Financial Aid - Veterans Benefits

If you qualify for the Chapter 30 or 1606 educational benefit program and have never used it before, you will complete an original Application for VA Education Benefits at the BC3 Veterans Affairs Office. In addition, you will be required to provide one or more of the following documents:

• courthouse-certified (by the Court Recorder) copy #4 of DD214 (Chapter 30 applicants)
• signed copy of completed NOBE (Notice of Basic Eligibility) form, issued by Reserve/Guard unit (Chapter 1606 applicants)
• if eligible for a "kicker", copy of Kicker Contract.
• ACF (Army College Fund) confirmation or lump sum contribution payment verification (Chapter 30 applicants)
• If you elect to have your GI Bill payments direct deposited, will need to provide bank name and routing
number as well as checking account.

Students who have previously used the above benefits must complete a Change of School/Program form at the BC3 Veterans Affairs Office.

Chapter 33 - Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer of Entitlement Procedures

1. Carefully review your options about the Post 9/11 GI Bill by reading the information on the www.gibill.va.gov web site.
• The page that lists specific information regarding Transfer of Entitlement is: www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/Transfer.htm.
2. Further information is also available through the Department of Defense web site: www.defenselink.mil/home/features/2009/0409_gibill/
• After reading the VA information, if you are unsure of whether or not the service person is eligible for transferring benefits, you can also call 1-888-GIBILL1 for further guidance.
3. Transferring Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits is a three step process.
• The service person applies to transfer the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to a dependent.
• The dependent applies for the Post 9/11 GI BILL benefit AFTER the approval is received from the Department of Defense.
• The dependent receives a Certificate of Eligibility in the mail from the VA. He or she attaches a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility to the form found in Step 7.
4. Once a service person decides to transfer Post 9/11 GI Bill entitlement, he or she must apply to transfer the benefits at https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/TEB/
5. The transfer must be approved by the Department of Defense before the student can apply for the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefit.
6. The dependent will then need to submit the VA application by completing the on-line form at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp. Click on "Start VONAPP". If any questions when completing the form, please call the VA at 1- 888-GIBILL1.
7. When the dependent receives a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility, he or she will need to print and complete the BC3 enrollment form.
8. A copy of the Certificate of Eligibility should be attached to the BC3 form. Be sure to read your rights and responsibilities that are listed in the cover letter. Send the form to the Office of Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs.
9. BC3 cannot defer your tuition or partial tuition from the VA until we have a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility letter from the VA. This letter will indicate what percentage of your tuition and fees will be covered by the VA through the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

• "Regular Pay" - check is sent to you after each month is completed.
• "Advance Pay" - you are paid in advance for the first partial and first full month of attendance (advance paychecks may be picked up in the Veterans Affairs Office located in the lower level of the Administration Building at the beginning of the semester). Subsequent checks are sent to you after each month is completed.

Chapter 30 and Chapter 1606 veterans must verify their enrollment on the last day of each month enrolled before the next GI Bill payment is issued. You can verify your enrollment in the following ways:

• Phone in your enrollment information 1-877-823-2378
• Verify via web site www.gibill.va.gov, then click on WAVE.

If you have never submitted an Education Claim to VA-Submit an Application for " Application for VA Education Benefits " (VA Form 22-1990) and anything else available as evidence of qualifying service. Annotate " Chapter 1607 " prominently on all correspondence and documents

If you have previously field a claim for Education benefits--A new application for is not required. However, you should submit any available document such as your, Discharge from Military Service (DD Form 214), copies of orders to active duty and anything else available as evidence of qualifying service to help establish eligibility for this program. You should also submit a " Request For Change of Program or Place of Training " (VA form 22-1995) which should be annotated " 1607. " Annotate " Chapter 1607 " prominently on all correspondence and documents.

Applying for GI Bill Benefits for the First Time OR Switching to the new Post 9/11 GI Bill

1. You will need to submit the VA application by completing the on-line form at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp
• Click on "Start VONAPP". If you have any questions when you are completing the form, please call the VA at 1-888-GIBILL1.
2. You will need to complete the BC3 VA Enrollment. Please attach a copy of the application you submitted online in number 1 to the VA or a copy of your VA Certificate of Eligibility.
• Be sure to read your rights and responsibilities included with the BC3 VA Enrollment Form.
3. Post 9/11 GI Bill: After the VA has determined your eligibility for Chapter 33, you should send a copy of the determination letter to the BC3 Office of Veterans Affairs. The VA will not send the school this information, and BC3 will need this letter to know about your tuition rate. Chapter 33 entitles you to some/all of tuition depending on your eligibility. BC3 cannot defer your tuition or partial tuition from the VA until we have a copy of your annual letter from the VA.

Chapter 33 Post 9/11 Note

If you are considering the switch to the Post 9/11 GI Bill, please be aware that it is an irrevocable decision when you elect to give up one of the other VA benefit programs (Chapter 30, 1606, 1607). BC3 suggests that you contact the VA in writing through the Questions and Answers on www.gibill.va.gov to determine if you would be better served to switch to the Post 9/11 GI Bill now or later or to stay with the benefit that you are currently receiving. You should keep a copy of their response. BC3 Veterans Affairs is unable to provide this type of advice because we do not have access to your military records, and we do not make the determination of your eligibility. If you decide to switch to the Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill (or begin using VA benefits for the first time), you will need to follow the directions below for Applying for GI Bill benefits.

Other GI Bills

GI Bill checks are sent directly to the student electronically or by check, not the university. Chapter 30, Chapter 1607 (REAP) and Chapter 1606 veterans must verify their enrollment on the last day of each month enrolled before the next GI Bill payment is issued. You can verify your enrollment in the following ways:

• Phone in your enrollment information 1-877-823-2378
• Verify via website www.gibill.va.gov, then click on WAVE

Applications and appropriate documentation should be completed at least 8-12 weeks prior to your term starting date to ensure timely processing. Carefully review the different GI Bill options by reading the information on the www.gibill.va.gov website.