Hazlewood Act Eligibility and Application: Your Complete Guide to Texas Veterans’ Educational Benefits

The Hazlewood Act provides an exemption from tuition and fees for up to 150 semester credit hours at Texas public colleges and universities. Hazlewood Act benefits refer to the tuition exemption and educational support offered to eligible Texas veterans, their spouses, and dependent children under this program. The Hazlewood Act is a state of Texas benefit designed specifically to support the educational goals of Texas veterans and their families.

The Hazlewood Act operates as a tuition exemption program rather than providing direct monetary awards, meaning eligible institutions simply waive the qualifying tuition and fees from your student account.

Hazlewood Act Eligibility: Eligible Veteran Requirements

Texas Residency at Time of Service Entry

• Designated Texas as your Home of Record on your DD Form 214
• Entered military service while residing in Texas, OR
• A Texas resident at the time you entered active duty

Military Service Requirements

Your military service must meet these standards:

• Qualifying Military Service: Service in the US Armed Forces, Texas National Guard, or Texas Air National Guard qualifies for Hazlewood Act benefits.
• Discharge Status: You must have received an honorable discharge, general discharge under honorable conditions, or separation as indicated on your DD Form 214
• Active Duty Length: Minimum 181 days of active duty service (excluding training periods)
• Multiple Service Periods: You can combine multiple periods of active duty to meet the 181-day requirement

Current Texas Residency

You must currently reside in Texas to utilize Hazlewood Act benefits. The only exception applies if you’re currently on active duty (or married to someone on active duty) with military orders showing assignment outside Texas, accompanied by recent Leave and Earnings Statements showing Texas as your legal residence.

Federal Veterans Education Benefits Status

Your federal veterans education benefits status significantly impacts Hazlewood eligibility:

• You must not be receiving federal veterans education benefits that, when combined, exceed the value of the Hazlewood exemption.
• You must have no federal veterans education benefits, OR
• Have federal veterans education benefits dedicated solely to tuition and fees (Post-9/11 GI Bill Chapter 33 or Veteran Readiness and Employment Chapter 31) that don’t exceed Hazlewood Act benefit values

Additional Requirements

Eligible veterans must also:

• Not be in default on any student loan made or guaranteed by the State of Texas
• Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements at their institution
• Not have attempted an excessive number of credit hours as an undergraduate
• Enroll in state-funded courses

Meeting these additional requirements is necessary to maintain exemption eligibility under the Hazlewood Act.

Hazlewood Act Eligibility for Spouses and Dependent Children

Qualifying Veteran Conditions

The veteran must meet basic Hazlewood Act eligibility requirements and one of these conditions:

• Veteran died as a result of a service related injury or illness
• Became totally and permanently disabled (100% service-connected) as determined by the VA due to a service related injury
• Meets Individual Unemployability (IU) eligibility due to permanent service-connected conditions
• Is Missing in Action (MIA)
• Was Killed in Action (KIA)

Relationship Requirements

Eligible family members include:

• Legal spouses of qualifying veterans
• Biological children, stepchildren, or adopted children
• Dependents claimed on current or previous tax returns

Residency and Other Requirements

Spouses and children must:

• Be classified as Texas residents by their institution
• Have no conflicting federal education benefits (similar to veteran requirements)
• Not be in default on Texas-guaranteed student loans
• Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements (waived for spouses/children of MIA, KIA, or service-connected deceased veterans)

Hazlewood Legacy Act: Transferring Benefits to Children

The Hazlewood Legacy Act, through the Hazlewood Legacy Program, allows eligible veterans to transfer Hazlewood legacy benefits to their children, providing a mechanism for transferring unused hours of exemption eligibility. Under this program, eligible veterans can transfer unused hours to their children as assigned hours, and if the assigned hours are not used by the initial recipient, they can be re-assigned to another eligible dependent. The eligibility criteria for transferring benefits under the Hazlewood Legacy Program include meeting specific residency, service, and academic requirements as outlined in the Hazlewood Act Statute and Texas Administrative Code.

Veteran Requirements for Transfer

• Meet all standard Hazlewood eligibility requirements
• Currently reside in Texas during the semester their child claims benefits
• Have unused Hazlewood hours available for transfer

Child Eligibility Requirements

• 25 years old or younger on the first day of the semester (extensions available for qualifying illnesses)
• The veteran’s biological child, stepchild, adopted child, or tax dependent
• Classified as a Texas resident by their institution
• Have no conflicting federal education benefits
• Not be in default on Texas-guaranteed student loans
• Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements
• Be enrolled in a degree plan or a degree or certificate program

The maximum degree certified hours and the degree certified hours reported by the institution each term determine the exemption limits. The program length, as defined in the school catalog and approved by accreditation standards, applies to both degree and certificate programs, and the maximum degree certified hours awarded will depend on the student’s enrolled program.

Transfer Limitations

Important Legacy Act restrictions include:

• Only one child can use transferred Hazlewood benefits at a time
• Veterans can revoke and reassign unused hours to different eligible children
• Hazlewood Act benefits cannot be transferred to spouses under the Legacy Act
• Children must use benefits before age 26 unless granted extensions

Step-by-Step Hazlewood Act Application Process

Step 1: Institutional Admission

Apply for admission to your chosen Texas public college or university. Hazlewood Act benefits can only be used after admission acceptance.

Step 2: Complete Application Forms

Submit the official Texas Hazlewood Act Exemption Application (Forms TVC-ED-1 and TVC-ED-1a). Many institutions also require semester-specific “Continued Enrollment Forms” for ongoing students.

Step 3: Gather Required Documentation

Compile all necessary supporting documents:

For All Applicants:

• DD Form 214 (Member 4 or Service 2 copy)
• Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for federal GI Bill benefits or letter of ineligibility
• Proof of current Texas residency (utility bills, lease agreements)

For Dependents:

• Birth certificates, marriage licenses, or adoption papers
• Recent IRS tax transcripts showing dependency status
• VA disability rating letters (for 100% disabled veterans)
• DD Form 1300 Report of Casualty (for deceased, MIA, or KIA veterans)

Additional Documents May Include:

• Military transcripts from Joint Services Transcript (JST)
• Selective Service registration (males aged 18-25)
• Proof of Texas residency at time of service entry (if not shown on DD-214)

Step 4: Register in Hazlewood Act Online Database

All applicants must create and maintain an account in the Texas Veterans Commission’s Hazlewood Online Database. This system tracks your used credit hours and remaining eligibility.

Step 5: Submit Complete Application

Submit your completed application and all supporting documentation to your institution’s financial aid office or veteran services office. Be sure to stay within the submission deadline to avoid delays.

Processing times range from 1-2 weeks to 30 business days depending on the institution and application volume. Once approved, the Hazlewood exemption appears on your student account, reducing your tuition balance to reflect the covered charges.

Important Considerations for Hazlewood Act Recipients

Benefit Stacking and Federal Aid Coordination

Students eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill or Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits must typically use federal benefits first, with the Hazlewood exemption covering any remaining eligible tuition and fees.

Academic Progress Requirements

Most Hazlewood exemption recipients must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by their institution’s financial aid policy.

Credit Hour Tracking

Withdrawing from courses after the census date (official enrollment reporting date) will count those hours against your 150-hour lifetime limit. 

Impact on Other Financial Aid

Hazlewood exemptions are considered financial resources for federal financial aid calculations. This may reduce your eligibility for need-based grants, scholarships, or loans, as institutions adjust aid packages to accommodate the Hazlewood benefit.

Annual Application Requirements

Many institutions now require annual or semester-specific applications, even for students who have previously used Hazlewood benefits at the same school. Stay current with your institution’s specific requirements to avoid benefit interruptions.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

Incomplete Documentation

Review all requirements carefully and submit complete packages to expedite processing.

Missing Deadlines

Submit applications well before institutional deadlines.

Misunderstanding Hazlewood Exemption Coverage

The Hazlewood exemption covers tuition and most required fees but typically does not cover student services fees, books, supplies, housing, and various other student service fees.

Failing to Track Your Hazlewood Hours

Students are responsible for monitoring their remaining Hazlewood hours. 

Maximizing Your Hazlewood Benefits

Strategic Course Planning

Work with academic advisors to develop degree plans that efficiently use your 150-hour limit.

Graduate School Considerations- Degree Plan

Hazlewood benefits can be used for graduate and professional programs, making them valuable for advanced degrees.

Family Coordination

Veterans with multiple eligible family members should coordinate benefit timing to maximize household educational opportunities while respecting program limitations.

Conclusion

Success with the Hazlewood application process requires careful attention to Hazlewood Act eligibility requirements, thorough documentation, and adherence to institutional deadlines. By following the comprehensive guidance outlined in this article and working closely with veteran services offices at your chosen institution, you can effectively navigate the application process and maximize your educational investment.

Allow us to guide you through the process of receiving benefits you deserve. Begin today by taking our free medical evidence screening, at Allveteran.com.