Office of Financial Aid

Veteran Entitlements and Certifications

 

Veterans Educational Benefits Checklist

 

The Office of Financial Aid is responsible for certifying school enrollment to the Veterans Affairs (VA) to authorize your VA educational benefit payments. First, the student must apply for benefits directly with the VA. Once official approval of the student’s eligibility to participate in an educational program is received, the Office of Financial Aid will initiate payment based on the student’s number of enrolled hours.

The steps below MUST be completed to apply for benefits under the VA educational programs:

  1. Complete the VA Electronic Application

    This must be completed online at: https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/

    Once you are approved for benefits, the VA will issue you a Certificate of Eligibility within 90 days. Upon receipt, submit a copy of the certificate to the Office of Financial Aid.

    Please note: Submit a copy of your online application to the Office of Financial Aid it will serve as initial certification documentation for the purpose processing prior to receiving your official Certificate of Eligibility.
     
  2. Submit a copy of your DD214

    Students who are no longer on active duty must submit a copy of their DD214 to the Office of Financial Aid.
     
  3. Complete and the submit Benedictine University’s VA Certification Request and Student Responsibility Certification form.

    Complete the Online Form >>>
     
  4. Change of Program or Place in Training (Form 22-1995), if applicable

    If you have previously used VA benefits for attendance at another school, you must complete Form 22-1995 through the VA site and submit a copy to the Office of Financial Aid.

    You may remit the forms via fax, email or mail.

Education Benefits

Chapter 30 - Montgomery G.I. Bill (Active Duty)

  • Eligibility: Veterans who entered military service on or after July 1, 1985.
  • Minimum Length of Service: 2 yr. continuous enlistment (minimum duty varies by service date, branch, etc.)
  • Type of Benefits: Tuition and Fees
  • # Months of Benefits: 36
  • Payments Made: Paid to student
  • Time to Use Benefits: Generally 10 years from last day of active duty

Chapter 31 - Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program (VR & E)

  • Eligibility: Veterans who have been determined eligible by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Type of Benefits: Monthly stipend, tuition, fees, books, and supplies.

Chapter 32 - Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)

  • Eligibility: Post-Vietnam era veterans who entered active duty on or after January 1, 1977, and before July 1, 1985, and who contributed to the VEAP program while in the military.
  • Minimum Length of Service: 181 continuous days active service (between 12/31/76 and 7/1/85)
  • Type of Benefits: Tuition and Fees
  • # Months of Benefits: 36
  • Payments Made: Paid to student
  • Time to Use Benefits: Generally 10 years from last day of active duty

Chapter 33 - The Post 9/11 G.I Bill

  • Eligibility: Veterans who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. Can transfer unused educational benefits to their spouses or children.
  • Minimum Length of Service: 90 days active aggregate service (after 9/10/01) or 30 days continuous if discharged for disability
  • Type of Benefits: Tuition, housing, books & supplies. Utilized with the Yellow Ribbon program.
  • # Months of Benefits: 36
  • Payments Made: Tuition: Paid to school. Housing stipend: Paid monthly to student. Books & Supplies: Paid to student at the beginning of the term.
  • Time to Use Benefits: Generally 15 years from last day of active duty.

Chapter 33 – Yellow Ribbon Program

  • Eligibility: Supplement to the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill, allows institutions to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. The institution contributes up to 50% of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution.

Chapter 35 - Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA)

  • Eligibility: Children and spouses of veterans who died or are permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability and to the children and spouses of veterans who have been listed as a POW or MIA for a period of 90 days.
  • Minimum Length of Service: N/A
  • Type of Benefits: Monthly allowance based on enrollment (limited to tuition and fees if student is less than half-time).
  • # Months of Benefits: 45
  • Payments Made: To the student.
  • Time to Use Benefits: Spouse: 10-20 years, Child: Ages 18-26

Chapter 1606 - Montgomery G.I. Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB SR)

  • Eligibility: Students who are members of the National Guard or Selected Reserve. (Note: Students who are members of the National Guard are not considered veterans for determining independent status for financial aid purposes unless their DD-214 reflects active duty for purposes other than training.)
  • Minimum Length of Service: 6 yr. commitment
  • Type of Benefits: Monthly allowance based on enrollment (FT, PT, HT, etc).
  • # Months of Benefits: 36
  • Payments Made: To the student.
  • Time to Use Benefits: Ends day student leaves Selected Reserve.

Chapter 1607 - Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

  • Eligibility: Members of the National Guard or Selected Reserve who were called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency as declared by the President of Congress
  • Minimum Length of Service: 90 days of continuous service after September 11, 2001.
  • Type of Benefits: Monthly allowance based on enrollment (limited to tuition and fees if student is less than half-time).
  • # Months of Benefits: 36
  • Payments Made: To the student.
  • Time to Use Benefits: Generally 10 years from the day the student leaves the Selected Reserve of the day they leave IRR.

Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA)

  • Eligibility: Spouses of active duty service members in pay grades E1-E5, W1-W2, and O1-O2, as well as the spouses of activated Guard and Reserve members within those ranks. Spouses of Guard and Reserve members must be able to start and complete their courses while their sponsor is on Title 10 orders.
  • Type of Benefits: Provides eligible spouses with up to 4,000 in financial assistance towards their education. Require military spouses to finish their program of study within three years from the start date of the first course. Limited to associate degrees, certification and licensures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Am I able to receive financial aid if I receive military student’s benefits?

Yes, you may receive financial aid in addition to your military student's benefits. Military students are encouraged to apply for student financial aid to help off-set the cost of education, because veterans benefits sometimes do not cover the entire cost of a college education.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Q. Should I be aware any special circumstances regarding my income?

Yes, veterans need to be aware of some special circumstances:

  1. Federal veteran education benefits do not affect financial aid eligibility and is not considered income for federal student aid purposes.
  2. Non-educational veteran benefits such as: Disability, Death pension, Dependency & Indemnity Compensation or VA Education Work-Study allowances must be included on the FAFSA as untaxed income excluding the value of on-base military housing or the value of a basic military allowance for housing.
  3. Veteran status for student aid purposes is not necessarily the same as veteran status for VA purposes. National Guard and Reservists may not qualify automatically as independent students. Refer to the FAFSA instructions to determine if you qualify as a veteran for financial aid purposes.

Q. What is the Yellow Ribbon Program?

The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows higher learning institutions in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to help fund the veteran student’s tuition expenses $18,077.50 cap for each calendar year (August 1st- July 31st.). The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution.

Q. Am I eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program?

Only individuals entitled to the maximum benefit rate (based on service requirements) may receive this funding. You may be eligible if:

  • You served an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001, of at least 36 months;
  • You were honorably discharged from active duty for a service connected disability and you served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001;
  • You are a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on a veteran’s service under the eligibility criteria listed above.

Q. Does Benedictine University participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program?

Yes, Benedictine University participates at the maximum 50% level contribution to eligible individuals who apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program on a first-come, first-served basis.

Q. I changed my class schedule after my enrollment was certified. What do I need to do?

You must notify the Office of Financial Aid of any changes to your enrollment. Changes of enrollment include adding, dropping, or withdrawing from classes.

Q. If I change my major or program of study, what do I need to do?

If you change your major or program of study, you must complete and submit the Request for Change of Program or Place of Training form.

Log on to http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/vba-22-1995-are.pdf for the actual form and mailing instructions.

Q. How can I get a copy of my DD-214?

The Department of Veterans Affairs does not maintain records of veterans' military service, except as necessary for providing benefits from the VA.

To obtain or amend a copy of your military service record and/or your Official Military Personnel File (DD-214, OMPFs), please visit the website for the Military Personnel Records Center (MPRC) in St. Louis, which is part of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). If you have been discharged from military service, your personnel files are stored at NARA, which is the official repository for records of military personnel who have been discharged from the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard.

Visit the NARA website at: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records

Q. What is the Veteran Affairs website?

http://www.va.gov

Q. What is the Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs website?

http://www.veterans.illinois.gov

Q. Can I use the Illinois Veterans Grant (IVG) or the Illinois National Guard (ING) at Benedictine University?

No, Benedictine University is a private school and is not eligible to participate in the IVG or ING programs.

Q. I am eligible for more than one VA Educational programs? How do I choose the best program for me?

The Veteran Affairs provides a website that lets you compare your monetary benefits. Log on to: www.gibill.va.gov/resources/benefits_resources/benefit_comparison_tools.html

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Mesa, AZ Campus

Office of Financial Aid
BENEDICTINE UNIVERSITY
Lownik Hall - Main Floor
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Email: financialaid@ben.edu
Phone: (630) 829-6100
Fax: (630) 829-6101