Veteran Educational Benefits

Financial Aid for Veterans

The Financial Aid Office is dedicated in helping veterans obtain educational benefits through a variety of programs offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). Our institution is approved to process the following educational benefits for qualifying students:

ILLINOIS STATE PROGRAMS:

                ILLINOIS VETERAN GRANT (IVG) is a grant that will cover tuition and allowable fees at any Illinois public college, university and community college. Recipients may use IVG for a maximum of 120 eligibility units which is the equivalent of four academic years of full-time enrollment. For eligibility requirements regarding IVG,visit the College Zone website (www.collegezone.com/studentzone/416_962.htm).
To apply, you must fill out an application and mail to ISAC with a copy of your DD214 Member 4. Download the application:(IVG APPLICATION) It takes approximately 4 weeks to process. Students will receive a letter of eligibility in the mail and once this letter is received, you must bring in a copy to the Financial Aid Office.
                ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD GRANT (ING) is a grant that will cover tuition and certain fees at any Illinois public college, university and community college. Recipients may use ING for a maximum of 120 eligibility units which is the equivalent of four academic years of full-time enrollment. The eligibility for ING must be renewed each academic year. For eligibility requirements regarding ING,visit the College Zone website (www.collegezone.com/studentzone/416_964.htm).
To apply, you must submit an online application every academic year. You may access it through www.collegezone.com/12523.htm. You will receive a letter of eligibility in the mail, once this letter is received, you must bring in a copy to the Financial Aid Office.
                ILLINOIS MIA/POW SCHOLARSHIP GRANT is a grant that will cover in-district tuition, and certain fees. Recipients may use MIA/POW for a maximum of 120 eligibility units which is equivalent to four academic years of full-time enrollment. To qualify a student must be a dependent (spouse or child) of a veteran who has been declared by the Department of Defense or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to be a prisoner of war; missing-in-action; died as the result of a service-connected disability; or is declared 100% disabled, and was an Illinois resident at least within six months of entering the service.
To apply, you must fill out a paper application. This application can be found at the Financial Aid Office. A letter will be sent from the State of Illinois Veterans Office. Once you receive this letter and the identification card, you must bring a copy of the letter and ID card to the Financial Aid Office.
In order to use the above grants you must:

Be enrolled at an Illinois public college, university or community college
Not be in default on any student loan, nor owe a refund on any federal or state grant
Maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher

FEDERAL PROGRAMS:

               POST 9/11 GI BILL (CHAPTER 33) is a new education program for individuals who served active duty on or after September 11, 2001. This benefit expires after 15 years or after the 36 months of entitlement is used up whichever comes first. Post 9/11 GI Bill pays directly to the school for student’s tuition and fees up to the predetermined percentage of eligibility established by Veterans Affairs (VA). It can also pay the veteran a book stipend, and a basic housing allowance based on the predetermined percentage of eligibility established by the VA, and the number of credit hours the student is enrolled. To receive the basic housing allowance a student must be enrolled in 7 credit hours or more. For more information,visit on the official VA website (www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/Post-911.htm ).
               MONTGOMERY GI BILL (CHAPTER 30) is an education program that provides up to 36 months of educational benefits. It provides a monthly payment to the veteran directly. It does not pay the school anything. Benefits expire after 10 years following your release from active duty or after the 36 months are used up whichever comes first. For more information,visit on the official VA website (www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/CH30/CH30_Pamphlet_General.htm ).
               MONTGOMERY GI BILL –SELECTED RESERVES (CHAPTER 1606) is an education program that provides up to 36 months of education benefits to members of the Selected Reserves: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, Army National Guard and Air National Guard. Your eligibility ends when you leave the Selected Reserves. For more information,visit on the official VA website www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/CH1606/CH1606_Pamphlet_General.htm).
               MONTGOMERY GI BILL- RESERVE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM [REAP] (CHAPTER 1607) is an education program that provides up to 36 months of benefits to a member of the reserve component who is called or ordered to active service in response to a war or national emergency. Your eligibility ends when you leave the Selected Reserves.For more information,visit on the official VA website ( www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/CH1607/REAP_FAQ.htm).
               MONTGOMERY GI BILL-SURVIVORS’ AND DEPENDENTS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE (CHAPTER 35) is an education benefit for eligible spouses and children of certain veterans. Eligible persons can receive up to 45 months of full-time or equivalent benefits. Spouses have 10 years from the date VA establishes eligibility to use the benefit. Surviving spouses of veterans who died while on active duty have 20 years from the date of the veteran’s death to use the benefit. Children may use the benefit while they are between the ages of 18 and 26. To apply, you may download the application VA-FORM 22-5490.For more information,visit on the official VA website (www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/CH35/CH35_Pamphlet_General.htm ).
               VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (CHAPTER 31) is an educational program to help veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs. To apply, a veteran must have an evaluation done by the VA. Contact the local VA Regional Office for more information.

TUITION ASSISTANCE

is a benefit granted to eligible soldiers. Students must contact their commanding officer to obtain the application. Authorizations for tuition benefit payments must be submitted to the Cashier’s Office at the time of enrollment.

PROCEDURES AND POLICES

A student who has NOT used benefits before may apply online at the VA website at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp or visit the Financial Aid Office to complete the Application for VA Education Benefits. You may download the application VA-FORM 22-1990.
A student who HAS used benefits must come to the Financial Aid office to complete the application: Request for Change of Program or Place of Training. You may download the application VA-FORM 22-1995.
All students must provide a copy of your DD214 Member 4 and/or if applicable, a copy of your NOBE.
All students must submit a Veterans Sign-up Sheet every semester you are planning to use benefits.
You must be enrolled in classes that are required for your degree program. You will NOT be certified for courses that deviate from your program.
You must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher. Students who do not maintain satisfactory academic progress will be allowed ONE term of academic warning. Students placed on a warning will be allowed to receive Veteran benefits for one semester. Students who fail to maintain the requirements for two semesters will be on suspension and will not be eligible for federal and/or state benefits.
Students changing their program of study are required to complete VA Form 22-1995, Request for Change of Program or Place of Training.
Adding and dropping classes affect your payment status. Certifying officials must notify the VA of changes in enrollment. You may be requested to reimburse the VA the amount you were paid for the class. Please notify our Financial Aid Office as soon as possible of changes.
Students using Chapter 30, Chapter 1606, and Chapter 1607 must verify their enrollment on a monthly basis before any payment can be sent. You can verify enrollment online through the WAVE system at www.gibill.va.gov or by phone at (877) 823-2378 and follow the directions. Please note that monthly verification of enrollment must be done on the last day of each month of attendance.

MILITARY SERVICE CREDIT

Military veterans who have served at least one year of active duty and have been honorably discharged are eligible for four semester hours of credit in physical education to be applied to their transcripts. Additional credit may be granted for training received in certain service schools. A copy of the DD214 must be filed with the Office of Admissions and Records.

FINANCIAL AID

You may also be eligible to apply for Federal Financial Aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Both military benefits and financial aid, if eligible, may be used during the same semester.

DOWNLOAD FORMS

Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Application
Illinois National Guard (ING) Application
(Application available at www.collegezone.com/12523.htm)
Veteran Sign-Up Sheet
Application for VA Educational Benefits, VA FORM 22-1990
Request for Change of Program or Place of Training, VA FORM 22-1995
You can access the Higher Education Veteran Service Act Survey (.PDF) which provides contact information for specific areas.

VETERAN’S COORDINATOR

Robert Tebbe
Director of Financial Aid
Phone: (708) 656-8000 ext. 227 Fax: (708) 656-4625
Email: Robert.tebbe@morton.edu
Office: Room 205B

FINANCIAL AID VETERANS REPRESENTATIVE

Blanca Martinez
Financial Aid Assistant
Phone: (708) 656-8000 ext. 228
Email: Blanca.Martinez@morton.edu
Office: Room 204B

Listed below are the Federal and State offices to which we direct applications, claims, and any required billings.

ILLINOIS STUDENT ASSISTANCE COMMISSION (ISAC)

1755 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015
Phone: (800) 899-4722
Website: www.collegezone.com

MONTGOMERY GI BILL INFORMATION

St. Louis Regional Processing Office
P.O. Box 66830
St. Louis, MO 63166-6830
Phone: (888) 442-4551
VA website: www.gibill.va.gov

ILLINOIS MIA/POW SCHOLARSHIP GRANT

Department of Veterans Affairs
P.O. Box 19432
833 S. Spring St.
Springfield, IL 62794-9432
Phone: (217) 782-3564
Website: www.veterans.illinois.gov/benefits/education.htm

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

VR and E Division
2122 W. Taylor Street
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 980-4458