Comparison of Education Programs

	CH 30	CH 35	CH 1606	CH 1607
Eligibility	Discharge must be Honorable. 2 years active duty, 3 years active duty, or 2 years active duty plus 4 years reserves.	Veteran's death or permanent and total disability result of service.	Completion of initial active duty for training. Must be active reservist with 6-year obligation.	90 days or more active duty support of contingency operation or full-time National Guard duty responding to national emergency.
Eligibility	All students who feel they are eligible should submit an application. It is important that their application is reviewed and that the VA Regional Processing Office makes an official denial or grant of benefits.
Benefits for Inservice Student	Payable after 2 years continuous active duty, not exceed tuition and fees.	No	Yes	Yes
Benefits for Inservice Student	Servicepersons are paid the veteran rate or a rate that will reimburse tuition and fees, whichever is lower. Servicepersons often apply for benefits a few days or weeks before their discharge from active duty. Servicepersons on terminal leave before discharge do not have to obtain their education officer’s signature on the Application for VA Education Benefits. Also, they are paid as servicepersons while on terminal leave and as veterans starting the day following discharge.
Entitlement	36 months. May extend to end of term if expires during term. Note: If there’s a kicker, the kicker doesn’t extend.	45 months. No extensions except for child in special restorative training.	36 months. No extensions.	36 months. No extensions.
Entitlement	Note: 48 months maximum under two or more programs
Delimiting Date	10 years after discharge. May extend for later period of active duty or disability that prevents completion of program.	Spouse: 10 years Surviving Spouse:10 years 20 years if death while on active duty. Eligibility rules are complex. Claimant should carefully read eligibility letter and call VA if questions. Pamphlet is online: www.gibill.va.gov/ pamphlets/ch35/dh35_ pamphlet_general.htm. May extend to end of term if delimiting date during term, but can’t exceed maximum entitlement.	14 years from eligibility date. Date of separation if leave reserves before 14 years. May extend if disability incurred or aggravated by service in selected reserve prevents completion of program.	No specific delimiting date while continuing to serve in the Selected Reserve or Individual Ready Reserve from which called to active service. 10 years from chapter 1607 eligibility date if separated for disability.
Participant Payment	Category I, III, IV: $1,200 Category II: None	N/A	N/A	N/A
Payment Refund	Only as a death benefit to survivors in certain cases	N/A	N/A	N/A
Dependents Allowance	No, except for category II (34/30)	No	No	No
Accelerated Payment	Yes	No	No	No
Advance Payment	Yes	Yes	Yes	Not authorized yet.
Cooperative Training	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Licensing and Certification Tests	Yes	Yes	Yes, starting 1/6/06	Yes, starting 1/6/06
Monthly Verification	IHL & NCD WAVE or IVR	NCD only VAF 22-8979	IHL & NCD WAVE or IVR	Not required yet.
National Tests	Yes	Yes	Not authorized yet.	Not authorized yet.
Remedial, Deficiency & Refresher Training	Yes, with entitlement charge	Yes, entitlement charged after first 5 months of full-time training	Yes, with entitlement charge	Yes, with entitlement charge
Tutorial Assistance	Yes. Maximum $1,200. Not more than $100 per month. No entitlement charge for first $600.	Yes. Maximum $1,200. Not more than $100 per month. No entitlement charge.	Yes. Maximum $1,200. Not more than $100 per month. No entitlement charge for first $600.	Not authorized yet.
Bars to Benefits	Not eligible if: Service Academy graduate or ROTC officer who received ROTC scholarship unless eligible before commissioned or scholarship $3,400 or less in any one year while under the ROTC program.	Not eligible if: On active duty except for brief periods of active duty for training.	Not eligible if: 1) Receive financial assistance as a member of the Senior ROTC Program, commonly known as the ROTC scholarship program. 2) Less than 1/2 time and in receipt of military tuition assistance.

Updated June 2007 by Marketing and Student Recruitment.