Hazlewood Exemption

The Hazlewood Exemption is awarded by the State of Texas to veterans, and possibly their dependents, and exempts the payment of tuition, dues, fees, and other required charges for up to 150 credit hours maximum at any public college or university within the State of Texas. The award specifically excludes deposit fees, student service fees, any fees or charges for books, application fee, travel, lodging, board, or clothing. Awards may not be used to pay tuition and relevant fees for continuing education classes unless the college receives state tax support for the class or the governing board has specifically approved this benefit.

 

See Official rules and applications at:

https://tvc.texas.gov/

 

There are three ways to use the Hazlewood Exemption:

  1. Texas Veteran
  2. Legacy Program (Veteran transfer unused Hazlewood hours to eligible dependent child)
  3. Dependent and Spouse of a Texas Veteran who is 100% disabled as a result of a service-related injury or illness or is entitled to receive compensation at the 100% rate due to individual unemployability due to a permanent service-related injury or illness, Missing in Action, or Killed in Action

 

Eligibility Requirements:

Veteran:

  1. Was a Texas resident, or designated Texas as Home or Record, or entered the U.S. Armed Forces in Texas
  2. Must have served at least 181 days of active military duty, as indicated as “net active service” (the sum of 12(c) and 12(d) on the DD214) and have received an honorable discharge or separation or a general discharge under honorable conditions, and have no federal veteran’s education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only (Chapter 31 or 33) for the semester enrolled that do not exceed the value of Hazlewood benefits.
  3. Must currently physically reside in Texas during the time for which the exemption is claimed. This applies to all new recipients effective Fall 2011.
  4. Must not be in default on a student loan made or guaranteed by the State of Texas
  5. Must enroll in classes for which the college receives tax support (i.e. a course that does not depend solely on student tuition and fees to cover its costs)
  6. Must meet GPA requirements and not be considered to have attempted an excessive amount of credit hours

Legacy Program: Veterans who meet the Hazlewood requirements may transfer unused hours to a dependent child who meets the following requirements. A veteran’s spouse or child’s guardian, conservator, custodian, or other legally designated caretaker may re-assign unused hours to an eligible child through Legacy on behalf of a veteran who died prior to requesting the transfer.

 

NOTE:  Only one dependent child can utilize one veteran’s Hazlewood Legacy at a time.

  1. Dependent must be the biological child, stepchild, adopted child, or claimed as a dependent on the most recent tax return AND
  2. Must be admitted by the Admissions Office as a Texas resident
  3. Must be 25 years old or younger at the beginning of the intended semester
  4. Must not be in default on a student loan made or guaranteed by the State of Texas
  5. Must meet GPA requirements and not be considered to have attempted excessive amount of credit hours

 

Dependent and Spouse of a Texas Veteran who is 100% disabled, Missing in Action, or Killed in Action:

  1. Must be the dependent child or is the spouse of a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, Texas National Guard, or Texas Air National Guard who died as a result of service-related injuries or illness, is missing in action, or became 100% disabled as a result of a service-related injury or illness or is entitled to receive compensation at the 100% rate due to individual unemployability due to a permanent service-related injury or illness 
  2. Have no federal veteran’s education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only, such as Chapter 31 or Chapter 33, for the term or semester enrolled that do not exceed the value of Hazlewood benefits (Pell and SEOG Grants are not relevant)
  3. Must be admitted by the Admissions Office as a Texas resident
  4. Must not be in default on a student loan made or guaranteed by the State of Texas
  5. Provide a DD214 and a disability rating letter or a DD1300 Report of Casualty regarding the veteran's death

 

Application Process and Deadline:

Applications: The application can be found online at: https://tvc.texas.gov/ OR applications can be obtained from either Veteran's office located in the Financial Aid Office at the Levelland Campus or the Reese Center.

Initial Application Process:

Veteran:

  1. HEA (required the first semester of Hazlewood use)
  2. DD214 Member 4 showing honorable or under honorable conditions discharge and a minimum of 181 days of active duty service (excluding training)
  3. If veteran served after 9/11/2001 – VA Certificate of Eligibility of Education Benefits (see application instructions)
  4. Proof of Online Database Registration (item 9 of Supporting Documentation Instructions)
  5. Proof of Texas residency for the veteran

Legacy:

  1. HEA (required the first semester of Hazlewood use) 
  2. DD214 Member 4 showing veteran’s honorable or under honorable conditions discharge and a minimum of 181 days of active duty service
  3. If veteran served after 9/11/2001 – VA Certificate of Eligibility of education benefits for the child
  4. Child’s birth certificate listing veteran as parent, other court-ordered document verifying dependency, or the most recent tax return of veteran listing the child as dependent
  5. Proof of Online Database registration (item 9 of Supporting Documentation Instructions)
  6. Proof of Texas residency for the veteran

Dependent or Spouse of a Veteran who is 100% disabled, Killed In Action or Missing In Action:

  1. HEA (required the first semester of Hazlewood use)
  2. DD214 Member 4 showing honorable or under honorable conditions discharge
  3. VA rating letter or letter of KIA or MIA, or DD1300 for a veteran that died while in the service
  4. If served after 9/11/2001 – VA Certificate of Eligibility of educational benefits for dependent or spouse
  5. Child’s birth certificate listing veteran as parent, other court-ordered document verifying dependency, or the most recent tax return of veteran listing child as dependent
  6. Proof of Online Database registration (item 9 of Supporting Documentation Instructions)

 

IF YOU UTILIZED HAZLEWOOD AT SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE DURING THE MOST RECENT SEMESTER – SUBMIT ONLY the Subsequent (Renewal) Hazlewood Application which can be found online at https://tvc.texas.gov/ or in the Financial Aid Office at the Levelland Campus or the Reese Center. 

Application Deadline:

To ensure proper tuition and fees are waived by this exemption, a student must submit the appropriate completed applications and supporting documents (if required) immediately following registration each semester. Due to the volume of applications, allow 5 business days for processing. The exemption is posted to the student’s account summary on TexanConnect. Retain a copy of all documents for your records. Incomplete and partial applications will not be processed. Applications and all supporting documentation must be received by the institution no later than the last day of class of a term in order to be evaluated for that semester or term.

Application Submission:

Application packets or Hazlewood Continuing Use Form can be submitted as follows:
 
In Person:  VA Advisor located in the Financial Aid Office at the Levelland Campus or the Reese Center
 
Fax:        Levelland Campus   806-894-8653
 Reese Center           806-716-4674
 
Email:    Levelland Campus    mcoronado@southplainscollege.edu
 Reese Center           jputteet@southplainscollege.edu
 
 
 
May  2018