Things to Know
Students using:
- Post-9/11 (Chapter 33)
- VA COVID-19 Provisions will end on December 21, 2021. This means that all CH. 33 students must be enrolled in at least one in-person or hybrid class to receive MHA at the resident (in person rate).
- Enrollment verification is a new requirement for Post-9/11 GI Bill (CH. 33) students to verify their enrollment every month. This will be for terms starting on or after December 17, 2021. Please see FAQ Below
- Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31)
- Transfer of Entitlement Program
- Fry Scholarship
Notify the Veterans Resource Center immediately after enrollment every semester to avoid being dropped for non-payment.
Students using:
- Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (Chapter 30)
- Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
You must verify your attendance to the Department of Veterans Affairs (the last day of every month) in order to receive payments. You can do this using the Web Automated Verification Enrollment (WAVE) or call 1-877-823-2378.
You MAY be eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation. Apply today: https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/vocational-rehabilitation/how-to-apply/
Activate your Yuba College Student Email & Yuba College App to receive important updates sent from the Veterans Resource Center.
Monthly Enrollment Verification FAQ – CLICK HERE
- What is monthly enrollment verification?
Enrollment verification is a new requirement for Post 9/11 GI Bill* (Chapter 33) students to verify every month that you are still enrolled in the same courses or training that your school certified to VA. It’s not about verifying you are attending classes, but whether your certified enrollment changed.
2. Who needs to verify their enrollment?
Eventually, all Post 9/11 GI Bill students will need to verify enrollment every month, but this requirement will be rolled out in phases through the 2021-2022 school year based on the type of facility you are attending. Right now, only students at non-college degree (NCD) facilities who receive Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments are impacted, and only if their term starts on or after August 1, 2021. Students at Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) facilities who receive MHA or kicker payments will be impacted for terms started on or after December 17, 2021. Later phases will include additional populations of Post 9/11 GI Bill students.
Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) students, Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship students, and VET TECH students are already required to verify monthly attendance. Nothing about those processes are changing.
3. When do students need to start verifying their enrollment?
This requirement will be rolled out in phases through the 2021-2022 school year based on the type of facility you are attending. Right now, Post 9/11 GI Bill students at NDC-only facilities are impacted if they are enrolled in classes or training that start on or after August 1, 2021. These students should opt into text message verification when their enrollment begins (more information about that down below) and will be required to verify enrollment starting August 31, 2021 (or at the end of the month that their enrollment begins).
Students at IHL facilities will begin the process for terms starting on December 17, 2021, if they are enrolled in classes or training after that point, More information about that will be shared closer to that deadline.
4. Why do students need to verify their enrollment?
Enrollment verification plays a critical roll in safeguarding your GI Bill entitlement by preventing charges for classes or training you did not attend, as well as protecting the integrity of the GI Bill. Though this new requirement is an additional step, enrollment verification is very easy to do and will help you better manage your and access your earned benefits. It will also prevent overpayments earlier on in the term.
This requirement was part of the Isakson and Roe Act of 2020, which enhances and expands education benefits and programs for Veterans, transitioning service members, and military families.
5. What happens if I don’t verify my enrollment?
If you fail to submit your enrollment verification two consecutive months, your MHA/kicker payments will be held until your verify your enrollment. For example, if your term starts on August 1, 2021 and you fail to verify your enrollment for August and September, your October 2021 payments will be placed on hold.
6. Will this new requirement delay my payments?
No. Verifying your enrollment in a timely fashion will help ensure there are no delays to your scheduled payments.
7. What’s the difference between an NDC facility and an IHL facility?
IHL facilities are 2-4 year schools that offer Associates, Bachelors, Masters, and PhD degree programs. All other facilities are NDC facilities, except those that offer on-the-job training or apprenticeships. If you’re not sure which facility you attend, this infographic may help.
8. What if I’m a part time student?
Post-9/11 GI Bill students who are attending at less than a 50% rate of pursuit are not eligible for MHA payments and so will not be affected until a later date unless you receive kicker payments.
9. What if I’m on active duty?
Post-9/11 GI Bill students who are on active duty are not eligible for MHA payments and so will not be affected until a later date.
10. How will I know if the enrollment information my school submitted is accurate?
You can find your enrollment information on your award letter from VA or ask your School Certifying Official.
11. What happens if I report a change to my enrollment?
If you indicate that your enrollment information has changed, VA will contact your school to receive your updated enrollment information. Please work with your School Certifying Official to ensure they have accurate information on your enrollment and can update VA of any changes. Quickly notifying VA of changes to your enrollment will help you avoid an overpayment, though it may not completely eliminate the possibility of a debt.
12. Does anything change about how my school will certify my enrollment?
Yes. Your school is now required to certify your enrollment again after the drop-add period has closed to ensure VA has the most accurate enrollment information and help eliminate overpayments.
13. How do I verify my enrollment?
You can verify your enrollment via text message or by calling the Education Call Center (ECC). VA strongly recommends verifying enrollment via text. It will be easier and faster than calling the ECC.
14. How does the text option work?
A. If you need to verify enrollment and VA has a current U.S. mobile number on file for your GI Bill benefits, you will receive the following text message from: “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.” Reply “Yes” to opt into text verification. This text link will expire 14 days from receipt.
B. NOTE: If you choose to opt out, you will need to call the Education Call Center (ECC) every month to verify enrollment or to change your text message preferences. You can opt into verification by text message at any time by calling the ECC at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).
C. If you opt in, you will receive the following text at the end of each month: “DID YOU REMAIN ENROLLED IN YOUR COURSES IN MON YYYY AS CERTIFIED? PLEASE REPLY YES OR NO. IF YOU HAVE DROPPED ALL YOUR COURSES, YOU MUST REPLY NO.” Submit your response by replying to the text with “Yes” or “No”. You will then receive a text that confirms receipt of your response.
D. NOTE: You may verify your enrollment at any time, but after 6 days, the text message conversation will close. your file will be marked as “unresponsive”, and you may receive an inquiry from VA. You will no longer be able to use the text link to verify your enrollment for the month via text and will need to call the ECC to verify enrollment over the phone.
15. How does the phone option work?
You will contact the ECC at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) and ask a representative to verify enrollment on your behalf. You can call at any time the following month. NOTE: ECC wait times may be high due to the number of students verifying enrollment each month.
16. Are the text messages secure?
Enrollment verification via text message is safe and secure. VA will never ask for your personal information, such as social security number or bank account information, via text.
17. Will I receive confirmation that my enrollment verification text has been received by VA?
Yes, you will receive a text message from VA confirming that your text verification has been received. You do not need to call the ECC if you receive a confirmation text.
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Things To Know
Academic Progress
Recipients of VA educational benefits must maintain good academic progress. Unsatisfactory progress must be reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs as a termination of benefits.
If your GPA falls below 2.0 and you do not progress academically for two consecutive
semesters your benefits will be terminated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA)
You must follow your VA educational plan in order to continue receiving your benefits.
Final Semester/Round Up
Providing you have one class left on your education plan for your last semester you may take
any class to make it up to full time enrollment. Therefore, full time pay. You can only do this
for once at Yuba College.
Overpayment
In order to avoid possible under or overpayments by the Department of Veterans Affairs, please notify the Veterans Resource Center immediately if there are any changes to your schedule.
Advance Pay
If you are a new student or did not attend the previous semester you may request Advance
Pay. This must be done 35 or more days prior to the beginning of the semester. The VA will
advance you two months of benefits. Contact the VAO for more information.
Financial Aid
You are encouraged to apply for the California Promise Grant every school year. You may qualify for additional financial aid assistance while using your VA educational benefits.
Dropping Classes
You are required to notify the VAO when you drop (or add) a class. You may be required to
pay back any benefits received for the dropped class. You may request Mitigating
Circumstances up to six units. The VAO has the required forms.
Mitigating Circumstances
If the circumstances were beyond your control and you drop your class the VA may not
require you to reimburse those benefits received for this class. Some Mitigating
Circumstances may be: student has serious illness, family member ill or death, child care
problems, work shift change or obligations, financial obligations. The DVA makes this
determination not the VAO.
California Dependents of Veterans College Fee Waiver Program
Students who are a dependent of a veteran who died of service-connected causes or has a
service-connected disability may be eligible for a waiver of college tuition and fees.
For more information contact your local Veteran Service Officer listed in the phone book
under “County Government.” Once you have received your letter of eligibility you are required
to bring it to the VAO and a copy to the Financial Aid office.
For all other requirements, rules and regulations contact the VAO or DVA.