Learn the steps to apply for veterans benefits after ensuring your eligibility.
Eligibility
In order to receive Veterans Affairs (VA) educational benefits, you must be admitted to or enrolled in a program leading to a degree or certificate awarded by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. If you’re taking remedial, refresher, or prerequisite courses, you must provide a written memo on department letterhead from your dean or academic advisor indicating that the courses will transfer to your degree program.
To receive maximum educational benefit payments under the Veterans’ Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966, undergraduate, graduate, and professional students are required to be registered and actively attending as full-time students. For VA purposes, full-time status is defined as actively attending at least 12 concurrent hours during fall or spring or 6 concurrent hours during summer.
You must submit a Veterans Enrollment Certification Request Form for each term you request payment of VA educational benefits. You’re encouraged to submit the form after you’ve finalized your enrollment each term. Post-9/11 GI Bill® students should also submit a copy of their Certificate of Eligibility received each term.
Residency is determined when you submit your application for admission. If you’re actively serving in the military and are stationed in Illinois or your home of record is Illinois, contact the Office of the Registrar before completing your application for residency. If you’re actively receiving Chapter 33 Post 9/11 Veterans Education Benefits, Chapter 30 or Chapter 35 Benefits you’re considered an Illinois resident for tuition purposes only after you’ve been verified as receiving those benefits by Veteran Services.
How to Apply
How you apply for veterans benefits depends on whether you’re a new or continuing student and if you’ve used benefits elsewhere. Make sure to forward all completed forms to our office (by Document Upload, mail, fax, or in person).
First-Time Use of Benefits (New Students)
If you wish to receive VA educational benefits while enrolled at Illinois, you must:
- Apply for benefits by completing the Application for VA Education Benefits form for Chapter 30, 32, 33, 35, 1606 or 1607.
- Register for the term of enrollment before requesting to be certified for payment of benefits.
- Complete a Veterans Enrollment Certification Request for each term you request payment of your VA educational benefits.
- Provide a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility confirming the benefit you qualify to receive.
Previous Use of Benefits (New Students)
If you are new to Illinois: but previously received VA educational benefits at another school you must:
- Provide a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility confirming the benefit you qualify to receive.
a. to receive a new or duplicate Certificate of Eligibility, you must:-
- Complete a Request for Change of Place of Training or Program form for Chapter 30, 32, 33, 1606 or 1607.
- Complete a Dependents’ Request for Change of Program or Place of Training form for
Chapter 35 dependents or Chapter 33 Transfer of Eligibility recipients.
-
- Register for the term of enrollment before requesting to be certified for payment of benefits.
- Complete a Veterans Enrollment Certification Request for each term you request payment of your VA educational benefits.
Continued Use of Benefits (Continuing Students)
If you wish to continue to receive VA educational benefits while enrolled at Illinois, you must:
- Register for the term of enrollment before requesting to be certified for payment of benefits.
- Complete a Veterans Enrollment Certification Request for each term you request payment of your VA educational benefits.
Verification of Enrollment for Monthly Payments
All students who are receiving either the Active Duty or Selected Reserve Montgomery GI Bill® or the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, must verify their enrollments monthly to receive payments.
For Montgomery GI Bill benefits: To verify your enrollment, call 877-823-2378 or visit Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE). When you initially log in to WAVE, use your Social Security Number as the File Number and use the last numbers of your Social Security Number as a temporary Password/PIN.
For Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits: You can verify your enrollment online. Please visit https://www.va.gov/education/verify-school-enrollment/ for additional steps on signing up to verify your enrollment.
Complete these self-certifications each month in order to receive payment of educational benefits.