Types of Veterans Benefits - Financial Aid & Student Accounts

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Types of Veterans Benefits

Veterans Educational Benefits

The United States Veterans Administration operates various educational assistance programs for eligible veterans, war orphans, surviving spouses or children of veterans killed while on duty with the Armed Forces, disabled veterans, dependents of veterans with service related total disability, and certain members of the selected reserve.

Students who wish to use veterans’ educational benefits must identify themselves to the Office of Financial Aid so that proper enrollment certification procedures can be initiated for the following entitlement programs. If you don’t know what Chapter you are claiming, please contact the Department of Veterans Affairs (1-888-442-4551).

Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve National Guard
Chapter 1607 Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty
Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation
Chapter 33 Post 9/11 Yellow Ribbon
Chapter 35 Survivors and Dependents Benefits

More information is available to all veterans from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Enrollment Certification Procedures: If You Are Applying for Benefits for the First Time

All benefits require you apply for admissions to Valparaiso University in addition to applying for financial aid. Other information required is listed below each Chapter.

Chapter 1606, 1607, and 30

1. Complete an online application to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

VA Form 22-1990 for new applicants
VA Form 22-1995 for transfer students
Print a copy before submitting the application, and send it to the VA School Certifying Official

2. Provide a copy of your Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) or Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to the VA School Certifying Official. This document will be mailed to you from the VA after your application has been processed and your educational benefits have been granted.

3. Provide a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 copy) to the VA School Certifying Official.

Chapter 31

1. Your VA Rehabilitation Case Manager must provide you with VA form 28-1905 (Authorization and Certification of Entrance or Re-entrance into Rehabilitation and Certification of Status). This form will detail the specific guidelines the University must adhere to for credit approval, payment of tuition, and purchases of school supplies. A new form must be presented to the Office of Student Accounts for each semester you wish to claim VA educational benefits.

2. Provide a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 copy) to the VA School Certifying Official.

It is the student’s responsibility to self-identify as a Chapter 31 Veteran when purchasing books and supplies at the University’s bookstore. To receive reimbursement for books receipts need to be taken to Student Accounts.

Chapter 33 – Post 9/11- Yellow Ribbon

1. Complete an online application to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

VA Form 22-1990 for new applicants
VA Form 22-1995 for transfer students
Print a copy before submitting the application, and send it to the VA School Certifying Official

3. Provide a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to the VA School Certifying Official.

4. Provide a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 copy) to the VA School Certifying Official.

If you are entitled to receive 100% of the benefits payable under the Post 9/11 GI Bill the University does offer a matching program for our Veterans.

Chapter 35

1. Complete an online application to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

VA Form 5490 (Application for Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance) for new applicants
VA Form 5495 for transfer students

Print a copy before submitting the application, and send it to the VA School Certifying Official

2. Provide a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to the VA School Certifying Official.

Certification Procedures If You Are a Continuing Student

1. Apply for financial aid

2. Notify the Office of Financial Aid of your intent to register for each semester.

Payment Procedures and Information

New and transfer students can expect to begin receiving VA funding, including book and housing stipends (BAH), approximately four to eight weeks from the date the certification is submitted to the VA. Remember the payment is made to the student for the number of days the student is certified for the month. If a student is certified for a whole month, the full monthly benefit is paid. If the student is only certified for part of the month, the benefit is prorated.

Payment usually comes between the 1st and 15th of each month and is paid for the previous month. The VA does not consider a check as late until after the 10th of the month. Inquiries regarding check status or other payment issues may be made directly to the VA at: 1-888-442-4551.

Students receiving educational benefits under Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation and Chapter 33 Post 9/11 will have their tuition and fees paid (part or full) depending on eligibility, directly to the University.

Monthly Certification of Attendance – WAVE

All students who are receiving Chapter 1606 Selected Reserve, Chapter 1607 Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP), or Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill benefits MUST verify their enrollment monthly to receive payment. This verification can be done either by using the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) application or by using the Automated Telephone System (IVR) at: 1-877-823-2378.

Pay Rates

For a list of current pay rates, visit the VA Education Website.

Enrollment Certification Regulations and Student Responsibility

The State Approving Agency (SAA) approves programs and courses of instruction so that educational benefits may be paid to eligible students under the programs administered by the DVA. Therefore, students must be admitted as matriculated and pursuing an approved program of study for enrollment certification of VA benefits. Students are also expected to make satisfactory academic progress toward completion of a degree. Any changes in enrollment including change of major, change of course, course deletions, and complete or partial withdrawals must be reported in writing to the Office of Financial Aid’s VA School Certifying Official via: finaid@valpo.edu.

Failure to comply with the official school withdrawal procedure may affect both past and future benefits. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure tuition and fees are paid in full.

Military Leave Policy

Undergraduate, graduate and law students who are called to active duty must inform their academic advisor and the VA School Certifying Official. Failure to comply could result in you incurring a debt to the VA.