What should I do if my payment is late?

First, check the three things that cause most late payments: whether your school has certified your enrollment, whether you have verified your enrollment with the VA this month, and whether your direct deposit information is correct. If all three are fine and your payment is still missing, call the VA education line at 888-442-4551.

Is it actually late?

• First payments usually arrive 4 to 6 weeks after certification.
• The Post-9/11 housing allowance is paid around the 1st of the month for the month before. There is no payment for time between terms.

1. Ask your certifying official whether and when your enrollment was certified, and whether they need anything else from you, like a request to certify or your COE.
2. Sign in to VA.gov and make sure you verified your enrollment for recent months.
3. Confirm your direct deposit and contact information on VA.gov.
4. Call 888-442-4551 with your VA file number ready, and ask what is holding up the payment.
5. Write down the date, the person you spoke to, and what they said.

If your payment was reduced rather than delayed, the usual causes are a change in course load, a switch to online-only classes, or a withdrawal. Your certifying official can see what was reported and help you understand the change.