CFR

21.7636—Rates of payment.

(a) Monthly rate of educational assistance. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section or in § 21.7639, basic educational assistance is payable at the following monthly rates.

(i) For training that occurs after September 30, 2004, and before October 1, 2005:

Training	Monthly rate
Full time	$288.00
3/4 time	216.00
1/2 time	143.00
1/4 time	72.00

(ii) For training that occurs after September 30, 2005:

Training	Monthly rate
Full time	$297.00
3/4 time	222.00
1/2 time	147.00
1/4 time	74.25

(2) (i) The monthly rate of basic educational assistance payable to a reservist for apprenticeship or other on-the-job training full time is payable at the following rates.

(A) For training which occurs after September 30, 2004, and before October 1, 2005:

Training	Monthly rate
First 6 months of pursuit of training	$216.00
Second 6 months of pursuit of training	158.40
Remaining pursuit of training	100.80

(B) For training which occurs after September 30, 2005:

Training	Monthly rate
First 6 months of pursuit of training	$252.45
Second 6 months of pursuit of training	193.05
Remaining pursuit of training	133.65

(ii) Full-time training will consist of the number of hours which constitute the standard workweek of the training establishment, but not less than 30 hours unless a lesser number of hours is established as the standard workweek for the particular establishment through bona fide collective bargaining between employers and employees.

(3) The monthly rate of basic educational assistance payable to a reservist for pursuit of a cooperative course is as follows:

(i) For full-time training that occurs after September 30, 2004, and before October 1, 2005, the rate payable is the rate stated in paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section.

(ii) For full-time training that occurs after September 30, 2005, the rate payable is the rate stated in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section.

(b) Increase (“kicker”) in educational assistance rates. (1) The Secretary of the military department concerned may increase the amount of educational assistance stated in paragraph (a) of this section that is payable to a reservist who has a skill or specialty in which there is a critical shortage of personnel or for which it is difficult to recruit, or, in the case of critical units, retain personnel.

(2) The Secretary of the military department concerned—

(i) Will set the amount of the increase (“kicker”) for full-time training, but the increase (“kicker”) may not exceed $350 per month; and

(ii) May set the amount of the increase (“kicker”) payable, for a reservist pursuing a program of education less than full time or pursuing an apprenticeship or other on-job training, at an amount less than the amount described in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section.

(c) Limitations on payments. VA may withhold final payment until VA receives proof of the reservist's enrollment and adjusts the reservist's account.

Code of Federal Regulations

[61 FR 29305, June 10, 1996, as amended at 62 FR 27964, May 22, 1997; 62 FR 55520, Oct. 27, 1997; 62 FR 66278, Dec. 18, 1997; 64 FR 26297, May 14, 1999; 65 FR 59127, Oct. 4, 2000; 65 FR 60499, Oct. 11, 2000; 66 FR 38937, July 26, 2001; 67 FR 6655, Feb. 13, 2002; 68 FR 42978, July 21, 2003; 69 FR 62205, Oct. 25, 2004; 72 FR 39563, July 19, 2007]

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