Alabama Veterans Affairs Association

Presentations on the Post-9/11 GI Bill are now available online. You may download these for use in discussions or training presentations.

A state-by-state listing of schools participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program is now online.

VA has developed a number of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help schools learn more about the Yellow Ribbon Program

The Department of Veterans Affairs is now accepting applications for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. See the GI Bill homepage for more information.

The Yellow Ribbon Program Agreement is now available for Higher Education Executives. The deadline for submission of the Agreement is May 15, 2009.

Detailed information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill is now available, including a comparison page, a preliminary chart showing state maximum Tuition & Fees, and detailed Yellow Ribbon Program Information.

A new page about the Yellow Ribbon Program has been added to the "Information for Benefit Recipients" section of the website.

A new page about the Yellow Ribbon Program has been added to the "Information for Education Professionals" section of the website.

Do I get BAH while enrolled in distance learning?

If I'm enrolled in the residency portion of a medical program at an Institute of Higher Learning am I eligible for the housing allowance portion of the Post-9/11 GI Bill?

Online training designed for new school certifying officials, may be used as refresher training also.

The Student Veterans of America is an organization developed to address the issues facing student veterans. For more information see their website.

Effective October 1, 2005 Public Law 108-454, Section 103 temporarily increased the reimbursement rates for On the Job Training & Apprenticeship training. This temporary rate increase was effective from October 1, 2005 to December 31, 2007. Congress has not extended this temporary increase, therefore effective January 1, 2008 effective reimbursement rates will decrease.

You can now search for approved programs of education on our website. You can search for approved programs at colleges, non-college degree granting institutions, licensing & certification granting providers, and national testing providers.

The new Active Duty GI Bill rates are now posted online! For more information click the above link.

Effective November 1, 2007 the Army has made changes to its GI Bill transferability program. Eligible soldiers may now transfer up to 18 months of their GI Bill to spouses or children.

Some servicemembers can be eligible for increased GI Bill benefits! For more information contact your local VA office or your education services officer.

Public Law 110-181, authorized an accelerated payment option for Reserve GI Bill and REAP recipients effective October 1, 2008.

The Fiscal Year 2009 Reserve GI Bill (Chapter 1606) rates are now posted online! For more information click the above link.

The new REAP rates are now posted online! For more information click the above link.

Effective April 1, 2008 all REAP participants attending school must verify their attendance each month in order to receive payment. You can do this online by clicking on "Information for Benefit Recipients" on the left hand side of this page and then clicking on "Verify Your Attendance (WAVE)", or by calling our automated verification line at 877-823-2378 (877 VA-ECERT). If you attended classes for the full month you cannot verify your attendance before the last calendar day of the month. If you attended classes for a partial month you can verify your attendance anytime after your enrollment ends.

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 contains many important changes to GI Bill benefits for reservists. For more information see link.

This is an important clarification on "How Long Can You Receive Benefits". There are times when you can be eligible for educational benefits even though you leave the Selected Reserve Unit.

Some spouses may now be eligibile for DEA for 20 years.

The Fiscal Year 2009 DEA rates are now posted online! For more information click the above link.

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.
For more information contact your local VA office.