Veterans education benefits

Certification and class attendance required

To receive education benefits, you must be certified by the Veterans Certification Office. Your benefit payments are based, in part, on the number of credits and length of the classes in which you are registered. In addition, you must attend the class sessions in which you are enrolled.

To be certified, submit all required documentation (outlined in the Benefit programs section below) to the University's Veterans Certification Office in 200 Fraser Hall (EXCEPTION: Applicants for Chapter 31 must meet with a USDVA counselor). Your documentation will be forwarded electronically within 2 business days to the USDVA Regional Processing Office in St. Louis. Their decisions on eligibility typically take from 6-8 weeks.

If you choose to complete and submit the Application for VA Benefits (22-5495) or the Change of Program or Place of Training (22-1995) online, be sure to send your VONAPP signature page directly to USDVA St. Louis Office, not the University Certification Office, to avoid a hold on your payments.

Keep in mind that any veterans education benefits you receive must be reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you have specific questions, please contact USDVA St. Louis Office toll-free at 1-888-442-4551 or go to the USDVAWeb site, www.gibill.va.gov.

Verify your enrollment

Chapter 30, 1607, and 1606 recipients: Once you are certified for your benefits, you must verify your enrollment with the VA at the end of each month before you will receive your payment. Be sure that you have reported exact start and end dates for any session classes in which you are enrolled that are shorter or extend beyond the regular semester. To verify enrollment, go to the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) or call 1-877-823-2378.

Benefit programs

Eligibility criteria and benefits vary for veterans education benefit programs from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (USDVA). Your benefit payments are based of the number of credits and length of the classes in which you are registered. You must include the start and end dates for any session classes that are shorter or longer than the regular term. Specific program descriptions of monthly stipends, eligibility periods, financial aid criteria, and other required documentation are described in the links below.