Frequently Asked Questions
- What will the Montgomery GI Bill do for me?
- How does the Department of Veterans Affairs know to pay me?
- When will I receive my first check?
- At Georgia Southern University am I required to pay my tuition up front?
- Must I attend school full-time to receive my benefits?
- What happens if I add / drop a course? What if I fail a course?
- Can I enroll in any courses that I want?
- Can I change my degree / major program?
- What information can I obtain by calling 1-888-442-4551 (1-888 GI BILL1)?
What will the Montgomery GI Bill do for me?
The Montgomery GI Bill will provide you with a monthly educational allowance to help you pay for your education. The monthly benefit amount depends on the number of credits that you are taking each term, the length of each course, and the length of your initial enlistment.
Active duty or selected reserves are eligible for up to 36 months of full-time educational benefits, provided you completed your initial obligation with an honorable discharge. If you are eligible for the College Fund, kicker, or buy-up, you will receive additional monies. You must use all of your benefits by your delimiting date; otherwise, they will expire.
Spouses and children receiving educational benefits will be eligible for 45 months of full time educational benefits.
How does the Department of Veterans Affairs know to pay me?
Am I eligible for direct deposit?
Can a VA check be sent to my Landrum Box?
The VA Coordinator will verify your enrollment and forward your application and related documents, as well as certification of your enrollment, to the VA Regional Processing Center in Decatur, GA. The DVA will process your claim and send a check directly to you or to a direct deposit account designated by you, each month that you are enrolled in school.
All students who are receiving the Montgomery GIBILL Active Duty or Selected Reserve benefits MUST now verify their enrollment monthly to receive payments. This verification can be done either by using the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) or by using an automated telephone system (IVR) at 1-877-823-2378 and follow the prompts.
Direct Deposit - Chapter 30 and Chapter 1606 recipients are eligible for direct deposit, while Chapter 35 recipients are not.
Landrum Box - Chapter 35 may have the check sent to their Landrum Box; however, if you are not attending in the summer, you will need to make arrangements for pick up your check.Government checks cannot be forwarded.
When will I receive my first check?
New applicants should allow 6 to 10 weeks from the date that your application for benefits and your certification of enrollment were processed by the college to receive your first check. You will be paid retroactively from the first day of class. Once you receive your first check, subsequent checks should arrive near the beginning or middle of each month if you remain continuously enrolled.
At Georgia Southern University am I required to pay my tuition up front?
Yes. Georgia Southern University does not have a plan of deferment for tuition and fees. This means that your tuition must be paid by the required date.
Must I attend school full-time to receive my benefits?
No. You may take as many or as few courses as you feel you can comfortably manage. Your monthly payment will be determined by the number of semester hours in which you are enrolled and the length of your courses.
For instance, if you are a full-time student taking 12 or more semester hours, you will receive full-time benefits for each month that you continue with this training time. If you are a part-time student taking less than 12 semester hours, your monthly benefit checks will be reduced accordingly.
Accelerated courses (summer sessions) are paid at a higher rate based on a different method of measurement used to calculate training time. It will be necessary to inquire with the the VA coordinator each summer term in order to determine training time.
What happens if I add or drop course?
What if I fail / repeat a course?
Adding or dropping courses may effect your training time and pay. Notify the VA coordinator immediately of such changes.
VA has specific regulations about which courses may be retaken for pay. If you plan to repeat a course, contact the VA coordinator to determine if payment can be received.
Can I enroll in any courses that I want?
Once you select a degree program and are placed into that program, you will be guided in your course selection by the requirements for graduation for that specific degree in the college catalog.
The DVA will not pay for a course that you have already taken. They will also not pay for a course that cannot be used in your degree program.
Can I change my degree / major program?
Yes. The DVA allows you to make a change of curriculum. You will need to select a new program of study, have all your previous credits evaluated and complete a VA Form 22-1995 (Request for Change of Program or Place of Training). Contact the VA coordinator to obtain the necessary forms.
What information can I obtain by calling 1-888-442-4551 (1-888 GIBILL1)?
This toll free line provides information on VA educational benefits 24-hours a day, seven days a week. The automated system provides a wide range of information about VA educational benefits and specific information about individual accounts. Customers can speak to an Education Officer during business hours:
(excluding federal holidays)