Welcome to the walk-through!
Due to FERPA, schools will be emailing reminders to the ''student's school email''. If your student is NOT checking that email, they are MISSING information.
These processes are generally how most schools operate, but you should always check with your school's School Certifying Official (SCO) to make sure you have the current processes.
Sometimes the SCO is not the person who processes military tuition assistance (military TA) at your school, but they generally will know who does that.
So, to get started, are you using benefits through VA or benefits through your active/reserve duty?
[[VA benefits]]
[[Active/Reserve TA]]
[[Both]]
Frequently Asked Questions:
What about [[Yellow Ribbon]]?
What about [[in-state tuition|Yellow Ribbon]]?
How can I become a [[VA Work Study]]?Have you ever wondered why the GI Bill® is called the GI Bill?
All legislation that becomes law first starts as a bill. These bills typically have multiple chapters to organize the topics and information. Most humans don't remember legislation by legislation number, so these will have names and numbers. If talking about multiple parts within the same act of legislation (literally an act of Congress), these are generally referred to by either their name or their chapter number.
GI Bill is operated by VA > Veteran Benefits Administration > Education Service (VA dept. 22). These are included in these benefits:
[[Post 9/11 - Chapter 33]]
[[Dependents Education Assistance (DEA) - Chapter 35]]
[[Montgomery for Active Duty - Chapter 30]]
[[Montgomery for Selected Reserve - Chapter 1606]]
There might be other chapters also managed by Education Service, but these are the ones that schools have active partnership to get processed for you.
There is one other VA Education Benefit that wasn't listed, but that's because it's operated in a different office: Veteran Readiness & Employment (VRE or VR&E) (VA dept. 28).
VRE is operated by VA > Veteran Benefits Administration > Veteran Readiness & Employment. They have their own department at VA, and nothing happens if you aren't working with one of VRE's counselors.
[[VRE - Chapter 31]]
Back to [[START HERE]]
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.The biggest thing to keep in mind when using military TA is that they pay in this order:
First State (National Guard) TA
then DoD (Department of Defense) TA
(then VA)
State TA is for National Guard reservists.
DoD TA includes all normal active duty TA. Each branch of service has a slightly different process.
No matter which military TA you're using, check with ''both'' your base HR and your school official to make sure they have all the paperwork and forms for your situation. Your base HR typically expects you to provide this information to your school.
Whatever your TA program pays, that's going to be the most that they pay. Tuition often costs more than what TA will pay. You can use FAFSA financial aid and TA at the same time.
If using both State TA and DoD TA, the amount of State TA will be deducted from what DoD TA would have otherwise //potentially// paid. These don't really stack.
Back to [[START HERE]] The biggest thing to keep in mind when using both VA Education Benefits and military TA is that they pay in this order:
First State (National Guard) TA
then DoD (Department of Defense) TA
then VA
State TA is for National Guard reservists.
DoD TA includes all normal active duty TA. Each branch of service has a slightly different process.
No matter which military TA you're using, check with ''both'' your base HR and your school official to make sure they have all the paperwork and forms for your situation. Your base HR typically expects you to provide this information to your school.
Whatever your TA program pays, that's going to be the most that they pay. Tuition often costs more than what TA will pay. You can use FAFSA financial aid and TA at the same time.
Whatever your TA program pays MUST be deducted from the next level, so if TA pays $500 (for instance), $500 MUST be deducted from the required tuition and required fees that VA would have otherwise //potentially// paid. These don't really stack.
Now let's talk about [[VA benefits]] .
Back to [[START HERE]] If using this benefit with anything else that specifically pays for tuition, expect this to NOT STACK. VA always pays the very last even if the anticipated VA payment is applied to your student account first.
If you are staying in the same state as where you are attending school while using this benefit chapter, Section 702 of the Choice Act (federal law) says that schools must grant you the in-state tuition rate. Schools typically start doing this about a month before the semester that you will first be eligible, and your tuition rate typically stays at that new rate as long as you remain continuously enrolled for Fall and Spring semesters after that.
To apply for these benefits, you have to be the active duty member, military veteran, or the veteran transferred these benefits to you in their DEERS portal.
To apply once you suspect that you might qualify: https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/
If you don't apply and if VA does not determine that you are eligible, VA will pay nothing.
''The full onboarding process as I understand it is: ''
You apply on the VA application link above.
VA determines whether you might qualify and sends your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to you, usually by USPS.
Please note that you will need to be admitted to your school to be able to use these benefits. The School Certifying Official (SCO) will only be able to //certify// (officially report) to VA what you are actually enrolled in. This generally ''does not include'' extention programs whose courses are not listed in the official school catalog.
Request ALL ''official'' transcripts to your school:
CLEP, AP scores, DANTES, IB scores, any post high school schooling.
Joint Service Transcripts (JST) from military service starting with Boot Camp, or Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) if you are/were Air or Space Force.
When you register for your classes at your school, you should also submit a certification request to your school's SCO office. Some schools have these online on the student portal, but most schools are requiring a request for every semester that you want to use benefits. The longer you wait to submit this, the more likely you'll be submitting late with everyone else who is submitting late. The first month of school is LATE. Submitting late means you will get your money LATE. The SCOs process as fast as they can, but all their processes are manual because of the complexity of what Congress demands.
----------------------------------------------------
The only VA-billable items are required tuition and required fees for courses that are required for your degree or certificate. If your academic advisor says an elective is needed, the SCO must be able to prove in a VA audit that you have NO prior credits that could have satisfied the requirement. Or there must be a course substitution formally on file with the Registrar's Office.
By law from Congress, SCOs are not allowed to send VA the charges for your required tuition and required fees until after the drop date for those classes. If your school allows a VA anticipated payment to be applied to your student account and VA pays less, YOU are responsible for the difference.
Many schools will generally waive late fees for a month or two at the beginning of the semester to give you some time while you and they are waiting for VA to pay.
VA pays to you:
Book Stipend (before the semester if you got your certification request submitted AND your classes enrolled EARLY)
Housing Allowance (alternatively called MHA and BHA, depending on what branch folks served in, but this always pays AFTER the month it's for, and if you are not enrolled for ALL of the month, VA prorates your amount of MHA lower.)
How much VA pays depends on your percentage of full time (Rate of Pursuit), which is different from full time calculations for FAFSA, the dates of your enrollment(s), whether you have at least one in-person class during those dates, and what percentage of Post 9/11 VA determined you qualified for. If you are not enrolled with at least a 51% Rate of Pursuit, VA pays nothing for MHA, and they will prorate amounts lower if you are not full time. Housing allowance rates are also based on zip codes, so VA has this Comparison Tool to help you learn more:
https://www.va.gov/education/gi-bill-comparison-tool/
VA pays directly to your school:
Required tuition and required fees, prorated lower if your VA eligibility percentage is lower than 100%.
If you drop, withdraw, or audit a course, expect VA not to pay for that. The very first time you ever withdraw, VA will pay for up to 6 credits of withdrawn coursework. Otherwise, you would need to appeal debts to VA by calling the number to VA Debt Management when you receive a debt letter from VA.
If taking an Incomplete grade in a course, do NOT register for that same class again.
Retaking courses must be proven (by your SCO) that the retake was absolutely required, according to your school's published catalog.
Back to [[START HERE]]
If using this benefit with anything else that specifically pays for tuition, expect this to NOT STACK. VA always pays the very last even if the anticipated VA payment is applied to your student account first.
If you are staying in the same state as where you are attending school while using this benefit chapter, Section 702 of the Choice Act (federal law) says that schools must grant you the in-state tuition rate. Schools typically start doing this about a month before the semester that you will first be eligible, and your tuition rate typically stays at that new rate as long as you remain continuously enrolled for Fall and Spring semesters after that.
To apply for these benefits, you have to be the dependent of a veteran who was either disabled or killed during their military service.
To apply once you suspect that you might qualify: https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/
If you don't apply and if VA does not determine that you are eligible, VA will pay nothing.
''The full onboarding process as I understand it is: ''
You apply on the VA application link above.
VA determines whether you might qualify and sends your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to you, usually by USPS.
Please note that you will need to be admitted to your school to be able to use these benefits. The School Certifying Official (SCO) will only be able to //certify// (officially report) to VA what you are actually enrolled in. This generally ''does not include'' extention programs whose courses are not listed in the official school catalog.
Request ALL ''official'' transcripts to your school:
CLEP, AP scores, DANTES, IB scores, any post high school schooling.
Joint Service Transcripts (JST) from military service starting with Boot Camp, or Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) if you are/were Air or Space Force.
When you register for your classes at your school, you should also submit a certification request to your school's SCO office. Some schools have these online on the student portal, but most schools are requiring a request for every semester that you want to use benefits. The longer you wait to submit this, the more likely you'll be submitting late with everyone else who is submitting late. The first month of school is LATE. Submitting late means you will get your money LATE. The SCOs process as fast as they can, but all their processes are manual because of the complexity of what Congress demands.
----------------------------------------------------
The only VA-reportable items are courses that are required for your degree or certificate. If your academic advisor says an elective is needed, the SCO must be able to prove in a VA audit that you have NO prior credits that could have satisfied the requirement. Or there must be a course substitution formally on file with the Registrar's Office.
Many schools will generally waive late fees for a month or two at the beginning of the semester to give you some time while you and they are waiting for VA to pay.
VA pays to you:
Monthly Stipend based on your Rate of Pursuit. There is a rate table:
https://www.va.gov/education/benefit-rates/
How much VA pays depends on your percentage of full time (Rate of Pursuit), which is different from full time calculations for FAFSA and is determined by the dates of your enrollment(s) and number of credits for each date range. Stipend rates are also published by VA on their Comparison Tool to help you learn more:
https://www.va.gov/education/gi-bill-comparison-tool/
VA pays directly to your school:
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Do NOT delay in paying your school.
If you drop, withdraw, or audit a course, expect VA not to pay for that. Otherwise, you would need to appeal debts to VA by calling the number to VA Debt Management when you receive a debt letter from VA.
If taking an Incomplete grade in a course, do NOT register for that same class again.
Retaking courses must be proven (by your SCO) that the retake was absolutely required, according to your school's published catalog.
Back to [[START HERE]]
If using this benefit with anything else that specifically pays for tuition, expect this to NOT STACK. VA always pays the very last even if the anticipated VA payment is applied to your student account first.
If you are staying in the same state as where you are attending school while using this benefit chapter, Section 702 of the Choice Act (federal law) says that schools must grant you the in-state tuition rate. Schools typically start doing this about a month before the semester that you will first be eligible, and your tuition rate typically stays at that new rate as long as you remain continuously enrolled for Fall and Spring semesters after that.
To apply for these benefits, you have to be actively in "active duty" military service.
To apply once you suspect that you might qualify: https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/
If you don't apply and if VA does not determine that you are eligible, VA will pay nothing.
''The full onboarding process as I understand it is: ''
You apply on the VA application link above.
VA determines whether you might qualify and sends your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to you, usually by USPS.
Please note that you will need to be admitted to your school to be able to use these benefits. The School Certifying Official (SCO) will only be able to //certify// (officially report) to VA what you are actually enrolled in. This generally ''does not include'' extention programs whose courses are not listed in the official school catalog.
Request ALL ''official'' transcripts to your school:
CLEP, AP scores, DANTES, IB scores, any post high school schooling.
Joint Service Transcripts (JST) from military service starting with Boot Camp, or Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) if you are/were Air or Space Force.
When you register for your classes at your school, you should also submit a certification request to your school's SCO office. Some schools have these online on the student portal, but most schools are requiring a request for every semester that you want to use benefits. The longer you wait to submit this, the more likely you'll be submitting late with everyone else who is submitting late. The first month of school is LATE. Submitting late means you will get your money LATE. The SCOs process as fast as they can, but all their processes are manual because of the complexity of what Congress demands.
----------------------------------------------------
The only VA-reportable items are courses that are required for your degree or certificate. If your academic advisor says an elective is needed, the SCO must be able to prove in a VA audit that you have NO prior credits that could have satisfied the requirement. Or there must be a course substitution formally on file with the Registrar's Office.
Many schools will generally waive late fees for a month or two at the beginning of the semester to give you some time while you and they are waiting for VA to pay.
VA pays to you:
Monthly Stipend based on your Rate of Pursuit. There is a rate table:
https://www.va.gov/education/benefit-rates/
How much VA pays depends on your percentage of full time (Rate of Pursuit), which is different from full time calculations for FAFSA and is determined by the dates of your enrollment(s) and number of credits for each date range. Stipend rates are also published by VA on their Comparison Tool to help you learn more:
https://www.va.gov/education/gi-bill-comparison-tool/
VA pays directly to your school:
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Do NOT delay in paying your school.
If you drop, withdraw, or audit a course, expect VA not to pay for that. Otherwise, you would need to appeal debts to VA by calling the number to VA Debt Management when you receive a debt letter from VA.
If taking an Incomplete grade in a course, do NOT register for that same class again.
Retaking courses must be proven (by your SCO) that the retake was absolutely required, according to your school's published catalog.
Back to [[START HERE]]
If using this benefit with anything else that specifically pays for tuition, expect this to NOT STACK. VA always pays the very last even if the anticipated VA payment is applied to your student account first.
To apply for these benefits, you have to be actively in the reserves for military service.
To apply once you suspect that you might qualify: https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/
If you don't apply and if VA does not determine that you are eligible, VA will pay nothing.
''The full onboarding process as I understand it is: ''
You apply on the VA application link above.
VA determines whether you might qualify and sends your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to you, usually by USPS.
Please note that you will need to be admitted to your school to be able to use these benefits. The School Certifying Official (SCO) will only be able to //certify// (officially report) to VA what you are actually enrolled in. This generally ''does not include'' extention programs whose courses are not listed in the official school catalog.
Request ALL ''official'' transcripts to your school:
CLEP, AP scores, DANTES, IB scores, any post high school schooling.
Joint Service Transcripts (JST) from military service starting with Boot Camp, or Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) if you are/were Air or Space Force.
When you register for your classes at your school, you should also submit a certification request to your school's SCO office. Some schools have these online on the student portal, but most schools are requiring a request for every semester that you want to use benefits. The longer you wait to submit this, the more likely you'll be submitting late with everyone else who is submitting late. The first month of school is LATE. Submitting late means you will get your money LATE. The SCOs process as fast as they can, but all their processes are manual because of the complexity of what Congress demands.
----------------------------------------------------
The only VA-reportable items are courses that are required for your degree or certificate. If your academic advisor says an elective is needed, the SCO must be able to prove in a VA audit that you have NO prior credits that could have satisfied the requirement. Or there must be a course substitution formally on file with the Registrar's Office.
Many schools will generally waive late fees for a month or two at the beginning of the semester to give you some time while you and they are waiting for VA to pay.
VA pays to you:
Monthly Stipend based on your Rate of Pursuit. There is a rate table:
https://www.va.gov/education/benefit-rates/
How much VA pays depends on your percentage of full time (Rate of Pursuit), which is different from full time calculations for FAFSA and is determined by the dates of your enrollment(s) and number of credits for each date range. Stipend rates are also published by VA on their Comparison Tool to help you learn more:
https://www.va.gov/education/gi-bill-comparison-tool/
VA pays directly to your school:
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Do NOT delay in paying your school.
If you drop, withdraw, or audit a course, expect VA not to pay for that. Otherwise, you would need to appeal debts to VA by calling the number to VA Debt Management when you receive a debt letter from VA.
If taking an Incomplete grade in a course, do NOT register for that same class again.
Retaking courses must be proven (by your SCO) that the retake was absolutely required, according to your school's published catalog.
Back to [[START HERE]]
If using this benefit with anything else that specifically pays for tuition, expect this to NOT STACK. VA always pays the very last even if the anticipated VA payment is applied to your student account first.
If you are staying in the same state as where you are attending school while using this benefit chapter, Section 702 of the Choice Act (federal law) says that schools must grant you the in-state tuition rate. Schools typically start doing this about a month before the semester that you will first be eligible, and your tuition rate typically stays at that new rate as long as you remain continuously enrolled for Fall and Spring semesters after that.
To apply for these benefits, you have to be the veteran. Check out the eligibility rules at: https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/vocational-rehabilitation/eligibility/
To apply once you suspect that you might qualify: https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/vocational-rehabilitation/apply-vre-form-28-1900/start
If you don't apply and finish the intake process with a VRE counselor, VRE will pay nothing.
During the intake process, your assigned VRE counselor will ask you to do research on the job you want and the kind of majors that you would need to have to get that job.
VRE's goal is to get veterans employed. VRE counselors are rehabilitation counselors. They are there to help you, but they need your help to be able to do that.
''The full onboarding process for VRE as I understand it is: ''
You apply on the VRE application link above.
VA determines whether you might qualify for VRE and sends your file to a regional office for assignment.
The regional VRE office assigns your case to a VRE counselor.
The VRE counselor reaches out to you to start your onboarding process.
After your onboarding paperwork is completed, then your VRE counselor sends a PO authorization to the school. This starts the school's ability to know what is approved to bill to VRE.
Please note that you will need to be admitted to your school and have an advisor at your school to be able to complete some of the onboarding paperwork which will include information from your Academic Advisor to your VRE counsellor about coursework required for your program of study (major). This is NOT information that the School Certifying Official (SCO) office provides to the VRE counsellor.
Request ALL ''official'' transcripts to your school:
CLEP, AP scores, DANTES, IB scores, any post high school schooling.
Joint Service Transcripts (JST) from military service starting with Boot Camp, or Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) if you are/were Air or Space Force.
You can ask the SCO's office to help you find this information so you can provide it to your VRE counselor:
VA Facility Code
SCO Email to Use
Supplier Tax Registration Number
When you register for your classes at your school, you should also submit a certification request to your school's SCO office. Some schools have these online on the student portal, but most schools are requiring a request for every semester that you want to use benefits. The longer you wait to submit this, the more likely you'll be submitting late with everyone else who is submitting late. The first month of school is LATE. Submitting late means you will get your money LATE. The SCOs process as fast as they can, but all their processes are manual because of the complexity of what Congress demands.
You should also make sure that your VRE counselor has sent a PO authorization to the school (ask your VRE counselor when to expect that to be sent to the school).
----------------------------------------------------
The only VRE-billable items are whatever your VRE counselor approves. Work closely with them to make sure you are following the agreements. Failure to do so can get you removed from the VRE program.
VRE typically pays for required tuition and required fees that are associated with the courses that your VRE counselor has approved. Sometimes they'll pay some part of your Bookstore charges or a computer, but this has to be based on your needs for success according to your agreements with your VRE counselor.
VRE does ''not ever'' pay for school's health insurance. If you are using VRE, you already have VA Health benefits, and they expect you to use that.
VRE will often not be invoiced for your billable charges until after the drop date, but late fees are generally waived by your school's billing office when those payments are applied to your account.
Back to [[START HERE]]
If you are staying in the same state as where you are attending school while using Chapter 33, 30, 35, or 31, Section 702 of the Choice Act (federal law) says that schools must grant you the in-state tuition rate. Schools typically start doing this about a month before the semester that you will first be eligible, and your tuition rate typically stays at that new rate as long as you remain continuously enrolled for Fall and Spring semesters after that.
If you have the in-state tuition rate, you will not qualify for VA's Yellow Ribbon program.
If you are not using Post 9/11, you will not qualify for VA's Yellow Ribbon program.
Here's more:
[https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/yellow-ribbon-program/]
Back to [[START HERE]] VA Work Study is a little known secret in the college world...
You will hear about "Work Study" from Financial Aid offices. For our purposes, this is FAFSA Work Study because you have to apply for the FAFSA to be able to potentially qualify for it. FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and you can use FAFSA alongside VA Education Benefits (as long as any of the funds aren't required to pay only your tuition). FAFSA Work Study is paid through your school from funds from the US Department of Education.
BUT if you are using one of these VA Education Benefits (listed below), you //''will''// qualify for VA Work Study //''without''// applying for the FAFSA:
[[Post 9/11 - Chapter 33]]
[[Dependents Education Assistance (DEA) - Chapter 35]]
[[Montgomery for Active Duty - Chapter 30]]
[[Montgomery for Selected Reserve - Chapter 1606]]
[[VRE - Chapter 31]]
VA Work Study is paid directly from VA to the VA beneficiary (that's the student) with funds from the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Other Main Differences:
1. FAFSA Work Study lets you work on homework on the clock (while working), but VA Work Study won't allow that.
2. VA Work Study is TAX FREE as an extension of your VA Education Benefits, but FAFSA Work Study is taxable income.
3. FAFSA Work Study has a vast variety of jobs that can be part of the program, but VA Work Study crew must be directly helping active military, military veterans, military dependents, and those who are trying to access VA benefits.
4. FAFSA Work Study generally has to be associated with your school, but VA Work Study can allow you to work other places than just your school. For example, you might work in the office of your member of Congress (talk to your member of Congress if interested in a job in their location, then talk to your School Certifying Official).
5. VA Work Study:
https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/work-study/
6. FAFSA Work Study:
https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/work-study
Similarities:
1. Supervisors must work around your class schedule.
2. Hiring managers must prioritize those with more financial need.
Back to [[START HERE]]