office of Veterans Affairs
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I contact the Texas A&M University - Central Texas VA Assistance office?
- Where can I find out more information about the Post 911 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill or Chapter 31 Benefits?
- What is the purpose of the Request for VA Certification Form?
- What VA educational programs are available?
- Do I Qualify for VA Education Benefits?
- How Do I Apply for VA Education Benefits?
- What are the VA payment rates?
- How does VA calculate payments?
- How do I claim courses at another institution?
- How long do I have to claim past semesters?
- Who pays the tuition and fees?
- Why do I have a hold on my records?
- Military Credit Evaluation
- Can I use the Hazlewood Act along with the Montgomery G.I. Bill?
How do I contact the Texas A&M - Central Texas VA Assistance office?
The VA Assistance office is located in room 135 (across from Academic Advising and Financial Aid), and is open Monday through Thursday from 7:45am until 5:45pm and Friday from 8:00am until Noon. The Office telephone is 254-519-5423. You may also send forms and inquiries to va@ct.tamus.edu.
Where can I find out more information about the Post 911 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program Benefits?
For additional information on VA Education Benefits for all chapters, logon to the following website: www.gibill.va.gov.
For additional information on Education Benefits for Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment logon to the following website www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/.
What is the purpose of the Request for VA Certification Form?
A completed and signed Request for VA Certification Form serves as a formal consent form from the student to the VA Certifying Official to certify their enrollment for the semester. Once the classes are compared to the degree plan, the certification data is submitted to the VA Regional Processing Center (RPO) in Muskogee, Oklahoma via internet; the student will then receive notice from the VA RPO on their enrollment and pay schedule for the semester. Information listed on the form needs to be accurate as this will prevent delays in certification and monthly payments. Copies of the form may be obtained in the VA Office (room 135) or on our website under Veterans Affairs.
(The VA Office will not process ceritifications without a completed Request for VA Certification Form)
What VA educational programs are available?
- Chapter 30- Montgomery G.I. Bill – Active Duty (MGIB)
- Chapter 32 -Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
- Chapter 33 – Post 911 GI Bill
- Chapter 34 - Vietnam-Era GI Bill Program
- Chapter 31 - Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
- Chapter 35 - Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA)
- Chapter 1606 - Montgomery G.I. Bill – Selected Reserve
- Chapter 1607 - Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
Do I qualify for VA Education Benefits?
The VA will determine which education benefit for which you qualify for. VA also determines the monthly entitlement depending on the certification submitted by the school. For questions and inquiries regarding VA Education Benefits, students may call 1-888-GIBILL1 (1-888-442-4551) or visit www.gibill.va.gov/. You may contact our VetSuccess on Campus counselor at (254) 519-5404 or at candice.lopez@va.gov.
How do I apply for VA Education Benefits?
You can apply for VA Education Benefits by completing the VA Form 22-1990 (Application for VA Education Benefits for Chapters 30, 32, 33, 34, 1606 and 1607) or the VA Form 22-5490 (Application for Survivors’ and Dependents; Educational Assistance for Chapter 35). Forms are available at the Veterans’ Affairs Office Texas A&M University - Central Texas or at any VA Office. You may also apply on-line at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp (save a copy for the schools VA file). For those using the Transfer of Entitlement under chapter 33 the VA Form 22-1990e will need to be completed.
What are the VA payment rates?
A listing of Education Benefit Payment Rates can be found at www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/rates.htm
How does VA calculate payments?
The monthly benefit paid is based on the type of training, length of service, VA chapter, and added kickers from DOD (Department of Defense) or College fund moneys.
Students are certified using the beginning and ending dates of the terms enrolled. VA determines the monthly benefits once the certification has been received and processed. The semester course load certified determines the allotted monthly benefit deducted from the students entitlement. For Example: A full-time undergraduate student will be eligible to receive full VA benefits (12 credit hours minimum for 16 week term or 6 credit hours minimum each 8 week term). A full-time graduate student will also be eligible to receive full VA benefits when enrolled in 9 hours for 16 week term or 6 hour for an 8 week term. A student who enrolls for less than full-time will have the amount he/she can receive in benefits prorated.
Only courses required for the degree plan will be certified by VA. It is the students’ responsibility to inform the VA Office of any changes in their enrollment status, such as dropping/adding courses, course substitutions, program or degree changes or withdrawal from the school after a semester or term has begun. Failure to do so may result in over payments or incorrect monthly payments.
How do I claim courses at another institution?
Students taking classes at another institution with the purpose of transferring credit back to Texas A&M University - CT must inform the VA Office. The VA Office will then generate a Parent Institution Letter used by the other school to process a certification. The student will be flagged as a guest student by the other institution.
How long do I have to claim past semesters?
The VA Office can process certifications for past semesters up to one year. Anything over a year will be certified as requested by the student, but the VA will determine eligibility.
Who pays the tuition and fees?
Students must pay tuition and fees prior to the first day of the term, unless tuition and fees are being paid for by a third party (i.e. chapter 33 Post 9/11) or by Financial Aid.
Why do I have a hold on my record?
A hold is placed on all VA students attending and certified by the VA Office at TAMUCT. This hold ensures that the students are in compliance with the Department of Veterans Affairs requirements. If you are attempting to add or drop courses, you must email the TAMUCT VA Office at va@ct.tamus.edu and request the hold be lifted. You will be given 72 hours to make changes and once the schedule changes are complete, you will need to submit a Request for VA Certification Change Form.
Military Credit Evaluation
In order to receive college credit from military training and experience you must make a request for an official evaluation to the Admissions office. It is TAMUCT's policy that a student must be enrolled in six (6) semester hours past the census date at TAMUCT before making the request.
To request your official military transcript, logon to the website of your military affiliation:
Army: https://aartstranscript.army.mil
Navy/Marine: https://smart.navy.mil or https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/
Air Force: http://www.au.af.mil/au/ccaf/transcripts.asp
Request for Military Transcript Evaluation
Can I use the Hazlewood Act along with Montgomery G.I. Bill?
Yes. You can use the Hazelwood Act exemption along with your Montgomery GI Bill benefits if you entered military service in the state of Texas. You can use also use Hazlewood along with the 911 GI Bill together, only if you are rated 90% or less (VA will pay 90% of your tuition and fees and Hazelwood will pay the other 10 %.) For more information on the Hazelwood Act contact our VA Office at 254-519-5423.
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
FLICKR
YOUTUBE