Veteran Services

Student responsibilities

Applications for benefits

All students who wish to use VA education benefits must complete their applications online at the VA.gov apply page. If students are unable to apply online, they can contact 1-888-442-4551 to request a mailed application.

All VA students must file an application when they first start school before they can receive benefits. Students who have never received VA benefits must file an original application. There are multiple applications from which to choose.

Initial application to VA for Education benefits

• Veterans or Service members applying for chapters 30, 32, 33, and 1606 use VA Form 22-1990
• Dependents applying for chapter 35 or chapter 33 (Fry Scholarship) use VA Form 22-5490
• Dependents requesting Transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill (chapter 33) use VA-Form 22-1990e

Application to VA for Education benefits at a new school or training facility

• Veterans or Service members who have received VA benefits previously must file a "Request for Change of Program or Place of Training" VA Form 22-1995
• Dependents using Transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill (chapter 33) who have received VA benefits previously must file a "Request for Change of Program or Place of Training" VA Form 22-1995
• Dependents using chapter 35 or chapter 33 (Fry Scholarship) who have received VA benefits previously must file a "Request for Change of Program or Place of Training" VA Form 22-5495

Change of Address and Direct Deposit

Address and direct deposit information must be kept current. Chapter 30 and 1606 students can use the WAVE system to update address and financial institution information. Links are on the “Main Menu” available after they log onto WAVE.

In order for a student to either start or change direct deposit information, the student should have his or her account information handy. The following information is needed to set up direct deposit and can be found on checks and bank statements:

• Account number
• 9-digit bank routing number
• Type of account (checking or savings)

If a student has chosen direct deposit, the student still needs to keep his or her address current because all other correspondence including award letters are mailed to the student's address.

Students who cannot add their account information through WAVE should contact call 1-877-838-2778 to begin and change direct deposit.

eBenefits

Students are strongly encouraged to register and utilize eBenefitsto assist them in the following:

• Obtaining up-to-date information on their educational entitlement
• Updating their Direct Deposit and personal contact information
• Downloading VA letters and personal documents
• Viewing the current status of their payments (both education and disability)

Student Verification of Enrollment

Chapter 33 students are required to verify their enrollment status monthly for enrollment periods beginning on or after August 1, 2021, to ensure uninterrupted receipt of their monthly housing allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments. In the event of a student failing to verify for two consecutive months, the VA will withhold any additional MHA payments until the student's verification is completed. It's important to note that the current process for monthly certification for other education benefits does not allow the VA to accept statements from the school to verify enrollment.

Non-chapter 33 verification of enrollment

The preferred verification method is WAVE, which includes features not in IVR. When students are awarded benefits, the award letter they receive describes WAVE and IVR. The earliest date students can verify their enrollment is the last calendar day of each month.

WAVE allows students to verify their enrollment on the Internet. WAVE is on the Education Service website at W.A.V.E. Web Automated Verification of Enrollment.

National Tests - chapters 30, 33, 35, 1606

VA students can be reimbursed for all required (mandatory) fees charged for national admission tests and national tests for college credit.

Complete information for applying for reimbursement is available at the GI bill testing fees benefit F.A.Q.

A list of all approved national tests and approved charges can be found through the following link: Weams National Exams Search