Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2001/06/14/01-15070/increase-in-rates-payable-under-the-montgomery-gi-bill-active-duty-and-survivors-and-dependents
Timestamp: 2017-08-20 02:15:27
Document Index: 320154663

Matched Legal Cases: ['§\u200921', '§\u200921', '§\u200921', '§\u200921', '§\u200921', '§\u200921', '§\u200921', '§\u200921', '§\u200921']

Federal Register :: Increase in Rates Payable Under the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty and Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance
Increase in Rates Payable Under the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty and Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance
A Rule by the Veterans Affairs Department on 06/14/2001
66 FR 32226
32226-32230 (5 pages)
2900-AK44
01-15070
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/01-15070 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/01-15070
This document amends the regulations governing rates of educational assistance payable under the Montgomery GI Bill—Active Duty and the regulations governing rates of Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance to reflect increases required by statutory provisions.
Effective Date: This final rule is effective June 14, 2001.
Applicability Dates. The changes in rates are applied retroactively to conform to statutory requirements. For more information concerning the dates of applicability, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
William G. Susling, Jr., Assistant Director for Policy and Program Development, Education Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, (202) 273-7187.
Under the formula mandated by 38 U.S.C. 3015(g) (as in effect on October 1, 2000) for fiscal year 2001, the rates of basic educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill—Active Duty (MGIB) payable to students pursuing a program of education full time must be increased by 3.0%, which is the percentage by which the total of the monthly Consumer Price Index-W (CPI-W) for July 1, 1999, through June 30, 2000, exceeds the total of the monthly CPI-W for July 1, 1998, through June 30, 1999.
In addition, the rates for the months during fiscal year 2001 that follow October 2000 were further increased by the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-419). That Act provides that beginning on November 1, 2000, the rates of basic educational assistance under the MGIB must be increased beyond the increase that went into effect on October 1, 2000. Changes are made to the regulations governing rates payable under MGIB to reflect both rate increases.
Moreover, Pub. L. 106-419 requires an increase in the monthly rate of Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA), effective November 1, 2000. Changes are made to the regulations governing DEA rates and entitlement charges to reflect the statutory changes.
It should be noted that neither the increase attributable to the CPI-W nor the increase attributable to the Act affects all educational assistance payable under MGIB. The increases don't apply to additional amounts payable by the Secretary of Defense to individuals with skills or a specialty in which there is a critical shortage of personnel (so-called “kickers”). They don't apply to amounts payable for dependents. Veterans who previously had eligibility under the Vietnam Era GI Bill receive monthly payments that are in part based upon basic educational assistance and in part based upon the rates payable under the Vietnam Era GI Bill. Only that portion attributable to basic educational assistance is increased.
38 U.S.C. 3015(a) and (b) require that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pay part-time students at appropriately reduced rates. Since the first student became eligible for assistance under the MGIB in 1985, VA has paid three-quarter-time students and one-half-time students at 75% and 50% of the full-time institutional rate, respectively. Students pursuing a program of education at less than one-half but more than one-quarter-time have had their payments limited to 50% or less of the full-time institutional rate. Similarly, students pursuing a program of education at one-quarter-time or less have had their payments limited to 25% or less of the full-time institutional rate. Changes are made consistent with the authority and formula described in this paragraph.
In addition, 38 U.S.C. 3032(c) requires that monthly rates payable to veterans in apprenticeship or other on-the-job training must be set at a given percentage of the full-time rate. Hence, there are raises effective October 1, 2000, and November 1, 2000, for such training as well.
The changes set forth in this final rule are effective from the date of publication, but the changes in rates are applied retroactively from October 1, 2000, and November 1, 2000, in accordance with the applicable statutory provisions discussed above. Start Printed Page 32227
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs hereby certifies that this final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities as they are defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-612. This final rule directly affects only individuals and does not directly affect small entities. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b), this final rule, therefore, is exempt from the initial and final regulatory flexibility analyses requirements of sections 603 and 604.
The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act requires (in section 202) that agencies prepare an assessment of anticipated costs and benefits before developing any rule that may result in an expenditure by State, local, or tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more in any given year. This rule would have no consequential effect on State, local, or tribal governments.
(h) Entitlement charge for correspondence courses. The charge against entitlement for pursuit of a course exclusively by correspondence will be 1 month for each:
(1) $485 paid after September 30, 1998, and before November 1, 2000, to a spouse or surviving spouse as an educational assistance allowance;
(2) $588 paid after October 31, 2000.
(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3534(b), 3686(a))
3. In § 21.3131, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:
(a) Rates. Except as provided in § 21.3132, educational assistance allowance is payable at the following rates effective November 1, 2000:
Full time $588
3/4 time $441
1/2 time $294
Less than 1/2 but more than 1/4 time 1 $294
1/4 time or less 1 147
Cooperative training (other than farm cooperative) (Full time only) $588
Apprentice or on-job (full time only) 2
First six months $428
Second six months $320
Third six months $212
Fourth six months and thereafter $107
Full time $475
3/4 time $356
1/2 time $238
1 If an eligible person under 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 pursuing independent study on a less than one-half-time basis completes his or her program before the designated completion time, his or her award will be recomputed to permit payment of tuition and fees not to exceed $294 or $147, as appropriate, per month, if the maximum allowance is not initially authorized.
Start Printed Page 32228
(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3532(a), 3542(a), 3687(b)(2))
4. In § 21.3300, paragraph (c) is amended by removing “$152” and adding, in its place, “$184”.
a. In paragraphs (a) and (b)(1), removing “January 1, 1990” and adding, in its place, “November 1, 2000,”.
b. In the table in paragraph (a), removing “$485” and adding, in its place, “$588”, and by removing “$152” both places it appears and adding, in its place, “$184”;
c. In paragraph (b)(1), removing “$16.16” and adding, in its place, “$19.60”, and by removing “$485” and adding, in its place, “$588”.
7. In § 21.7136, paragraphs (b), (c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(3) are revised and paragraphs (c)(4) and (c)(5) are added to read as follows:
(b) Rates. (1) Except as elsewhere provided in this section or in § 21.7139, the monthly rate of basic educational assistance payable for training that occurs after September 30, 2000, and before November 1, 2000, to a veteran whose service is described in paragraph (a) of this section is the rate stated in the following table:
Full time $552.00
3/4 time 414.00
1/2 time 276.00
Less than 1/2 but more than 1/4 time 276.00
1/4 time 138.00
(2) Except as elsewhere provided in this section or in § 21.7139, the monthly rate of basic educational assistance payable for training that occurs after October 31, 2000, and before October 1, 2001, to a veteran whose service is described in paragraph (a) of this section is the rate stated in the following table:
1/4 time 162.50
(3) If a veteran's service is described in paragraph (a) of this section, the monthly rate of basic educational assistance payable to the veteran for pursuit of apprenticeship or other on-job training that occurs after September 30, 2000, and before November 1, 2000, is the rate stated in the following table:
First six months of pursuit of training $414.00
Second six months of pursuit of training 303.60
Remaining pursuit of training 193.20
(4) If a veteran's service is described in paragraph (a) of this section, the monthly rate of basic educational assistance payable to the veteran for pursuit of apprenticeship or other on-job training that occurs after October 31, 2000, and before October 1, 2001, is the rate stated in the following table:
First six months of pursuit of training $487.50
Second six months of pursuit of training 357.50
Remaining pursuit of training 227.85
(5) If a veteran's service is described in paragraph (a) of this section, the monthly rate of basic educational assistance payable to the veteran for pursuit of a cooperative course is:
(i) $536.00 for training that occurs after September 30, 1999, and before October 1, 2000;
(ii) $552.00 for training that occurs after September 30, 2000, and before November 1, 2000; and
(iii) $650.00 for training that occurs after October 31, 2000, and before October 1, 2001.
(1) Except as elsewhere provided in this section or in § 21.7139, the monthly rate of basic educational assistance payable to a veteran for training that occurs after September 30, 2000, and before November 1, 2000, is the rate stated in the following table:
Full time $449.00
3/4 time 336.75
1/2 time 224.50
Less than 1/2 but more than 1/4 time 224.50
1/4 time or less 112.25
(2) Except as elsewhere provided in this section or in § 21.7139, the monthly rate of basic educational assistance payable to a veteran for training that occurs after October 31, 2000, is the rate stated in the following table:
Full time $528.00
3/4 time 396.00
1/2 time 264.00
Less than 1/2 but more than 1/4 time 264.00
1/4 time or less 132.00
(3) The monthly rate of basic educational assistance payable to a veteran for pursuit of apprenticeship or other on-job training that occurs after September 30, 2000, and before November 1, 2000, is the rate stated in the following table:
First six months of pursuit of training $336.75
Second six months of pursuit of training 246.95
Remaining pursuit of training 157.15
(4) The monthly rate of basic educational assistance payable to a veteran for pursuit of apprenticeship or other on-job training that occurs after October 31, 2000, and before October 1, 2001, is the rate stated in the following table:
First six months of pursuit of training $396.00
Second six months of pursuit of training 290.40
Remaining pursuit of training 184.80
(5) The monthly rate of basic educational assistance payable to a veteran for pursuit of a cooperative course is:
(i) $436.00 for training that occurs after September 30, 1999, and before October 1, 2000;Start Printed Page 32229
(ii) $449.00 for training that occurs after September 30, 2000, and before November 1, 2000; and
(iii) $528.00 for training that occurs after October 31, 2000, and before October 1, 2001.
8. In § 21.7137, paragraph (a); the introductory texts of paragraphs (b) and (c); and paragraph (c) (2) are revised to read as follows:
Rates of payment of basic educational assistance for individuals with remaining entitlement under 38 U.S.C. ch. 34.
(a) Minimum rates. (1) Except as elsewhere provided in this section, the monthly rate of basic educational assistance for training that occurs after September 30, 2000, and before November 1, 2000, is the rate stated in the following table:
Full time $740.00 $776.00 $807.00 $16.00
3/4 time 555.50 582.00 605.50 12.00
1/2 time 370.00 388.00 403.50 8.50
Less than 1/2 but more than 1/4 time 370.00 370.00 370.00 0
1/4 time or less 185.00 185.00 185.00 0
(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3015(e), (f), (g))
(2) Except as elsewhere provided in this section, the monthly rate of basic educational assistance for training that occurs after October 31, 2000, and before October 1, 2001, is the rate stated in the following table:
Full time $838.00 $874.00 $905.00 $16.00
3/4 time 629.00 655.50 679.00 12.00
1/2 time 419.00 437.00 452.50 8.50
Less than 1/2 but more than 1/4 time 419.00 419.00 419.00 0
1/4 time or less 209.50 209.50 209.50 0
(3) For veterans pursuing apprenticeship or other on-job training, the monthly rate of basic educational assistance for training that occurs after September 30, 2000, and before November 1, 2000, is the rate stated in the following table:
1st six months of pursuit of program $516.75 $529.13 $540.00 $5.25
2nd six months of pursuit of program 359.98 369.33 377.03 3.85
3rd six months of pursuit of program 217.00 223.13 227.85 2.45
Remaining pursuit of program 205.10 210.88 216.13 2.45
(4) For veterans pursuing apprenticeship or other on-job training, the monthly rate of basic educational assistance for training that occurs after October 31, 2000, and before October 1, 2001, is the rate stated in the following table:
1st six months of pursuit of program $590.25 $602.63 $613.50 $5.25
2nd six months of pursuit of program 413.88 423.23 430.93 3.85
3rd six months of pursuit of program 251.30 257.43 262.15 2.45
Remaining pursuit of program 239.40 245.18 250.43 2.45
(5) The monthly rate of basic educational assistance payable to a veteran who is pursuing a cooperative course is the rate stated in the following table:
Oct. 1, 1999-Sept. 30, 2000 $724.00 $760.00 $791.00 $16.00
Oct. 1, 2000-Oct. 31, 2000 740.00 776.00 807.00 16.00
Nov. 1, 2000-Sept. 30, 2001 838.00 874.00 905.00 16.00
(b) Less than one-half-time training. Except as provided in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section, the monthly rate of basic educational assistance for a veteran who is pursuing a course on a less than one-half-time basis is the lesser of:
(c) Rates for servicemembers. The monthly rate of basic educational assistance for a servicemember may not exceed the lesser of the following rates (except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section):
(2) (i) The following monthly rates for training that occurs after September 30, 2000, and before November 1, 2000—
(A) $740.00 for full-time training;
(B) $555.50 for three-quarter-time training;
(C) $370.00 for one-half-time training and training that is less than one-half but more than one-quarter-time training; and
(D) $185.00 for one-quarter-time training; and
(ii) The following monthly rates for training that occurs after October 31, 2000, and before October 1, 2001—
(A) $838.00 for full-time training;
(B) $629.00 for three-quarter-time training;
(C) $419.00 for one-half-time training and training that is less than one-half but more than one-quarter-time training; and
(D) $209.50 for one-quarter-time training.
(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3015(d), (f))
[FR Doc. 01-15070 Filed 6-13-01; 8:45 am]