Veteran's Certification - Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start to receive my G.I. Bill benefits?
If you have not used your benefits before, visit www.gibill.va.gov, click on Education Benefits, Education Forms and complete form 22-1990 for veterans and form 22-5490 for survivors and dependent education assistance.

Do I have to certify my enrollment?
If you are Chapter 30, 1606 or 1607 you need to certify with Veterans Affairs at the end of each month you are registered for classes. This can be done by either calling 1-877-823-2378 and following the instructions or go to www.gibill.va.gov and click on Information for Benefit Recipients. Follow the instructions. When the system tells you that you are certified, your verification is complete.

How long does it take to process my certification paperwork?
Your enrollment certification will be processed from the Registrar's Office within a few days. The VA Regional Processing Office in St. Louis, MO processes all documentation from every school within our region. It is very important that you complete the required documentation in a timely manner.

What should I do if I do not receive a check?
If you attend school, you must verify your enrollment each month by using the WAVE system (Chapter 30, 1606 or 1607). Remember that you cannot be paid for a month until the month is over and you verify that you were still in attendance for that month.

WAVE and the telephone interactive Voice Response Systems require at least three workdays to process and update the system. Both systems process data every workday, but it sometimes takes some additional time before they are updated to reflect the new information.

If you have a check mailed, you can expect your monthly benefit payment approximately 14 days after you verify your enrollment. If you have your benefits sent to a direct deposit account, you can expect your payment within 7 days of verifying your school attendance.

If you do not receive your payment within this timeframe, please contact VA to confirm that payment has been issued. You can contact VA by calling 1-888-442-4551.

If I change my enrollment do I have to notify anyone?
You must notify VA and the school's certifying official as soon as possible. This includes adds, drops, withdrawals, incompletes and any situation that could have mitigating circumstances. If VA does not receive prompt notice of a change, you could be liable for an overpayment of benefits.

Can I take courses at another institution and receive my benefits?
Yes. You must notify the school's certifying official where you are obtaining your degree that you will be taking classes at another institution, known as the "Secondary School". The institution where you are obtaining your degree is the "Parent School". You must provide the Parent School a copy of your schedule from the Secondary School. The courses must be transferable and satisfy the requirements for the degree you are pursuing at the Parent School. The Parent School will send a letter to the Secondary School stating the classes you are registered for will transfer and satisfy the requirements for the degree you are pursuing. If you are concurrently enrolled at both institutions, both institutions will submit a certification to VA for the courses being taken at that institution. You must request certification at the Secondary School by contacting their VA Certifying Official. To check the transferability of classes being taking at a community college visit http://www2.oakland.edu/admissions/tce/.

If I am eligible for more than one chapter of benefits can I claim both chapters?
Yes. However, you may only receive payments from one program at a time. You can receive a maximum of 48 months of benefits under any combination of VA education programs you qualify for. If you are eligible for more than one benefit, you should discuss your education plans with VA. You can contact VA at www.GIBILL.va.gov or by phone at 1-888-442-4551.

How many months can I receive benefits?
You may receive up to 36 months of benefits. You can receive a maximum of 48 months of benefits if you are eligible for more than one chapter. For specific regulations for the different chapters contact VA at www.GIBILL.va.gov.

Is there a restriction on what courses I can take while I receive G.I. Bill benefits?
VA will only pay for courses that are listed on your "Plan of Study" for the degree you are pursuing.

What do I do if I get notified that I am getting deployed?
You should notify the VA Certifying Official and provide a copy of your official orders.

What is the difference between the Montgomery GI Bill and the New Post 9/11 GI Bill?
Please review the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs for details - http://www.gibill.va.gov/

Can I use my military benefits for Graduate School?
If you have not exhausted your benefits, they may be used for graduate school.

How much are tuition and fees at OU?
Visit the web site with OU's estimated cost of attendance - http://www4.oakland.edu/?id=160&sid=30

Questions or comments? Please e-mail registra@oakland.edu.