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Did you miss the 2022 GI Bill Summit? VA Education Service leadership answered your GI Bill benefits questions at the first-ever event.
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Hear VBA Education Service leadership answer education benefits questions submitted by Veterans, Service members, and their families on RallyPoint: https://w...
On April 14, 2022, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Education Service (EDU) leadership hosted its first ever GI Bill® Summit, connecting virtually with GI Bill students and the Veteran community to provide updates on Digital GI Bill modernization efforts and answer GI Bill questions submitted on RallyPoint.
The GI Bill Summit was hosted on VA’s Post-9/11 GI Bill Facebook page and featured:
» Opening remarks from EDU Acting Executive Director Mary Glenn
» Question and Answer session with EDU leadership
» Facebook Live chat interaction, answering education benefits questions on the spot
» Showcases of various VA education programs including VRRAP and VET TEC
» Spotlights of Veterans Claims Examiners and a School Certifying Official
In case you missed it, you can watch the recording of the 2022 GI Bill Summit here:
In addition, VA’s Digital GI Bill team hosted a usability testing session with over 600 School Certifying Officials to test out new functionalities being developed to support the Digital GI Bill modernization effort. These new features are focused on making a better experience for Veterans, Service members, their families, and the school administrators and VA staff who support them.
Over the past few weeks, VA answered more than 250 education benefits questions submitted to the 2022 GI Bill Summit: RallyPoint Q&A. Topics included monthly enrollment verification requirements, Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA), transfer of entitlement, expiring COVID-19 protections of benefits, and more.
On behalf of the VA EDU leadership, we thank you for your engagement and participation in the GI Bill Summit. Your questions and feedback are invaluable as we work to improve your education benefits experience, and we look forward to continuing these types of conversations with you in the future.
If you have any additional questions, please utilize the GI Bill hotline at 888-GIBILL- [login to see] ) between 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Central Time, Monday-Friday. For students outside the U.S., call 00 [login to see] . You can also ask us a question via Ask VA (https://ask.va.gov) or reach out to us through our Post- 9/11 GI Bill Facebook page (https://rly.pt/346jg4T).
The GI Bill Summit was hosted on VA’s Post-9/11 GI Bill Facebook page and featured:
» Opening remarks from EDU Acting Executive Director Mary Glenn
» Question and Answer session with EDU leadership
» Facebook Live chat interaction, answering education benefits questions on the spot
» Showcases of various VA education programs including VRRAP and VET TEC
» Spotlights of Veterans Claims Examiners and a School Certifying Official
In case you missed it, you can watch the recording of the 2022 GI Bill Summit here:
In addition, VA’s Digital GI Bill team hosted a usability testing session with over 600 School Certifying Officials to test out new functionalities being developed to support the Digital GI Bill modernization effort. These new features are focused on making a better experience for Veterans, Service members, their families, and the school administrators and VA staff who support them.
Over the past few weeks, VA answered more than 250 education benefits questions submitted to the 2022 GI Bill Summit: RallyPoint Q&A. Topics included monthly enrollment verification requirements, Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA), transfer of entitlement, expiring COVID-19 protections of benefits, and more.
On behalf of the VA EDU leadership, we thank you for your engagement and participation in the GI Bill Summit. Your questions and feedback are invaluable as we work to improve your education benefits experience, and we look forward to continuing these types of conversations with you in the future.
If you have any additional questions, please utilize the GI Bill hotline at 888-GIBILL- [login to see] ) between 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Central Time, Monday-Friday. For students outside the U.S., call 00 [login to see] . You can also ask us a question via Ask VA (https://ask.va.gov) or reach out to us through our Post- 9/11 GI Bill Facebook page (https://rly.pt/346jg4T).
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
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Responses: 174
GI Bill - I used a portion of my GI Bill and was later diagnosed service connected MDD which rendered me unable to use entire benefit? Can I use remaining benefit after 10 years OR transfer remaining benefit to dependent child?
I am a Vietnam-Era veteran. I never used my GI Bill, due to living in southern Europe after retiring from the Navy. Is there any way to ensure those who, for one reason or another, didn't use their GI Bill but could pass the benefits to another, or even use it themselves? Thanks
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your question. The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act eliminated the 15-year time limit for using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for Veterans who left active duty on or after January 1, 2013, as well as qualifying dependents. If you were discharged before January 1, 2013, your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits expire 15 years after you separated from the military. You may qualify for an extension of these benefits under various circumstances. Please visit our website to learn more: https://www.va.gov/resources/getting-a-gi-bill-extension/. Under current legislation, a Service member must transfer one month’s worth of entitlement before separating or retiring in order for their child or spouse to be eligible to use their GI Bill benefits. We know this is an important topic and many people have asked similar questions. VA is listening to your feedback, and we are consistently looking at legislation and working with Congress and other GI Bill partners to provide a GI Bill process that works for you and your family. Visit https://www.va.gov/education/transfer-post-9-11-gi-bill-benefits/ to learn more about transfer of benefits and check out VBA EDU leadership discussing this topic at the 2022 GI Bill Summit: https://youtu.be/0E5tw0zd4DY?t=528. If you no longer qualify for GI Bill benefits and you are interested in continuing your education/training, you may be eligible for the Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program which offers education and training for high-demand jobs to Veterans who are unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can learn more here: https://www.va.gov/education/other-va-education-benefits/veteran-rapid-retraining-assistance/
After working 4 years in the bowels of a ship, 8-12 hrs a day, breathing toxic fuel oil and diesel fuel fumes, I developed Tremor which I didn't associate until later with the fact that the fumes, confirmed by MSDS sheets which I submitted, caused the Tremor, I applied for a % settlement. I was turned down and told by a service officer that I would never get a settlement because I was the first one who had ever claimed such a thing. It's a pain in the butt to continue the paperwork to try again so I gave up. I was tested repeatedly by doctors who affirmed I had Tremor and it was likely caused by those fumes and using that fluid to wash parts daily. I deserve a settlement.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide a response for individual cases in this forum. We encourage you to contact [login to see] to speak with one of our representatives who can review your file information. They can also assist you with filing a claim for an evaluation to reassess your claim. If you would like additional assistance with navigating the process, a Veteran Service Organization (VSO) can help. VSOs are organizations that are independent of VA. You can find a list of VSOs on Directory of Veterans Service Organizations on the VA website: https://www.va.gov/vso/ and you can search for ones in your local area via eBenefits: https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/vso-search
Can benefits be explained for those getting a PhD where the program pays even a stipend? Are you able to still get BAH? It’s difficult to understand how the GI Bill is used in these situations.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your question. If you are a full-time student in an undergraduate or graduate degree program, you may be entitled to a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA). The amount you receive will depend on if you are attending full-time or part-time and based on the ZIP code of the location of the school you are attending. Your MHA benefits are not impacted by other monies you might be receiving such as a stipend. For further assistance, check out the GI Bill Comparison Tool: https://www.va.gov/education/gi-bill-comparison-tool/
I too wonder why when almost every school offers fully online degrees and not just for-profit school, we still only receive half the national average rate. I selected my school carefully to ensure I could attend in person classes on a full time basis. Due to Covid-19 my satellite campus has closed indefinitely and I am forced to finish my degree online. The main campus classes are offered across town at a time that is impossible for me to commute as I have young children and work part-time. The school doesn't care because I am already a year into the two year program, it doesn't hurt them. Please stop punishing people that have work or have families for going to school online. We already have to prove our worth by completing more work and written assignments than those attending in person. We are working just as hard, if not harder than the person attending classes in the day time who may not have to work full time since they get the full rate. Also why should the rate be prorated per day? This often shaves a week off of living expenses for 8 week classes, reducing an already meager half payment to even less. Attending full time I often am paid 700 for the month, in comparison with when I was attending in person, I was receiving nearly 1600 for the same degree program. Something is seriously wrong with this in my opinion. It is just not a fair system.
Internet Explorer is going away June 2022. The VAO guidance still states IE as the browser to use. What browser will be required after IE is no longer available?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
When Internet Explorer is decommissioned in June, users should migrate to Microsoft Edge. Guidance is forthcoming from VA OIT on configuring Edge to be compatible with VAOnce.
5. We are unable Inactivate or Delete VAO profile. We have tried multiple browsers. When will these features be restored?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
This functionality is available through using Internet Explorer 11.
Adjustments for T/F. The communication/guidance for how to report tuition and fees in VAOnce has been inconsistent. We were originally told that the function of amending an adjustment to report tuition and fees was removed from VAOnce and that we just wait to submit student enrollment changes until after the term drop date when we also submit tuition and fees (November VA Office Hours). Then told at the January Office Hours that the process did not change and we should continue to submit student enrollment changes in a timely manner then submit tuition and fees after the drop period to meet the two certification rule.
We have continued to process certifications as directed in the January Office Hours without issue. Our regional ELRs then sent us this via email on 2/23/22:
1. You can no longer amend an adjustment
The VA-ONCE team updated VA-ONCE to block amendments on already adjusted certifications. If you have already submitted an adjustment and now need to amend with T&F here is a proposed fix action:
Terminate the certification, as a withdraw before the start of term. Recertify the initial enrollment with the correct credits as of the start of term AND the T&F charged for the term, along with the VA-ONCE standard remark: “Correcting previously terminated Enrollment…”.
Then, resubmit your adjustment along with the correct T&F.
Moving forward: Submit your initial enrollments as before. Then wait to submit adjustments until you are ready to report T&F for the term. I anticipate the SCOs greatest challenge will be submitting any adjustments within 30 days of the start of term, depending on census dates and T&F reports from other departments.
Terminating the certification and resubmitting would cause undue hardship to SCOs, students, and VA Processors. We believe this was bad advice, but shows even more that we NEED guidance on how to apply policy changes. How are we to report student enrollment changes in a timely manner and submit tuition and fees in VAOnce?
We have continued to process certifications as directed in the January Office Hours without issue. Our regional ELRs then sent us this via email on 2/23/22:
1. You can no longer amend an adjustment
The VA-ONCE team updated VA-ONCE to block amendments on already adjusted certifications. If you have already submitted an adjustment and now need to amend with T&F here is a proposed fix action:
Terminate the certification, as a withdraw before the start of term. Recertify the initial enrollment with the correct credits as of the start of term AND the T&F charged for the term, along with the VA-ONCE standard remark: “Correcting previously terminated Enrollment…”.
Then, resubmit your adjustment along with the correct T&F.
Moving forward: Submit your initial enrollments as before. Then wait to submit adjustments until you are ready to report T&F for the term. I anticipate the SCOs greatest challenge will be submitting any adjustments within 30 days of the start of term, depending on census dates and T&F reports from other departments.
Terminating the certification and resubmitting would cause undue hardship to SCOs, students, and VA Processors. We believe this was bad advice, but shows even more that we NEED guidance on how to apply policy changes. How are we to report student enrollment changes in a timely manner and submit tuition and fees in VAOnce?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your question. The enrollment should not be terminated, and the procedures have not changed. You cannot use the "Amend" function if an Adjustment is highlighted. Amend is only available for Enrollments.
The REMOTE Act amended the policy for Rounding Out:
Section 4.a.2 states the “…eligible veteran or eligible person who is pursuing a program of education on less than a half-time basis during a period that is that is the last semester, term, or academic period…
Section 4.a.2.A states “the number of credits the veteran or person needs to complete the program of education is less than the number of credits that would constitute enrollment on a more than half-time basis…”
Section 4.a.2.B.ii states the veteran or person “… enrolls in an additional course…”
With this new policy:
- Is the goal of this policy to get students to just over half time enrollment so they get a small amount of MHA?
- Can more than one class be certified if needed to get to just over half time enrollment?
- Does the extra class(es) need to be within the original degree plan similar to the previous rounding out policy?
Section 4.a.2 states the “…eligible veteran or eligible person who is pursuing a program of education on less than a half-time basis during a period that is that is the last semester, term, or academic period…
Section 4.a.2.A states “the number of credits the veteran or person needs to complete the program of education is less than the number of credits that would constitute enrollment on a more than half-time basis…”
Section 4.a.2.B.ii states the veteran or person “… enrolls in an additional course…”
With this new policy:
- Is the goal of this policy to get students to just over half time enrollment so they get a small amount of MHA?
- Can more than one class be certified if needed to get to just over half time enrollment?
- Does the extra class(es) need to be within the original degree plan similar to the previous rounding out policy?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your question. The goal of the Rounding Out policy is to provide eligible GI Bill students the option to take additional classes to bring their course load to full-time and receive a full-time monthly housing allowance. This is for eligible GI Bill students who are in their last semester or academic period of their program. In accordance with law, VA is only authorized to pay GI Bill benefits for classes that are part of an approved program of education and count toward completion of that approved program of education. With that being said, eligible students will be allowed to select from the other approved courses within their programs to reach full-time status. For more information about your particular circumstance and your options, we recommend calling the Education Call Center, (ECC) Monday – Friday, 7am to 6 pm CT, at [login to see] .
SCO Handbook is not regularly updated and is a key tool for SCOs to understand VA policy. It is showing a last updated date of October 29, 2021. When will this be updated again, and can the frequency of updates better keep up with VA policy changes?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The School Certifying Official handbook is updated on a regular basis, with the most recent updates on April 12, 2022. You can access the online version on the VA’s Resources for schools webpage: https://www.va.gov/school-administrators/. Here is a direct link to the handbook: https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/ [login to see] 01018/content/ [login to see] 49088/School-Certifying-Official-Handbook-On-line. The link to this online version is regularly provided via email. Additionally, SCOs are kept abreast on all GI Bill updates through emails, Office Hours, our SCO in the Know newsletter and more. If you are not already doing so, we encourage you to attend the monthly SCO office hours and subscribe to the newsletter: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVAVBA/bulletins/30be569
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