In order to receive Veterans Affairs (VA) educational benefits, you must be admitted to or enrolled in a program leading to a degree or certificate awarded by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. If you’re taking remedial, refresher, or prerequisite courses, you must provide a written memo on department letterhead from your dean or academic advisor indicating that the courses will transfer to your degree program.

To receive maximum educational benefit payments under the Veterans’ Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966, undergraduate, graduate, and professional students are required to be registered and actively attending as full-time students. For VA purposes, full-time status is defined as actively attending at least 12 concurrent hours during fall or spring or 6 concurrent hours during summer.

You must submit a Veterans Enrollment Certification Request Form for each term you request payment of VA educational benefits. You’re encouraged to submit the form after you’ve finalized your enrollment each term. Post-9/11 GI Bill® students should also submit a copy of their Certificate of Eligibility received each term.

Residency is determined when you submit your application for admission. If you’re actively serving in the military and are stationed in Illinois or your home of record is Illinois, contact the Office of the Registrar before completing your application for residency. If you’re actively receiving Chapter 33 Post 9/11 Veterans Education Benefits, you’re considered an Illinois resident for tuition purposes only after you’ve been verified as receiving Chapter 33 by Veteran Services.

How you apply for veterans benefits depends on whether you’re a new or continuing student and if you’ve used benefits elsewhere. Make sure to forward all completed forms to the Financial Aid Office osfaveterans@illinois.edu (by email attachment, mail, fax, or in-person).

First-Time Use of Benefits (New Students)

If you wish to receive VA educational benefits while enrolled at Illinois, you must:

1. Apply for benefits by completing the Application for VA Education Benefits form for Chapter 30, 32, 33, 35, 1606 or 1607.
2. Register for the term of enrollment before requesting to be certified for payment of benefits.
3. Complete a Veterans Enrollment Certification Request for each term you request payment of your VA educational benefits.
4. Provide a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility confirming the benefit you qualify to receive.

Previous Use of Benefits (New Students)

If you’ve received VA educational benefits at another school and wish to continue receiving payment while enrolled at Illinois, you must:

1. Complete a Request for Change of Place of Training or Program form for Chapter 30, 32, 33, 1606 or 1607.
2. Complete a Dependents’ Request for Change of Program or Place of Training form for Chapter 35 dependents or Chapter 33 Transfer of Eligibility recipients.
3. Register for the term of enrollment before requesting to be certified for payment of benefits.
4. Complete a Veterans Enrollment Certification Request for each term you request payment of your VA educational benefits.

Continued Use of Benefits (Continuing Students)

If you wish to continue to receive VA educational benefits while enrolled at Illinois, you must:

1. Register for the term of enrollment before requesting to be certified for payment of benefits.
2. Complete a Veterans Enrollment Certification Request for each term you request payment of your VA educational benefits.

Verification of Enrollment for Monthly Payments

All students who are receiving either the Active Duty or Selected Reserve Montgomery GI Bill® must verify their enrollments monthly to receive payments.

To verify your enrollment, call 877-823-2378 or visit Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE). When you initially log in to WAVE, use your Social Security Number as the File Number and use the last numbers of your Social Security Number as a temporary password/PIN.

Complete these self-certifications each month in order to receive payment of educational benefits.

Following are educational programs available for veterans in the state of Illinois.

Illinois Veterans Grant (IVG)

The IVG program pays tuition and fees for undergraduate or graduate study at all Illinois public colleges and universities. Recipients may use their grant assistance up to a maximum of 120 eligibility units.

Eligibility

• You were an Illinois resident 6 months prior to entering active duty.
• You returned to the state of Illinois within 6 months of being separated from active duty.
• You served on active duty for a total of 12 or more months.
• You received an honorable discharge.

The IVG covers resident tuition and mandatory fees (this excludes refundable fees, academic outreach fees, and extramural fees). It doesn’t cover university housing costs.

For more information, contact the ISAC Special Awards Unit at 800-899-4722 or email our office or call us at 217-333-9283.

Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant

Enlisted officers or company-grade officers of Illinois National Guard Units with 1 or more years of service may be eligible for payment of tuition at state universities and colleges in Illinois through the ING. Recipients may use their grant assistance up to a maximum of 120 eligibility units.

An application is available through Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) and must be submitted annually. Other grants administered by ISAC may be used in conjunction with the ING, but they can’t replace it.

Eligibility

• You’re an enlisted or company-grade officer of an Illinois National Guard Unit.
• You have 1 or more years of service.

For more information, contact the ISAC Special Awards Unit at 800-899-4722 or email our office or call us at 217-333-9283.

MIA/POW Scholarship

The MIA/POW Scholarship is available to dependents of Illinois veterans who are or were prisoners of war, have been declared missing in action, are deceased, or have 100% service-connected disability. Recipients may use their grant assistance up to a maximum of 120 eligibility units.

• Full payment of tuition at any state-supported Illinois institution of higher learning.
• The scholarship is renewable for up to 4 calendar years of full-time enrollment including the summer term (120 points).

To request more eligibility information or an application from the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, call 217-782-3564.

Following are federal educational programs available for veterans.

You’re encouraged to review the Department of Veterans Affairs website for the most up-to-date information on these programs and to determine the best benefits package for you. Some veterans qualify for more than one program.

Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill®, Active Duty (MGIB-AD)
Available to veterans who contributed to the Montgomery GI Bill during their active duty service. This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits. The benefits are generally payable for 10 years following your release from active duty.

Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E)
Available to veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs. This benefit provides on-the-job training, post-secondary training, case management, counseling, and referral.

Chapter 32: Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
Available to veterans who contributed to VEAP during their active duty service. This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits. The benefits are generally payable for 10 years following release from active duty.

Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill®
Available to veterans with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001. This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits. The benefits are generally payable for 15 years following your release from active duty and may be transferred to dependents.

Chapter 33: Transfer of Entitlement/Transfer of Education Benefits (TOE/TEB)
Available to service members to transfer unused education benefits to spouses and dependents. The service member must establish eligibility for the entitlement, and the Department of Defense (DOD) determines eligibility for transferability.

Chapter 33: Fry Scholarship
Available to children of active-duty members who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001. Eligible children may receive up to 36 months of Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits at a 100% rate after their 18th birthday.

Chapter 35: Survivors’ & Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA)
Available to eligible dependents of certain veterans. This benefit provides up to 45 months of education benefits. The period of eligibility varies.

Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill®, Selected Reserves (MGIB-SR)
Available to members of the National Guard or Reserves who have completed basic training. This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits. The period of eligibility ends 14 years from your beginning date of eligibility or on the day you leave the Selected Reserves.

Chapter 1607: Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
The National Defense Authorization Act of 2016 ended REAP on November 25, 2015. However, veterans who have received benefits under this program while enrolled in school may continue to be eligible. Veterans who have not enrolled in school and applied for this benefit prior to November 25, 2015, are no longer eligible for this benefit; but may be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits depending upon the dates of your periods of service.

Chapter 30/1606: National Call to Service Program (NCS)
Available to members of the National Guard, Reserves, Individual Ready Reserve, AmeriCorps, or another national service to be eligible for education benefits under Chapter 30 or Chapter 1606 as designated by the Secretary of Defense.