Rutgers  
 

VETERANS EDUCATION BENEFITS

The United States Veterans Administration operates various education assistance programs for eligible veterans, war orphans, surviving spouses or children of veterans killed while on duty with the Armed Forces, disabled veterans, dependents of veterans with service related total disability, and certain members of the selected reserve. Inquiries concerning eligibility may be directed to the Veterans Administration, US Dept. Regional Office (1-888-442-4551); or to the Rutgers Newark VA Certifying Official at (973)353-5372.

Students planning to train under Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill, Chapter 35 (Survivors & Dependents), Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI Bill -Selected Reserve or Chapter 1607 Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) are required by the university to pay in advance for tuition, fees, books, and supplies, when due. Students, in turn, receive an allowance for each month of schooling based upon credit hours enrolled. 

Students who wish to utilize veterans' education benefits must identify themselves to the office of the Registrar so that the proper certification procedures are initiated for the following entitlement programs.

    Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty
    Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation
    Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI Bill -Selected Reserve
    Chapter 1607 Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
    Chapter 35 Survivors and Dependents Benefits

More information is available to all veterans from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at http://www.gibill.va.gov/


ENROLLMENT CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES

APPLYING FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EDUCATION BENEFITS


IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR VETERANS BENEFITS FOR THE FIRST TIME

Chapter 30, 1606 or 1607
You must complete VA form 22-1990, Application for Educational Benefits, available on line at http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/How_to_Apply.htm  Note: current regulations require that you send the VA a signature in the mail after electronic submission in order for them to process your application.  

Chapter 31
Your VA Rehabilitation Case Manager must provide you with VA form 28-1905, Authorization and Certification of Entrance or Reentrance into Rehabilitation and Certification of Status.  This form will detail the specific guidelines that the University must adhere to for credit approval, payment of tuition and purchases of school supplies. In addition, a new form must be presented to the Registrar's Certifying Official for each semester of enrollment certification.

Chapter 35
You must complete VA form 22-5490, Application for Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance available on line at
 http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/How_to_Apply.htm 

IF YOU HAVE USED VETERANS BENEFITS AT A COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OR TRAINING FACILITY OTHER THAN RUTGERS UNIVERSITY-NEWARK

Chapter 30, 1606 or 1607
If you have used your chapter 30, 1606 or 1607  benefits at another school or training facility and your VA status has not changed, you must inform the VA that you have elected for a  “Change in Program or Place of Training",  by completing VA Form 22-1995 available at the Registrar's Office or on line at http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/education_forms.htm  

Chapter 31
The Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation Department must issue VA form 28-1905, Authorization and Certification of Entrance or Reentrance into Rehabilitation and Certification of Status, for you to attend Rutgers University. This form will detail the specific guidelines that the University must adhere to for credit approval, payment of tuition and purchases of school supplies. In addition, a new form must be presented to the Registrar's VA Certifying Official for each semester of enrollment certification.

Chapter 35
You must inform the VA that you have elected a  “Change in Program or Place of Training", by completing VA Form 22-5495 available at the Registrar's Office or on line at http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/education_forms.htm  
 


RETROACTIVE ENROLLMENT CERTIFICATION & PAYMENT
Students have one year from the beginning date of their training in which to file an application and to receive benefits from the beginning date. The VA will only pay educational assistance allowance retroactively for school enrollment periods up to one year prior to the date the claim and certification of enrollment are received in the VA regional processing office.
 


PAYMENT PROCEDURES & INFORMATION
The initial application for benefits will take the Department of Veterans Affairs 10 to 12 weeks to process. Subsequent certifications take 8 to 10 weeks to process.  Chapter 30, 35, 1606 and 1607 applications and enrollment certifications are processed in the Eastern VA Regional Office located in Buffalo, NY.

MONTHLY CERTIFICATION OF ATTENDANCE
All students who are receiving either the Montgomery GI BILL Active Duty (Chapter 30), Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) or REAP (Chapter 1607) benefit MUST verify their enrollment monthly to receive payment. This verification can be done either by using the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) application at https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/default.cfm or by using the Automated Telephone System (IVR) at 1-877-823-2378.

PAY RATES
For a list of current pay rates; visit the VA Education Web site at http://www.gibill.va.gov/education/rates.htm
 


ENROLLMENT CERTIFICATION REGULATIONS AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY

The State Approving Agency (SAA) approves programs and courses of instruction so that education benefits may be paid to eligible students under the programs administered by VA. Therefore, students must be admitted as matriculated and pursuing an approved program of study for enrollment certification of VA benefits. Students are also expected to make satisfactory academic progress toward completion of a degree.  Any changes in enrollment including change of major, change of course, course deletions and complete or partial withdrawals must be reported in writing to the Registrar's Certifying Official. 

Failure to comply with the official school withdrawal procedure may affect both past and future benefits.

Payment of benefits will not be allowed for any course in which a non-punitive grade is assigned.

Payment of course will not be allowed for repeating a course which transfer or passing grade has been granted.

Payment of courses will not be allowed for courses not required in a degree program.