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FAQ's regarding Coronavirus and impact on VA Educational Benefits:
How will my VA Education benefits be impacted by AU Forward: The Plan for Fall 2020?
Chapter 30, Chapter 35, and Chapter 1606 VA Education Benefits:
Students receiving Chapter 30, Chapter 35, and Chapter 1606 VA Education benefits will not be impacted for Fall 2020. Veteran Services can continue to submit enrollment information to the VA and students will continue to receive a monthly payment from the VA based on this enrollment.
Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill:
Students receiving Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits will not see an impact on tuition payments made from the VA to AU towards their tuition and fees expenses.
Housing Allowance:
"President Trump signed into law S. 3503, March 21, which will enable the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to continue providing the same level of education benefits to students having to take courses online due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The law gives VA temporary authority to continue GI Bill payments uninterrupted in the event of national emergencies, allowing for continued payment of benefits even if the program has changed from resident training to online training. In addition, GI Bill students will continue receiving the same monthly housing allowance payments they received for resident training until Dec. 21, or until the school resumes in-person classes."
Based on AU Forward: The Plan for Fall 2020 and the legislation passed by Congress noted above, Veteran Services will certify enrollment to the VA as residential if your Fall 2020 courses were originally scheduled to be in-person or hybrid. Please note: AU and many campuses across the country have a plan to re-open for the Fall 2020 semester that is not specifically addressed in the legislation passed by Congress noted above. Future legislation passed by Congress or additional guidance from the VA may impact how we are required to certify your enrollment and may impact your monthly housing allowance amount.
Chapter 30 Veterans Readiness and Employment Services VR&E:
Students with an approved contract (purchase order) will continue to have tuition, fees and other approved expenses paid by Vocational Rehabilitation.
Monthly Stipend:
Based on AU Forward: The Plan for Fall 2020 and the legislation passed by Congress noted above, Veteran Services will certify enrollment to the VA as residential if your Fall 2020 courses were originally scheduled to be in-person or hybrid. Please note: AU and many campuses across the country have a plan to re-open for the Fall 2020 semester that is not specifically addressed in the legislation passed by Congress noted above. Future legislation passed by Congress or additional guidance from the VA may impact how we are required to certify your enrollment and may impact your monthly stipend amount.
I’m a VA Federal Work Study Student. Can I still earn work study hours in the Fall 2020 semester?
We are currently working with the VA Work Study program to see what options are available for students to work remotely for the Fall 2020 semester. We will be posting updates soon concerning what the VA Work Study program will look like for students in Fall 2020.
I currently have a VBA benefit debt with the VA and I am not able to pay due to financial hardships from COVID-19. What options do I have?
"If you are affected by the COVID-19 (CORONA VIRUS), have a VBA benefit debt and need temporary financial relief, please contact DMC at 1-800-827-0648 to request assistance."
Additional Resources:
The Post-9/11 GI Bill, U.S Department of Veterans Affairs Facebook Page