10 U.S.C. § 16131a Accelerated Payment of Educational Assistance

• Library: United States Statutes
• Edition: 2023 Edition
• Currency: Current through P.L. 118-13 (published on www.congress.gov on 08/07/2023),Current through P.L. 118-19 (published on www.congress.gov on 10/06/2023)

(a) The educational assistance allowance payable under section 16131 of this title with respect to an eligible person described in subsection (b) may, upon the election of such eligible person, be paid on an accelerated basis in accordance with this section.

(b) An eligible person described in this subsection is a person entitled to educational assistance under this chapter who is-

(1) enrolled in an approved program of education not exceeding two years in duration and not leading to an associate, bachelors, masters, or other degree, subject to subsection (g); and

(2) charged tuition and fees for the program of education that, when divided by the number of months (and fractions thereof) in the enrollment period, exceeds the amount equal to 200 percent of the monthly rate of educational assistance allowance otherwise payable with respect to the person under section 16131 of this title.

(c)

(1) The amount of the accelerated payment of educational assistance payable with respect to an eligible person making an election under subsection (a) for a program of education shall be the lesser of-

(A) the amount equal to 60 percent of the established charges for the program of education; or

(B) the aggregate amount of educational assistance allowance to which the person remains entitled under this chapter at the time of the payment.

(2)

(A) In this subsection, except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term "established charges", in the case of a program of education, means the actual charges (as determined pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs) for tuition and fees which similarly circumstanced individuals who are not eligible for benefits under this chapter and who are enrolled in the program of education would be required to pay. Established charges shall be determined on the following basis:

(i) In the case of an individual enrolled in a program of education offered on a term, quarter, or semester basis, the tuition and fees charged the individual for the term, quarter, or semester.

(ii) In the case of an individual enrolled in a program of education not offered on a term, quarter, or semester basis, the tuition and fees charged the individual for the entire program of education.

(B) In this subsection, the term "established charges" does not include any fees or payments attributable to the purchase of a vehicle.

(3) The educational institution providing the program of education for which an accelerated payment of educational assistance allowance is elected by an eligible person under subsection (a) shall certify to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs the amount of the established charges for the program of education.