Post 9/11 GI Bill Recipients Must Verify Enrollment
Post 9/11 GI Bill Recipients Can Verify Via Text
If you receive the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits and getting a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA), Kicker payments or both will need to verify their enrollment. You must verify you remained enrolled in their courses or training each month. This verification process is required monthly.
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The Verification Process
As mentioned above, this requirement is only for those receiving the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits and doesn’t affect programs such as VET TEC, DEA, VEAP, or the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship. Those who are receiving MGIB (Montgomery GI Bill) have already been required to verify.
Those going to a Non-College degree (NCD) facility must have already started doing this as of August 1st. All other Post 9/11 GI Bill students must start this later this year.
Opt-in for Text Verification
The verification process will be relatively easy, as you can do so via text message. If you’ve opted to receive text verification, you will receive texts from the number “44354“.
To opt in, students with a US-based mobile number should receive a text message informing them that they’ve been registered for enrollment verification. This happens after you’ve enrolled in an approved program. Within a day or two after that first text message, students will again receive a text with the following message:
“Post-9/11 GI Bill housing and kicker payments now require monthly enrollment verification. Would you like to submit yours via text? Please reply YES or NO.”
If you choose to opt-in, reply with YES. Keep in mind that the message link will expire after 14 days.
Using Text Verification
When you’ve opted in to receive verification text messages, expect monthly messages from the VA (44354). The VA will ask:
“Did you remain enrolled in your courses in MONTH YEAR as certified? Please reply YES or NO. If you have dropped all your courses, you must reply NO.”
If you do not respond within 6 days, the message expires. You must contact the Education Call Center at 1.888.GIBILL.1 (1.888.442.4551) to verify. Those verifying enrollment from overseas should call 001-918-781-5678 to verify enrollment.
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Opt-in for Email Verification
Those opting out of text message verification are automatically be enrolled in email verification. This enrollment uses the same email address you have on file with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
You will receive verification emails from the address “do-not-reply@notifications.va.gov” with the subject line “Confirmation: You’ve been enrolled into VA’s email verification!”
Using Email Verification
On the last day of each month, look for an email with the subject line: “Action Required: Verify Your Monthly Enrollment”. Within that email, select “Yes, my enrollment is the same” to verify your enrollment.
You will then be taken to a confirmation page thanking you for verifying. A response is required within 14 days, when the link expires. You must call the Education Call Center to complete enrollment verification if that occurs.
Telephone Verification
Those who can’t get text messages or emails to complete verification should call the Education Call Center (1.888.GIBILL.1). Ask a representative to verify your enrollment for you. You may experience long on-hold waiting times when calling the VA.
Contact VA for Assistance
Changes like this can be difficult to navigate. If you are having problems with the new process, contact the VA’s Education Call Center by dialing 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).
You should also ensure that they have the most current contact information for you, i.e. email address, phone number, and mailing address. Don’t let your payments lag because of this new GI Bill verification process.
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About the author
Julie Provost is a freelance writer, blogger, and owner of Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life, a support blog for military spouses. She lives in Tennessee with her National Guard husband and three boys.