Payments, MHA & debts
Why hasn't my student received MHA?
Most missing housing payments come down to processing time, monthly enrollment verification, direct deposit, a debt offset, or SAP.
Start by checking the certification status in Enrollment Manager. If it is still pending, the VA has not processed it yet. If it is processed, the most common cause by far is that the student has not verified their enrollment for the month on VA.gov. In my experience, most of these cases are resolved at that step.
- Check the certification status. Pending is normal for 2 to 4 weeks. Rejected means you need to fix and resubmit.
- Confirm the student has completed their monthly enrollment verification on VA.gov.
- Have the student confirm their direct deposit information is current.
- Ask whether they have an existing VA debt. Payments can be withheld to offset it.
- Check whether an SAP issue has paused benefits at your school.
- If everything checks out, the student should call 1-888-GI-BILL-1.
Also set expectations about timing. The first payment typically arrives 4 to 6 weeks after the certification is processed, and MHA is paid in arrears for days enrolled. There is no housing payment during breaks between terms.