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Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits - Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

The Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) is one of the four major education and training programs available to veterans. REAP is also known as Chapter 1607 benefits.

REAP was established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It is a Department of Defense education benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the President or Congress.

This new program makes certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits. The Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security will determine who is eligible for this program. The Department of Veterans Affairs will administer the program and pay benefits from funds contributed by DOD.

Monthly Benefits

The benefit payable under REAP is a percentage of the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (MGIB-AD) three-year or more enlistment rate based on the number of days of continuous service on active duty.

·      If you serve 90 days but less than 1 year, you will receive 40% of the three-year rate.

·      A service period of 1 year but less than 2 years of active duty will pay 60% of the three-year rate.

·      A service period of more than 2 years on active duty will result in an 80% payment of the three-year rate.

Important: Members on active duty are only entitled for reimbursement of the actual cost of the tuition and fees of the courses taken (not to exceed the statutory rate.)

NOTE: This benefit is retroactive to September 11, 2001. A reservist attending school will be paid a percentage of the MGIB three-year rate in effect during the time in which he/she was enrolled.

Entitlement

You will receive 36 months of full time entitlement at your given rate. A REAP participant may not use more than 48 months of entitlement under any combination of VA Educational programs.

Use of Benefits

You may use your benefits under REAP as long as you remain within your component. Benefits must be terminated if you leave the Reserves or participate in a ROTC program under Title 10 Section 2107.

Disability

Members released early for disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty receive REAP benefits at the rate they were qualified for when they were released. For example, if a claimant served on active duty of one year and 6 months prior to being released, he or she would be entitled to receive benefits at the 60% rate for as long as they're entitled to REAP benefits. Members released prior to completing 90 days of active duty service would be entitled to benefits at the 40% rate. If you are released for disability, you are entitled to REAP benefits for 10 years from your date of eligibility.

Concurrent VA Benefits

You cannot receive assistance under more than one VA Education program at one time. If you are eligible for MGIB-Active Duty (Chapter 30) because you served on duty for a minimum of 24 consecutive months you must make an irrevocable election as to which program you will apply your time on active duty. If you are eligible for a Chapter 1606 kicker, you can still be paid that kicker while receiving REAP.

Approved Education Programs

All education programs, with the exception of National Examination / Testing Reimbursement are payable under REAP.

Payments

Effective August 1, 2008 the maximum monthly payment for full-time training is $1,056.80 for those with two or more years service, $792.60 for those with one year of service, and $528.40 for those with at least 90 days of service. Payments are smaller if training is less than full-time, or for apprenticeship and on-job training programs.

Source

Some information for this topic was drawn from the VA website at:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/
http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/rates.htm

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