VA Education Benefits Breakdown

You may be eligible for education benefits or training through the Montgomery GI Bill^®®-Active Duty (MGIB-AD) if you served at least 2 years on active-duty. See if you eligible HERE and check out the current payment rates.

Note: If you are eligible for more than one benefit. You will need to choose which benefit you would like to use, and you cannot switch to a different benefit after that decision is made.

Also, if you have only 1 period of service beginning on or after August 1, 2011, and you start receiving payments for MGIB-AD, you may lose your eligibility for the Ch.33 Post-9/11 GI Bill. Contact VA (888-442-4551) and use the VA Comparison Tool for help on deciding which benefit to use.

How do I get this benefit?

• Make sure your program is VA approved (the benefit can only be used toward an approved program at your school), you may contact the school or VA to find out if your program is approved.
• Apply for the benefit, VA will send you a Certificate of Eligibility letter if you are eligible and approved for the benefit – www.va.gov
• Follow FAU’s Military and Veterans Student Success Center steps for Using Your Education Benefits at FAU to initiate the process each semester. Contact veterans@fau.edu for more.

 

How are payments made?
Students will directly receive a monthly stipend from VA that is based on the number of credits taken in a term.

Does VA require me to verify my enrollment at the end of each month in a semester certified?
Yes! You can verify your enrollment using the VA’s Web Automated Verification of Enrollment Portal (WAVE) or by phone 1-877-823-2378.

This program can help eligible veterans and active-Duty SM with service-connected disability that limits your ability to work or prevent you from working to explore employment options and

address education or training needs. Your assigned Vocational Readiness Counselor (VRC) will work with you to determine if you meet the entitlement criteria.

The program features 5 support-and-services tracks to help you get education or training, find

and keep a job, and live as independently as possible.

The tracks include:

1. Reemployment
2. Rapid Access to Employment
3. Self-Employment
4. Employment through Long Term Services
5. Independent Living Trac

Learn more on the VR&E program HERE.

How do I get this benefit?

• Apply for the benefit, VA will assign you a VR&E counselor that will work with you to determine your eligibility www.va.gov
• If approved, be admitted/enroll in a VA approved program.
• Follow FAU’s Military and Veterans Student Success Center steps for Using Your Education Benefits at FAU to initiate the process each semester. Contact veterans@fau.edu for more.

How are Ch. 31 Benefits applied at FAU?
Your VRC will submit a Purchase Order (PO#) for tuition and fees through the Tungsten Network Portal (electronically) typically before the start of the semester, and another PO# for books and supplies directly to the FAU bookstore (if applicable).

The university will invoice tuition and fees using the PO# through the Tungsten Network Portal after you submit the “Semester’s VA Enrollment Certification Request Form (electronically) EACH semester to initiate use of the benefit.

How are books and supplies obtained?
Book and supplies are typically obtained through the FAU Bookstore.

1. VRC sends PO# (including the student’s Z#) for books and supplies to FAU’s bookstore office.
2. Bookstore Office create the voucher for students to get their supplies.
3. Student visit bookstore to order/purchase their items.

How long does a student have to order/purchase their supplies at the bookstore EACH semester?
FAU bookstore provide students utilizing VA Ch.31 benefits 4-5 weeks to make purchases each semester. Orders/purchasing can be made as early as 2-weeks before class will start through at least 2 (often times three weeks) after.

Note: Due to this time window, it is important that students get their vouchers processed early enough for them to be able to take full advantage of their benefit.

Including Transfer of Entitlement & Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

This education benefit can help individuals pay for school or job training if you served on active duty after September 10, 2001. Some veterans or service-member may also be eligible transfer this benefit to their dependents and/or spouse. For eligibility requirement visit the Department of Veterans Affairs HERE and HERE for the transfer of Entitlement requirements.

Eligible participants may receive the following benefits based on the benefit percentage.

1. Cost of tuition and fees - paid directly to the university
2. Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) - paid directly to the beneficiary
3. Book stipend up to $1000/year – paid directly to the beneficiary

How do I get this benefit?

• Make sure your program is VA approved (the benefit can only be used toward an approved program at your school), you may contact the school or VA to find out if your program is approved.
• Apply for the benefit, VA will send you a Certificate of Eligibility letter if you are eligible and approved for the benefit – www.va.gov
• Follow FAU’s Military and Veterans Student Success Center steps for Using Your Education Benefits at FAU to initiate the process each semester. Contact veterans@fau.edu for more.

Does VA require me to verify my enrollment at the end of each month in a semester certified?
Yes! VA require Ch. 33 students who receive (MHA) and/or kicker payments to verify their enrollment (at the end of each month during a semester) to continue receiving their payments.

How can I verify my enrollment each semester?
VA Provides options to verify enrollment easily and securely via text message, email, and online at www.vA.gov. Check out the How to Verify Enrollment for Post-9/11 GI Bill^® Students video or the VA’s Enrollment Verification page.

What happens if I fail to verify my enrollment?
If you fail to verify enrollment for two consecutive months, VA will place your MHA/kicker payments on hold. To have your payments released, you will need to use online verification, Ask VA or call the Education Call Center (ECC) at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to verify your enrollment.

What are the steps for transferring the Ch.33 to a spouse or dependent?

• While still on active duty, the service member will request a Transfer of Education Benefit (TEB) from the Department of Defense (DoD) through their milconnect accounts.
  • The DoD will determine whether you meet the requirement to transfer the benefit to your family.
• If the TEB is granted through the DOD, the spouse or dependent can now visit the VA website (www.va.gov) to apply and initiate use of the for the benefit.
• If benefit was transfer and eligibility is found, VA will provide student with a Certificate of Eligibility Letter.

Visit the Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more on transferring the benefits.

What is the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship?

The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship allow eligible veterans using Ch. 33 and Fry scholarship dependents to get added benefits of up to 9 months (or $30,000) of benefits for training in high-demand fields. See if you’re eligible and how to apply with VA STEM scholarship.

If you are a dependent spouse or child—or the surviving spouse or child—of a totally disabled or deceased Veteran, you may be eligible for education benefits or job training under the VA’s Dependent Education Assistance (DEA) program-Ch. 35. See if you’re eligible and how to apply with VA HERE.

How do I get this benefit?

• Make sure your program is VA approved (the benefit can only be used toward an approved program at your school), you may contact the school or VA to find out if your program is approved.
• Apply for the benefit, VA will send you a Certificate of Eligibility letter if you are eligible and approved for the benefit – www.va.gov
• Follow FAU’s Military and Veterans Student Success Center steps for Using Your Education Benefits at FAU to initiate the process each semester. Contact veterans@fau.edu for more.

How are the payments made under the DEA program and Fry scholarship?
DEA - Students will directly receive a monthly stipend from VA that is based on the number of credits taken in a term.

Fry scholarship – Tuition and fee payment are paid directly to the school (covers full-in state tuition cost), Money for books and supplies is paid directly to the student (covering up to a certain amount each year that’s divided amongst the terms), Monthly Housing Allowance is paid directly to the student. See the current Fry Scholarship rates HERE.

What is the difference between the DEA program and Fry scholarship benefits under Ch.35?
The Fry Scholarship is for children and spouses of service members who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, or Members of the Selected Reserve who died from a service-connected disability on or after September 11, 2001.

The DEA program offers education and training to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently or totally disable from a service -related condition or a service member who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.

Note: if you qualify for both the DEA and Fry scholarship. You will need to pick 1 and you cannot switch to the other benefit after you’ve made your decision. State Benefit (matching the Ch.35 criteria’s) that you may also be eligible for:

Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans
If you are eligible for the above benefit from VA, you may also be eligible for the state scholarship while pursuing an initial baccalaureate degree or certificate program.