Veteran Education Benefits

Reserve Education Assistance Program - REAP (Chapter 1607)

What is REAP?

REAP was established as a part of the Ronald W. Regan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It is a new 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. 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.

Who qualifies for REAP?

The Secretaries of each military service, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security (Coast Guard) will determine eligibility and establish the program to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserves of the armed forces who are called to duty for 90 days or more. Members may be eligible after serving 90 consecutive days on active duty after September 11, 2001.

How much does the REAP benefit pay monthly?

The benefit payable under REAP is a percentage of the Chapter 30 three-year or more enlistment rate ($1075.00 as of 10/1/06) click HERE for current rates based on the number of days of continuous active duty service.

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 2 years or more on active duty will result in an 80% payment of the three-year rate.

[Important 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.

For example: The three-year full time MGIB rate in June of 2002 was $800. Someone being paid the 40% rate for school enrollment in June 2002 would receive $320 for full time monthly benefits.

How much entitlement will I get under REAP?

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.

For example, if youve already used 20 months of Chapter 1606, you will only receive 28 months of REAP.

How long do I have to use benefits under REAP?

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.

What about members released for disability?

Members released early for disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty may receive REAP 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.

Can I receive REAP benefits concurrently with another MGIB benefit?

No, you must make an irrevocable election as to which program you will apply your time on active duty. You also cannot receive assistance under more than one VA Education program at one time. If you are eligible for a Chapter 1606 kicker, you can still be paid that kicker while receiving REAP.

What Education programs are approved under REAP?

All education programs, with the exception of:

National Examination / Testing Reimbursement
Licensing and Certification
Accelerated Pay

are payable under REAP.

Can I apply for REAP now?

Yes.

VA Regional Processing Office in Muskogee, OK is accepting applications and supporting documents for REAP claims. If you have never applied for benefits before, complete VA Form 1990 and write "REAP" in section one. If you are already eligible for VA Education benefits under another program, submit VA Form 1995 and notate that you now wish to convert to Chapter 1607 - REAP. Copies of these forms can be obtained HERE. Submit copies of all DD 214s and copies of all orders for the period(s) you will use to claim eligibility.

Which benefit should I use or election date should I choose?

Veterans eligible for REAP will most likely also be eligible for Chapter 1606. The REAP program pays a bit more than Chapter 1606. You must weigh the benefits of retroactively electing REAP with the benefits of using it for future training.

The Muskogee Regional Processing Office is not requesting an election date. Benefits will be awarded retroactive to the eligibility date shown on a REAP computer interface VA has with the Department of Defense. The election can be submitted via the VA website.

Review the following examples to help you determine which benefit you should use.

Example A: Bob is eligible for Chapter 1606 and REAP. He used 4 months of entitlement under Chapter 1606 in the Spring of 2002. Bob could request retroactive payment under REAP for that period based on his active duty period in 2001. The full time rate under REAP for that period would be $320.00/ month. For Chapter 1606, the full time rate was $272.00. Bob already received $1088.00 in Chapter 1606 benefits. Under REAP he would receive $1280.00. If Bob retroactively chooses REAP, he will receive an additional $192.00 for the difference between the two programs. Is it more advantageous for Bob to take the extra $192.00 for REAP, or to elect REAP from the current date forward? If Bob takes the retroactive benefit amount, he now has 32 months of REAP to use for any future school enrollment. If Bob doesn't request retroactive benefits, he now has 36 months of benefits at 40% of the current MGIB three-year rate ($401.60 for fiscal year 2005). Bob must determine what he has used in the past, how much schooling he needs to complete in the future, and determine which option will be most advantageous to him in the long run. In Bob's situation, it might be more advantageous for him not to retroactively elect REAP benefits.
Example B: Susie is eligible for Chapter 1606 and would be eligible for REAP based on active duty served in 2001-2002. She has been in school full time continuously since she returned from active duty. To date, she has used 31 months of Chapter 1606 benefits. For someone in Susie's situation, she might benefit more from retroactively selecting REAP benefits. She would receive the difference between the two programs, and would still have 17 months of full time REAP benefits remaining.

How Can I Get More Information?

Visit the REAP Questions and Answers web page. Or Call toll free 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).

Report broken links:

Veteran Services - Serving Those Who Have Served

Veteran Education Benefits Reserve Education Assistance Program - REAP (Chapter 1607)