The Post-9/11 GI Bill is for individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The bill will become effective for training on or after August 1, 2009. For the most up-to-date information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, consult "Education Benefits" on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website.

BCC's Veterans Affairs Resource Center is a one-stop shop for all people who have any sort of connection to the U.S. military. Contact the office in Colston Hall, room 509, or at 718.289.5447. The office is open Monday through Thursday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Fridays 9 a.m.-noon.

For additional information regarding resources for veterans at CUNY, contact the CUNY Office of Student Affairs at 646.344.7277.

You may be eligible for VA educational assistance if you meet the following criteria:

You are on, or were on, active duty for at least two years, and received any honorably characterized discharge;

You have a six-year obligation in the Selected Reserves, and remain in good standing with your reserve unit; or

You are a spouse or child of a veteran who died or was disabled while on military service.

There are several federal aid programs for veterans, each with slightly different eligibility requirements and payments. Information about these programs are listed under "Education Benefits" on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website. The staff at BCC's Veterans Affairs Resource Center can help you determine your eligibility.

No, you do not have to reapply. Once you have applied and have received benefits at another institution, you need to only complete a form to change your place of training and a brief personal data form. This can be done by contacting the Veterans Affairs Resource Center in Colston Hall, room 509, or at 718.289.5447.

Educational benefit checks are sent directly to the veteran or dependent, but arrangements can be made for direct deposit, which can be requested when you apply for benefits. Direct deposit is available for all programs except for Chapter 35 [Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (D.E.A.)] educational assistance.

First-time applicants should expect to wait at least six to eight weeks from the time the enrollment certification is sent before payment is received. Continuing students will be processed quicker provided there have not been any changes in program or address. Keep in mind that Chapter 35 and Chapter 1606 (Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserves) certifications are not processed until the first day of the enrollment period even though the certification may have been received by the VA Regional Office earlier.

Yes, Chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty), Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill), and Chapter 1606 (Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserves) recipients may request the direct deposit option by completing VA Form 22-0296, which authorizes direct deposit of your payments.

No, veterans' benefits, paid under any law and administered by the VA, should not be reported as income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Anyone receiving Chapter 30 benefits (Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty) or Chapter 1606 benefits (Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserves) must verify their enrollment each month to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in order to receive payment for that month. Your enrollment can be verified on the last calendar day of the month by using the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (W.A.V.E.) system, or by calling the toll-free interactive voice response (IVR) telephone line at 1.877.823.-2378. Paper verification forms (VA Forms 22-8979) will no longer be issued for students receiving Chapter 30 benefits.

No, dependents or spouses receiving educational assistance under Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) or Chapter 35 (Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program) do not have to verify their enrollment to the VA each month.

If you are currently receiving benefits, or have received benefits in the last year, you can use the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (W.A.V.E.) system to update your address or your financial institution information. Visit the GI Bill W.A.V.E. page; follow the instructions to log-on to W.A.V.E.; and then follow the links to change your address and direct deposit information.

If you drop a course and the adjustment changes your training time, you must notify BCC's Veterans Affairs Resource Center immediately. This must be done even if you have already notified the VA on the W.A.V.E. system. A change in training time may affect your rate of payment, and failure to notify the Veterans Affairs Resource Center in a timely manner could result in an overpayment.

Some veterans are eligible for tutorial benefits. In order to be eligible for tutorial benefits, veterans must be receiving monthly veterans benefits on at least a half-time basis. Such veteran students are entitled to 12 months of tutorial benefits at a maximum of $100 per month. There is also a wide range of student services offered at BCC. ear.

Students may be eligible for veteran's work-study benefits. In order to be eligible, students must be receiving full-time veterans benefits. Such students can work up to 750 hours per year at a rate of at least the federal minimum wage. The Veterans Affairs Resource Center can assist you.

No, only dependents who are eligible for Chapter 35 (Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program) may be considered for benefits. Chapter 35 provides educational assistance to the spouses and children of veterans who died while on active duty or were totally disabled due to their military experience. Eligibility questions should be directed to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Vocational Rehabilitation Services are available through the VA for veterans with disabilities. Vocational Rehabilitation Services are available to full-time and part-time students who have at least a 20% disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. These services are comprehensive and include payment for tuition, fees and a monthly stipend. In addition, classroom accommodations and support services are available to veterans with disabilities through BCC's Office of Student Disability Services, located in Loew Hall, room 215, 718.289.5874.

There are several federal and state programs available to dependants of disabled veterans. For more information contact the Veterans Affairs Resource Center.

For details on tuition benefits available for N.Y. State National Guard members and/or children of deceased or disabled veterans refer to the "Financing Your Education" section of the CUNY Office of Veterans Affairs website.

Yes, there are a number of supportive services available to you. On campus, you can visit the Office of Psychological Services for free, confidential, and short-term counseling (in Loew Hall, room 210). Their aim is to help students work through personal and emotional concerns that may negatively influence academic performance. They also provide referral services. You can reach them at 718.289.5873. You can learn more about them here.

There are also services offered through all of the VA medical centers in New York City. The closest one to the BCC campus is the James J. Peters Medical Center located at 130 West Kingsbridge Road. You can reach them at 718.584.9000. You can learn more about them here.

The Bronx Vet Center has a long history of providing confidential counseling services to individuals who have combat exposure. The nearest Vet Center is 2471 Morris Ave., Suite 1A, Bronx, NY 10468. You can reach them at 718.367.3500.