How to start the benefits process

Veterans need to visit How To Apply For The GI Bill And Related Benefits | Veterans Affairs (va.gov) to apply for benefits. If there is an error or issue logging in (ID.me for dependents), then please contact us so we can better assist you. 

Please note that you will need to have the name and address of the school you wish to attend (located in the sidebar) and your bank routing number to fill out the application.

Eligibility is determined by the VA. Veterans must apply for benefits at How To Apply For The GI Bill And Related Benefits | Veterans Affairs (va.gov) in order to verify their type and rate of eligibility. We are happy to help estimate what those benefits "might" be, but only the VA can make the determination. 
If you are a veteran or military dependent, visit the waivers and scholarships link located in the sidebar, and/or contact the Military and Veterans Success Center to discuss your options.

The VA will typically make a determination and mail the Certificate of Eligibility (COE)  (award letter) within 3-8 weeks. The COE includes a summary of benefit type and eligibility criteria.

Applicants can call the GI Bill® hotline (1-888-442-4551), two-weeks after applying, to verify if they are eligible.

Veterans should keep this timeline in mind when they register for classes as it may lead to unforeseen out of pocket expenses. 

The VA has a guide to understanding your benefits award. Please see their guide.

GI Bill® rates are dependent upon the type of benefits you qualify for, your rate of pursuit, and modality. Veterans should use the GI Bill® Comparison Tool: VA.gov  to ensure a proper estimate of benefits. 

Veterans should contact the Military and Veterans Success Center to initiate the certification process.


They will need to fill out a New Veteran Student Intake Form and Prior Learning Training Assessment Form. Once complete, the intake, prior learning, and certificate of eligibility needs to be sent to the Military and Veterans Success Center.

Additionally, 4-6 weeks prior to each semester of attendance, veterans need to notify the Military and Veterans Success Center. Failing to do so may result in delayed payments.

If you start a semester with benefits, but they will exhaust during your current semester, the VA will normally continue to pay for the entire semester under the following circumstances; 

  • You are using Chapter 33 benefits.
  • You are the veteran or dependent exhausting the last month of any entitlement. 
  • You will not reach your delimiting date during the semester

If any of these are not true, then your benefits will stop on the day you exhaust your benefits or reach your delimiting date. All school tuition and fees will be pro-rated based on the end date of entitlement and housing stipends will end on that date.

 

Students are encouraged to contact the GI Bill hotline (1-888-442-4551) to verify if they will be impacted. 

Enrollment verification is required for Chapters 1606, 30, and 33. Failure to verify attendance may result in suspension of a student's housing stipend. 

Below you will find how and where to verify enrollment for each chapter.

Chapters 30 and 1606 beneficiaries can verify their attendance through the Web Automated Verification (WAVE) program or Interactive Voice Response (IVR) at 1-877-823-2378.

Chapter 33 students can find updated information at Verify School Enrollment For GI Bill Benefits | Veterans Affairs (va.gov).

The short answer is YES!  However, students must attend at least one day in person and provide documentation, signed by thier instructor. This done to protect the student from potential overpayments that may result from a VA audit.

The form can be found here.

Again, the short answer is yes, provided the course meets specific criteria and we have written documentation that justifies the extra demand beyond the courses actual semester hour worth. In these cases we can certify using clock hours instead of semester hours.

It is usually best to discuss the potential with us before making any assumptions.

If we have already spoken or you have used this option in the past, you can find the required form here.

Yes we do. Once a veteran attends their first semester, they will have priority enrollment for the following semester. This typically means that the day registration opens for students attending their senior year, registration will open for any student using GI Bill benefits. Students should coordinate with their advisors accordingly to take full advantage. 

 

How to avoid debts and out of pocket expenses

The VA will pay for any tuition at the Montana resident rate for Chapter 33 (eligible at the 100% rate) and Chapter 31 students. All other benefit types (Chapter 30, 35, and 1606) are paid directly to the veteran or dependent receiving benefits. Any questions regarding clarification should be directed to the Military and Veterans Success Center.


Out of state students should contact the Military and Veterans Success Center to discuss Yellow Ribbon eligibility.

There are multiple federal guidelines that govern military and veteran tuition rates. If you are on active duty*, utilizing GI Bill benefits (Chapters 30, 31, 33, and 35), and live in Montana, contact the Military and Veterans Success Center to have your residency adjusted.

If you are using Chapter 33 benefits (Post 9/11, including transferred benefits) and are eligible at the 100% rate (typically based on 36 months or more of active service), and do not live in Montana, you may qualify for the Yellow Ribbon program, which would offset any out of state tuition and fee costs. 

*Active duty military members using Tuition Assistance (TA) are responsible for additional fees. TA will only cover the cost of tuition. Please note that being active duty alone does not ensure in state tuition. The service member (or dependent) must either be a resident of Montana, stationed in Montana under active duty orders, or a member of the Montana National Guard to qualify. 

The Military and Veteran Success Center conducts dual certifications. What this means is that after the add/drop period, we will adjust your certification, to include your tuition and fees.

The reason this is done is to ensure that the veteran receives their book stipends and MHA in a timely manner. Please notify us of any changes to credit hours or modality of instruction after certification, as not doing so may result in a student debt.

If a veteran drops courses or changes their initial registration in any way, they should contact the Military and Veterans Success Center immediately. A new certification will need to be submitted reflecting the changes.

If a veteran drops any courses during or after the add/drop period, it may create a student debt. Please contact the us prior to any withdrawls, after the add/drop period, so that we can better help you make an informed decision.

If you think you might fail a class, contact us as soon as possible. There are resources on campus that can provide tutoring support, all at no cost to the student. The Military and Veterans Support Center is more than happy to help coordinate educational support services. 

If you fail a class and did not continue to attend through the last day of the semester, a student debt will be established. This may lead to the veteran and school both owing money back to the VA. In the case of the school, those debts will then be billed back to the student by the university. Veterans should seek educational support through Veterans Upward Bound, the Academic Support Center, or TRiO Student Support Services to avoid failing a course. If you think you might fail a course, do not, under any circumstances, stop attending!

If you receive an incomplete grade, you have one year to complete any additional course work so that you receive a passing grade. If the incomplete status remains after one year, the grade will be reported to the VA in accordance with federal guidelines. 

Students should contact the Debt Management Center at 1-800-827-0668 to verify the reason for debt and process to repay the debt. Debts received by the university will be passed on to the student, as stated in the docusign Business Services sends to every student using Chapter 33 benefits.  

Students placed on Academic Probation may be reported to the VA in accordance with the unearned F or unofficial withdrawal reporting requirements.  

Students placed on Academic Suspension must be reported to the VA. The VA may send a debt letter to students placed on Academic Suspension and their education benefits may be suspended depending on the circumstances involved. 

 

Additional rules and questions 

Veterans may only take classes that are required for their current degree plan. If a veteran decides to change their degree plan, they should contact the Military and Veterans Success Center to avoid denial of benefits.

Example: Excessive electives, that do not apply to the current degree plan, are not authorized; recommended courses would likewise not be authorized.

The rounding out rule is an option that allows students to take additional classes in order to maximise their VA payments. However this rule is only availible to students that are within their last term and includes some other specific criteria. 

Contact the Military and Veterans Success Center for more information. 

Veterans or dependents using GI Bill® benefits can visit va.gov or contact the GI Bill® hotline to determine their remaining benefits.  

There are multiple reasons your payment might have changed. Payments are prorated and this is typically the most common cause in changes to the rate of payment from month to month.

Additional reasons;

  • Your benefits have been exhausted or reached the delimiting date.
  • There may have been a change to modality.
  • If you had a reduction or withdrawal. 

If you are using Chapter 31 (VR&E) or Chapter 33 (Post 9/11) benefits and have a tuition-specific scholarship, then we will only report any unpaid tuiton or fees to the VA, as required by federal law. 

Example: A veterans tuition is $4,000 and they receive a $2,000 tuition scholarship, we will report the tuition to the VA as $2,000.

If you are using Chapter 30, 35, or 1606 benefits and receiving a scholarship, this will not impact you since payments are only made to the student. 

The VA will cover remedial courses only if there is documentation to support a need, such as HS transcripts or placement test scores. If a need is met, remedial courses MUST be taken in person. Online and hyflex remedial courses cannot be certified. 

Complaints can be submitted directly to the VA, however we ask that you first allow the Military and Veterans Success Center to try to resolve any issues you may have. 

School Complaints or Feedback.

 

 

 

 

 

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is avaialble at the official U.S. goverment website at GI Bill | Veterans Affairs (va.gov)