Educational Benefits for Veterans
Who is Eligible?
You may be eligible to receive one or more educational benefits
from the United States Veterans Administration if you fall within
the following definition:
A veteran is a former member of the Armed Forces of the United
States (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard) who served on
active duty and was discharged under conditions that were other
than dishonorable. There is no minimum number of days a student
must have served on active duty to be considered a Veteran.
However, periods of active duty for training, pursuant to an
enlistment in The National Guard or Reserves, does not qualify
a student as a Veteran. Thus, former or current members of the
National Guard or Reserves are not considered to be Veterans
unless they had prior or subsequent service with an active component
of the Armed Forces.
Those veterans eligible for educational benefits should make
an appointment with a counselor as soon as possible to begin
their paperwork. Dependents eligible for VA benefits under a
parent's file also should arrange an appointment at their earliest
convenience. Students should call (814) 898-6335 to schedule
an appointment or e-mail gth1@psu.edu for information.
Description of Different Chapter Benefits
Chapter 30: New G.I. Bill
This program is for a veteran who enlisted on or after July
1, 1985, through the present, and who participated in the
new educational program.
Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation
This program is for a veteran with a 10% disability rating while
on active duty.
Chapter 32: Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
This program is for a person who enlisted after December 31,
1976, and who
contributed to the Veterans Educational Assistance program.
Chapter 34: Old G.I. Bill
This program was for anyone who enlisted prior to January 1977
and had not
used his or her benefits. On January 1, 1990, all unused benefits
were lost.
Chapter 35: Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance
Program Benefits
This program is for dependents who are applying for survivors'
and dependents' benefits for the first time. In order to qualify,
their parents or spouse must have received a 100% disability
rating due to a service-connected injury, or their parents or
spouse must have died while on active dutry or as a result of a
service-related condition.
Chapter 106: Reserve G.I. Bill
This program is for Reservists who signed at least a six-year
contract on or after July 1, 1985, and who have served at least
180 days of active service.
Change of Information
Any Veteran student who has changed information pertinent to his/her receipt of benefits (e.g., address change, telephone number change, or a change in course load), should notify the Penn State Erie Veterans Office (Glenhill Farmhouse) as soon as possible.
Deferred Tuition
Veteran students in degree status are granted the privilege of deferring tuition during their first term. Deferments can be obtained from the Veterans office located in the Financial Aid Office in the Glenhill Farmhouse. Please remember that tuition deferment is a privilege, and your tuition must be paid by the next semester registration deadline in order to register for that semester. Timely payment will help to ensure that this privilege exists for all future first-semester Veteran students.
Military Credits
If you are designated as a degree-seeking student, you may be eligible to receive physical education credits or health credits for your time in the military. It is necessary to have served for more than one year on active duty and to have obtained an Honorable Discharge.
Useful Information and Contacts
If you desire further information, please visit your nearest Penn State campus or contact a Veterans Outreach Counselor at 814-863-1798 or write to the Veterans Outreach Office, 121 Grange Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802.
Other Contacts
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Penn State Erie Veterans Office
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Penn State Erie Financial Aid
Office
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Veterans Administration |