Veteran FAQs

​Students using Chapters 30, 33, and 1606 benefits must verify their enrollment monthly. You need to do this every month in order to get paid. The earliest you can verify is the last day of each month.

You can verify your enrollment at https://www.va.gov/education/verify-school-enrollment/.

​The VA only pays for classes that count for a major program, general education courses, and if the student has them, electives needed to achieve the 122 credits for graduation. If you are taking a class that is not required for any of the above reasons, the course is not approved, and the VA does not recognize it.

Fill out a 22-1995 Change of Program or place of training form to declare the new major with the VA.

​The VA no longer approves minors unless it is required by your major or you can complete the minor within the 122 credits required to graduate. The loop hole for minors is requesting a dual major in the subject you wish to minor in and only completing the minor requirements. To request a dual major, you just need to fill out the dual major request form through our office.

​Notify our office of any changes you plan to make to your schedule. A call or e-mail is sufficient.

You need to take any TA paperwork to the Student Financial Services office, SSC 003.

​If you continue to attend the class and are given an “F” grade, the VA will not require you to repay the benefits you have received for that class. If you stop attending the class or are given a “W” the VA may require you to repay the benefits you have already received.

The VA may not pay the tuition or monthly housing allowance for a repeated course. Check with the Veterans Services Coordinator to see if the repeat will count towards your semester benefits.

​You can find information on the Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs website.

​Only Chapters 30, 35, 1606 and 1607 are eligible for advance pay. The VA basically gives you the first month and a half of pay up front, usually a few weeks before the start of the semester to help buy books, supplies, etc. You have to request it at least 35 days before the start of the semester. See our office about requesting it.

​If it has been less than a year since you’ve used your benefits at the UW-Stevens Point, you only need to fill out a new request for benefits form with our office. If it’s been more than a year, you will need to fill out a 1995/5495 change of program form with our office to re-activate your benefits.

The Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) pays for the following:

• Tuition and Fees (depending on percentage rating)
• Housing Allowance (BAH) – If student is above half time (6.5 credits) they will receive the full amount. It is based on an E-5 with dependents. They can view the housing allowance rates here: http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/bah.html
• Book stipend of up to $1000 per academic year

​Call this number with the VA to set up direct deposit: 1-877-838-2778.

​In order to switch to the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you have to apply for it. You can do so by going to the GI Bill website: http://www.gibill.va.gov/

You will want to consider the following before switching over:

• How much entitlement you have left under the old GI Bill.
  • The VA does a 1 to 1 conversion meaning if you have 6 months of entitlement left under the old GI Bill, you will get 6 months under the Post 9/11.
  • If you exhaust all entitlement first under the old GI Bill, the VA will give you an additional 12 months under the Post 9/11 if you qualify.
• It is best to contact the VA directly at: 1-888-442-4551 to determine which benefit is most beneficial for you and what you qualify for. Sometimes the Post 9/11 GI Bill isn’t always the best benefit.

​Our office cannot determine eligibility. You will need to contact the VA directly at: 1-888-442-4551 to find out which benefit(s) you are eligible for.

​Since we generally wait until the last day to add/drop to report tuition and fees, it is likely they will pay late. However, we work closely with Student Financial Services so late charges don’t incur on tuition balances.

If you pay your tuition before the VA makes their payment, the VA payment will be refunded to you by Student Financial Services. However, you are not required to make any payments to your tuition until after the VA has made their payment.

The VA pays you book money based on the credit hours you are enrolled in. They have a per credit hour charge of approx. $42 so just multiply that by the number of credits you are enrolled in and that’s how much you can expect for a semester up to $1000 per academic year. This money is usually included in your first BAH housing payment.

The question on the FAFSA is: “Are you a veteran of the U.S. armed forces?”

According to the FAFSA website, you would answer “Yes” if you:

(1) have engaged in active duty (including basic training) in the U.S. armed forces, or are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee who was called to active duty for other than state or training purposes, or were a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies

AND

(2) were released under a condition other than dishonorable.

Answer “No” if you:

(1) have never engaged in active duty (including basic training) in the U.S. armed forces,

(2) are currently a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) student or a cadet or midshipman at a service academy,

(3) are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee activated only for state or training purposes, or

(4) were engaged in active duty in the U.S. armed forces but released under dishonorable conditions.

Please note: National Guard and Army Reserve members, if you have only participated in basic training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT), you will answer “No” to this question.