Eligibility:
- The service member must have at least 6 years and commit to an additional 4 years.
- If the member has at least 10 years of service policy, cannot serve an additional 4 years under a program policy, and agrees to serve the maximum amount of years allowed.
- If the member becomes eligible for retirement between August 1, 2009 and August 1, 2013. A member is eligible for retirement after 20 years of active duty or 20 years of qualifying service.
The family member must be enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS) at the time of transfer and be eligible to receive benefits. The benefits can be transferred to the individual’s spouse or their children in any combination.
The percentage allowed to the individual’s spouse/child is still determined by their aggregate amount of active duty:
| Percentage Allowed | Amount of Active Duty Completed after September 10, 2001 | |
| 100/% | At least 36 months | Discharge due to a service-connected disability after at least 30 continuous days of active duty |
| 90% | At least 30 months | Less than 36 months |
| 80% | At least 24 months | Less than 30 months |
| 70% | At least 18 months | Less than 24 months |
| 60% | At least 12 months | Less than 18 months |
| 50% | At least 6 months | Less than 12 months |
| 40% | At least 90 days | Less than 6 months |
Benefit Payments for Chapter 33 (TOE)
Chapter 33 differs from other education Chapters in that each type of payment is issued separately. Some payments are made directly to the school, others are made directly to the student.
- Tuition and fees paid directly to the school.
- A monthly housing allowance paid directly to the student.
- A stipend for books and supplies will be given to a child even if the service member is on active duty; a spouse will only be eligible if the member is not on active duty. The benefit is paid directly to the student.
- Individuals may be eligible for an additional amount in a “kicker” or college fund.
Length of Chapter 33 (TOE) Eligibility
The months of benefit are assigned to each dependent by the veteran and can be split between them. A certain amount of months can be assigned to one individual while the other receives a different or the same amount. The eligible Service member can transfer as many unused months as they have from the Post 9/11 GI Bill, including the entire 36 months if they have not been used. A child can only use the benefits after the service member making the transfer has completed at least 10 years of service; a spouse can use the benefits immediately. The entitlement period for a spouse will last 15 years from the date of transferring the benefits; for a child, it will end on their 26th birthday.
How to Get Certified for Chapter 33 (TOE)
We will require the following documents:
- VA Form 22-1990-E (if student has never used/applied for benefit before)
VA Form 22-1995 (if student has used benefit before, transferring from another institution) Certificate of Eligibility - No DD214 is required if the veteran is still on active duty
Please notice the following information:
- Students must apply for VA benefits. As soon as you receive your approval, submit all required documents to the Kean University Office of Veteran’s Services on the second floor of the CAS building room 208.
- Every semester, you must visit the VA office for in-person enrollment
