Post 9/11 GI Bill Recipients Must Verify Enrollment
Post 9/11 GI Bill Recipients Can Verify Their Courses Via Text
With the new 2021-2022 school year, there has been a change with the verification process for those who are receiving the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. Those who are receiving Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or Kicker payments will need to verify their enrollment in order to continue to receive payments. They will need to verify that they have remained enrolled in their courses or training each month. This won’t be a one-time verification.
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The New Verification Process
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 will need to have already started doing this, as of August 1st. All other Post 9/11 GI Bill students will need to 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, then 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
Once you’ve opted in to receive verification text messages, you will receive monthly messages from the VA (44354). The message will be:
“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 six (6) days, the message will expire. If that happens, you must call the Education Call Center at 1.888.GIBILL.1 (1.888.442.4551) to verify your enrollment. If you are overseas, you will need to call 001-918-781-5678 to verify enrollment.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) explains the verification process in more detail via their VA Verification Enrollment infographic.
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Opt-in for Email Verification
If you opted out of text message verification, you will automatically be enrolled in email verification using the email address on file with the VA.
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, you will receive 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, after which time the link will expire. If that occurs, you must call the Education Call Center to complete enrollment verification.
Telephone Verification
If you are unable to receive text messages or emails to complete your verification, call the Education Call Center (1.888.GIBILL.1) and ask a representative to verify your enrollment for you. Please note that you may have to wait on hold for a while.
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.