SUMMARY OF
VA EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS

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INTRODUCTION

The Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (chapter 30 of title 38, U. S. Code) is an educational assistance program enacted by Congress to attract high quality men and women into the Armed Forces. The program is administered by VA (Department of Veterans Affairs). It provides education and training opportunities to eligible persons.

This pamphlet provides a general description of the education benefits. It includes information to help you understand how you receive payments under the program. It offers suggestions on where to go for help and how to get more detailed information.

The information may be of help to you in making a decision to enter training. You should read the pamphlet carefully to understand the full range of benefits available.

This pamphlet is a summary of the benefits available under this program. Do not rely on it to determine if you are eligible for education benefits. To receive a formal decision from VA, you must file a claim for benefits.

Are You Eligible?

You may be eligible for education benefits as a veteran or serviceperson under one of the following categories.

Category 1 - You entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985, and served continuously for three years.

However, only two years of active duty are required if:

• You are now on active duty;
• You first enlisted for two years of active duty; or
• You have an obligation to serve four years in the Selected Reserve (the 2 X 4 program). You must enter the Selected Reserve within one year of your release from active duty.

In Category 1, you must have your military pay reduced by $100 a month for the first 12 months of active duty. If you elect not to participate in this program, you may not change this decision at a later date unless you qualify under Category 3 below.

You may also be eligible if:

• You were on active duty between December 1, 1988, and June 30, 1989;
• You withdrew your election not to participate;
• You had your military pay reduced by $100 a month for 12 months; and
• You completed the period of active duty you were obligated to served on December 1, 1988. If you did not complete the period, your discharge must be for one of the reasons listed in the paragraph regarding Discharges and Separations.

You must obtain a high school diploma or an equivalency certificate before your first period of active duty ends. Completing 12 hours toward a college degree meets the requirement.

SPECIAL EXTENSION

If you were on active duty on August 2, 1990, and were discharged without obtaining a high school diploma or an equivalency certificate, you may qualify if you received either document before October 28, 1994. Under this extension, you may not use 12 hours toward a college degree to meet the requirement.

Category 2 - You had remaining entitlement under the Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance program (chapter 34 of title 38, U. S. Code) on December 31, 1989, you served on active duty for any number of days during the period October 19, 1984 to June 30, 1985, and you continued on active duty without a break from July 1, 1985 through:

• June 30, 1988; or,
• June 30, 1987, and you served four years in the Selected Reserve after release from active duty. You must have entered the Selected Reserve within one year of your release from active duty.

You must have obtained a high school diploma or an equivalency certificate before December 31, 1989. Completing 12 hours toward a college degree meets the requirement.

Category 3 - You may be eligible under Category 3 if you elected to participate in chapter 30 before being involuntarily separated. You may qualify:

• If you were on active duty on September 30, 1990, and were involuntarily separated after February 2, 1991; or
• If you were involuntarily separated on or after November 30, 1993.

You may also be eligible under Category 3 if you elected to participate in chapter 30 before being voluntarily separated under either the VSI (Voluntary Separation Incentive) or SSB (Special Separation Benefit) program.

If you were eligible for the Post Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP, or chapter 32 of title 38, U. S. Code), you must elect to receive benefits under chapter 30 and apply for a refund of your contributions to chapter 32.

In Category 3, you must have had your military pay reduced by $1,200 before your discharge.

You must have obtained a high school diploma or an equivalency certificate before you apply for benefits. Completing 12 hours toward a college degree meets the requirement.

NOTE: If you qualify under Category 3 based on a voluntary or an involuntary separation, you will not be eligible for chapter 30 while on active duty. Your eligibility will begin the day following your discharge.

Category 4 - You may be eligible under Category 4 if you were on active duty on October 9, 1996 and you were a VEAP participant with money in the VEAP fund. To establish eligibility, you must have elected chapter 30 and paid $1,200 by October 9, 1997. You may also be eligible under Category 4 if you served on full time active duty in the National Guard between June 30, 1985, and November 29, 1989. You must have elected to have your National Guard service count toward establishing eligibility for that benefit by July 9, 1997.

 DISCHARGES AND SEPARATIONS

Your discharge must be "honorable." Discharges "under honorable conditions" and "general" discharges do not establish eligibility for chapter 30.

A discharge or release for one of the following reasons could result in a reduction of the required length of active duty:

• Convenience of the government;
• Disability;
• Hardship;
• A medical condition existing before service;
• A medical condition that is not a disability or due to your misconduct but that interfered with your performance of duty; or
• Certain reductions in force.

OTHER ISSUES

You are not eligible under Categories 1 or 2 if you graduated from a service academy and received a commission after December 31, 1976.

You are not eligible under Categories 1 or 2 if you received a commission after completing an ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) scholarship program after December 31, 1976. This scholarship pays a stipend and all educational expenses, i.e., tuition, fees, books, and supplies.

If you are a graduate of an ROTC program, you may still be eligible for chapter 30 under one of the following conditions:

• If you received a commission after becoming eligible for chapter 30.
• If you completed ROTC without a full scholarship.
• If you received a commission after September 30, 1996. You must have received less than $2,000 during each year of your ROTC program.

The following types of active duty do not establish eligibility:

• Time assigned by the military to a civilian institution to take the same course provided to civilians;
• Time served as a cadet or midshipman at a service academy; or
• Time spent on active duty for training in the National Guard or Reserve.

NOTE: Time assigned by the military to a civilian institution and time served at a military or service academy does not break the continuity of active duty required to establish eligibility. Also, active duty for training does count toward the four years in the Selected Reserve under the 2 by 4 program.

How Many Months of Benefits Can You Get?

You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits under this program after completing the full period of your enlistment. This applies if you were discharged for the convenience of the government after completing: 20 months of an enlistment of less than three years; or 30 months of an enlistment of three years or more.

However, you will earn only one month of entitlement for each month of active duty after June 30, 1985, if you were discharged for other specific reasons before completing your enlistment period (for example, a discharge based on a service-connected disability, a medical condition pre-existing service, hardship, or a reduction in force).

You may also earn one month of entitlement for each four months in the Selected Reserve after June 30, 1985.

You may receive a maximum of 48 months of benefits under more than one VA education program. For example, if you used 30 months of Dependents' Educational Assistance (chapter 35 of title 38, U. S. Code) and are eligible under chapter 30, you could have a maximum of 18 months of entitlement remaining. If you used 27 months under chapter 34 before December 31, 1989, and are eligible for chapter 30, you could have a maximum of 21 months of entitlement remaining.

How Is Entitlement Charged?

You are charged one full day of entitlement for each day of full-time benefits paid.

For correspondence and flight training, you use one month of entitlement each time VA pays the equivalent of one month of full-time benefits. If your full-time rate is $528.00, and you receive $1,584.00 for a correspondence course, the entitlement charge is three months. If your full-time rate is $429.00, and you receive $5,148.00 for flight training, the entitlement charge is 12 months.

If you pursue a cooperative program, you use one month for each month of benefits paid.

For apprenticeship and job training programs, the entitlement charge changes every six months. During the first six months, the charge is 75% of full-time. For the second six months, the charge is 55% of full-time. For the rest of the program, the charge is 35% of full-time.

VA can extend entitlement to the end of a term, quarter, or semester if the ending date of your entitlement falls within a term, quarter, or semester. If the school does not operate on a term basis, entitlement can be extended for 12 weeks.

How Much Educational Assistance Will You Get?

BASIC EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

If you first entered active duty after June 30, 1985, and your first service obligation was more than two years, you will receive the following monthly rates:

Rates for Schooling

Rates for Apprenticeship and Job Training

You will also receive the above rates if:

• You first entered active duty after June 30, 1985, with a service obligation of two years plus four years in the Selected Reserve;
• You first entered active duty after June 30, 1985, with a service obligation of two years, and you extended your obligation to three years or more; or
• You are eligible under Category 3.

If you first entered active duty after June 30, 1985, and your first service obligation was two years, you will receive the following monthly rates:

Rates for Schooling

Rates for Apprenticeship and Job Training

RATES FOR OTHER TYPES OF TRAINING

If you take cooperative training, you may receive payment at the rate to which you are entitled for institutional training. Cooperative training is full time only.

If you take a correspondence course, you receive 55% of the approved charges for the course.

If you take flight training, you receive 60% of the approved charges for the course, including solo hours.

INCREASES IN EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

If you are eligible under Category 2, you will receive a higher rate of payment. In addition to your basic chapter 30 rate, you will receive an amount equal to one-half of the chapter 34 rate. You will receive this rate only as long as you have chapter 34 entitlement remaining. After that, you will receive the basic chapter 30 rate.

VA pays an additional amount, commonly known as a "kicker," if directed by DOD (Department of Defense).

If you are eligible under Category 3 and had a chapter 32 "kicker," VA pays the basic chapter 30 rate and an additional amount based upon the amount of the remaining kicker.

TRAINING WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY OR AT LESS THAN ONE-HALF TIME

If you are on active duty or training at less than one-half time, we will pay you the lesser of:

• The monthly rate based on tuition and fees for your course(s); or
• The maximum monthly rate based on your training time.

If you are training at less than one-half time, we will issue payment to you in one sum for the whole enrollment period.

Here is how we decide the monthly rate of your payment. If, while on active duty, you train full time for the period June 1, 1999, through June 30, 1999, and the total charges for your courses are $300, your monthly rate would be $300. However, if the total charges are $1,200 for the same period, your monthly rate would only be $528.00 (or $429.00 if your service obligation is less than three years). This is the maximum monthly rate payable based on your training time.

The following amounts can be added to your monthly rate if you are training while on active duty or at less than one-half time:

• The monthly amount of your "kicker" from the Service Department; and
• One-half of the chapter 34 rate if you are eligible under Category 2 (the additional amount for dependents is not included.)

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How Long Are You Eligible?

Benefits end 10 years from the date of your last discharge or release from active duty.

VA can extend your 10-year period by the amount of time you were prevented from training during the period due to:

• A disability; or
• Being held by a foreign government or power.

VA can extend your 10-year period if you reenter active duty for 90 days or more after becoming eligible. The extension ends 10 years from the date of discharge or release from the later period. Periods of active duty of less than 90 days can qualify for extensions only if your discharge or release was for one of the following reasons:

• A service-connected disability;
• A medical condition existing before active duty;
• Hardship; or
• A reduction in force.

If your discharge is upgraded by the military, the 10-year period begins on the date of the upgrade.

CATEGORY 2 ELIGIBILITY

If you are eligible under Category 2 and your discharge was before December 31, 1989, you have until January 1, 2000, to use your entitlement. In most instances VA will subtract periods you were not on active duty between January 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985, from your 10-year period.

ELIGIBILITY BASED ON THE 2 BY 4 PROGRAM

If you are eligible based upon two years of active duty and four years in the Selected Reserve, you have 10 years from your release from active duty, or 10 years from the completion of the four-year Selected Reserve obligation to use your benefits, whichever is later.

What Training May You Take?

You may receive benefits for a wide variety of training.

• You may seek an undergraduate or graduate degree at a college or university.
• You may take a cooperative training program.
• You may also take an accredited independent study program leading to a standard college degree.
• You may take courses leading to a certificate or diploma from business, technical, or vocational schools.
• You may work and train in an apprenticeship or job training program offered by a company or union.
• You may take a correspondence course.
• You may take flight training. You must have a private pilot's license and meet the medical requirements for a desired license before beginning training, and throughout your flight training program.

If you would like to study abroad, education benefits are payable only for programs leading to a college degree.

A State agency or VA must approve each program offered by a school or company. If you want to know if you may receive benefits for a program, contact the nearest VA regional office.

Are You Eligible for Remedial, Deficiency and Refresher Training?

You may be eligible for benefits for remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses. Remedial and deficiency courses are intended to assist a student in overcoming a deficiency in a particular area of study. Remedial and deficiency courses must be necessary for pursuit of a program of education. Refresher training is for technological advances that occurred in a field of employment. The advance must have occurred while you were on active duty or after your release. There is an entitlement charge for these courses.

Are You Eligible for Tutorial Assistance?

You may receive a special allowance for individual tutoring if you enter school at one-half time or more. To qualify, you must have a deficiency in a subject, making the tutoring necessary. The school must certify the tutor's qualifications and the hours of tutoring. If eligible, you may receive a maximum monthly payment of $100. The maximum total benefit is $1,200. There is no entitlement charge for the first $600 of tutorial assistance. To compute the charge for payments beyond $600, divide the amount paid by your full-time rate for schooling. To apply, complete VA Form 22-1990t, Application and Enrollment Certification for Individualized Tutorial Assistance. Give it to the certifying official in the office handling VA paperwork at your school to complete.

Are You eligible for Work-Study?

You may be eligible for an additional allowance under a work-study program. The work-study program allows you to perform work for VA in return for an hourly wage. You may perform outreach services under the supervision of a VA employee, prepare and process VA paperwork, work at a VA medical facility, or other approved activities. You must train at the three-quarter or full-time rate. The maximum number of hours you may work is 25 times the number of weeks in your enrollment period. Payments will be at the Federal minimum wage or your State minimum wage, whichever is greater. To apply, complete VA Form 22-8691, Application for Work-Study Allowance. Send it to the nearest VA regional office.

Are There Restrictions on Training?

There are some restrictions on training. Benefits are not payable for the following courses:

• Bartending and personality development courses.
• Non-accredited independent study courses.
• Any course given by radio.
• Self-improvement courses such as reading, speaking, woodworking, basic seamanship, and English as a second language.
• Any course which is avocational or recreational in character.
• Farm cooperative courses.
• Audited courses.
• Courses not leading to an educational, professional, or vocational objective.
• Courses you have taken before and successfully completed.
• Courses taken by a Federal government employee under the Government Employees' Training Act.
• Courses paid for in whole or in part by the Armed Forces while on active duty.
• Courses taken while in receipt of benefits for the same program from the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.

VA must reduce benefits if you are in a Federal, State, or local prison after being convicted of a felony.

You may not receive benefits for a program at a proprietary school if you are an owner or official of the school.

If you seek a college degree, the school must admit you to a degree program by the start of your third term.

Can You Be Eligible for More than One Benefit?

Yes, you can be eligible for more than one education benefit. If you are, you must elect which benefit to receive. You cannot receive payment for more than one benefit at a time. The benefits are:

• Training and Rehabilitation for Veterans With Service-Connected Disabilities;
• Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program;
• Dependents' Educational Assistance;
• Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve Educational Assistance Program;
• Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve Educational Assistance Program;
• Educational Assistance Test Program;
• Educational Assistance Pilot Program; and
• The Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986.

IMPORTANT: If you are eligible for more than one benefit, we strongly suggest that you discuss your education plans with a Veterans Benefits Counselor. The counselor can help you explore the options open to you and plan your program to use your benefits fully.

Is Counseling Available?

Counseling is available if you are:

• On active duty, within 180 days of discharge, and you are stationed in a State; or
• A veteran with a discharge that is not dishonorable and you are within one year from date of discharge.

If you meet one of these qualifications and you request counseling, VA will provide services to help you understand your educational and vocational strengths and weaknesses and to plan:

• An educational or training goal and the means by which you can reach that goal; or
• An employment goal for which you qualify on the basis of your present training and experience. VA can also help you to plan an effective job search.

Contact the nearest VA regional office for more information or to schedule a counseling appointment.

Are You eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation?

You may be eligible for Training and Rehabilitation for Veterans With Service-Connected Disabilities under chapter 31 of title 38, U.S. Code if:

• You have a service-connected disability or disabilities rated by VA at 20% or more;
• You received a discharge from active duty that was not dishonorable; and
• You have an employment handicap.

You may also be eligible if you have a service-connected disability or disabilities rated by VA at 10%, and:

• You have a serious employment handicap; or
• You first applied for vocational rehabilitation benefits before November 1, 1990, you reapply after that date, and you have an employment handicap.

Vocational rehabilitation helps disabled veterans become independent in daily living, and to the greatest extent possible, to select, prepare for, and secure employment that is compatible with their interests, talents, skills, physical capabilities, and goals.

To apply for vocational rehabilitation, complete VA Form 28-1900, Disabled Veterans Application for Vocational Rehabilitation. Send it to the nearest VA regional office.

Can You Change Programs?

If you change your educational, professional, or vocational objective and this change requires a change in the courses you are taking, VA considers this a change of program.

The law permits one change of program without prior VA approval if your attendance, conduct, and progress in the last program were satisfactory. VA may approve additional changes if the proposed programs are suitable to your abilities, aptitudes, and interests.

VA will not charge a change of program when you enroll in a new program provided you successfully completed your immediately preceding program.

Must You Maintain Satisfaftory Attendance, Conduct and Progress?

Once you start receiving benefits, you must maintain satisfactory attendance, conduct, and progress. If you do not meet the standards set by your school, the certifying official must notify VA. VA will stop your benefits if the school reports unsatisfactory attendance, conduct, or progress.

VA may resume benefits if:

• You reenter the same program at the same school; and
• Your school approves your reentry and certifies it to VA.

If you do not reenter the same program at the same school, VA may resume benefits if:

• The cause of your unsatisfactory attendance, conduct, or progress has been removed; and
• The program which you intend to pursue is suitable to your abilities, aptitudes, and interests.

What Must You Do to Qualify?

Once you find a school with a program you want or a company or union offering an apprenticeship or job training program in your field, there are two important steps.

• FIRST, make sure the program which you choose is approved for VA training. If you are not clear on this point, contact your local VA regional office. Also, see "Where To Go For Help" at the back of this pamphlet.
• SECOND, complete VA Form 22-1990, Application for Education Benefits. Send it to the VA regional office with jurisdiction over the State where you will train. If you are not on active duty, send copy 4 of your DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty. If you are on active duty, you must have your enrollment approved by your base Education Services Officer, and you must have your service verified by your Commanding Officer.

VA will review your application and inform you if anything else is needed.

If you have started training, take your application to your school, or to your employer or union if you are in a job training program. Ask the certifying official to complete VA Form 22-1999, Enrollment Certification, and send both forms to VA.

One of the following VA regional offices has jurisdiction over your claim. Check the map to see which office has jurisdiction over the State where you will train.

NOTE: If you are training in Puerto Rico or the U. S. Virgin Islands, your claim will be handled by the Atlanta Regional Office.

If you are training on American Samoa, Guam, Midway, Wake Island, any of the islands in the Federated States of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau, your claim will be handled by the Muskogee Regional Office.

If you are training in the Republic of the Philippines, your claim will be handled by the Manila Regional Office.

Eastern Region

VA Regional Office	Connecticut	Massachusetts	Rhode Island
PO Box 4616	Delaware	New Hampshire	Vermont
Buffalo, NY	District of	New Jersey	Virginia
14240-4616	Columbia	New York	West Virginia
	Maine	Ohio	Foreign Schools
	Maryland	Pennsylvania

Southern Region

Central Region

Western Region

What Should You Do if You Disagree with a VA Decision?

You may appeal VA decisions on education benefits. You must file an appeal within one year of the date you receive notice of a decision. Each notice of decision issued by VA contains your legal rights and appeal procedures. You may request a personal hearing on your claim.

If you need assistance in filing an appeal, contact the nearest VA regional office or a veterans service organization.

How Do You Receive Monthly Benefits?

After selecting a school and submitting your application to VA, ask the school official to complete an enrollment certification. The school official will send the enrollment certification to the appropriate VA regional office. If you have basic eligibility for benefits, and your program or course is approved, VA will process your enrollment based on certified training time.

If you are in a degree program at a college or university, or a certificate or diploma program at a business, technical, or vocational school, you will not receive payment until you have completed a form to verify your attendance. You will receive such a form each month and you must complete and return it to the appropriate VA regional office. After processing, VA will release a check.

If you are in an apprenticeship or job training program, you will receive a form to report the hours worked each month. Sign the form and give it to the certifying official for the company or union. The certifying official must complete the form and send it to the appropriate VA regional office. After processing, VA will release a check.

If you are taking a correspondence course, you will receive a form each quarter on which you should show the number of lessons you completed that quarter, i.e., March, June, September, and December. Send the form to the school for certification of the number of lessons serviced during the quarter. The school will send the form to the appropriate VA regional office. After processing, VA will release a check. Payments are based upon the number of lessons serviced by the school.

VA sends flight schools a supply of blank monthly certification of flight training forms. The school completes the form by entering the number of hours, the hourly rate, and the total charges for flight training received during the month. Review and sign the completed form and send it to the appropriate VA regional office. After processing, VA will release a check.

The law prohibits schools from cashing VA checks under a power of attorney agreement.

What Should You Do if You Do Not Receive a Check or Verification?

If you attend school, you should receive your verification form for each month by the fifth of the next month. If you do not, immediately contact the nearest VA regional office. Explain that you are receiving education benefits under chapter 30 and you have not received your monthly verification form. The person answering the telephone will take the information and forward it to the appropriate VA regional office for processing.

If you have submitted the form but have not received a check after two weeks, immediately contact the nearest VA regional office. Explain that you are receiving education benefits under chapter 30 and have submitted your verification form. The person answering the telephone will record the necessary information and determine the status of the check. VA will contact you by letter or telephone with information about the check.

Whenever you contact VA, have your VA file number readily available.

May You Go Part-Time?

If you are unable to attend full-time, consider going part-time. Benefit rates for part-time training are less than the full-time rates. Likewise, the entitlement charge for part-time training is less than the charge for full-time training. For example, if you receive full-time benefits for 12 months, the charge is 12 months. If you receive one-half time benefits for 12 months, the charge is six months.

Can You Get an Advance Payment?

You may receive an advance payment for the initial month or partial month and the following month, if:

• You train at one-half time or more;
• The school agrees to handle advance payments;
• You request an advance payment in writing; and,
• VA receives your enrollment certification at least 30 days before classes start.

VA will mail an advance payment check, made out to you, to the school for delivery to you at registration. VA cannot issue the check more than 30 days before classes start. Before you request an advance payment, ask the certifying official if your school has agreed to process advance payments. Your request for an advance payment must be on VA Form 22-1999, Enrollment Certification, or a sheet of paper attached to the enrollment certification.

If you receive an advance payment at registration, be sure that the school certifies to VA that you received the check. If you reduce your enrollment or withdraw from all courses during the period covered by an advance payment, you will have an overpayment that VA is required to collect from you if you cash the check. If you think the amount of a VA check is incorrect, contact VA before cashing the check.

You can get your chapter 30 payments sent directly to your savings or checking account. VA does this through Direct Deposit/Electronic Fund Transfer. For information about how to get your payments sent through direct deposit, contact your local VA office or your bank.

What Are Your Responsibilities?

CHANGE IN YOUR ENROLLMENT

If you change your enrollment, immediately tell the certifying official at your school. Request the certifying official to notify the appropriate VA regional office of the change. Also,notify the appropriate VA regional office of the change yourself. If VA does not receive prompt notice of a change, you could be liable for an overpayment of benefits.

NOTE: School employees who process VA forms are not VA employees.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Promptly notify the appropriate VA regional office of any change in your address. Send your complete new address, including the zip code.

CHANGE IN SELECTED RESERVE STATUS

If you receive increased benefits or additional months of entitlement due to Selected Reserve service, notify the appropriate VA regional office if you change reserve status. If you do not satisfactorily complete your four-year Selected Reserve obligation, you may not receive increased benefits.

Examples of changes you must report are:

• Leaving the Selected Reserve; or
• A discharge or release from the Selected Reserve.

You do not need to report changes of units or components.

CHANGE IN DEPENDENCY

If you receive chapter 30 benefits and one-half of the chapter 34 rate (based on Category 2 eligibility), your allowance may include an additional amount for dependents. Dependents include your spouse, natural children, adopted children, stepchildren, and dependent parents. You must report any change affecting your dependents.

Examples of changes you must report are:

• Marriage;
• Divorce or separation from a spouse;
• Birth of a child;
• Termination of custody of an adopted child or stepchild;
• Marriage of a child;
• Enrollment in or withdrawal from school of a child between the ages of 18 and 23; and
• Death of a dependent.

VA requires documentary proof to establish dependents. The preferred evidence is a copy of the public or church record of a marriage or birth.

What Happens if You Change Your Enrollment?

If you withdraw from one or more of your courses after the end of the school's drop period, VA will reduce or stop your benefits on the date of reduction or withdrawal.

If you withdraw from a course after the end of the drop period, you may have to repay all benefits for the course unless you can show that the change was due to mitigating circumstances.

VA defines "mitigating circumstances" as unavoidable and unexpected events that directly interfere with your pursuit of a course and are beyond your control.

Examples of reasons VA may accept are:

• Extended illness;
• Severe illness or death in your immediate family;
• Unscheduled changes in your employment; and
• Lack of child care.

Examples of reasons VA may not accept are:

• Withdrawal to avoid a failing grade;
• Dislike of the instructor; and
• Too many courses attempted.

NOTE: VA may ask you to furnish evidence to support your reason for a change. If a serious injury or illness caused the change, obtain a statement from your doctor. If a change in employment caused the change, obtain a statement from your employer.

The first time you withdraw from up to six credit hours, VA will "excuse" the withdrawal and pay benefits for the period attended. Remember, this only applies to your first withdrawal.

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