Post 9/11 GI Bill Recipients Must Verify Enrollment
Recipients of the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) who receive a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) or kicker payment are required to verify their school enrollment at the end of each month to receive payment.
Post 9/11 GI Bill Recipients Must Verify Enrollment
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers multiple methods for students to verify that they remain enrolled in the same courses certified by their school. Verification must be completed on or after the last day of each month.
VA.gov says, “You’ll need to verify your enrollment at the end of every month after your school starts. For example, if your school starts on August 5, you’ll need to verify your enrollment on or after August 31.“
Furthermore, “If you were enrolled in school for any part of the month, you’ll need to verify your enrollment for that month. For example, if your school ends on May 5, you’ll need to verify your enrollment for the month of May on or after May 5.“
RELATED: 8 Tips for Using the GI Bill
Text Message Verification
This is the primary and simplest way to verify your GI Bill eligibility. Students with a U.S. mobile number on file with the VA will receive an opt-in text message. Those who reply “Yes” will receive a monthly text asking, “Did you remain enrolled in your courses in [Month Year] as certified?” A reply of “Yes” completes the verification.
Email Verification
Students who do not opt into text messaging are automatically enrolled in email verification if the VA has a valid email address on file. The email will contain a link to verify enrollment status.
Online Verification
Students may verify directly through the VA.gov website. After logging in with a verified account (ID.me or Login.gov), navigate to the “Manage your Veterans education benefits” section and select “Verify your enrollment.”
Ask VA
Students can submit a secure message through the “Ask VA” online tool to confirm their status.
Consequences of Failing to Verify
If a student fails to verify enrollment for two consecutive months, the VA withholds future MHA and kicker payments. Payments are released only after the student contacts the Education Call Center or uses an online method to verify their status for the missing months.
Requirements for Other GI Bill Programs
- Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) and Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606): Students using these benefits have long been required to verify enrollment monthly. They must use the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) system or verify by phone.
- Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA/Chapter 35): Most DEA students enrolled in college degree programs (Institutions of Higher Learning) are not currently required to verify monthly enrollment via the text message system used for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
- Non-College Degree Programs: Those enrolled in Non-College Degree (NCD) programs must verify their attendance. Students should check their specific Certificate of Eligibility or contact the VA to confirm their verification method.
Action Items for Student
- Update your phone number and email address in your VA.gov profile.
- Look for the opt-in text from the VA (short code 44354).
- Verify your enrollment immediately on the last day of each month to avoid payment delays.
Related: GI Bill Overview
About the author
Julie Provost is a freelance writer, and blogger. She lives in Tennessee with her National Guard husband and three boys.
