Please note:  at present the average time for VA to process an original claim is 12 - 14 weeks; a supplement claim, an average of 10 - 12 weeks.  Due to the potential delay in processing benefit claims, recipients are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov) and/or the UAHuntsville Tuition Installment Plan (http://bursar.uah.edu/installment.php).

Benefit recipients must verify their enrollment with the VA on the last day of each month throughout the term; failure to do so will delay benefits.  For monthly verification of enrollment, call 1-877-823-2378 or submit using WAVE online at https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/index.do.


**Announcement of New Chapter 33 Benefits (Post-9/11 GI Bill) Program**
The VA has announced that it is now accepting applications from eligible benefit recipients who wish to convert to the new Post-9/11 G.I. Bill program, also referred to as Chapter 33.  This program will become effective in the Fall 2009 semester.  An overview of requirements for eligibility and a comparison of benefits are available at http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/benefits.htm.

Eligible students should make a careful comparison when deciding whether it is more beneficial to continue to receive benefits under current chapters or to elect the new Chapter 33 program, as personal factors will play a role in determining the maximum benefit eligibility and this election is irrevocable.  Staff at UAHuntsville are not qualified nor authorized to advise students regarding the choice of Chapter election and are not responsible for the fiscal ramifications thereof.

Both new and current students who wish to elect these benefits, or transfer them to dependents, should follow the step-by-step instructions listed below.  Once processed, the VA will send applicable Chapter 33 tuition and fee payments directly to the school; monthly housing allowance and book stipend benefits will be sent by the VA to the student's home address after September 1.

Note:  As with all current veteran education benefits, Chapter 33 recipients are required to pay all tuition and billing charges by the payment deadlines applicable to all students; any Chapter 33 benefits sent to the school will be applied to the student's account upon receipt, and the school will issue a refund of the balance.  As VA response times are typically unpredictable, recipients are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid and/or a tuition installment plan (links above) to ensure payment deadlines are met.


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HOW TO ESTABLISH Your Federal Veterans Benefits at UAHuntsville
(All applicants except Ch. 31, Vocational Rehabilitation):

STEP 1:  Submit application to the VA at the G.I. Bill website:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/education_forms.htm.  To determine which form you should submit (22-1990, 22-1995, 22-5490, or 22-5495), please read the document requirements listed below by chapter.  Print an additional copy of your application to submit to our office.

You may apply electronically or print the entire application and mail it to the processing center.  For students attending UAHuntsville, the address for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Atlanta Regional Processing Office is:

               DVA, Atlanta RPO
               P.O. Box 100022
               Decatur, GA  30031-7022

               If you have questions regarding your benefits, contact the
               U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-888-442-4551.              


STEP 2:  Provide a copy of your application from Step 1 and the following required documents, according to your chapter of eligibility, to the UAHuntsville Office of Veterans Affairs:

Ch. 30, Montgomery G.I. Bill (Active Duty) veterans:  If applying for the first time, submit a copy of VA Form 22-1990 and copy number 4 of DD Form 214.  If you have received benefits before, are transferring schools, or changing major, submit VA Form 22-1995.  If you are currently on active duty, your Educational Service Officer must also sign your application; it is understood you may not have a DD Form 214.

Ch. 33, Post-9/11 G.I. Bill:  Both new and current students who wish to elect these benefits should submit VA Form 22-1990 at the G.I. Bill website listed above in Step 1; the VA will then respond to the student with a letter of decision regarding eligibility for the program.  You must provide a copy of this letter to the UAHuntsville Office of Veterans Affairs to notify us of this election.  If you are a new student, also provide copy 4 of DD Form 214.
        Servicemembers interested in transfer of benefits to dependents should follow instructions at: http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/Transfer.htm.  The VA will respond to the student recipient with a final letter of eligibility.  You must provide a copy of this letter to the UAHuntsville Office of Veterans Affairs.

Ch. 35, Survivors' / Dependents' Educational Assistance Program:  If applying for the first time, submit a copy of VA Form 22-5490, birth or marriage certificate confirming relation to veteran, and the veteran's disability rating sheet.  If you have received benefits before, are transferring schools, or changing major, submit VA Form 22-5495 instead.

Ch. 1606, National Guard / Reserves:  If applying for the first time, submit a copy of VA Form 22-1990 and DD Form 2384 NOBE (available from your unit commander).  If you have received benefits before, are transferring schools, or changing major, submit VA Form 22-1995 instead.

Ch. 1607, REAP: If applying for the first time, submit a copy of VA Form 22-1990, a copy of your orders, and copy number 4 of DD Form 214.  If you have received benefits before, are transferring schools, or changing major, submit VA Form 22-1995 instead.

    The UAHuntsville Office of Veterans Affairs is located at:

               UAHuntsville
            Student Financial Services - Veterans Affairs
            212 University Center
            Huntsville, AL  35899

            Telephone: 256-824-2758     Fax:  256-824-6212


STEP 3:  As soon as you register for classes, complete and submit to our office the UAHuntsville Veteran Benefits Semester Enrollment Form (aka 'Blue Form').  This notifies our office how many credit hours you wish to be certified.  Our office will then certify your enrollment with the VA.  Click here for Semester Enrollment ('Blue') Form.

         - Note: You will submit a new blue form each semester that you receive benefits.


STEP 4:  Throughout the semester, on the last day of each month, you must verify your continued enrollment with the VA; failure to do so will delay benefits.  For monthly verification of enrollment, call 1-877-823-2378 or submit using WAVE online at https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/index.do.  If you do not receive payment within two weeks of verifying attendance, immediately call the VA at 1-888-442-4551.

         - To receive payments by Direct Deposit, contact the VA at 1-877-838-2778.


Once enrolled, you must contact our office immediately should any of the following occur:
        - You withdraw or do not enroll for a particular term
        - Your total number of enrollment hours changes (you add / drop a course)
        - You change your major or degree program
        - Your benefits expire (you have met the delimiting date)
        - You do not wish to be certified for a particular term in which you enroll


The VA requires that students receiving benefits attend class regularly and maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP), as defined on the UAH Financial Aid web page, http://financialaid.uah.edu, under 'Policies Governing Aid'.  The VA will only pay benefits for courses that are part of your degree or certificate program as outlined in the UAH Catalog, and will not pay benefits to repeat a course in which you have received a passing grade.

Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress may result in loss / repayment of benefits.  The law requires that the VA must collect all benefits paid for a course in which the grade assigned is not used in computing the requirements for graduation (including incomplete grades and withdrawals), unless mitigating circumstances can be demonstrated.


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Instructions for Ch. 31, Vocational Rehabilitation:

Recipients of Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation benefits should NOT follow the instructions above.  Instead:

STEP 1:  Contact the local office of Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service:

               400 Meridian Street, Suite 101
               Huntsville, AL  35801
               Telephone:  256-518-9122

You will be assigned a counselor who will assist you in completing VA Form 22-1905.  This form will be forwarded to our office for certification of enrollment.

STEP 2:  As soon as you register for classes, complete and submit to our office the UAHuntsville Veteran Benefits Semester Enrollment Form (aka 'Blue Form').  This notifies our office how many credit hours you wish to be certified.  Our office will then certify your enrollment.  Click here for Semester Enrollment ('Blue') Form.

Note: You will submit a new blue form each semester that you receive benefits.

With Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation participation, benefits are typically paid directly to the school.  Your program approval and eligibility will be individually managed throughout the semester by your vocational rehabilitation counselor, who may request fulfillment of additional requirements including physical examination or psychological counseling.  Each case is treated on an individual basis.


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Alabama State G.I. Dependents' Scholarship

The State of Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs offers tuition, fee, and book assistance to eligible children, widows, and spouses of disabled or deceased veterans. In this instance, benefits are paid directly to the school on the student's behalf. The State Department maintains an office in each county to assist in filing your application.  Details are available at http://www.va.state.al.us/scholarship.htm.

If you are a current participant of the Alabama State G.I. Dependents' program, please contact Patricia Elliott in the Cashier's Office (256-824-6222) to establish your payments.


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For specific information regarding your veteran benefits, contact the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).

For additional information regarding Veterans Affairs at UAHuntsville, please contact Donna Rasmussen (256-824-2758) in the Office of Student Financial Services.