VASCO Standalone Tool #31 - Instant access to key VA certification information
| Chapter | Name | Tuition Coverage | MHA? | Book Stipend? | Key Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | Post-9/11 GI Bill | Up to max in-state or $28,937 | YES | YES ($1,000/yr) | Most comprehensive; Yellow Ribbon eligible |
| 30 | MGIB-AD | ~$2,210/month to student | NO | NO | Fixed monthly payment |
| 1606 | MGIB-SR | ~$443/month to student | NO | NO | Guard/Reserve members |
| 35 | DEA | ~$1,488/month to student | NO | NO | Dependents of disabled vets; 45 months |
| 31 | VR&E | Full tuition (direct to school) | YES (subsistence) | YES (actual cost) | Requires rehab plan; 48 months possible |
| Form Number | Name | Used For | Who Completes? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22-1990 | Application for Benefits | Initial Ch 33 application | Student |
| 22-1995 | Request for Change | Change program/school | Student |
| 22-1999 | Enrollment Certification | Initial/continuing enrollment | School (via Enrollment Manager) |
| 22-1999b | Status Report | Changes, SAP, termination | School |
| 22-5490 | DEA Application | Chapter 35 benefits | Student (dependent) |
| 22-5495 | DEA Change | Change program (Ch 35) | Student |
Formula: (Credits Earned / Credits Attempted) × 100
Minimum: 67% completion rate
Example: 20 credits earned / 30 credits attempted = 66.7% = FAILING SAP
Minimum: 2.0 cumulative GPA (on 4.0 scale)
Note: Some programs require higher GPA for graduation, but 2.0 is VA minimum
| Issue | Cause | Solution | Prevention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payment Delay | Incomplete docs or VA backlog | Verify all docs submitted; call VA | Submit certifications early |
| Student Debt | Withdrawal after payment | Report change immediately; counsel student | Explain debt risks upfront |
| SAP Failure | Low GPA or completion rate | Academic probation; refer to tutoring | Monitor progress each term |
| Wrong Training Time | Incorrect credit count | Submit amendment in Enrollment Manager | Double-check credits before certifying |
| Eligibility Exhausted | 36 months used | Check for extensions; refer to financial aid | Monitor entitlement monthly |
| Missing COE | Student didn't apply to VA | Help student apply; check VA.gov | Verify COE before certifying |
This guide packs the facts a School Certifying Official reaches for daily into eight tabs: training time charts for undergraduate, graduate, and clock hour programs; a benefit chapter comparison; critical deadlines; a VA forms index; key phone contacts; SAP rules; common calculations like rate of pursuit and book stipend; and a troubleshooting table of common issues with causes and fixes. Each tab is printable as a desk card.
It is built for the moments between tasks: confirming that 9 credits is three-quarter time, remembering that status changes must be reported within 30 days, finding the form number for a program change, or pulling the VA Education Call Center number while a student is standing at your desk. New SCOs can also use it as a structured orientation to the certification landscape.
Tips: print the training time and deadlines tabs and keep them at your workstation, since those are the two you will use most; verify dollar amounts like monthly rates and caps against VA.gov each year because they adjust annually; and walk new staff through the common issues tab before their first term-end crunch.
More VASCO tools: VASCO Training Resources, Chapter 33 Guide, and Training Time Calculator.