Work-Study Benefits
You may be eligible for an additional allowance under a work-study program. Under the work-study program, you work for VA and receive an hourly wage. You may do outreach work under the supervision of a VA employee, prepare and process VA paperwork, work at a VA medical facility, or other approved activities.
You must train at the three-quarter or full-time rate. The maximum number of hours you may work is 25 times the number of weeks in your enrollment period. Payments will be at the Federal or State minimum wage, whichever is greater.
Changing Programs
You can receive benefits for one change of program without VA approval for the change if your attendance, conduct, and progress in the last program were satisfactory. The VA may approve additional changes if the proposed programs are suitable to your abilities, aptitudes, and interests. The VA won’t charge a "change of program" when you enroll in a new program if you successfully completed your last program.
Satisfactory Progress
Once you start receiving benefits, you must maintain satisfactory attendance, conduct, and progress. If you don’t meet your school’s standards, the certifying official must, by law, notify the VA. The VA, by law, must stop your benefits if the school reports unsatisfactory attendance, conduct, or progress.
The VA may resume benefits if you reenter the same program at the same school, and your school approves your reentry and certifies it to VA. If you don’t reenter the same program at the same school, they may resume benefits if the cause of your unsatisfactory attendance, conduct, or progress has been removed. The VA also must find that the program you intend to take is suitable to your abilities, aptitudes, and interests.
Submitting an Application for Benefits
You can get and submit the application (VA Form 22-1990) in several ways:
- You can complete and submit the application on-line. Just go to www.gibill.va.gov and click on "Electronic Application Form."
- You can also print out the form from the above site and mail it to the VA regional office that processes your claim.
- Call 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) and request the form. (Unfortunately, you may have difficulty getting through quickly at the toll-free number, especially when school enrollments are heavy. You may have more success by going to the Internet site).
- You may also be able to pick up the application from the school or training facility you’re attending. Most schools have counselors that will help you complete the application form.
Applying for Benefits
If you’ve decided on the program you want to take, follow these steps to apply for benefits:
FIRST, check in with the school or training facility official who certifies enrollments for VA benefits.
At a school, this official may be in one of the following offices: Financial Aid, Veterans Affairs, Registrar, Admissions, Counseling, or other office. For OJT or an apprenticeship, the official may be in the Training, Finance, Personnel, or other office.
Note: The certifying official isn’t a VA employee.
The official can tell you whether the program you want to take is approved for VA benefits. If the program is approved, the official must submit your enrollment information to VA.
SECOND, complete the application package for VA benefits and send it to the appropriate VA regional office.
Note: The certifying official may help you with this step. Many facilities will send the application package for you, including your application and certification of your enrollment. It’s a good idea because you may avoid delay in getting your benefits started if VA receives everything needed at the same time. The package consists of:
- Your completed VA Form 22-1990, Application for VA Education Benefits. If you’re on active duty, you must have your base Education Service Officer certify your application by signing in the appropriate block.
- Certification of your enrollment. The school or training official who certifies enrollments must send this information to VA. If you haven’t decided on the program you want to take, or simply want a determination of your eligibility for MGIB, just send the application (VA Form 22-1990). If you’re eligible, you’ll receive a Certificate of Eligibility showing how long you’re eligible and how many months of benefits you can receive.
