Types of VA Benefits

Who is eligible for VA education benefits?

All U.S. military veterans, active duty, National Guard, and Reserve service members are eligible to have their application and orientation fees waived.

Any individual using educational assistance under either Chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty Program), Chapter 31 (Vocational Rehabilitation), Chapter 35 (Survivor and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program, Chapter 1606 of Title 10 U.S.C. (Montgomery Gi Bill - Selected Reserve, Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill®), of Title 38, United States Code, and/or the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (38 U.S.C. § 3311(b)(9)) who lives in the State of Michigan while attending Saginaw Valley State University will be charged in-state tuition (regardless of his/her formal state of residence).

SVSU accepts all chapters offered by the VA to assist veterans and their dependents to attend college. Each benefit is described below.

Chapter 30 – Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty (MGIB)

If you paid $1200 to the program while on active duty, then you may be eligible to receive:

• You may be eligible for a monthly stipend 
• You may receive more if you paid into a "kicker" (i.e.: Army College Fund) program
• You will receive less if your course load is less than full time

To activate Chapter 30 – Montgomery GI Bill®:

1. Complete and submit an application online at www.ebenefits.va.gov or fill out VA Form 22-1990 and mail to VA St. Louis Regional Office.
2. Provide VA a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 copy).
3. Once admitted to SVSU, bring a copy of your VA Certificate of Eligibility to SVSU’s Military Student Affairs. You’ll also complete a "VA Education Benefit Certification Request Form.”
4. Verify attendance monthly with the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) system.

Chapter 31 (Vocational Rehabilitation)

Veterans with a VA service-connected rating of 20% or greater may be eligible or 10% with a serious employment handicap. Recipients receive:

• Full tuition
• Book stipend
• Monthly allotment based on the number of dependents

For more information contact the Department of Veterans Affairs at 800-827-1000.

Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill®)

If you have 90 days or more of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001 or were discharged with a service-connected disability, then you may be eligible to receive:

• Financial support for education and housing
• Undergraduate and graduate degrees and vocational/technical training
• Tutorial assistance, and licensing and certification test reimbursement
• Your tuition cost paid based upon in-state tuition charged by SVSU
• The difference for more expensive tuition with the Yellow Ribbon Program
• The Post 9/11 GI Bill® may be able to be transferred to dependents

To activate Chapter 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill®:

1. Complete and submit an application online at www.ebenefits.va.gov or fill out VA Form 22-1990 and mail to VA St. Louis Regional Office.
2. Provide VA a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 copy).
3. Once admitted to SVSU, bring a copy of your VA Certificate of Eligibility to SVSU’s Military Student Affairs. You’ll also complete a "VA Education Benefit Certification Request Form.

Chapter 35 (Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance)

If you are the spouse, daughter, or son of a Veteran who died or is 100% permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability, missing in action, or killed in action, then:

• You may be eligible fora monthly stipend
• This amount will be less if you are a part-time student

To check eligibility and activate Chapter 35:

1. Fill out the application, VA Form 22-5490.
2. Once admitted to SVSU, bring a copy of your VA Certificate of Eligibility to SVSU’s Military Student Affairs. You’ll also complete a "VA Education Benefit Certification Request Form.”

Chapter 1606 – Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)

If you commit to a 6-year enlistment in the Military Reserves or National Guard, then you may be eligible to receive:

• You may be eligible for a monthly stipend
• This amount may vary for the same reasons as above in Chapter 30

 To activate Chapter 1606:

1. Complete and submit an application online at www.ebenefits.va.gov and fill out VA Form 22-1990.
2. Provide VA a Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) from the drilling unit.
3. Once admitted to SVSU, bring a copy of your VA Certificate of Eligibility to SVSU’s Military Student Affairs. You’ll also complete a "VA Education Benefit Certification Request Form.”
4. Verify attendance monthly with the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) system.

SVSU will not impose penalties upon any student using Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 VA education benefits who is unable to meet their financial obligations to the university due to delayed disbursement from the VA.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the ++official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill (for more information, visit the VA’s trademark website page: Trademark Terms of Use - Education and Training (va.gov).