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Information for Widows and Dependents
Burial Flags
You may apply for the flag by completing VA Form 2008, Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes. You may get a flag at any VA regional office or U.S. Post Office. Generally, the funeral director will help you.
Life Insurance Information
Death or Disability Claims
Death Claims - Death claims on all VA insurance policies except Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) or Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI)
Disability Claims -Waiver of Premiums due to total disability and/or Total Disability Income Provision Riders on all VA policies except SGLI or VGLI.
SGLI - Frequently Asked QuestionsGeneral InformationWho Should You Contact With Questions?
What Does SGLI Provide?
When Does Coverage Begin?
During What Periods Are You Cove?
How Much SGLI Can You Have?
How Do You Obtain or Increase SGLI Coverage?
How Do You uce or Cancel SGLI Coverage?
How Much Life Insurance do I Really Need?EligibilityCost and Premium PaymentNaming a Beneficiary and Settlement OptionWho Can You Designate To Be The Beneficiary?
How Do You Name A Beneficiary?
How Do You Change Your Beneficiary Designation?
What Happens If You Don’t Name A Beneficiary?
Can You Specify How The Proceeds Will Be Paid?DisabilityConversion of SGLI to VGLI or an Individual PolicyHow Do You Convert SGLI To VGLI?
How Do You Convert SGLI To Other Life Insurance?Death ClaimsHow Does A Beneficiary File A Claim For The Proceeds?
How Do Benefits Get Paid?
What Are Alliance Accounts?
What Is Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service?
Can SGLI Benefits be Assigned to Another Person?Accelerated Benefits for Terminally Ill PolicyholdersCan A Terminally Ill Policyholder Receive Accelerated Benefits?
Taxability of ProceedsSGLI FormsSGLI - Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
Who Should You Contact With Questions? If you are unable to obtain the information you need on this site, you should contact the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI). The OSGLI administers the SGLI and VGLI programs including the processing and payment of claims. Follow this link for SGLI contact information.
What Does SGLI Provide? SGLI provides group term life insurance. When you die, money will be paid to the person (persons) you designate to receive the insurance. The beneficiary can use this money to pay expenses related to your death or invest the money to help replace your salary. Since SGLI is term insurance, it does not have cash or loan values and it does not pay dividends.
When Does Coverage Begin? You are automatically cove for the maximum amount of insurance ($250,000) on your first day of active duty or active duty for training, unless you decline or uce your coverage. If you are performing duty for a period of less than 31 days, part-time coverage begins on the first day of the period of duty, including travel. If you previously declined and later apply for SGLI, your coverage will be effective on the date the application form is received by your branch of service. (For detailed information regarding restoration of coverage, see the SGLI/VGLI Handbook; Chapter 4 )
During What Periods Are You Cove? SGLI insus are cove during the following periods:
Full Time Coverage...Active Duty
If you are a full-time member on active duty, you are cove 365 days of the year. Your coverage is in effect during the period of active duty or inactive duty training and for 120 days following separation of release from duty.
Full Time Coverage...Reserve Duty
If you are a Reservist and have been assigned to a unit in which you are scheduled to perform at least 12 periods of inactive duty that is citable for retirement purposes, full-time coverage is in effect 365 days of the year. You are also cove for 120 days following separation or release from duty.
Part Time Coverage
Part-time coverage is provided for Reservists who do not qualify for the full-time coverage described above. Part-time coverage generally applies to Reservists who drill only a few days in a year. A common example is members of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) who attend one-day call-ups, commonly refer to as "musters".How Much SGLI Can You Have? The maximum amount of SGLI coverage you may have is $250,000. You may elect to be insu for lesser amounts in increments of $10,000. If you choose to decline or uce your SGLI coverage, you must complete and file a form SGLV 8286, Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance and Certificate, with your uniformed service. If you have the maximum amount of SGLI, you have the right to retain any other Government or private insurance. However, you may not have more than $250,000 of combined SGLI and VGLI coverage.
How Do You Obtain or Increase SGLI Coverage? If you declined or uced your SGLI and later want to obtain or increase the coverage, you must complete and sign a form SGLV 8285, Request for Insurance, in the presence of an authorized representative of your uniformed service. You must answer all medical questions. The representative will certify and file the application in your personnel file. Your coverage will become effective immediately, providing a review of your medical conditions is not requi by OSGLI. Monthly premiums will be deducted from your pay.
How Do You uce or Cancel Your SGLI Coverage?
To uce or cancel your SGLI, you must complete and file a form SGLV 8286, Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Election and Certificate, with your uniformed service. If you uce or cancel SGLI on the first day of duty, your election will be effective immediately. If you make an election after the first day of duty, it will be effective at the end of that month. If you are ucing or canceling part-time coverage, your election will be effective at the end of the last day of the period of duty you are serving. (For more detailed information, see the SGLI Handbook, 3.01 and 3.02.)
How Much Life Insurance do I really Need?
Assessing your life insurance needs and options can difficult. We can help you assess your life insurance needs and options. Follow this link to use our helpful decision-making tools.Eligibility
Are You Eligible For SGLI? Most members of the uniformed services and Ready Reserves are eligible for full-time coverage. You are eligible for full-time coverage if you are an active duty member of the uniformed service and performing duty under calls or orders that do not specify periods of less than 31 days. If you are a Ready Reservist and assigned to a unit in which you may be requi to perform active duty or active duty for training and each year will be scheduled to perform at least twelve periods of inactive duty training, you are also eligible for full-time SGLI coverage.
If you are an eligible member of the Reserves and do not qualify for full-time coverage while performing active duty or active duty for training under calls specifying periods of less than 31 days, you may be eligible for part-time coverage.
Detailed information regarding eligibility can be found in the SGLI/VGLI Handbook Chapter 1, Section 1.03.How Do You Apply For SGLI? SGLI coverage is automatic, so you don't have to apply for it. You should, however, complete and file a form SGLV 8286, Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance and Certificate, to designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive the proceeds. If you previously declined or uced SGLI coverage and later decide you want coverage, you may request such coverage in writing through your uniformed service. You will need to complete and sign an application form SGLI 8285, Request for Insurance, in the presence of a representative from your uniformed service.
Cost and Premium Payment
How Much Does SGLI Cost? The monthly cost of SGLI is $20.00 for $250,000 of coverage. If you choose to be insu for less than the maximum $250,000, the cost is $.80 per month per $10,000. This amount will be automatically deducted from your service pay. The premium for part-time coverage is $25.00 per year for $250,000 of coverage. Members of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) will be charged $1.00 for $250,000 of coverage for 1-day call-ups.
SGLI Premium Rates by Coverage Amount
Listed below are the monthly premiums for SGLI at different levels of coverage. Basic SGLI premiums will uce effective July 1, 2003. Use the following links to read more about the premium uction or view the new premium rates.
Coverage amount Monthly premium rate
Coverage amount Monthly premium rate Naming a Beneficiary and Settlement Option
Who Can You Designate To Be The Beneficiary? You may designate any person, firm, corporation or legal entity (including your own estate individually or as a trustee) as principal or contingent beneficiary. Under the law, you have the absolute right to name and change the beneficiary at any time, without the knowledge or consent of anyone. Þ Note: State divorce decrees, separation agreements or other state court or municipal court documents are not binding on the determination of a beneficiary. Your right to name and change the beneficiary is absolute.
How Do You Name A Beneficiary? You must complete a form SGLV 8286, Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Election and Certificate and submit it to your uniformed service. You may designate more than one principal beneficiary, but you need to indicate the shares each shall be paid. On this same form, you may designate a contingent beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive the proceeds in the event the principal beneficiary dies before you.
How Do You Change Your Beneficiary Designation? You may, at any time, change or cancel a previous designation without the knowledge or consent of the current beneficiary. To change or cancel a designation, you simply complete, sign and file a new form SGLV 8286 with your uniformed service. It is effective on the date it is received by the uniformed service.
What Happens If You Don’t Name A Beneficiary? To avoid confusion, we encourage you to designate a beneficiary and file it with your uniformed service. However, if you do not name a beneficiary, the insurance proceeds will be paid "By Law." The order of precedence is first to the surviving spouse, then to any children, then to the parents and finally to a duly appointed executor or administrator of the estate.
Can You Specify How The Proceeds Will Be Paid? SGLI proceeds may be paid in one lump sum or in 36 equal installments. You may specify one of these two options on the form SGLV 8286. OSGLI pays the proceeds according to the option you chose. If you do not specify how the proceeds are to be paid, they will be paid to the beneficiary in one lump sum.
Disability
Can SGLI Coverage Be Extended If You Become Disabled? If you are totally disabled at the time of separation from active duty, your full-time coverage will be extended for as long as the total disability continues, up to a maximum of one year. You are eligible to apply for VGLI during this extended period of SGLI coverage. If you incur a disability while under part-time coverage and you are not able to acquire commercial life insurance at a standard rate because of the disability, your SGLI coverage will be extended for 120 days following the period of duty in which the disability occur. You may apply for VGLI during this 120-day extension. Important: An extension of SGLI due to total disability is not automatic. You must apply to the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance for the extension.
Conversion of SGLI to VGLI or to an Individual Policy
How Do You Convert SGLI To VGLI? You may convert your SGLI coverage to VGLI upon separation from service. You have 120 days following separation to apply for VGLI. OSGLI will send you a computer printout application, usually within 45 to 60 days following your release. You may also submit an application for VGLI using the form SGLV 8714, Application for VGLI. If you use this form, you need to also furnish a copy of your DD 214 or other proof of service. The completed application and the first premium must be sent to OSGLI within 120 days after your separation from service. (If you file an application for VGLI after this 120-day period, you must provide proof of good health and the application must be submitted within one year after your SGLI terminates.) You are not eligible to apply for VGLI more than one year and 120 days after your separation from service.
How Do You Convert SGLI To Other Life Insurance? You may convert your SGLI to an individual policy of life insurance with a commercial company that participates in the program within 120 days following your release from active duty. You may convert up to the amount of SGLI coverage you hold. Follow this link to our Conversion Page to view information on how to convert to an individual policy with a list of participating companies. You will be issued an individual policy at the company's standard premium rate regardless of your health. No disability or other supplemental benefits will be provided on converted policies.
Death Claims
How Does A Beneficiary File A Claim For The Proceeds? If you die in service, the uniformed service will furnish to your beneficiary a form SGLV 8283, Claim For Death Benefits. The beneficiary should complete this form and submit it to OSGLI.
How Do The Proceeds Get Paid? Once OSGLI receives proof that an insu member has died, it will pay the proper beneficiary the amount for which the member was insu. If you did not designate a beneficiary, the proceeds will be paid in the order of precedence as provided by law. OSGLI will pay the proceeds to the beneficiary either in one lump sum or in 36 installments, according to the option you specified.
What Are Alliance Accounts?
Alliance is a personal interest bearing checkbook account opened for SGLI and VGLI beneficiaries. Insurance proceeds are deposited in the beneficiary’s name and the beneficiary can write checks from $250 up to the full amount of the proceeds. This gives the beneficiary time to make important financial decisions, while their funds are secure and earn continuous interest.What Is Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service?
Beneficiary Financial Counseling Services (BFCS) is an extra benefit offe to beneficiaries of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance and Veterans’ Group Life Insurance policies. As a beneficiary, you can take advantage of free professional financial advice. Counseling services are provided by FinancialPoint®. For more information, please visit our Beneficiary Financial Counseling page. To take advantage of the free BFCS benefit, beneficiaries may contact FinancialPoint® toll free at (866) 476-5764 or by email at BFCS@FinancialPoint.comCan SGLI Benefits Be Assigned to Another Person? Under the law, a beneficiary is not permitted to assign or transfer SGLI proceeds to any other person or entity. In addition, payments of SGLI benefits are not subject to claims of citors of the insu or citors of the beneficiary.
Accelerated Benefits for Terminally Ill Policyholders
Can a Terminally Ill Policyholder Receive Part of the Proceeds While Still Living? Effective February 9, 1999, the SGLI and VGLI programs began offering an accelerated benefits option to terminally ill insus. An insu is conside to be terminally ill if he or she has a written medical prognosis of 9 months or less to live. All terminally ill insus will be eligible to take up to 50% of their SGLI or VGLI coverage in a lump sum. Many commercial life insurance companies offer accelerated benefits in their policies. Accelerated benefits, paid prior to death, are, of course, not available for payment to survivors. An insu must submit "Servicemember/Veteran Accelerated Benefit Option Form", SGLI ABO 2/99 or VGLI ABO 2/99.
Taxability of Proceeds
Are SGLI Proceeds Taxable? In general, all VA benefits are exempt from taxation. SGLI proceeds that are payable at the death of the insu are excluded from gross income for tax purposes. (The value of the proceeds, however, may be included in determining the value of an estate and that estate may ultimately be subject to tax.) If SGLI proceeds are paid to your beneficiary in 36 equal installments, the interest portion included in these installments is also exempt from taxation. In addition, delayed settlement interest (interest accrued from the date of the insu’s death to the date of settlement) is also exempt from taxation. You are not requi to report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) any installment interest or delayed settlement interest that you received in addition to the proceeds.
SGLI Forms
If you need a SGLI form, it may be available for download from this site. Go to the forms download page and follow the instructions on that page. Once you have downloaded the form that you need, complete it by following the directions contained on the form.
CHAMPVA
Change of Address
The HAC needs your help - if you change your address, it is vital that you let us know your new address. You can do this by email (Contact the VA). You can mail the information to PO BOX 65023, Denver, CO, 80206. You can call us at 800-733-8387. Please help us keep our records up to date!
CHAMPVA Overview Online Class
The Health Administration Center now offers an online overview of CHAMPVA eligibility, benefits and claims procedures. Click here to launch this class.
Overview
Under CHAMPVA, VA shares the cost of cove health care services and supplies with eligible beneficiaries. CHAMPVA is a health care benefits program for the spouse or
The dependents are not otherwise eligible for DoD TRICARE benefits.
The administration of CHAMPVA is centralized to the Health Administration Center in Denver, Colorado.
Due to the similarity between CHAMPVA and the Department of Defense (DoD) TRICARE program, the two are often mistaken for each other. CHAMPVA is a Department of Veterans Affairs program whereas TRICARE is a regionally managed health care program for active duty and reti members of the uniformed services, their families, and survivors.
CHAMPVA Program (01-4)
Benefits
In general, CHAMPVA covers most health care services and supplies that are medically and psychologically necessary. Upon confirmation of eligibility, applicants will receive program material that specifically addresses cove and noncove services and supplies.
General Exclusions
Eligibility
To be eligible for CHAMPVA, you cannot be eligible for TRICARE/CHAMPUS and you must be in one of these categories:
Medicare Impact: Eligible individuals under age 65 who are enrolled in both Medicare Parts A&B who are eligible for CHAMPVA, CHAMPVA is secondary payer to Medicare. SSA documentation of enrollment in both Parts A&B is requi.
You must meet the following conditions for benefits to be extended past age 65:
Notice to new & expectant parents: In order to establish CHAMPVA eligibility for a newborn child, the following must be accomplished prior to the submission of an application.
Since the payment of claims is contingent upon the claimant's eligibility status, new parents are encouraged to take the above action as early as possible.
Eligibility Definitions
NOTE: The eligibility of a child is not affected by the divorce or remarriage of the spouse except in the case of a stepchild. When a stepchild leaves the sponsor's household, the child is no longer eligible for CHAMPVA.
CHAMPVA Eligibility (01-3)
CHAMPVA School Certifications (01-2)
Remarried Widows/Widowers
Remarriage: Eligibility for CHAMPVA ends at midnight on the date of remarriage if the
Termination of Remarriage: A
How To Apply
Required Documents
To apply for CHAMPVA benefits, you must submit the following documents:
- Application for CHAMPVA Benefits form (VA Form 10-10d) or Forma 10-10d Aplicación a los Beneficios CHAMPVA
- Other Health Insurance (OHI) Certification form (VA Form 10-7959c) or Forma 10-7959c Certificacion CHAMPVA de Otros Seguros de Salud (OSS)
- Marriage / Divorce Information Letter CHAMPVA Marriage Status Application Attachment
- For individuals who are eligible for Medicare (normally those age 65 and older), we also need a copy of your Medicare card.
- If you are age 65 or older and are not entitled to Medicare, you must send documentation from the Social Security Administration, which confirms that you are not entitled to Medicare benefits under anyone's Social Security number.
Optional Documents
You can speed the processing of your application if you also send copies (do not send originals)
- Veteran and spouse marriage license
- Birth certificate/adoption papers for children
- The page from the VBA rating decision that shows the veteran is permanently and totally disabled (or death rating for a survivor)
- If you are a remarried widow/widower and are once again single, provide a copy of the legal documentation that terminated the remarriage. The legal documentation of termination of a remarriage may be a divorce decree, death certificate or annulment decree.
- Veteran's DD214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) or if the veteran was a WWII or Korea veteran, the Report of Separation. The VA does not have copies of this form, you must obtain it from your veterans military service. If you do not have this form readily available, we recommend that you not spend time requesting one from the military, send your application package in without it and we will obtain it for you.
- School certification of full-time enrollment for children ages 18-23 (see Fact Sheet 01-2)
Send your complete package to:
CHAMPVA-Eligibility
PO Box 469028
Denver, CO 80246-9028
Application Process
If you provide all the requi and optional documents, and if your application is complete, then it normally takes 6 weeks after we get your package until you get your CHAMPVA card and related materials.
If you provide only the requi documents and not the optional documents, processing can take 2-8 months since we have to confirm information with other federal agencies.
Once they get your application, VA will review it to be sure its complete and that all the requi forms are included. If your application is not complete, then it will return it to you with further instructions.
Fact Sheet 02-01 Instructions for Applicants
How to Learn More About CHAMPVA Before Your Card Arrives
If you have access to the internet, you can read more about CHAMPVA by checking out the web site at the Fact Sheets on their web site.
Communicating with CHAMPVA
When sending correspondence, applications or claims to the Health Administration Center, please do not staple, tape or bind the materials together in any manner as this will cause a delay in your correspondence or request being processed.
CHAMPVA is managed by the VA's Health Administration Center. You can call us at 800-733-8387, Monday through Friday from 8:15 AM to 7:00 PM Eastern Time. You can e-mail us at hac.inq@med.va.gov. E-mail is the best way to communicate with us if you have this capability. You can also fax us at 1-303-331-7804. PLEASE do NOT fax applications to this number.
NEED A SPEAKER OR MATERIALS ON OUR PROGRAMS FOR YOUR GROUP?.
Assistance and Claims Address
If you have a general question (other than one regarding an application), an appeal, or if you need to file a claim for reimbursement for health care and the claim is older than one year, please send your request to:
VA Health Administration Center CHAMPVA PO Box 65023 Denver CO 80206-9023
For submitting new (less than one year old) health care claims only, please use:
VA Health Administration Center CHAMPVA Claims PO Box 65024 Denver CO 80206-9024
Frequently Asked Questions
Before you ask us your question, chances are someone else has already asked it. Please check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) first. Thank you.
CHAMPVA Handbook
The CHAMPVA Handbook contains important benefit information. Beneficiaries are encouraged to carefully read the handbook prior to using CHAMPVA benefits.
You can view the online version here.
CHAMPVA Handbook Change
CHAMPVA Policy Manual
The CHAMPVA Policy Manual is available online.
Is the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran eligible for the home loan benefit?
If you wish to make application for the home loan benefit as a surviving spouse, contact one of the VA Eligibility Centers.
In addition, a surviving spouse who obtained a VA home loan with the veteran prior to his or her death (regardless of the cause of death), may obtain a VA guaranteed interest rate uction refinance loan. For more information, contact one of the VA Eligibility Centers.
The County Veterans Service Officer or you can call 1-800-827-1000 (the VA) and they will assist the spouse and children in obtaining any benefits to which they may be entitled such as, survivors death benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and headstone if burial is in a private cemetery. Bring to the County Veterans Service Officer the following information when applying for benefits:
1. Certified copy of the deceased Veterans service record (discharge).
2. The Department of Veterans Affairs Claim Number if there is one.
3. Social Security numbers of the deceased Veteran, spouse and dependent children.
4. G.I. Insurance policies, if any.
5. Certified copies of marriage, birth certificates of children and, if any, prior marriages existed, the information regarding when, where, and how dissolved (death or divorce). 6. Certified copy of death certificate of Veteran
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
· Veteran whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease, OR
· Veteran whose death resulted from a non service-related injury or disease, and who was receiving, or was entitled to receive, VA Compensation for service-connected disability that was rated as totally disabling
* for at least 10 years immediately before death, OR
* since the veteran’s release from active duty and for at least five years immediately preceding
death, OR
* for at least one year before death if the veteran was a former prisoner of war who died after September 30, 1999.
Who are eligible survivors for DIC ?
The surviving spouse if he or she:
· validly married the veteran before January 1, 1957, OR
· was married to a service member who died on active duty, OR
· married the veteran within 15 years of discharge from the period of military service in which the disease or injury that caused the veteran’s death began or was aggravated, OR
· was married to the veteran for at least one year, OR
· had a child with the veteran, AND
· cohabited with the veteran continuously until the veteran’s death or, if separated, was not at fault for the separation, AND
· is not currently remarried.
The surviving child(ren) if he or she is:
· unmarried AND
· under age 18, or between the ages of 18 and 23 and attending school.
(Note: Certain helpless adult children are entitled to DIC. Call the toll-free number for the eligibility requirements for those survivors.)
The surviving parents may be eligible for an income-based benefit. See our fact sheet, Parents’ DIC, or call the toll-free number below for more information.
The basic monthly rate of DIC is $993 for eligible surviving spouses. In some cases, VA can pay more; for example, because of dependent children. Call the toll-free number below for information about rates paid to eligible children. [NOTE: When the surviving spouse is eligible for payments under the military’s Survivor Benefit Program (SBP), only the amount of SBP greater than DIC is payable. If DIC is greater than SBP, only DIC is payable.]
You can apply by filling out VA Form 21-534 (Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Death Pension and Accrued Benefits by a Surviving Spouse or Child), and submitting it to the VA regional office that serves your area. Call the toll-free number below for information about supporting materials that VA may need to process your claim.
Health Insurance (CHAMPVA) Federal Employment Preference
Home Loan Guaranty Survivors' & Dependents' Educational Assistance
What Is Death Pension ?
Death Pension is a benefit paid to eligible dependents of deceased wartime veterans.
Who Is Eligible ?
You may be eligible if:
· the deceased veteran was discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions, AND
· he or she served 90 days or more of active duty with at least 1 day during a period of war time. However, 38 CFR 3.12a requires that anyone who enlists after 9/7/80 generally has to serve at least 24 months or the full period for which a person was called or orde to active duty in order to receive any benefits based on that period of service. With the advent of the Gulf War on 8/2/90 (and still not ended by Congress to this day), veterans can now serve after 9/7/80 during a period of wartime. When they do, they generally now must serve 24 months to be eligible for pension or any other benefits. But note the exclusions in 38 CFR 3.12(d), AND
· you are the surviving spouse or unmarried child of the deceased veteran, AND
· your countable income is below a yearly limit set by law
Income Limits ( effective December 1, 2004 ) |
| |
If you are a... |
Your yearly income must be less than... | |
Surviving spouse with no dependent children |
$ 6,814 | |
Surviving spouse with one dependent child |
$ 8,921 | |
(Add $1,734 to the limit for each additional child) |
| |
Housebound surviving spouse with no dependents |
$ 8,328 | |
Housebound surviving spouse with one dependent |
$10,432 | |
Surviving spouse who needs aid and attendance with no dependents |
$10,893 | |
Surviving spouse who needs aid and attendance with one dependent |
$12,996 | |
Surviving child (no eligible parent) |
$1,734 | |
Note: Some income is not counted toward the yearly limit (for example, welfare benefits, some wages earned by dependent children, and Supplemental Security Income) |
| |
How Much Does VA Pay ?
VA pays you the difference between your countable income and the yearly income limit which describes your situation (see chart above). This difference is generally paid in 12 equal monthly payments rounded down to the nearest dollar. Call the toll-free number below for details.
How Can You Apply ?
You can apply by filling out VA Form 21-534, Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Or Death Pension by Surviving Spouse or Child. If available, attach copies of dependency records (marriage & children's birth certificates).
VA Pamphlet (Internet Version) Veterans Benefits
22-73-3, Revised
Administration
September 2004 Washington DC 20420
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?
HOW LONG CAN YOU RECEIVE BENEFITS?
ELIGIBILITY PERIOD: SON OR DAUGHTER
ELIGIBILITY PERIOD: SPOUSE
ELIGIBILITY PERIOD: SURVIVING SPOUSE
YOUR ENTITLEMENT: HOW MANY MONTHS OF BENEFITS CAN YOU RECEIVE?
HOW IS ENTITLEMENT CHARGED?
CAN YOU BE ELIGIBLE FOR MORE THAN ONE VA EDUCATION BENEFIT?
WHAT IF YOU RECEIVE OTHER VA BENEFITS AS THE VETERAN'S DEPENDENT?
WHAT TRAINING CAN YOU TAKE?
Can You Receive Special Restorative or Specialized Vocational Training?
Can You Receive Benefits for a Test for a License or Certification?
Can You Receive Benefits for Remedial, Deficiency, or Refresher Training?RELATED BENEFITS
Can You Receive Tutorial Assistance?
Can You Receive Work-Study Benefits?WHAT ARE RESTRICTIONS ON TRAINING?
MUST YOU MAINTAIN SATISFACTORY ATTENDANCE, CONDUCT, AND PROGRESS?
CAN YOU RECEIVE COUNSELING?
CAN YOU GO PART-TIME?
CAN YOU CHANGE PROGRAMS?
HOW MUCH EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE WILL YOU RECEIVE?
HOW DO YOU GET AND SUBMIT THE APPLICATION FOR BENEFITS?
WHERE SHOULD YOU SEND YOUR APPLICATION?
Training Outside the 50 States and the District of Columbia
HOW DO YOU RECEIVE PAYMENTS?
WHAT IF YOU DON'T RECEIVE A PAYMENT OR VERIFICATION FORM?
SHOULD YOU GET AN ADVANCE PAYMENT?
HOW CAN YOU GET AN ADVANCE PAYMENT?
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DROP ONE OR MORE COURSES?
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU RECEIVE A GRADE THAT DOESN'T COUNT?
PART 4: OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
WHAT ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR NOTIFYING VA?
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU DISAGREE WITH A VA DECISION?
HOW CAN YOU PREVENT AN OVERPAYMENT?
PART 5: WHERE DO YOU GO FOR HELP?
HOW DO YOU CONTACT VA?
HOW CAN YOU FIND OUT ABOUT OTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR EDUCATION?
This pamphlet provides a general description of the Dependents' Educational Assistance program, or DEA (chapter 35 of title 38, U. S. Code). The DEA program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents and survivors of certain veterans.
We in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) who produce this pamphlet hope that it will be a helpful guide for you. The pamphlet doesn't cover every exception to the rules and regulations, but gives you a general summary of the benefits available under this program.
So please don't rely on this pamphlet to determine if you're eligible for education benefits. To receive a formal decision from VA, you must file a claim for benefits. (See How Do You Apply For Benefits?)
We try to cover the main questions you may have about DEA benefits, including
• Eligibility rules (summarized)
• Types of training available under DEA
• How the program works, including
- Payment rates
- How to apply
- How you'll receive payments
- What you need to know during your training, and
- Where you can go for more help
To be eligible, you must be a spouse, son, or daughter (including stepchild or adopted child), of a
Generally, you may receive benefits until your eligibility period ends or you use all your entitlement, whichever comes first. (We use the term entitlement to mean the number of months of benefits you may receive.) We'll discuss your eligibility and your entitlement separately. (See pages 7 and 8 for information on entitlement.)
As a son or daughter (including stepchild or adopted child), as long as you have entitlement left, you may generally receive benefits under this program from age 18 to 26 (8 years).
However, in certain instances, you may begin before age 18 and continue after age 26. In some instances, you may choose among possible beginning dates. If we find that you're eligible, we'll notify you of your possible beginning dates and ending dates based on your claim.
Following are the effects of active duty on your period of eligibility. See also Effect of Active Duty on Your Entitlement.
If you provide evidence that you had to stop training because of conditions beyond your control, in some cases we can extend your eligibility for the period you had to stop training.
Circumstances that may be conside beyond your control (if verified by evidence) include:
If you're enrolled in training when your eligibility ends, in most cases we can extend your eligibility to the end of the semester or quarter, or to the end of twelve weeks if the course isn't operated on a semester or quarter basis.
As a son or daughter, marriage doesn't affect your period of eligibility.
In this section, we use the term "spouse" to mean the spouse of a living veteran, and "surviving spouse" to mean the spouse of a deceased veteran. If you're the veteran's surviving spouse, see Eligibility Period: Surviving Spouse on the following page.
If you're a spouse and you're eligible because the veteran has a permanent and total service-connected disability, benefits generally end 10 years from one of the following dates:
If you're a spouse and you're eligible because the veteran or service member is being held or is missing, as
your 10-year period of eligibility begins on the 91st day after the date the service member was listed as a captive or missing.
If the veteran or service member is released from captivity, or is determined to be alive and no longer missing, your period of eligibility ends on that date.
If you're enrolled in training on that date, your eligibility may be extended to the end of the term or course.
Following are the effects of active duty on your eligibility period:
If marriage to the veteran ends in divorce, your eligibility for DEA benefits ends on that date. But if you're in training, and the divorce occurs through no fault of yours, we can extend your eligibility as explained in the next section under While in Training.
Extensions of Your Eligibility Period
Disability. We may be able to extend your 10-year eligibility period by the amount of time you were prevented from training during that period because of a disability you incur.While in Training. If you're enrolled in training when your eligibility ends, in most cases we can extend your eligibility to the end of the semester or quarter, or to the end of twelve weeks if the course isn't operated on a semester or quarter basis.
How Long Are You Eligible?
If you're an eligible surviving spouse and the veteran died of a service-connected disability, you may choose the beginning date for your 10-year period of eligibility. That date must be between the date of death and the date we determine that the death was due to service-connected disability.
If you're an eligible surviving spouse and the veteran had a permanent and total service-connected disability at time of death, the beginning date of your 10-year period is the date of death.
Effect of Active Duty on Your Eligibility
Following are the effects of active duty on your eligibility period:
Disability. We may be able to extend your 10-year eligibility period by the amount of time you were prevented from training during that period because of a disability you incur.While in Training. If you're enrolled in training when your eligibility ends, in most cases we can extend your eligibility to the end of the semester or quarter, or to the end of twelve weeks if the course isn't operated on a semester or quarter basis.
The following explains the effects of remarrying on your DEA benefits.
- Before age 57. If you remarry before age 57, your eligibility ends on the date of remarriage.
Can benefits be reinstated? If you remarried after November 30, 1999, and your remarriage ends, we may reinstate your eligibility to DEA . The remarriage must be ended by death, divorce, or because you stopped living with your spouse and stopped holding yourself out to the public as the person's spouse.
If you remarried after October 31, 1990, but before November 30, 1999, we can't reinstate your eligibility, even if your remarriage ends.
- After age 57. If you remarry on or after January 1, 2004, and you're 57 or older, you can still be eligible for DEA benefits.
If you remarried after age 57 and before December 16, 2003, you must apply in writing before December 16, 2004, for eligibility to be reinstated.
Note: Remarrying after age 57 doesn't extend the 10-year period of eligibility that you established before you remarried.Example: A surviving spouse established eligibility for a 10-year period ending on November 15, 2005, which is 10 years from the date of the veteran's death. She remarried in April 2004 at age 58. She will keep her eligibility for DEA through November 15, 2005.
The following applies to sons and daughters (including stepchildren and adopted children), spouses and surviving spouses.
You may be entitled to receive up to 45 months of DEA benefits. You may receive a maximum of 48 months of benefits combined if you're eligible under more than one VA education program.
For example, let's say you're eligible as a veteran yourself and also as a veteran's dependent. As a veteran, you had already used 30 months of benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty program. You could then have 18 months of benefits remaining under the DEA program.
If you're called up to active duty under title 10 (federal authority) while you're receiving benefits, and you have to drop out of school without receiving cit, we'll restore (give you back) the months of benefits you used for that period of training.
Example: You attend two months of fall term and have to drop out, receiving no cit. You can keep the benefits you received for that period. We'll add back two months of benefits that you can use at a later time.
If you're called up under title 32 (State authority), we can't restore the months of benefits you used.
You're charged one full day for each day of full-time benefits paid. Entitlement is charged in months and days. Each month is counted as 30 days. If you train part-time, we adjust the entitlement charge according to your training time.
For example, if you're attending college for 90 days (3 months) at the full-time rate, you'll be charged 3 months of benefits. If you attend for 105 days at the full-time rate, your benefits charge will be 3.5 months.
You can be eligible for more than one VA education benefit. If you are, you must elect which benefit to receive. You can't receive payment for more than one benefit at a time. Following are the other benefits and Web addresses where you can get more information:
· For the following programs, go to www.gibill.va.gov:
- Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty Educational Assistance Program (MGIB - AD)
- Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB - SR)
- Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
- Educational Assistance Test Program (Section 903 of Public Law 96-342)
- Educational Assistance Pilot Program (Section 901 of Public Law 96-342)
· For Training and Rehabilitation for Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities (Vocational Rehabilitation),
go to www.va.gov. Click on Vocational Rehab.· For the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986, contact us to request the pamphlet. See How Do You Contact VA?
IMPORTANT: If you're eligible for more than one benefit, we strongly suggest that you discuss your education plans with us. We can help you explore the options open to you and help plan your program for maximum use of your benefits.
If you're a spouse or surviving spouse, your DEA benefits have no effect on your benefits as a dependent on the veteran's disability or death award.
The disability benefit is called compensation or pension; the death benefit is called DIC (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation) or death pension.
If you're a son or daughter (including stepchildren or adopted children) of a veteran receiving a disability benefit, the veteran can generally receive an additional allowance for you as a dependent until you reach age 23 if you're attending school. However, if you elect DEA, the additional allowance to the veteran will stop when you begin receiving DEA benefits.
If you're a son or daughter (including stepchildren or adopted children) of a deceased veteran, you may generally be eligible to receive death benefits yourself from age 18 to age 23 if you continue attending school. If you're also eligible for DEA, you must elect which benefit to receive. If you elect DEA, the death benefits will stop when you begin receiving DEA benefits.
IMPORTANT: If your program will last longer than 45 months, it may be to your advantage to defer DEA benefits. You could continue to receive death benefits while you attend school, as explained above.
If you believe a deferral is to your advantage, we recommend that you contact us to discuss with a VA Education Case Manager the various options open to you.
You may receive benefits for a wide variety of training, including:
- Degree programs, undergraduate and graduate, at colleges or universities, including cooperative training programs and accited independent study programs that may be offe through distance education.
- Cooperative training is a full-time program of alternating school instruction and training in a business or industrial establishment.
- Certificate programs, at colleges, universities, and other degree-granting institutions, including accited independent study courses that may be offe through distance education.
- Certificate programs at business, technical, or vocational schools.
- Apprenticeships or on-the-job (OJT) training programs offe by companies or unions.
- Apprenticeships or OJT programs may offer an alternative to college or vocational school to help you gain experience in the field you choose.
- Correspondence courses, if you're a spouse or surviving spouse.
- Farm cooperative courses.
- Programs overseas that lead to college degrees.
- Preparatory courses for college or graduate school entrance examinations.
- High school programs, if you aren't a high school graduate.
Caution: A State Approving Agency (SAA) or VA, in certain cases, must approve each program offe by a school or company.
If you're handicapped by a physical or mental disability, you may be eligible to receive Special Restorative Training or Specialized Vocational Training. The disability must prevent you from pursuing an educational program.
As a son or daughter, you must be at least 14 to receive benefits for Specialized Vocational Training.
Special Restorative Training may involve speech and voice correction, language retraining, lip reading, auditory training, Braille reading and writing, or other training of this nature.
Specialized Vocational Training includes specialized courses leading to a vocational objective. The objective must be suitable for you, and requi because of a physical or mental handicap.
You may receive benefits for the cost of a test to obtain a license or certification needed to get, keep, or advance in a job. You can't receive benefits for other fees relating to a license or certification. (However, many courses leading to a license or certification are also approved for benefits.)
You may take as many tests as you need. You don't have to pass the test to receive benefits. You can receive benefits to retake a test you failed, and to renew or update your license or certificate.
You can receive reimbursement for the cost of the test, up to $2,000 per test. For more information, including the tests that are approved for VA benefits, check www.gibill.va.gov.
You may receive benefits for remedial or deficiency courses if you need them to assist you in overcoming a weakness in a particular area of study.
You may take refresher training at the elementary or high school level to review or update material previously cove in a course that you satisfactorily completed.
The remedial, deficiency, or refresher course must be necessary to enable you to pursue an approved program of education.
No entitlement is charged for these courses for the first five months of training.
You may receive a special allowance for individual tutoring if you train in school at one-half time or more. To qualify, you must have a deficiency in a subject, making the tutoring necessary. The school must certify the tutor's qualifications and the hours of tutoring.
If eligible, you may receive a maximum monthly payment of $100. The maximum total benefit is $1,200.
To apply, complete VA Form 22-1990t, Application and Enrollment Certification for Individualized Tutorial Assistance. See How Do You Get the Application for Benefits? The school's certifying official and your tutor must complete part of the form.
While using your DEA benefits, you may be eligible for an additional allowance under a work-study program, if you're training at the three-quarter or full- time rate. (Work-study benefits are also payable under most other VA education benefit programs.)
Under a work-study program, you may do the following work:
- Outreach work under the supervision of a VA or State Approving Agency employee
- VA paperwork at schools, training facilities or VA facilities
- Help providing care to veterans at VA medical centers or state veterans homes
- Administrative work at national or State veterans cemeteries
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 minimum wage or your State minimum wage, whichever is greater.
To apply, complete VA Form 22-8691, Application for Work-Study Allowance. See How Do You Get the Application for Benefits? If you're applying for work-study in Florida, send the application to the VA Regional Office, 9500 Bay Pines Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. For any other State, send it to the VA Regional Processing Office that handles your DEA claim. (The addresses are on pages 20 and 21.)
You may not receive benefits for the following courses:
Restrictions on Specific Courses
- Bartending
- Non-accited independent study courses
- Any course given by radio
- Self-improvement courses such as personality development courses, reading, speaking, woodworking, basic seamanship, and English as a second language
- Any course that is avocational (not generally related to employment) or recreational in character
- Audited courses
General Restrictions
- Courses that don't lead to an educational, professional, or vocational objective
- Courses you've taken before and successfully completed
- Courses you take as a Federal government employee under the Government Employees' Training Act
- A program at a proprietary school if you're an owner or official of the school
- Courses you take while you're receiving benefits for the same program from the Office of Workers' Compensation programs
Other Restrictions
If you seek a college degree, the school must admit you to a degree program by the start of your third term.
You may not receive DEA benefits while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces.
We must uce your benefits if you're in a Federal, State, or local prison after being convicted of a felony.
We must stop payment of your education benefits if Federal or State law enforcement has identified you, or the veteran (on whom your award is based), as a "fugitive felon." A person is conside a fugitive felon is he or she has an outstanding warrant for a felony, or has violated a condition of probation or parole for committing a felony.
Counseling is available inside the States, territories and possessions of the United States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Upon request, we'll provide counseling services, including testing, to help you
- Select an educational, vocational, or professional objective and develop a plan to achieve that goal, and
- Overcome any personal or academic problems that may interfere with the successful achievement of your goal.
Professionally qualified personnel will provide these counseling services to you free of charge. You must pay the cost of any travel, however, to and from the counseling appointment. We'll make every effort to arrange counseling appointments at times and places convenient to you.
Counseling is requi if you're a disabled son or daughter who needs special services to pursue a program of education and for certain other sons or daughters.
VA requires and provides counseling for disabled spouses and those who need specialized programs of vocational training as a result of the handicapping effects of their disabilities.
If you're unable to attend full-time, consider going part-time. Benefit rates for part-time training are less than the full-time rate. However, the entitlement charge for part-time training is less than the charge for full-time training.
For example: If you receive full-time benefits for 12 months, the charge is 12 months. If you receive one-half time benefits for 12 months, the charge is six months.
The rules for changes of program are different, depending on whether you're a spouse, or a son or daughter.
If you're a spouse, you may make one change of program without VA approval if your attendance, conduct, and progress in the last program were satisfactory. We may approve additional changes if the proposed program is suitable to your abilities, aptitudes, and interests.
If you're a son or daughter (including stepchildren or adopted children), you must receive VA approval for every change of program.
What does VA consider a change of program? If you change your educational or vocational objective, and this requires a change in the courses you're taking, we must charge a change of program.
Exception: If you successfully completed your last program, we won't charge a change of program when you enroll in a new program.
To continue receiving benefits, you must maintain satisfactory attendance, conduct, and progress. If you don't meet your school's standards, the certifying official must notify us. We must stop your benefits if the school reports unsatisfactory attendance, conduct, or progress.
We may resume benefits if you reenter the same program at the same school, and your school certifies your enrollment to VA.
If you don't reenter the same program at the same school, we may resume benefits if the cause of your unsatisfactory attendance, conduct, or progress has been removed. We also must find that the program you intend to take is suitable to your abilities, aptitudes, and interests.
This section explains the rates of benefits you can receive.
For the current rates for all types of training, check www.gibill.va.gov (click on Payment Rates), or contact us through phone or e-mail. See How Do You Contact VA?
The basic monthly rates increase October 1 every year with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase. While you're in training, you'll receive a letter with the current rates when the increase goes into effect each year. The rates may increase at other times by an act of Congress.
You receive the rates as described on the next page, up to the remaining amount of your entitlement for benefits, or up to the end of your eligibility period, whichever comes first. See How Long Are You Eligible? and How Many Months of Benefits Can You Receive?
Note: If your training is in the Philippines, you receive 50% of the regular rate.
| Type of Training | Frequency and Rate of Payment |
| College and Vocational School | Monthly payments based on your training time—Full time, three quarter time, half time. When you train at less than half time, you'll be paid tuition and fees. But if tuition and fees amount to more than you would be paid at the half-time rate (or the quarter-time rate if you're training at quarter-time or less), your payments will be limited to the half-time (or the quarter-time rate). |
| On-the-job training (OJT) and apprenticeship programs | Monthly payments based on your length of time in the program—Rates decrease three times as your wages increase (once after your first six months, again after your second six months, then again after your third six months.) |
| Correspondence courses | Quarterly, at the rate of 55% of the approved charges for the course, up to your remaining DEA entitlement. |
| Tests for licenses or certifications | Single payment as reimbursement of 100% of the charges up to a maximum of $2,000 per test, and up to your remaining DEA entitlement. |
| Cooperative Training | Monthly payments at full-time school rate only |
| Farm Cooperative Training | Monthly payments based on training time—Full time, three-quarter, and half time |
You can get and submit the application, VA Form 22-5490, on-line, or submit a printed copy.
Just go to www.gibill.va.gov and click on Electronic Application. When you've completed the form, click on the Submit button and submit it electronically to VA. You must still print out the signature page and send it to VA, since we need your original signature to begin payments.
If you know the program you want to take, you should also take a copy of the printed form to the certifying official for VA benefits at the school or training facility.
If you prefer, you can obtain the printed application form and mail it to VA. You can get the printed form in several ways:
- Go to www.gibill.va.gov . Click on Education Forms and download the form.
- You may be able to pick up the application from the school or training facility you're attending.
- Send us an e-mail. Just go to www.gibill.va.gov and click on Ask a Question.
- Call 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551). (You may have difficulty getting through quickly, especially when school enrollments are heavy. You may have more success by going to the Internet site.)
One of the following VA Regional Processing Offices will handle your claim. Check the list below to see which office has jurisdiction over the State where you'll train.
Eastern Region
VA Regional Office Connecticut Massachusetts Rhode Island PO Box 4616 Delaware New Hampshire Vermont Buffalo, NY District of New Jersey Virginia 14240-4616 Columbia New York West Virginia Maine Ohio Foreign Schools Maryland Pennsylvania Southern Region
VA Regional Office Alabama North Carolina P.O. Box 100022 Florida Puerto Rico Decatur, GA Georgia South Carolina 30031-7022 Mississippi Tennessee Central Region
VA Regional Office Colorado Kentucky Nebraska PO Box 66830 Illinois Michigan North Dakota St. Louis, MO Indiana Minnesota South Dakota 63166-6830 Iowa Missouri Wisconsin Kansas Montana Wyoming Western Region
VA Regional Office Alaska Idaho Oregon PO Box 8888 Arkansas Louisiana Philippines Muskogee, OK Arizona New Mexico Texas 74402-8888 California Nevada Utah Hawaii Oklahoma Washington
If you're training outside the 50 States and the District of Columbia, check the list below for the office that will handle your claim. See the list above for the mailing address.
Southern Region (Decatur, GA)
Puerto Rico U. S. Virgin Islands
Western Region (Muskogee, OK)
American Samoa Wake Island
Guam Federated States
Midway of the Marshall Islands
Republic of Palau Republic of Micronesia
Eastern Region (Buffalo, NY)
Any other country or area outside the 50 States and the District of Columbia
Manila Regional Office
The Manila Regional Office processes DEA claims for claimants training in the Republic of the Philippines.
VA Regional Office
1131 Roxas Blvd., Ermita
0930 Manila , PI 96440
After you've been approved for payments, receiving payments is basically a two-step process.
CERTIFYING YOUR ENROLLMENT
The first step: the school or training program official certifies your enrollment in an approved program.
VERIFYING YOUR CONTINUED ENROLLMENT
The second step involves verifying your continued enrollment. The following explains how your enrollment is verified for the type of training you're taking.
Degree Program
If you're in a degree program at a college or university, the school periodically verifies to VA your continued enrollment. You'll receive payment after the first of each month for your training during the preceding month.
Other Programs
For the following types of training, you must verify your continued enrollment. Please note that you won't receive payment until VA receives your verification.
Certificate or Diploma Program (at a Business, Technical or Vocational School, or College
You'll receive VA Form 22-8979, Student Verification of Enrollment, each month. You must use the form to verify your continued enrollment for the previous month. Complete the form and return it to us. (See the table under Where Do You Send Your Application?) We'll release a payment, if appropriate.
OJT or Apprenticeship
You'll receive a form to report the hours you worked each month. Sign the form and give it to the certifying official for the company or union. The certifying official must complete the form and send it to the appropriate VA regional office. We'll release a payment, if appropriate.
Correspondence Course
You'll receive a form at the end of each quarter, i.e., at the end of March, June, September, and December. Show the number of lessons you completed that quarter, and send the form to the school. The school will certify the number of lessons they serviced during the quarter, and send the form to us. We'll release a payment, if appropriate. Payments are based on the number of lessons the school serviced.
Note: The law prohibits schools from cashing VA checks under a power of attorney agreement.
VERIFYING A TEST FOR A LICENSE OR CERTIFICATION
Send us a copy of your test results with a note or a VA Form 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim, stating that you're requesting reimbursement. Include
- • name of the test you took
- • name and address of the organization issuing
- the license or certificate (not necessarily the
- organization that administe the test)
- • date you took the test
- • cost of the test
- • the following statement:
- "I authorize release of my test information to VA."
We'll release a payment, if appropriate.
If you're taking courses leading to a degree at a college or university, you should receive your payment for each month by the fifth of the next month. If you don't, immediately call 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551). If your hearing is impai, call 1-800-829-4833.
If you're taking courses leading to a certificate at a technical or vocational school, you should receive your monthly verification form by the fifth of the next month. If you don't, immediately call the number above.
For any type of training, if you haven't received a payment at the end of two weeks after you verify your attendance, immediately call the number above.
Important: Whenever you contact VA, have your VA claim number readily available. Your claim number is the veteran's claim number with a suffix consisting of a letter of the alphabet—for example, A, B, C, etc.
In some cases, you can get an advance payment to meet tuition expenses up front.
Example: You request an advance payment for enrollment from September 15-December 20. You receive the advanced payment September 15. The payment will cover September 15-October 31. Your next payment, covering the month of November, will not be received until the first week of December.
HOW CAN YOU GET AN ADVANCE PAYMENT?
You can get an advance payment if
- The school's break is at least 30 days between the term you're applying for and the preceding term, and you won't be paid for the break.
VA can generally pay for a break between terms (with some exceptions) if the break is eight weeks or less, and both the term before and the term after the break aren't shorter than the break.- You train at half-time or more;
- The school agrees to handle advance payments;
You request an advance payment in writing;
andVA receives your enrollment certification at least 30 days before classes start.
We'll mail an advance payment check to the school, made out to you, for delivery to you at registration. We can't issue the check more than 30 days before classes start.
Your signed request for an advance payment must be included with your enrollment certification that the school submits.
If you uce your enrollment or withdraw from all courses during the period cove by an advance payment, you'll have an overpayment that VA is requi to collect from you if you cash the check. If you think the amount of a VA check is incorrect, contact us before cashing the check.
Caution: After receiving the advance payment, which covers the first month or partial month of your enrollment and the following month, you won't receive another payment until at least two months later.
If you drop one or more of your courses, you should always notify VA and your school's certifiying official as soon as possible. If you drop after the end of the school's drop period, you'll need to let us know the reasons for the change. We must uce or stop your benefits from the beginning date of the term.
Unless you can show that the change was due to mitigating circumstances, you may have to repay all benefits for the course or courses. "Mitigating circumstances" are unavoidable and unexpected events that directly interfere with your pursuit of a course and are beyond your control.
If you can show mitigating circumstances, we can pay benefits up to the last date of your attendance.
Examples of reasons we may accept are extended illness and unscheduled changes in your employment. Examples of reasons we may not accept are withdrawal to avoid a failing grade or dislike of the instructor.
We may ask you to furnish evidence to support your reasons for a change. If a serious illness or injury caused the change, obtain a statement from your doctor. If a change in employment caused the change in enrollment, obtain a statement from your employer.
The first time you drop from up to six cit hours, we'll "excuse" the drop and pay benefits for the period you attended. You won't have to explain the reasons for dropping the course(s). Remember, this only applies to your first drop.
If you receive a grade that doesn't count toward graduation, you may have to repay all benefits for the course or courses. (We refer to these grades as "non-punitive.") Check your school's grading policy with the registrar or the office handling VA paperwork. A common example is a "W" grade for withdrawing.
If you receive a non-punitive grade, the school will notify us. We may uce or stop benefits. You may not have to repay the benefits if you can show that the grades were due to mitigating circumstances.
(If you receive an "I" for "Incomplete," we won't require your reasons for one year from the date you received the grade, or by the end of the time period the school allows you to make up the grade, whichever comes first.)
Note: Receiving a failing grade won't effect your DEA benefits, as long as your school counts the grade toward graduation, and as long as you have continued to meet the school's requirements for satisfactory progress.
You're responsible for notifying VA of any changes discussed below. To notify us, see How Do You Contact VA?
Change in Your Enrollment
If you change your enrollment, immediately tell the certifying official at your school. Ask the certifying official to notify VA of the change.
Also notify us of the change yourself. If we don't receive prompt notice of a change, you could be liable for an overpayment of benefits. We'll tell you how to return your incorrect payment.
NOTE: School employees who process VA forms are not VA employees.
Change of Address
Promptly notify us of any change in your address. Send your complete address, including the ZIP Code.
Change in Marital Status
If you're a spouse or surviving spouse, you must report any of the following changes in marital status which may affect your eligibility:
- Separation from the veteran
- Divorce from the veteran
- Remarriage following the death of the veteran.
You may appeal VA decisions on education benefits. Each notice of decision we send you will contain your legal rights and appeal procedures.
If you disagree with our decision, simply write and tell us why. You may request a personal hearing on your claim. Don't wait too long to respond. We must receive your letter about your disagreement within one year of the date of our letter that notified you of a decision. We'll then give your claim a second review.
If you need assistance with your appeal, contact VA or a veterans service organization. See How Do You Contact VA?
An overpayment is an incorrect benefit payment that is more than the amount to which you're entitled. If you promptly notify VA of changes affecting your benefits, you can prevent or uce overpayments. See How Do You Contact VA?
In addition, use reasonable judgment when you accept and cash a check. Carefully read all letters
from us about the monthly rates and effective dates of your benefits. If you think the amount of a check is wrong, contact us before cashing the check. We'll tell you how to return your incorrect payment.
If you cash a check for the wrong amount, you'll be liable for repayment of any resulting overpayment.
If you need help with your VA education benefits, or if you need to notify us of any changes affecting your benefits, you can contact us in the following ways:
- Go to www.gibill.va.gov , for general or detailed information about education benefits. To send us an e-mail, click on Ask a Question. Call 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).
- If your hearing is impai, call 1-800-829-4833.
Toll-free telephone service is available in all 50 States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
(Unfortunately, you may have difficulty getting through quickly at the toll-free number, especially when enrollments are heavy. You may have more success by going to the Internet site.)
Any of the following offices or representatives can also assist you:
- Any VA Regional Office, VA Medical Center or Vet Center (To locate the VA facility closest to you, go to www.va.gov and click on Facilities Locator at the bottom).
- State or local representatives of veterans organizations.
- Education Service Officers or education counselors at military bases.
- American Embassies or consulates, if you're in a foreign country.
For help or information on other VA benefits, including home loans, disability, death benefits, health care, and life insurance, call 1-800-827-1000, or access the main VA Web site, www.va.gov . If your hearing is impai, call 1-800-829-4833.
For information on other sources of assistance, check with the Financial Aid office at your school.
Also check with the State office that handles Veterans Affairs for the State where your training facility is located. Your State may offer other education benefits based on military service or being a dependent of a veteran.
To locate the State office, go to www.va.gov. Under Today's VA on the left panel, click on Partners, then State Veterans Affairs Offices.
Here are some other useful Web sites:
- www.ed.gov , the Department of Education.
- www.collegeispossible.org , the Coalition of America's Colleges and Universities.
- www.doleta.gov , the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) site.
RESCISSION: VA Pamphlet 22-73-3, November 2003