Education Benefits for Texas Veterans - Literature review Example

Education Benefits for Texas Veterans (Post 9/11 GI Bill & the Hazlewood Act) Table of Contents Education Benefits for Texas Veterans Post 9/11 GIBill & the Hazlewood Act) 1 Table of Contents 1 1.Introduction 3 1.1 Educational Assistance 4 1.2 Employment and Re-employment 4 1.3 Housing benefits 5 1.4 Tax Exemption 5 1.5 Benefits for Disabled Veterans 5 2. Literature review 5 2.1 G.I Bill 5 2.2Understanding the Post 9/11 G.I Bill: 7 2.2.1 Benefits for active duty soldiers 7 2.2.2. Benefits for Guards or Reserve members 8 2.2.3 Benefits for Veterans 8 2.2.3.1 Tuition & Fees 8 2.2.3.2 Yellow Ribbon Program 8 2.2.3.3. Stipends for Home: 9 2.2.3.4 Stipends for books: 9 2.2.3.5 Allowance for Relocation: 10 2.2.3.6 Transferability benefit. 10 2.2.3.7 Additional benefits: 10 2.3. Hazelwood Act 11 2.3.1 Qualification of Veteran 11 2.3.2 Qualification for Veterans Child 12 2.3.3Qualification for Veterans Spouse 12 3.Conclusion 13 4.Bibliography 13 1. Introduction The legal residents of Texas who entered military service at wartime of the Spanish-American are known as Texas Veterans. Therefore, state of Texas has created a Texas Veteran Commission which is taking care of veterans and their dependents by providing them with countless benefits like educational, employment, re-employment, tax exemptions, home loans, pension benefit, medical care including both outpatient and inpatient care, insurance and many other benefits (Renaud, 95). These benefits are not only available to people who were directly involved in military service and are alive but also to children of servicemen and women who died during military service. Children of war prisoners and missing in action people are also entitled for the above mentioned benefits (Budahn 1-6). Some of the benefits provided to veterans are as follow; 1.1 Educational Assistance Veterans educational Act has created a benefit program that waives off 100% tuition and fee in various educational institutes across the country. In addition to this, spouse and children are also exempted from 150 credit hours of education in public university of Texas. (Armstrong and Rizzuti 4) 1.2 Employment and Re-employment War time veterans are also given presence during jobs. Veterans are provided assistance in job trainings, employment accommodation, resume development, career counseling etc. Even state of Texas help those in re-employment after their services have been completed. (Armstrong and Rizzuti 14-15) 1.3 Housing benefits The state of Texas has formulated Land Loan Program, through which Veterans are provided housing assistance as well as providing home improvement loan. Under these programs, veterans can apply for low-interest loan either to purchase land or to improve their residence (Armstrong and Rizzuti 16-17). 1.4 Tax Exemption Veterans who are entitled to avail this benefit are those who have got disabled during their service and their surviving spouses and surviving dependents of veterans who have died on active duty (Armstrong and Rizzuti 16). Texas veterans are exempted from tax but only few veterans fall under this exemption. 1.5 Benefits for Disabled Veterans Veterans who have got injured and disabled on active duty have been provided numerous benefits, like free divers license have been provided to veterans who have been declared more than 60% disabled. Similarly disabled veterans are entitled to obtain hunting and fishing license at low cost. In addition to these benefits, veterans are also provided special license plates as Medal of Honour which they can use on vehicles (Armstrong and Rizzuti 277) 2. Literature review 2.1 G.I Bill G.I. bill, which is formally known as the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, introduced as a law to provide benefits to veterans of returning World War II. The purpose of establishing the G.I. bill law was to give financial benefits to soldiers and to reduce their out of pocket expenses for both the soldiers and veterans (Mettler 1-6). The basic eligibility criteria for providing benefits includes the following 1. The benefits were available to all the veterans who had been on an active duty during the wartime. 2. The minimum time frame spent on war was ninety days 3. The veteran must not be discharged dishonorably. According to G.I. Bill act veterans got large number of benefits. Some of the benefits include the following (Military, 3) 1. Mortgages at low cost 2. Business finance at very low interest rate 3. Tuition fees in terms of cash payments 4. Living expenses to attend university 5. Compensation for unemployed veterans for a period of one year. Since the formation of G.I. bill law, number of other benefits programs was also introduced under G. I. Bill law. The purpose of all the programs was to serve and benefit the veterans of subsequent wars. The law also introduced benefits to the veterans of peacetime service. The G.I bill was assumed to be a major success in the history of politics. The assumption was made by most of the Economists and historians. One of the most important subsequent expansions in the G.I. bill law was made in 2008. It was called as the post 9/11 G.I Bill. A brief discussion of the Post 9/11 G.I Bill is as follows 2.2 Understanding the Post 9/11 G.I Bill: The book on “Understanding the Post 9/11 G.I Bill” described about the details regarding the introduction of the G I Bill law, which was introduced in 2008 to benefit the veterans who have served to military for 90 or more days since September 10, 2001. Post 9/11 G.I bill was introduced in July 2008. The bill was signed as law to give more educational benefits to veterans. It was the enhancement of World War II GI bill of rights (Military 3). The benefits under post 9/11 G.I bill are as follows 1. 100% tuition and fees, 2. Home allowance 3. Stipends for books 4. Members can transfer the benefits 2.2.1 Benefits for active duty soldiers If veterans are on active duty they are eligible for Tuition & Fees, Able to Transfer benefits, Stipends for books & Licensing and certification exam. 2.2.2. Benefits for Guards or Reserve members In addition to all the benefits mentioned above guard or members are eligible to get the additional benefits which include Housing Stipends on Monthly Basis, Yellow ribbon & Relocation allowance. 2.2.3 Benefits for Veterans Veterans and Guard or Reserve member are eligible for the same benefits with one exception that the veteran may only able to transfer the benefits while they are still serving in the military. A brief overview of all the benefits mentioned above is as follows 2.2.3.1 Tuition & Fees The benefit covers the tuition fee for the state owned college and universities up to 100%. The payment made directly to the institution. In addition, if the eligible candidate is studying under private college or university then he or she will get $17,500 per year (Military 4). 2.2.3.2 Yellow Ribbon Program Yellow ribbon program was introduced to benefit the students avoid some or all of out of pocket tuition fees. The yellow ribbon program is not considered automatic. It includes the agreement between school and VA to share all the expenses of the students (Military 4). 2.2.3.2.1 Eligibility criteria for Yellow Ribbon Program The members need to be in the following criteria to qualify for the yellow ribbon program; 1. The period of active duty after September 10th, 2001 must not be less than 36 months 2. The member must not be dishonorably discharged from active duty. In addition to this, the member must serve at least for the period of 30days consecutively after September 10th, 2001 3. The member must be a dependent eligible for transfer of entitlement. The eligibility for the dependent eligible is stipulated under Post 9/11 GI bill (Military 5) 2.2.3.3. Stipends for Home: The stipend is also referred to as the housing stipend. The eligible veteran can get the stipend for home based on the zip code. The zip code must be of the location of the school, the veteran is going to attend not the home location zip code. The average zip stipend is $1,200 per month. The maximum stipend one veteran can receive is $2,800 (Military 5). 2.2.3.4 Stipends for books: The veterans can also receive the stipends for books. The maximum stipend for books one can receive on an annual basis is up to the maximum of $1,000 (Military 5). 2.2.3.5 Allowance for Relocation: The veteran can receive the relocation benefit also. The amount that covers the relocation cost is up to $500. 2.2.3.5.1 Eligibility criteria for Relocation Allowance: 1. Veteran must fall under the post 9/11 bill eligibility criteria 2. The veteran must reside in a country where people resides at most 6 person per square mile 3. By air travelling must only be availed when no other mean of travelling was available. 2.2.3.6 Transferability benefit. The new law of GI bill is for those with a minimum of six years of service in the military. In addition to this, the individual must serve minimum of four years is eligible to transfer the entitlement, received under post 9/11 GI bill, to spouse. 2.2.3.7 Additional benefits: Additional benefits include that the veterans are eligible for number of other certification and licensing exams. 2.3. Hazelwood Act After post 9/11 GI Bill Act, State of Texas decided to expand the benefits and introduced Hazlewood Act that provides educational benefits to qualified veterans, spouse and dependent children. The benefits provide tuition exemption including most fee charges of up to150 hours at Public institutions of Higher Education in Texas. However, this benefit program does not cover living expense or book stipend. In addition to this eligible veteran can also transfer their unused hours of exemption to a child only under certain circumstances. The main highlight of Hazlewood act is that educational benefits have been extended to spouses of eligible U.S Armed forces, Texas National Guard. Texas Air National Guard who died because of service related injury or illness or is missing in action or who became disabled during service (TexVet, 2002). The Hazlewood act benefit can only be availed at Texas public college and university. In order to avail benefits linked to Hazlewood Act, an individual should be a Texas Veteran. 2.3.1 Qualification of Veteran In order to qualify as Veteran, one must have fulfilled following criteria, • Should be a Texas resident at the time of admission into the U.S Armed Forces. • A minimum of 181 days of active duty service have been served • Must have exhausted Federal Veterans education benefit If a person qualifies as veteran then they can avail Hazlewood Act benefits. Furthermore, child and spouse can also avail these benefits under certain situations. 2.3.2 Qualification for Veterans Child A child of eligible veteran can avail the benefits if he he/she has fulfilled following criteria, Must qualify for resident tuition Should be biological child, stepchild or adopted child of an eligible veteran Child must be dependent of eligible veteran. At time of claim of exemption child should be 25 years of age or younger. Should be giving satisfactory academic performance (TexVet, 2002) 2.3.3 Qualification for Veterans Spouse A spouse of eligible veteran is also entitled for the benefits linked to Hazlewood Act benefit program, only if veterans spouse qualifies under following criteria, Spouse of veteran who was a Texas resident at time entry into U.S Armed Forces. Should be a spouse of veteran of U.S Armed Forces, Texas National Guard or Texas Air National Guard who died during service, is missing in action, is seriously Ill or is disabled. Have consumed federal Veterans education benefits. Must be able to qualify for resident tuition. (TexVet, 2002) 3. Conclusion Historical record reveals that the wartime veterans have received significant compensation in terms of education and other living benefits. And these benefits are still continued that even the Texas Veteran Commission is figuring out ways to expand this benefit program. For the said purpose they have amended the Fry scholarship which was initially given to the children of the deceased servicemen and women, but quite recently in Care through Choice, Accountability and Transparency Act 2014 spouses of the deceased are also given this scholarship. Similarly, apart from education many other improvements have been made in the other benefits schemes as well. This literature study has shed light on the point that American society has still continued to facilitate the American Revolutionary war soldiers and their spouses and children with superior care. 4. Bibliography Armstrong, Raymond E and Terry P Rizzuti. Veterans Benefits: A Guide to State Programs. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2001. Budahn, P J. Veterans Guide to Benefits. Stackpole Books, 2005. Mettler, Suzzanne. "Soldiers To Citizens." Mettler, Suzzanne. Soldiers To Citizens: The G.I. Bill and the Making of the Greatest Generations. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005. Military. Understanding the Post-9/11 GI BillContents (n.d.): n. pag. Military.com. 2011.. Renaud, Jorge Antonio. Behind the Walls: A Guide for Family and Friends of Texas Inmates. University of North Texas Press, 2002. TexVet. 30 September 2014. 28 November 2014 . Read More