VA - How to Begin the Process
Admission to ULM is the first step to receiving your VA educational benefits. Once you have applied for admission, have been accepted, and have declared a major, you can begin the process to receive benefits.
To determine the chapter under which you are entitled to receive benefits, click on the VA Chapters 30, 31, 35, 1606 link. Depending upon the Chapter for which you qualify, you may be required to submit supporting documents (e.g., marriage license, birth certificate). You may review more detailed information on these chapters, review pay rates, gain answers to many of your questions, and download forms needed to receive benefits by visiting the G.I. Bill Web site (http://www.gibill2.va.gov). You may also contact the local Department of Veterans Affairs at (318) 362-5137, or call or visit the ULM Veterans Affairs Office.
If you are a veteran, reservist, or guardsman who wishes to use your benefits, you must complete VA Form 22-1990 or 22-1995. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs requires that you submit the “member” 4 copy and all DD214s and/or the DD Form 2384 Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE). If applicable, complete Form 22-686c-Declaration of Status of Dependents. You may contact the local Department of Veterans Affairs or the ULM Veterans Affairs Office for further information.
Dependents of a veteran who is 100 percent permanently disabled from a service-related illness or injury or dependents of a veteran who dies as a result of his military injuries or illness will need to complete Form 22-5490 or 22-5495.
Service-related disabled veterans should contact the VA Vocational Rehabilitation representative at (318) 676-3425. You may also visit the Web site address at http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/.
Once you have registered for courses, you must notify us of your intent to use benefits by completing the Undergraduate or Graduate Enrollment Certification Form and the School Information Form to receive DVA benefits. Pertinent forms are processed through the U.S. Veterans Administration Regional Office in Muskogee, OK. The number of semester hours in which you enroll indicate your monthly full-time and part-time enrollment status to determine benefit payments (click on the Semester Certification link).
There are required forms that must be completed and returned to the ULM Veterans Affairs Office; the office location is found at the bottom of this page. These forms may be downloaded below.
VA Chapters 30, 31, 33, 35, 1606, 1607
Chapter 30: Category One - Entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985. Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for the first 12 months. Continuously served for 3 years, or 2 years if that is your first term of enlistment; or 2 years if you entered the selected reserve within a year of leaving active duty and served 4 years (2 by 4 program). Category Two - Entered active duty before January 1, 1977. Served at least 1 day between 10/19/84 and 6/30/85 and stayed on active duty through 6/30/88. On 12/31/89, you had entitlement left from the Vietnam Era GI Bill.
Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation is a program of services for service members and veterans with service-connected physical or mental disabilities. Often these individuals experience limitations in getting and keeping a job, as well as in their daily living activities. This program can prepare veterans for a suitable job, help them get and keep that job, and assist them in becoming fully productive and independent. Veterans must first be evaluated by the VA regional office before they can be accepted into the Chapter 31 program. If you have a service disability, it is highly encouraged that you apply regardless of percentage. If you are eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation benefits, you may receive up to four years of rehabilitation services. Generally, you must complete a rehabilitation program within twelve years from the date VA notifies you of your entitlement to compensation benefits. Veterans have a maximum of 48 months of benefits. Chapter 31 pays for training expenses, including tuition, fees, necessary books, supplies, and equipment, and will provide you with a monthly subsistence allowance during training.
Chapter 33: The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. As of August 1, 2009, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is effective for training. Approved training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill includes graduate and undergraduate degrees, and vocational/technical training. All training programs must be offered by an institution of higher learning (IHL) and approved for GI Bill benefits. Additionally, tutorial assistance, and licensing and certification test reimbursement are approved under the Post- 9/11 GI Bill. The Post-9/11 GI Bill will pay your tuition based upon the highest in-state tuition charged by a public educational institution in the state where the school is located. The amount of support that an individual may qualify for depends on where they live and what type of degree they are pursuing.
Chapter 35: Dependents' Educational Assistance provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. You must be the son, daughter, or spouse of a) a veteran who died or is permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability sustained during active duty in the Armed Forces; b) a veteran who died from any cause while a service-connected disability existed; c) a service member missing in action or captured in line of duty by a hostile force; or d) a service member forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power.
Chapter 1606: The Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, and the Air National Guard. You may use this education assistance program for degree programs, certificate or correspondence courses, cooperative training, independent study programs, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and vocational flight training programs. Remedial, refresher and deficiency training are available under certain circumstances. Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components. VA makes the payments for this program. You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits. Your benefit entitlement ends 10 years from the date of your eligibility for the program or on the day you leave the Selected Reserve.
Chapter 1607: GI Bill (REAP)Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP), more commonly known as Chapter 1607, was established October 28, 2004 in recognition of the sacrifices made by Reserve Component members' in answering the call to duty. Chapter 1607 can be used in conjunction with Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA), kickers, loan programs and state funded programs (GTIP) to assist with educational expenses. To be eligible for the benefit, a soldier must be mobilized for 90+ consecutive days since September 11, 2001. There is no delimitating date, soldiers do not have to pay in $1200 or have a 6x2 enlistment contract; however, they must remain in the ARNG to receive the benefit. If a soldier gains eligibility then leaves the Selected Reserves, their eligibility for 1607 terminates forever (even if they re-enlist within the 12 month window). Eligibility also terminates if a soldier participates in a Dedicated Guard ROTC program after becoming eligible or if the soldier uses all of their monthly entitlements. If a service member is ordered to active duty and released before completing 90 consecutive days because of an injury, illness or disease incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, they may receive 1607. Soldiers separated because of a disability (not willful misconduct) on or after the date on entitlement (91st day of deployment) will have 10 years to use 1607 from the date of entitlement.
Useful Links
http://www.gibill.va.gov
-includes chapter payment rateshttp://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/index.htm
-includes chapter subsistance (pay) allowance rates
Useful Telephone Numbers
1-888-442-4551 (Chapters 30, 35, 1606)
1-877-823-2378 (Chapter 30 verification only)
1-800-827-1000 (general questions)
1-318-362-5137 (Local VA Office)
VA - Semester Certification
If you are requesting VA benefits, you must confirm your intent to receive benefits by completing the appropriate certification forms (see links below).
You are paid VA benefits based on your training time and the number of hours for which you are certified.
Fall and Spring Semesters
Full-time:
Undergraduates - 12 or more hours
Graduates - 9 or more hours
Three-quarter time:
Undergraduates - 9 to 11 hours
Graduates - 4 to 8 hours
Half-time:
Undergraduates - 6 to 8 hours
Graduates - 3 hours
Less than half time:
Undergraduates - 5 or less hours
Graduates - 2 or less hours
Summer Terms
Full-time: Undergraduates and Graduates - 4 or more hours
Three-quarter time Undergraduates and Graduates - 3 hours
Half-Time Undergraduates and Graduates - 2 hours
Tuition only Undergraduates and Graduates - 1 hour
Certification Forms
Below are links to the downloadable forms to be completed each enrollment period by the third day of classes and returned to the ULM Veterans Affairs Office (location at bottom of page):
VA - Monthly Verification
Veterans, reservists, and guardsmen who receive VA educational benefits under Chapter 30 (Montgomery G.I. Bill - Active Duty) and Chapter 1606 (Montgomery GI Bill - Selective Reserve) must verify class attendance on or after the last day of the month. You may verify by phone (1-877-823-2378) or via the web at http://www.gibill.va.gov. Failure to verify class attendance could result in non-receipt of VA educational benefits for the month. Benefits may be delayed in those months with federal holidays.
VA - Benefit Restrictions
For you to receive educational benefits, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs requires that a student "be making satisfactory academic progress towards your goal" (e.g., courses must apply toward degree in which you are enrolled). Failure to adhere to this regulation may result in a decrease of the amount or the loss of VA benefits.
Your academic advisor or department head will approve the courses in which you may enroll each enrollment period in your curriculum and certify that they apply toward your degree by completing and signing the appropriate Enrollment Verification Form. Each enrollment period, you must submit a completed Enrollment Verification form by the third day of classes to the ULM Veterans Affairs Office in order to certify your benefits.
The ULM Certifying Official is obligated by the VA to closely monitor your academic performance and to provide your enrollment information (e.g., dropping below full-time enrollment) to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Although not all-inclusive, some of the primary reasons for this required reporting are to adjust the amount of VA educational payment benefits a) based on your current enrollment status, b) based on the number of courses that apply toward your degree, c) based on the number courses that apply toward your degree as a result changing majors at ULM, or d) based on the number of transferable courses that apply toward a degree as a result of transferring to ULM from an accredited college or university.
Although not all-inclusive, some of the basic ways to ensure that you receive your benefits in a timely manner are a) to submit your required Enrollment Certification Form each enrollment period within the first three days of classes, b) forecast your intent to enroll in future enrollment periods, c) remain enrolled in required courses for which you register, and d) earn grades in each course that indicate ULM and VA satisfactory progress toward your degree.
After you have enrolled during an enrollment period as a full-time, three-quarter time, half-time, less than half-time, or tuition-only student, you want to avoid an Overpayment of Benefits for which you are responsible to repay the VA. To avoid such overpayments, always report any action you take that affects your class enrollment (e.g., dropping courses, resigning from the University) to the ULM Veteran Affairs Office.
VA - Paying Tuition/Fees
ULM allows you to pay tuition and fees either in its entirety at the time of registration or with a payment plan arranged through the Billing Office in Administration Building, Rm. 1-5. You must pay at the beginning of an enrollment period a minimum of 1/3 tuition and fees, plus a processing fee. The remaining balance must be paid in two payments according to established payment deadlines determined by the Billing Office.
Establishing your record (initial application) to receive VA benefits in the Regional VA Office in Muskogee, OK, usually takes some time. The DVA stipulates that student-veterans cannot be certified to receive benefits until after classes begin during any enrollment period. Therefore, your VA educational benefits may not have arrived in time to use them for tuition payment either at registration or by the first deadline (when basically 1/3 of tuition and fees are due) or even by the second or final payment deadlines. Consequently, you should make your own arrangements to pay at least the first semester charges when the bill is due. After your Regional VA record is established and if you consistently maintain your enrollment status, you should receive your educational benefits as established by VA guidelines.
You may consider requesting Advanced Payment (AP) of VA educational benefits to assist you with paying your tuition and fee payment. However, if eligible to apply, the application for Advanced Payment must submitted to the Regional DVA Office in Muskogee, OK, no later than 30 days prior to the beginning of a ULM enrollment term. Other requirements and restrictions regarding Advanced Payment may apply. Contact the VA School Certifying Official in Administration Building, Room 1-109, for details.
Your VA educational benefits may be mailed to or deposited in your bank account on a monthly basis. You are encouraged to use direct deposit, which is arranged through the ULM Veterans Affairs Office.
VA - Dropping Courses/Status Changes
Veterans are allowed to drop courses at ULM. However, this action may result in an overpayment in the VA system, and you may incur charges from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. You are responsible for the charges unless you have documented mitigating circumstances or this is your first time to drop a ULM course. You may receive a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs informing you of this transaction and the course of action.
You must notify the VA Certifying Official in Administration Building, Rm. 1-109 (Registrar's Office) of any changes in your enrollment status such as dropping a course(s), withdrawing/resigning from the University, or changing your major program of study. Such changes may affect the receipt of or amount of your VA benefits.
VA - Tutorial Assistance
Did you know the Department of Veterans Affairs pays for tutoring? If you feel you need help in your academic courses, please come by the ULM Veterans Affairs Office to obtain information about this service. The DVA will pay up to $600 in tutorial help for you if you are receiving VA educational benefits. The DVA pays for the tutor at a rate of no more than $100 per month, which is paid to you. You are responsible for paying the tutor. You may be eligible for an additional $600 in tutoring benefits (for a total of $1,200). This additional $600 in tutoring will be deducted from your VA educational benefits.
VA - Work Study
You may be eligible for VA Work-Study if you are enrolled 3/4 time or more and are currently receiving VA educational benefits. The work-study program allows you to work at an approved VA site. Most ULM students eligible to work in the VA Work Study program work approximately 20 hours per week. Those who are eligible are paid at the greater of either the federal or state minimum wage. To apply, complete VA form 22-8691.
Please contact the ULM Veterans Affairs Office for further information.