.org.
This informative site was put together by the Iraq and Afghanistan
Veterans of America and features a benefits calculator and an FAQ.
Call the VA at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) and speak to a benefits
counselor to get more information on programs.
Visit the website to research options.
New Jersey National Guard programs
New Jersey is one of the few states to provide free college
credits to National Guard members. Under the New Jersey Free Tuition
Bill, you may be able to receive up to 15 undergraduate or graduate
college credits per semester while serving as a member of the New Jersey
National Guard.
New Jersey Army National Guard Tuition Program
New Jersey Air National Guard Educational Benefits
If
you're a New Jersey Army National Guard member seeking education
benefits, you'll need to have a commander's certification from your
educational services officer. The certification must have that officer's
signature and must state the semester for the certification. You also
must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year.
The Post-9/11 G.I. Bill changes the formula for education
benefits for National Guard personnel: benefits are based on cumulative
active-duty time. To apply for G.I. Bill benefits, whether under the new
Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, or another program, reservists and active duty
personnel should fill out VA Form 22-1990. Forms can completed online
through the Veterans Online Application website or printed and mailed in.
The Veterans Affairs website
explains the terms of the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational
Assistance Program. A dependent would fill out VA Form 22-5490. Forms
can completed online through the Veterans Online Application website or printed and mailed in.
To get your benefit money flowing, visit the VA certifying officials in the Rutgers Office of the Registrar
at the campus you will be attending. The service coordinator on your
campus can also help guide you through the registration and certifying
process.
For more information on veteran certification at Rutgers University-Newark, please visit https://registrar.newark.rutgers.edu/veteran-certification.
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