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Veterans Benefits

If you are an active duty servicemember or veteran, you may be eligible for veterans education benefits. This site gives specific information on application, certification, and payment processes for VA education benefits.

We are here to help you! Please contact the UMUC Asia VA office if you have any questions before, during, or after the application and certification processes. You are also encouraged to visit your local education center or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Web site at www.gibill.va.gov to learn about eligibility requirements and other important information.

VA Education Benefits Checklist (PDF, 4.8 MB)

Applying for VA Benefits

If you are a first-time applicant for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (active duty or veteran), you must complete VA Form 22-1990 (Application for VA Education Benefits) through the Veterans Online Application (VONAPP).

Students using transferred benefits for the first time will need to complete the VA Form 22-1990E (after the transfer has been completed by the servicemember at the DoD level) through the Veterans Online Application (VONAPP).

Veterans must also submit a copy of their DD-214.

Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

After applying for your Certificate of Eligibility it will take VA Buffalo Office about 8 weeks to process. Upon receipt of your COE please provide a copy to VA UMUC Office, you can also fax to coeva@umuc.edu.

Change of Program or Place of Training

If you have previously used VA benefits at another university and have not changed your status, you must complete VA Form 22-1995 (Request for Change of Program or Place of Training) through the Veterans Online Application (VONAPP), which is found at http://www.gibill.va.gov/apply-for-benefits/application/.

Requesting and Adjusting Certification of VA Benefits

If you wish to use VA education benefits, you must follow these instructions each registration period (Fall, Spring, Summer) to request certification of enrollments with UMUC:

Log in to MyUMUC > Student Center > My Academics (in Academics box) > Click Request for Certification (located next to Veterans Benefits) > Select term

Once submitted, the certification form will notify the UMUC VA office of the intent to use VA benefits for the current term. This form is not sent to the VA office in Buffalo.

If you enroll in any additional classes within the same term for which you have already requested certification, you must complete the "Adjust My Certification" request in the MyUMUC portal. This will inform the UMUC Asia VA office of additional enrollments.

Any cancellations, drops, or withdrawals made to enrollments will be automatically processed and reported to the VA. No further action is required on your part. However, please note that, if a payment has already been received, you may be required to reimburse the VA for any adjustment that results in an overpayment.

For step-by-step instructions on how to request enrollment certification, please visit our online guide.

The Certification Process

UMUC Asia acts as a certifying agent for the VA. Once the UMUC Asia VA office at Yokota Air Base, Japan, receives your certification form through MyUMUC and course payment, the staff can forward VA form 22-1999 (Enrollment Certification) to the VA regional office in Buffalo, New York. The primary responsibility of the university is to certify active enrollment of VA students; it is not to make decisions on individual claims.

Note: Viewing Certification Status
You can view the status of requests in the MyUMUC portal by navigating to: Student Center > My Academics (in Academics box) > View My Certification > Select term

Once UMUC Asia has begun processing the certification form, the status of requests will change from "Pending" to "Received." Once certification has been completed by UMUC Asia and submitted to the VA in Buffalo, the status will change to "Submitted" and you will be able to see the date of submission.

Payments

VA payments are made by the Department of Veterans Affairs directly to you and are calculated in accordance with federal regulations. Education benefits are paid according to how the VA views both the nature of the courses and the course load you are taking. You should check with the UMUC Asia VA office at Yokota AB, Japan, regarding how VA benefits are paid for special format classes, such as distance education and seminars, as these payments may differ.

Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) Benefits and Payment Information

All amounts below are based on 100% eligibility rates. You may determine your rate of eligibility using the chart below. If you are less that 100% eligible, simply multiply your percentage by an amount.

Individuals serving an aggregate  period of active duty after  September 10, 2001, of:	Percentage of Maximum  Benefit Payable
At least 36 months	100
At least 30 continuous days and   discharged due to service-connected  disabilty	100
At least 30 months < 36 months	90
At least 24 months < 30 months	80
At least 18 months < 24 months	70
At least 12 months < 18 months	60
At least 6 months < 12 months	50
At least 90 days < 6 months	40

 

Please note: Recipients of transferred benefits will always be 100% eligible.

Under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, students are eligible to have all or a portion of their tuition paid directly to the university by the VA. Students are also eligible to receive up to $1000 per year for books and supplies. The books and supplies stipend is automatically calculated when a student's enrollments are submitted to the VA. Payment of this stipend is sent directly from the VA to the student.

Post 9/11 GI Bill students who are not active duty or the spouse of an active duty servicemember who had the benefits transferred to them from their spouse are eligible to receive a monthly housing stipend.

Effective 1 August 2011, in addition to the housing allowance being based on your percentage of eligibility, it is also prorated based on your "rate of pursuit." As of 1 October 2011, students enrolled only in online courses will be eligible for a monthly housing allowance equal to one-half the national average of the Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents. The payment will also be prorated based on your percentage of eligibility and your "rate of pursuit."

The VA calculates rate of pursuit by dividing the number of credit hours being pursued by the number of credit hours considered full-time. The chart below will help you determine your rate of pursuit at UMUC:

Number of Credit Hours	Rate of Pursuit (8 week sessions)
3 credit hours	60% rate of pursuit
4 credit hours	80% rate of pursuit
5 credit hours	90% rate of pursuit
6 credit hours or more	100% rate of pursuit

You can find your percentage of eligibility on your certificate of eligibility or by contacting the Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-888-442-4551.

Your monthly housing allowance can be calculated using the following formula*:
(Your applicable Basic Allowance for Housing**) X (Your percentage of eligibility) X (Your rate of pursuit)

*Be sure to convert your percentages to decimals before calculation.
**The applicable Basic Allowance for Housing is $684.00 for the 2012-2013 academic year for a greater than half-time enrollment in online courses only.
** The applicable Basic Allowance for Housing for a greater than half-time enrollment with at least one in-residence course is $2106.00 for the 2012-2013 academic year. To maximize your monthly housing allowance, we suggest you register in two 3 credit hour, 8-week courses, with at least one in residence class, in each session. It is recommended that students do not take more that 7 credits in a session, as they are accelerated.

Payment and Benefit Information for Other VA Educational Benefit Programs

If you are receiving education benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30), MGIB Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606), or Reserve Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 1607), you must verify your monthly enrollments online via the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) at www.gibill.va.gov in order to release monthly payments. You may verify only after the VA has processed the certification, which may take 6-8 weeks after they have received it from the UMUC Asia VA office.

Note: UMUC Asia is not eligible for the VA's Advanced Payment Program.

Undergraduate Training Time Table

Credits

15 wks

14 wks

13 wks

12 wks

11 wks

10 wks

9 wks

8 wks

7 wks

6 wks

5 wks

4 wks

3 wks

2 wks

1 wk

12

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

11

3/4

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

10

3/4

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

9

3/4

3/4

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

8

1/2

3/4

3/4

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

7

1/2

3/4

3/4

3/4

3/4

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

6

1/2

1/2

1/2

3/4

3/4

3/4

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

5

<1/2

1/2

1/2

1/2

1/2

3/4

3/4

3/4

full

full

full

full

full

full

full

4

<1/2

<1/2

<1/2

1/2

1/2

1/2

1/2

3/4

3/4

full

full

full

full

full

full

3

1/4

1/4

<1/2

<1/2

<1/2

<1/2

1/2

1/2

1/2

3/4

3/4

full

full

full

full

2

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

<1/2

<1/2

<1/2

1/2

1/2

3/4

full

full

full

1

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

1/4

<1/2

1/2

3/4

full

NOTE: <1/2 indicates less than 1/2

Graduate Training Time Table

Credits	8- week on-site (face-to-face) session	10-11 week online (distance education) session
6	full	full
3	3/4	1/2

VA Students from Other Institutions

If you are not pursuing a UMUC degree, but wish to receive VA benefits for UMUC Asia courses, you must request written permission (a parent-school letter) for each course from your degree-granting school before enrolling. The parent-school letter must be submitted to the UMUC Asia VA office at Yokota AB, Japan, with the appropriate VA application and any necessary documentation.

Student Responsibilities

If you are receiving VA benefits, you are expected to follow all regulations and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs while attending UMUC Asia. At UMUC, all regulations of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are enforced. You should be aware of the following requirements:

• You are expected to make satisfactory progress toward a degree or certificate; you must comply with the academic standards of UMUC Asia.
• If you register for a course and then do not attend, or cease to attend without officially withdrawing, you may be misusing federal funds, which may be punishable by law.
• Payment of benefits will be disallowed for repeating a course for which transfer credit has been rated or for which a grade that meets minimum requirements for the degree has been earned.
• Payment of benefits will be disallowed for any course that is not a requirement in your degree or certificate program.
• You must keep in close contact with your local UMUC Academic Advisor to ensure your official evaluation is completed within the VA's mandated two-term period.

Official Evaluation Requirement

VA regulations require that all VA students declare a major field of study and have an official evaluation of all prior academic course work and military training. This evaluation must be completed within two terms of your first VA enrollment. The Department of Veterans Affairs may seek reimbursement of benefits paid if you have received benefits for enrollments without having received an official evaluation after two terms. You may request an official evaluation by submitting the Application for an Official Evaluation. 

Documents required for an official evaluation include:

• CLEP, USAFI/DANTES, Excelsior College Exams (ECEP - formerly RCEP, ACT/PEP), or other test results, as appropriate
• Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended - the form Request for Transcript from Previous Institution is available here.
• Appropriate military documents

All records of previous educational experiences must be sent directly from each issuing institution (or other source, in the case of military documents) to:

Registrar's Office - Transcripts
University of Maryland University College
3501 University Boulevard East
Adelphi, MD  20783-8075  USA

VA Chapters/Programs Available to UMUC Asia Students

With your veterans benefits, you can move one step closer to reaching your highest educational goals. You could qualify for benefits that help you afford your education, including tuition assistance, an annual stipend for books and supplies, payments to cover loans, and more. UMUC Asia makes it easy to determine which benefit program is best for you. Read below to learn about eligibility requirements and specific benefits for each of the available programs.

• Chapter 30 - Montgomery GI Bill
• Chapter 32 - Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
• Chapter 33 - Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act
• Chapter 35 - Survivors and Dependents Benefits
• Chapter 1606 - Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserves
• Chapter 1607 - Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

Important Notice to UMUC Asia VA Students

Please read the following benefit comparison chart regarding the Post-9/11 Chapter 33 benefits. This page will help you decide if the new program will be beneficial to you. Due to our unique situation overseas, the Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill may be the better program choice for you. Once you apply to the Post-9/11 Chapter 33 program, the decision is irrevocable.

Choosing Your GI Bill Benefits

If you meet the eligibility requirements for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, as well as other GI Bills, such as the Montgomery GI Bill, you will be required to choose which benefit you wish to receive. For some individuals, your choice may be irrevocable. The Post-9/11 GI Bill may provide a better benefits package in terms of eligibility criteria, period of eligibility, and financial value in comparison to existing educational benefit programs that remain in effect. However, the best program for you, if you are eligible for multiple educational benefit programs, will depend on your individual circumstance. Please review the eligibility requirements that apply for specific benefits and compare these benefits to those offered under other GI Bills for more information.

For More Information

For assistance and questions, contact a UMUC Asia Veterans Affairs Advisor (contact information below). For more details about the bill, visit the GI Bill Web site.

Tuition Assistance Top-Up (TATU)

Chapter 30 Recipients

Active duty servicemembers may not receive standard Chapter 30 benefits for the same courses for which they are already receiving Tuition Assistance (TA) from the military. If you take several courses, you cannot receive Chapter 30 benefits for the courses for which TA is being paid, but you can receive Chapter 30 benefits for the courses for which TA is not being paid.
If an active duty servicemember is taking a course which TA has partially covered, they may use their Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill to cover the difference. This process takes place directly between the VA and the student. Information and instructions on applying for Tuition Assistance Top-Up can be found here.

*Chapter 33 Recipients are not required to use the Tuition Assistance Top-Up program and should request benefits through the student portal for courses which were partially or not at all covered by TA, but should note that if they are utilizing the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the entitlement is charged based on the training time they are enrolled in. If you are going to classes at the half-time training level, you will be charged a half month of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for each month you are enrolled and receiving GI Bill benefits (regardless of how much money you are reimbursed).

Tuition Assistance (TA)

Tuition Assistance (TA) is a Department of Defense (DoD) program. VA does not administer TA. TA rules vary by branch of service and can even vary between units depending on whether the unit is active, reserve, or National Guard. If you receive education benefits from VA and receive TA benefits from the military, please know that duplication of benefits may be an issue. The issue might involve VA regulations, DoD regulations, or both, since VA and DoD both have regulations about receiving VA benefits and TA at the same time. Please contact the UMUC Asia VA Office for more information.

Note: For more information regarding Tuition Assistance Top-Up please see: http://www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/tatu.htm

UMUC VA Office Contact Information
DSN Telephone 315-225-3680 CIV Telephone 042-552-2510 ext 5-3680 E-mail va-asia@umuc.edu	APO Mail UMUC Asia ATTN: VA Office Unit 5060 Box 0100 APO AP 96328
VA Regional Office Contact Information
Telephone 716-857-3196 or 716-857-3197 E-mail buffrpo@vba.va.gov	Civilian Mail VARO P.O. Box 4616 Buffalo, NY 14240-4616