Veterans and Service Members

Overview: Types of VA and Service Member Education Benefits

The Veterans Administration and Department of Defense have several education benefit options available for veterans, service members, spouses, and dependents. The VA determines an individual's eligibility for these programs. Click below for additional information for each benefit type.

Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill®-Active Duty (MGIB-AD)

Chapter 31: Veteran Readiness and Employment (VRE)

Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill®

Chapter 35: Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program (DEA)

Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill®-Selected Reserves (MGIB-SR)

Chapter 1607: Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship (Post 9/11 GI Bill® Extension)

Yellow Ribbon Program

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

How to Apply for VA Education Benefits

The Registrar’s Office is fully committed to assisting you in achieving your educational goals. We can be reached at registrar@ycp.edu or 717-815-1273.

Using Tuition Assistance or Educational Benefits at York College of Pennsylvania

1. Officially apply and be accepted to York College of Pennsylvania with an intended major.

2. Determine your educational benefit (i.e., Chapter) eligibility and obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Letter from the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Applying for VA Educational Benefits

• Apply for VA Education Benefits
• The VA takes approximately 30 days to process your request. Ensure that the address that you provide to the VA is a location where you will be available to receive mail within a month from the time that you submit your application. Once approved, the VA will issue a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) letter.
• Chapters 30, 33, 35, 1606, and 1607: Bring a copy of the COE letter to the Registrar’s Office. 
• Chapter 31: We will need an authorization sent to us by your Vocational Readiness and Employment Counselor.

Changing Institutions for VA Educational Benefits

• An updated Certificate of Eligibility letter will be generated by the VA. Bring a copy of the new COE letter to the Registrar’s Office.
• Chapters 30, 33, 1606, and 1607: Complete electronic VA Form 22-1995 Request for Change of Program or Place of Training.
• Chapter 35: Complete electronic VA Form 22-5495 Dependents’ Request for Change of Program or Place of Training.

3. If you are a veteran or servicemember, request an official military transcript to be sent to our school from your service branch. 

• Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy
• Air Force

4. If you served overseas and have a DD-214, submit a copy of the orders with your official military transcript.

5. Review the Enrollment Handbook: Money Matters, which has detailed information in regards to completing the FAFSA and the Financial Aid Enrollment Checklist. Contact the Financial Aid Office with questions about the handbook.

After Registering for Classes

6. The School Certifying Officials (SCOs) will send you an email with the final VA Enrollment Certification Form to complete.

When the Semester Begins

7. Attend and participate in your classes. If you are struggling in any way, be sure to communicate with your instructors, academic advisors, and the Office of Student Success. They are here to help you succeed!

• Be sure to notify the VA School Certifying Officials of any changes in your program of study, courses, or credit load.
• Don’t forget to report your attendance monthly either by text or email.

Please Note:

• The Registrar’s Office will not report your enrollment to the VA prior to receiving a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Letter.
• For enrollment certification purposes, your class schedule will be evaluated against the program of study you declared with the institution. It is your responsibility to notify the Records and VA Coordinator of changes in your major. Failure to do so may result in a delay of payments.
• The Registrar’s Office will only certify enrollment in classes that are required to obtain a degree in your specific program of study. 
• For example, if you choose Mechanical Engineering as your program of study and enroll in 12 credits, but 3 of the credits are not required for a Mechanical Engineering degree, you will be certified for 9 credits. This could result in a reduction in your monthly education benefit payments, and if you are using the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, a portion of your tuition may not be covered by the VA.
• If you do not submit the Enrollment Certification Form, the Registrar’s Office will not certify your enrollment with the VA. You will not receive your monthly educational benefit payment, or tuition payments as applicable based on your benefit.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website at benefits.va.gov/gibill.

How to Recertify for VA Benefits

In this section, we will cover:

• How to recertify for VA Educational Benefits each semester.
• The completion of the administrative actions necessary to ensure you receive your monthly VA Educational payments.

1. Pay your deposit, and Register for Classes
2. Complete a VA Education Benefits Certification form and submit it to the Records Office. If your program of study has changed from the previous semester, you must indicate this on the form.
3. Once the semester begins:
   • Show up for class, and Study, Study, Study! If you are struggling in any way, be sure to keep lines of communication open with both your instructors and academic advisors. They are here to help you succeed!
   • Be sure to update the VA School Certifying Official of any changes in your program of study, courses, or credit load.
   • For Chapters 30, 33, 1606 and 1607 recipients, don’t forget to report your attendance monthly.

Some important notes:

• The Records Office will not report your enrollment to the VA prior to receiving a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility.
• For enrollment certification purposes your class schedule will be evaluated against the program of study you selected on your original VA benefits application or the most recent copy of the VA 22-1995 / VA 22-5495 on file. It is your responsibility to notify the VA Coordinator of changes in program. Failure to do so will result in a delay of payments.
• The Records Office will only certify enrollment in classes that are required to obtain a degree in your specific program of study. If for example you choose Mechanical Engineering as your program of study and enroll in 12 credits, but 3 of the credits are not required for a Mechanical Engineering degree then you will be certified for 9 credits. This could result in a reduction in your monthly education benefit payments, and, if you are using the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, a portion of your tuition may not be covered by the VA.
• If you do not submit an Enrollment Certification Request the Records Office will not certify your enrollment with the VA, and you will not receive your monthly educational benefit payment, or tuition payments as applicable based on your benefit.
• Please plan ahead. It can take the VA 3 to 4 weeks or more to process your benefit application.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Common Questions about VA Benefits

I have question/concerns about specific payments made to me by the VA. Who should I contact?

For matters dealing with specific payments or bank accounts, the student needs to contact the VA directly through their Education Benefits hotline, 1 (888) 442‑4551. The VA will not discuss a student’s personal payment issues with the VA School Certifying Official, as this constitutes a violation of the Federal Privacy Act.

I have not received my monthly payment yet. Who should I call?

Start with the Records Office. We can verify the following:

• Whether or not a VA Education Benefit Certification form was submitted to us for the semester
• Date that you were certified to the VA

Has enough time passed since the VA School Certifying Official submitted your enrollment information to the VA? It typically takes anywhere from three to eight weeks for the VA to process a certification. Initial certifications have a longer processing time than re-certifications. It is in your best interest to take care of everything as soon as possible if you are reliant on money from the VA. This means to register for classes as early as possible, and to submit your request for certification to us immediately after registering for classes. We can submit your certification to the VA up to 60 days prior to the start of the semester.

For chapters 30, 33, 1606 and 1607, have you made your monthly attendance report?

If the semester has started and/or it has been several weeks since your enrollment certification was submitted to the VA, you should contact the Education Benefits hotline, 1 (888) 442‑4551.

How does the Post 9/11 GI Bill® housing stipend work?

The housing stipend, also known as the monthly housing allowance (MHA), is based on the DoD's cost of living assessment for the zip code of the college.  This is completely independent of what a school's housing office and local rental agencies may charge for housing.  In other words, your MHA may, or may not, cover your actual living expenses.

MHA payments typically arrive on the first of the month and pay for the previous month.  MHA payments are also prorated if a student was not in school for the entire month in question.  In other words, during the Fall semester a student receiving a VA stipend will receive a smaller payment for the months of August and December; and a smaller payment for the months of January and May for the Spring semester.

What is considered full time for VA benefits?

For Undergraduates: Fall and Spring = 12 credits

*Summer = pro-rated based on summer session length

For Graduates: Fall and Spring = 9 credits

*Summer = pro-rated based on summer session length

Will my VA education benefits pay for every class that I want to take?

No. Only classes that will fulfill a requirement for your degree program, minor, dual degree, or dual major, can be reported to the VA for the purpose of determining your rate of pursuit. To find out if a class is required, you should check your CAPP degree evaluation on YCPWeb.

Will VA educational benefits cover the cost of remedial or deficiency courses?

Most VA educational benefit programs (or “chapters”) cover the cost of remedial or deficiency courses, but only if a placement test indicates that you need to take that type of course, or if the course is required as a prerequisite for another course in your major.

When do I have to declare a major?

The VA requires that you notify them of your major before beginning the next semester after you reached your sixtieth (60) credit hour. If you later wish to change your major you will need to notify the VA School Ceritfying Official.

How do I receive my benefits via direct deposit?

Direct deposit authorizations can be initiated at the time of application. To update, change or add direct deposit information call: 1 (877) 838‑2778. The WAVE web site can also be used to update direct deposit and address information.

How do I change my address with the VA?

Address changes can be accomplished by calling 1 (888) 442‑4551. The WAVE web site can also be used to update address and direct deposit information.

How can I find out how many months of education benefits I have remaining?

Veterans and Service members using Chapter 33 benefits can obtain this information at the eBenefits web site. Chapter 33 dependent students and recipients of all other GI Bill benefits must call the VA Education Benefit hotline, at 1 (888) 442‑4551, to receive an updated status of their remaining eligibility.

My GI Bill® will be exhausted in mid-semester. Will the VA pay for the whole semester?

It depends. If you are about to use up your original 36 months, the VA will pay for the rest of the semester. If you have combined your benefits (for example, exhausted your 36 month Chapter 30 benefit, and was approved to use Chapter 33 for another 12 months) and will exceed your 48th month during the semester, then the VA will only make payments up to the last day of that 48th month.

If you are a dependent, there is no exceeding the 36th month of the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, and payments will stop in mid semester if your eligibility is exhausted. Similarly, Chapter 35 Dependent Education Assistance students may not exceed the 45 month limit of their benefit, except under rare circumstances which must be approved by the VA.

A dependent student may combine his or her Post 9/11 GI Bill® and their Chapter 35 benefit. This could yield a maximum of 81 (!) months of combined eligibility (up to 36 from the GI Bill® and 45 from DEA). The deliminating date of the GI Bill and the age restriction of the DEA still apply though.

I think I'm failing one, or more, of my classes! What should I do?

This is a long answer, but hang in there because there is a lot to consider:

Option 1: Stay in the Class(s)

This is usually the best option for most students, unless you’re already on academic probation and can’t risk another failing grade. With a little tutoring and some extra study time, you may end up passing the class after all! If you don’t pass, you can probably repeat it, and it is usually easier the second time around.

Effect on VA benefits: usually nothing. If you stay in the class all the way to the end, you don’t have to pay money back, whether you pass or fail. The main thing is that you tried.

Effect on GPA: potentially significant. Your current-term GPA is determined by calculating a numeric value for your letter grade, multiplied by the number of units (credits) for your class to get your grade points for the class. Add up the total grade points for all your classes in the term and divide by the total units you attempted in that term to get the Grade Point Average (GPA) for the term. Your cumulative GPA is calculated the same way, but with your total points divided by your total units. A ‘0’ grade is an instant GPA killer, especially if you haven’t taken many classes yet. It can take a long time and a lot of hard work to drag that GPA back up again. Be advised that YCP has a “grade forgiveness policy” that will let you repeat the class and remove the former grade from your GPA calculations. Just be sure to discuss this with your academic advisor.

Option 2: Withdraw from class

If you are concerned about the damage that a bad grade can do to your GPA, or if your class is consuming so much of your time that you can’t focus on your other classes and are at risk of failing them all, then withdrawing from a class may be your best option, if there’s still time to drop. The deadline for each semester is noted on the academic calendar.

Effect on VA benefits: potentially significant, particularly if you drop below full time. If your drop will take you down to part-time status, you will have to pay back some of your monthly housing allowance, either back to the day you stopped attending class, or all the way back to the beginning of the term, depending on your circumstances. If you will still be a full-time student after the drop the reduction will probably not affect your benefits at all. This is even true of the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, because YCP charges a flat tuition rate from 12 to 18 credits. If, under the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, you drop below 12 credits you will be required to pay back a portion of the VA's tuition payment. Depending on your situation, this could potentially add up to thousands of dollars, especially if the monthly housing allowance is reduced. The Chapter 33 book stipend is also based on course load and will have to be paid back for every credit dropped. Be sure to discuss this with the Records Office. If you decide to take the drop and get charged for the overpayment, you can always make repayment arrangements with the VA, and set up a payment plan.

Effect on GPA: Nothing. YCP does not have an academic penalty for dropping a class.  In the case of a withdraw, a "W" grade will appear on the transcript - the will also not have an effect on the GPA.

Option 3: Stop going to class(es)

This is probably the worst thing you could do. The VA considers “not attending” the same as if you had formally dropped, so you’ll still have to pay back some of your benefits. In addition, if you don’t go to class, you’ll probably end up failing, so your GPA will suffer as well.

Effect on VA benefits: potentially significant

Effect on GPA: potentially significant

Option 4: Incomplete grade

If you are struggling in class because of an extenuating circumstance – such as an undiagnosed learning disability, military orders that caused you to miss several classes, an extended illness or hospitalization, a family emergency, etc. – you may be able to request an “incomplete” grade from your instructor, which will grant you some extra time to finish the course, and take the pressure off. If your professor agrees, you will need to work out the details with him/her about what exactly you will need to do to complete the class, and how long you will have to do so. If you complete the course requirements on time, your incomplete grade will change to the grade you’ve earned. If you fail to complete the course before the deadline, you may be automatically assigned a failing grade or the grade you had in the class at the time your instructor extended the deadline.

Effect on VA benefits: usually nothing. If you complete the course and earn a grade, your benefits will remain unaffected.

Effect on GPA: it depends on your final grade, but you will have more time to complete the work, and hopefully you’ll earn a better grade than if you tried to tough it out. If you have the option to take an incomplete grade, this may be the best option. Just make sure that you dedicate the necessary time to complete the course requirements and get it turned in. Some people procrastinate and miss the deadline, so don’t let that happen to you.

One more thing to consider: if you are receiving scholarships or financial aid, you may be subject to additional restrictions on course load and GPA. Be sure to talk to your financial aid counselor if you are in this situation.

The bottom line is that every student’s situation is different, and you need to weigh and discuss your options with the experts on your campus. It is far better to know all your alternatives and make an informed decision, than to simply “let things happen.” You may find that there are additional resources on your campus that can help you if you choose to stick with it. Good luck!

What happens if I receive a failing grade?

If a ‘0’ or ‘F’ grade is received in a course, the VA will only be notified if the cause of the failing grade is lack of class attendance or lack of completing assignments. Each semester the academic progress of VA students will be monitored for “F” grades.

The reason for the “F” grade will be noted in the student’s file. No further action will be necessary for those who received a “F” grade based on work completed in the class. If the “F” grade is a result of non-attendance, the VA will be notified of the last date of attendance reported by the student and the VA will reduce the student’s units and pay rate effective the date the student indicated as the last date of attendance.

Can I retake classes to improve my G.P.A.?

You may repeat a course and receive VA payment for it if you received an “F”, “NP” or “W” grade on the original attempt. The VA does not pay for repeats of “1” or better grades; or for incomplete grades, unless the Incomplete is changed to an ‘0’ grade. EXCEPTION: When a class is required for a major and must be passed with a certain grade level to progress to another required class (prerequisite) then the VA will pay for the repeat.

NOTE: You need to be aware that repeat courses can result in over-payments from VA. If you repeat the course more than one time, and the VA pays for it each time you retake it, the VA may create a debt against you and make you repay the money from the first time you took the course. This only happens if you repeat the class more than once. It is in your best interest to make sure you pass the class the first time you repeat it, otherwise the VA may create a debt against you.

Do I really have to go to class?

If you don’t attend class, you are not entitled to benefits. If a student stops attending a class they must drop officially with the college and report the drop to the VA certifying official. This is a student responsibility – not ours. Federal law requires that students report any change in enrollment status, which might affect their VA education benefits to the school and the VA. Your signature on the Supplemental Application form shows acceptance of the responsibility to keep the VA certifying official informed of any change in student status.

When there is an overpayment, the VA will ask for repayment of the overpaid benefits. If you ignore the VA’s request, they can withhold future GI bill® payments, disability payments, or depending upon the situation, they can take a student to court, charge interest, and they may take future tax return refunds, attach wages, put legal holds on property or deny home loans.

The VA certifying official monitors student enrollment on a weekly basis via automated reports and updated enrollment statuses are regularly sent to the VA. When adding, dropping or withdrawing from classes, the student must report this directly to the VA certifying official.

Post 9/11 (Chapter 33) Specifics: Determining BAH/Book money and Tuition

BAH: In order to receive the minimum amount of BAH, you need to be ABOVE ½ time. So for undergraduates for Fall and Spring semesters you need AT LEAST 6.5 credits (graduate students need at least 5 in Fall/Spring) If you are at or below ½ time, you will NOT receive any BAH. The BAH is paid at the end of each month during a semester. Keep in mind that partial months will be paid at a prorated rate.

Book money: The textbook stipend is paid as soon as your claim is processed so you should not wait for the stipend to arrive before ordering your textbooks. The VA will pay you up to $1000 per academic year for books under the Post 9/11 GI Bill®. The $1000 is if you are at the 100% rating (if you are at a different percentage you will receive a percentage of the $1000 per year, for example, someone at the 80% rating would get up to $800 per academic year). The way the VA calculates book money is based off of the number of credits you are registered for each semester. They have a per credit hour charge of approximately $42 per credit. They will multiply that amount by the number of approved credits you are registered for. For example, you are registered for 12 credits for Fall: $42X12 = $504.00 for books for Fall (if at the 100% rating). This also means that for Spring, you will have $496.00 available from the $1000 per academic year. You do not need to save receipts for books. If you can find your books for cheap online, or better yet, for free, you can still keep the book money. It is recommended that if your books cost less than what you receive for a given semester, that you save the rest for future semesters as you may not receive as much.

Tuition and Fees: The VA will pay your tuition directly to the school only for classes that are approved (meaning required for your degree). The VA has never paid tuition by the tuition deadline, but you do not need to worry about the tuition deadline. As long as you make sure you have filled out a VA Education Benefits form for the semester, we will have you on a list that is sent down to the Business Office to prevent Post 911 GI Bill® students from being dropped or charged late fees.

Post 9/11 (Chapter 33) and Grad Benefits, Faculty/Staff Reduction, Purple Heart, Tuition Assistance and Other Tuition Waivers: Any source of funds that is meant to be applied only to tuition and fees will be subtracted out of what we report to VA for your tuition. Most scholarships and grants do not fall into this category, but if they are not cash awards, they will need to be taken out of what is reported to VA. If you have a question about how something might affect what the VA pays for your tuition, you can contact us and we will tell you if it affects anything.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Overview: Tuition Assistance

Tuition Assistance is administered by the services. Contact your unit or base education office for procedures to establish the benefit, and information on current payment rates and rules  (Army and Army National Guard personnel must request through Army IgnitED). When you receive a Tuition Assistance Authorization form, please provide the Business Office and the Records Office with a copy; we will make sure that it is applied to your student account.

NOTE: If you plan to utilize TA to pay for your courses, you must receive approval from the ESO, military counselor, or Service prior to enrolling.

Tuition Assistance Refund Policy:

Should a student drop or withdraw from a course being paid for with TA funds, York College will follow the designated refund schedule for the return of TA funds to the government. 

Please note that this policy only applies to TA funds, not to payment received for tuition and fees (once the TA has been deducted from the e-bill), room, and board. Once the TA refund has been accounted for, the college will utilize the Refund Policy schedule indicated on the Business Office webpage to determine if an additional refund or payment is due.