Veteran and Military Affairs

1. I am interested in taking courses at UCCS using my VA Benefits.  Who do I contact to start this process?
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs is dedicated to assisting students reach educational goals.  The Office of Veterans and Military Student Affairs is available to assist Veterans and Active Duty Personnel initiate the admissions application process and processing of VA benefits and tuition assistance.  The Office of Veteran and Military Affairs is located in Main Hall, Room 101.  For additional information, please call (719) 262-3253.

2.How do I apply for Benefits?

• You will need to complete an application for admissions to the University.
• Submit a copy of all transcripts from ALL colleges and schools previously attended.
• Complete the application (VA Form 22-1990) and submit it to the appropriate VA regional office.   The Office of Veteran and Military Student Affairs can assist you with this process.
• Complete a Course Load Worksheet (CLW) in the Office of Veteran and Military Student Affairs at UCCS.
• Upon verification of enrollment the Office of Veteran and Military Student Affairs will certify your enrollment to VA.
• If you haven’t decided on a program, or simply want a determination of your eligibility for the MGIB, just submit the application to the VA Regional office in St. Louis.  If you’re eligible, you’ll receive a Certificate of Eligibility showing how long you’re eligible and how many months of benefits you can receive.

3. How do I apply for benefits? 
Applications may be obtained from the Office of Veteran and Military Student Affairs or you can download a copy at https://www.gibill.va.gov.

If you have never submitted an Education Claim to VA:
Submit an Application for "Application for VA Education Benefits" (VA Form 22-1990) and submit any available documents such as your Discharge from Military Service (DD Form 214), copies of orders to active duty and anything else available as evidence of qualifying service. Annotate "Chapter 1607" prominently on all correspondence and documents.  If you think you have eligibility under both MGIB-Selected Reserve and REAP, please state which benefit you want.  Yes, I know it should be obvious but we are required by law to ask.  The statement is as simple as "I request payment of REAP benefits."

4. How do apply for Chapter 1607?
If you have previously filed a claim for Education benefits-
 A new application form is not required. However, you should submit any available documents such as your Discharge from Military Service (DD Form 214), copies of orders to active duty and anything else available as evidence of qualifying service to help establish eligibility for this program. You should also submit a "Request for Change of Program or Place of Training" (VA form 22-1995) which should be annotated "1607." Annotate "Chapter 1607" prominently on all correspondence and documents.   If you think you have eligibility under both MGIB-Selected Reserve and REAP, please state which benefit you want. 

5. I am enrolled in school, when will I receive my benefits from VA?
It takes about 10 to 12 weeks to process an enrollment.  If you try to log into the WEB Automated Verification of Enrollment system (WAVE) system and either cannot log in or see that your record has not been updated from last semester, your enrollment has not been processed by VA.  If you are receiving benefits based on your status as a service person, veteran or reservist, you must verify your enrollment at the end of each month in order to receive benefits.  Benefits are paid after each month of school is completed.  Verification can be done the last day of each month by using our WEB Automated Verification Enrollment system (WAVE) or by calling toll free 1-877-823-2378 and using your touch tone phone.  Both of these services are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.  If you are receiving VEAP (CH 32) or Dependents Educational Assistance (CH 35), benefits are sent automatically at the end of each month with no action required on your part.

6. How long does it take to get my check after I verify enrollment?
The quickest way to receive your payment is by using direct deposit.  Your benefit can be deposited into your checking or savings account in 3 to 5 days.  If you choose to have a check mailed (not recommended due to delays or losses which can occur), you can expect payment in 10-14 days.  If you are a Serviceperson, Veteran or Reservist, your Direct Deposit can be started or updated by using the WAVE system on the VA website at
http://www.gibill.va.gov/wave.

7. Can I use my College Fund and MGIB benefits together?
Your College Fund money (kicker) is an additional amount of money that increases your basic MGIB monthly benefit and is included in your VA payment.  However, while you are on active duty, if your tuition and fees are less than your monthly MGIB benefit with the kicker, you will be limited to the total amount of your tuition and fees.  In addition, veterans that are training at less than the half-time rate are subject to the same rule and may not receive more than the cost of tuition and fees.

8.  I have been called to active duty and need to drop out of school without receiving credit for my courses.  What do I need to do?
The call to active duty presents an extreme hardship upon our students.  In an effort to assist those students who are called to active duty, the campus has compiled the following guidelines to assist you.  (Please see the attached link)   http://www.uccs.edu/~deploy
In addition to completing the deployment checklist, you will also need to provide information to the VA.  You are entitled to chapter 35 benefits through the date you dropped out of school. If you were called up under title 10 (Federal authority), VA will restore the entitlement you were charged for the period that you received benefits. For example, if you were in school one month and had to drop out, you keep the money for that period and VA will add back a month to your entitlement for you to use at a later time. If you were called up under title 32 (State authority), you don't receive the entitlement restoration benefit.   If you have been overpaid education benefits, VA will not pursue collection action if you are deployed to a combat area.

9. I used to get a paper from in the mail to verify enrollment.  Will I still get that?
No, the paper Verification of Enrollment form has been discontinued. You must use either the internet or telephone to verify enrollment.  Verification can be done beginning the last day of the month by using WAVE (internet access at https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave) or by calling toll free 1-877-823-2378 and using your touch tone phone.  Both of these are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

10. What is interval or break pay?
An interval payment is what you receive for the interval or break between two school terms. In most cases, VA will pay you for the break between two semesters, quarters, or summer sessions. But, you cannot be paid you for an interval under any of the conditions shown below:

• Interval is more than 56 days. 
• Terms either BEFORE or AFTER are shorter than the interval. 
• Student changes schools and interval is MORE than 30 days. 
• Student changes school and program.
• Training time prior to interval is less than 1/2 time. 
• Student is on active duty.
• School does not operate on term, quarter, or semester basis. 
• Non-standard terms are not consecutive.
• Interval payments are also not paid under the following conditions.
• You specifically state that you don't want payment for the break. You must make the request BEFORE VA actually authorizes payment for the break.  
• Your entitlement will run out during the break. When your entitlement is nearly exhausted, VA won't routinely pay for a break unless you specifically request it.
• You withdraw from all courses or discontinue training during the term preceding the break.
• If you believe you are due payment for the period between semesters and do not receive it, contact us and we will review your record.

11.   I wanted to know how to set-up break or interval pay.
You do not have to do anything to "set up" break or interval payment. The VA will automatically pay benefits over breaks and intervals between terms if they meet the break pay requirements.