GI Bill® Benefits
How to Claim Your Benefits
Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for you to apply for the GI benefits that you deserve. But before you do, apply to PennWest. Then find out exactly what military education benefits apply to you.
Visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website GI Bill® website and see which one of these programs fit your circumstances:
Ready to apply? Follow these steps and timelines.
1. If you’ve never applied for military education benefits before, you must apply for GI Bill® benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Visit https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/
- If you are a veteran who has never used benefits, use VA Form 22-1990.
- If you are a spouse or child who has never used benefits, use VA Form 22-1990E.
- If you are a spouse or child applying for FRY Scholarship, use VA Form 22-5490.
- If you are a veteran, spouse or child who have previously used benefits, use VA Form 22-1995 or 22-5495 (Fry or DEA).
You must complete your VA application and send in any necessary documentation at least 8-12 weeks before PennWest’s academic term starts. If you’re applying for the first time, attach a copy of the confirmation page you received from your online application.
The VA will send you a Certificate of Eligibility in the mail. It takes between 6-8 weeks to receive this form. You will need to take the Certificate of Eligibility and your DD 214 (Member 4) or NOBE to the veterans center on campus.
2. Complete the PennWest VA Enrollment Form. Remember to submit PennWest’s in-house GI Bill® form every semester that you plan to attend.
Fall 2024 - All Campuses
Winter 2024 - All Campuses
Spring 2025 - All Campuses
3. Complete a FAFSA form for the 2023-24 academic year.
4. Order your Joint Service Transcript or your Air Force transcript through the College of the Air Force.
Are you eligible for the PA National Guard Educational Assistance Program (EAP)?
Members of the National Guard and Reservists may be eligible for Federal Tuition Assistance through the following military branches:
- Army: Army Ignited
- Marine Corps: My Education
- Navy: Navy College Program
- Air Force: Air Force Personnel Center
NOTE: The VA will send most GI Bill® payments directly to you, either electronically or by check. Benefit checks will not be sent to the University.
How to check your status
It is your responsibility to verify your enrollment with the VA on the last day of every month of the academic term.
We encourage all students to create an account with the VA to access current benefit information. Visit https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/homepage to report changes to your enrollment status, set up or change direct-deposit, and more.
If you receive benefits under Chapter 33, you may verify enrollment in the following ways:
- Opt in to text verification from the VA
- Opt in to email verification from the VA
- Call 1-888-442-4551 to verify by speaking to a VA representative
If you receive benefits from Chapter 30 or Chapter 1606, you may:
- Call 1-877-823-2378 and relay your enrollment information through an Interactive Voice Response line, or
- Submit your enrollment information through the WAVE on the GI Bill® website.
Important details for students
You must notify the School Certifying official of ANY changes in credits or enrollment (drop/add courses, withdrawal, etc). If you fail to do so, you may be responsible for additional student debt.
Your benefits require you to be registered for at least 12 undergraduate credits or 9 graduate credits to be considered full-time. Online courses and those that do not run for the entire length of the term may affect your full-time status and your BAH payment rate.
The University’s Office of Veterans Benefits will certify your credits with the VA prior to the beginning of the semester. This will ensure that the book stipend and housing allowance are paid on time. Tuition & Fees are not reported to the VA until the end of the drop/add period once the semester begins. Expect those payments to be posted by PennWest Student Accounts approximately 4-6 weeks after the semester begins.
Are you a scholarship recipient? Those funds may be deducted from the amount of Tuition & Fees submitted to the VA, depending on the terms of the award. Ask the Office of Veterans Benefits for clarification about your award.
If you are using Chapter 35 benefits, please note:
The University’s full-time tuition rate is $1,298.00/month. Partial months will be prorated based on the number of days classes are in session. Since the VA pays a month in arrears, you will receive a payment at the beginning of the month for the previous month.
If you are a Pennsylvania resident using Chapter 35 benefits, you may also qualify for the Educational Gratuity Program. Visit the Educational Gratuity Program webpage on the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veteran Affairs website for program details and how to apply.
GI Bill® programs
Known as the “old” GI Bill®, this benefit was in place prior to the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. Those eligible for this program served prior to September 11, 2001. If you entered into service prior to June 2008, you may have signed up for the Montgomery GI Bill®. Eligible members paid into the program during the first year of enlistment.
This program assists veterans with service-connected disabilities and an employment handicap. In order to determine eligibility, the veteran must speak with a VA Voc-Rehab Counselor.
This is the current GI Bill® that is available to all who have served on or after September 11, 2001. This program pays in-state tuition and fees to the school, plus pays a monthly housing allowance and book stipend to the student while enrolled in school.
To be eligible for this program, you must be a spouse, son, or daughter of a veteran who 1) has a service-connected permanent and total disability; OR 2) is Missing in Action. This program provides a monthly stipend to the student while enrolled in school.
This benefit is available for members of the Selected Reserve of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and the Army and Air National Guard. This program provides a monthly stipend to the student while enrolled in school. An individual can receive EAP and Chapter 1606 GI Bill® benefits simultaneously.
"GI Bill®” is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.