VA Benefits
The Following are the General Steps for Using VA Education Benefits
Evaluate Your Options
Students who want to use VA education benefits can visit the respective VA links below for additional information about each chapter’s eligibility requirements and the specific assistance each provides. In some cases, students may be eligible for more than one VA education benefit and are encouraged to use the VA’s GI Bill® Comparison Tool . Service members and veterans who are eligible for more than one benefit should examine theiroptions carefully before selecting the Post 9/11 GI BILL® Benefit, as this decision may be irrevocable.
Students are also encouraged to contact the VMSC office at 479-575-8742 if they have any additional questions about how each benefit functions at the University of Arkansas.
Applying for Benefits
Once you are ready to apply for benefits, students (except those applying for CH 31) can do so here: https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/.
Students applying for CH 31 (VR&E) benefits need to apply here: https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/vocational-rehabilitation/how-to-apply/.
Certifying Your Courses
The Veteran and Military-Affiliated Student Center can submit a VA Form 22-1999c for students that are eligible for VA education benefits and that want to utilize those benefits for specific courses. To request a 22-1999c, students need upload their Certificate of Eligibility and then submit a Certification Request Form each semester via our VA Works Portal Below. Students need to be enrolled in their courses before submitting a request form.
Please note our office can only certify courses that are required for a VA approved major that is declared on your degree plan. Therefore, we highly recommend students to work closely with their advisors to ensure that their courses are required for their major. VA approved majors can be found on the VA’s WEAMS Institution Search site.
And Here is a step by step guide for the VA Works Portal.
Once you submit a certification request form, the School Certifying Officials will process your request. For more detailed information about the certification process, please visit our Certification Process page.
Verifying Attendance
All students using Chapter 1606, 30, and 33 benefits must also verify their attendance with the VA at the end of each month.
Students using CH 1606 or CH 30 benefits can verify attendance online at the VA website or on phone at 877-823-2378.
Students using CH 33 benefits can verify their attendance by phone at 888-442-4551 or by opting in to do so via text message. If you did not receive an invitation to verify your attendance via text after your classes are certified, please contact 888-442-4551 to verify your attendance and to opt in.
Dropping a class(es) or withdrawing from the University of Arkansas:
Withdrawing from classes may lead to overpayments and result in a debt with the VA and/or the institution. Please contact the VMSC office before withdrawing from a course. Students who wish to proceed with dropping or withdrawing from a course will need to submit a change request to their certification request form on VA Works.
Using Benefits at a Secondary School – Parent Letter Request
Students that are interested in using benefits at a secondary school during the summer or wanting to combine their credit hours if they are taking courses at more than one VA approved institution at the same time need to contact the School Certifying Officials at gibill@uark.edu to request a Parent Letter. Once a request is approved and processed, the School Certifying Officials will send a Parent Letter to the secondary institution. Students are also advised to contact the School Certifying Officials at the Secondary School.