Getting Started

The following is a step-by-step guide to taking advantage of your new benefits.

Brainstorm & Research potential colleges/programs.

Calculate GI Bill Benefits.

Enroll in the new GI Bill (or old one) through VONAPP.

Receive Certificate of Eligibility in the mail from the VA.

Identify & Contact the VA Certifying Official(s) on your campus.

Ask about delaying billing of tuition/fees charges till VA cuts a check.

Apply for Federal Financial Aid by filling out a FAFSA form.

First check from the VA for August living allowance deposited in early September.

Get college credit for your military service.

Find other veterans on campus.

I. Brainstorm & Research potential colleges/programs.

Zip code of school?
Is the school exclusively online?
Tuition Costs?
Does the college grant degrees (AA, BA, etc)
Fees Costs?
What course load is considered full time?

Here is a good resource if your school’s website does not clearly answer these questions.

II. Calculate GI Bill Benefits for each school & determine if the Post 9/11 GI bill or your old GI Bill benefits are better for you.

For about 10% of veterans the old GI bill will be worth more, especially online students, active duty users and students in lost cost regions (with a low BAH).
If you have only a few months of Chap 30 (MGIB) benefits remaining please consider that finishing the all of your MGIB benefits means you will get an addition 12 months of the new Post 9/11 GI bill.

III. Enroll in the new GI Bill (or old one) through VONAPP (click “Start VONAPP”). You will need the following to complete the application:

Create username/password
Fill out VA Form 22-1990
Have ready electronic DD-214 and if applicable kicker contract and/or proof of $600 buy-up
Bank Information (Name of Bank, Routing Number & Account Number)
If known, School Address, Educational Objection (degree or certificate), Date planning on enrolling
Former College information (degree, address & dates)
Non-military job information (type, length of time & any licensing)
ROTC/Service Academy/Student Loan Repayment Program information

IV. Receive Certificate of Eligibility in the mail from the VA

V. Identify & Contact the VA Certifying Official(s) on your campus.

VA Certifying officials process your paperwork proving to the VA you are enrolled in school so that you can get paid your GI Bill benefits. They get next to nothing from the VA for this job, but they are very important in the process. So it pays to be NICE.
Most colleges have veterans info on their website, if not check VA’s site to see the name and contact information of your local certifying official.
Fill out any paperwork the certifying official gives you.

VI. Ask about delaying billing of tuition/fees charges until the VA cuts a check.

Although most schools will defer tuition/fee charges, a school is allowed to bill you before you can enroll or attend classes, regardless of whether the VA will pay be paying for the full cost of your education. That means in these few instances you will need to convince school officials to delay billing you. The Certificate of Eligibility you received from the VA will state what benefits you are entitled to and will be your best ammunition in this fight.
Talk to the VA certifying official, registrar, bursar or billing department of your school and appeal to their patriotic sense of duty. Feel free to show them page 5 of a brochure published by the American Council of Education (ACE) discussing the need to defer charges for our veterans and remember that this type of deferment is already done with federal financial aid.
If all else fails you can apply for financial aid, ask the financial aid office for a temporary loan (some schools provide this) or front the money yourself.

VII. Apply for Federal Financial Aid by filling out a FAFSA form.

Many veterans will be entitled to free federal education grants, such as Pell grants. This grant could be worth up to $5,330/yr. and is essentially “free money,” making the time spent filling out the FAFSA form well worth the hassle.
Keep in mind that GI Bill benefits is NOT considered income on the form, but they will ask what benefit you will be receiving.

VIII. First check from the VA for the August living allowance should be deposited in your account early September.

Checks to the school for tuition and fees should be cut late September or early October and sent directly to the school for processing.

IX. Get college credit for your military Service.

The American Council on Education will create a college transcript based on your military experience that you can take to your school and possibly get free college credits right away. Take 5 minutes and maybe you can skip an entire quarter/semester. Visit ACE’s Military programs site and click on “Military Guide Online.”

X. Find other veterans on campus.

Join your local student veterans group or start your own.

To download a PDF version of the Post-9/11 GI Bill checklist, click here.