Use Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits
Before we can use your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, we need to certify that you're eligible for them. To initiate the certification process, a student should submit the following documentation to the VA Certifying Official in the Office of Financial Aid:
- A copy of the official “Certificate of Eligibility” (COE) to establish the student’s unique level of eligibility and the start date of benefits. This document is kept as part of your student record.
- A completed “Veteran Request for Enrollment Certification” form is required to formally signify a student’s intent to use Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for a specified academic term. Students must file a new form for every term in which Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits should be used.
Once the VA Certifying Official has processed your request for enrollment certification, they will provide your information to the Office of the Bursar, who will place an “Estimated Post-9/11 GI Bill Credit” on your account. This credit serves as a placeholder for the payment the Veterans Administration (VA) will eventually disburse to the university.
The Office of the Bursar uses the estimated credit to ensure that you’re not penalized for outstanding balances that will likely be satisfied by your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. The estimated credit process also ensures that any refundable items such as Pell Grants or student loans are disbursed to you in a timely manner.
In most cases, the estimated credit on your account will mirror the payment received from the VA. However, if the estimated credit doesn’t match the payment exactly, the adjustment may create a new balance on your account. In the event that an adjustment is made, the university will contact you via email.
Situations that can cause discrepancies between estimated credit and actual payment
The most common issues that require a credit adjustment are:
- The VA frequently prorates Post-9/11 GI Bill payments due to schedule adjustments after the start of a term. If you add or withdraw from a course after the term starts, it may affect your eligibility.
- Some state-based aid (such as the Frank O’Bannon Grant and the 21st Century Scholars Program) and other military-based financial aid directly affect your Post-9/11 GI Bill payment. Changes to any of these items can lead to Post-9/11 GI Bill payment adjustments
- You may receive prorated payments due to the exhaustion of entitlements.
- Entitlement eligibility errors can cause issues with the benefit estimation process.
Learn more about the Post-9/11 GI Bill