Important Updates Coming this Summer

From an email VA sent out:

Welcome to the July edition of the Bi-Monthly GI Bill® Student newsletter! We hope that you are safely enjoying the summer season. Earlier this year, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced an effort to modernize the operations of the GI Bill for Veterans, Service members, and their dependents. Referred to as the Digital GI Bill (DGIB), this transformation will improve the user experience, provide faster and easier access to benefits, cut claims processing times, and enhance VA’s tools to aid Veterans in their educational and career goals. Watch the DGIB Intro video to see what’s in store for your GI Bill experience.

For the most recent updates to your benefits, be sure to check out our [Isakson and Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 webpage] (https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/isaksonroe.asp).

Be sure to add Veteransbenefits@messages.va.gov to your contacts list to ensure that you receive important updates for VA and share with other Veterans and GI Bill beneficiaries, too!

Important Changes to Rounding Out

The practice of “rounding out” provides eligible GI Bill students in their last term with the option to take additional classes to bring their course load to full-time and receive a full-time monthly housing allowance. In accordance with law, VA is only authorized to pay GI Bill benefits for classes that are part of an approved program of education and count toward completion of that approved program of education.

Beginning on Aug. 1, 2021, students can “round out” in their last term only if they are taking classes that are approved for their program of education. Classes approved for a program of education means those that can be used to satisfy the graduation requirements of the program as specified in the curriculum. Classes that have been previously completed cannot be used to round out the student’s course load.

Learn more here.

COVID-19 Debt Relief Expiring Soon

COVID-19 Debt Relief Expiring – If you have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and have a VA debt, VA is offering help until September 30, 2021. To provide relief for Veterans, during the COVID-19 pandemic, VA paused collection on all VA benefit debts created between April 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021. VA also offered a pause on collection and repayment plans for debts created before April 1, 2020.

If you continue to face financial hardship and need assistance with repaying your VA debt after September 30, 2021, you can find out how to request help by visiting the Manage your VA debt webpage.

Need Help Understanding Your Certificate of Eligibility or Award Letter?

Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and your Award Letters are two of the most important documents you get from VA about your GI Bill benefits and lay out what benefits you will receive, so it’s important to understand what they mean for you. To help you, VA has created a step-by-step explanation of the common sections and pieces of information contained on both and what they mean. This is a reference you can use whenever you want to understand something on one of the documents.

For help understanding your COE, view the guide to your Certificate of Eligibility. Learn more about your Award letter with the guide to your Award Letter .

Career Opportunities Ahead!

Join Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E), a part of U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), and Microsoft Software & Systems Academy (MSSA) for a virtual hiring fair on July 30, 2021, 12:00 to 3:00pm ET.

Individuals interested in participating will need to complete a profile within the MSSA Virtual Hiring Fair job fair tool, prior to the event.

Warrior Scholar Project Bootcamp

How can you make the most of your educational benefits? Master the skills to be successful in your higher education journey with Warrior-Scholar Project academic boot camps. Programs are free for enlisted Veterans and Service Members without a bachelor’s degree. Boot camp prepared you for the military, Warrior Scholar Project prepares you for college. Learn more: warrior-scholar.org.

Use Your GI Bill Benefits for Preparatory Courses

Do you need to complete a course to prepare for a required licensing or certification test? Did you know that you can use your GI Bill to help pay for certain preparatory course? Check out the Test Proration Postcard.

Informed Delivery

Know what’s coming to your mailbox ahead of time, with Informed Delivery! Informed Delivery enables United States Postal Service customers to preview greyscale images of mail and manage packages scheduled to arrive soon. If you currently receive VA benefits checks, Informed Delivery can help you to manage and safeguard your benefits.

To use Informed Delivery, you must opt-in. Visit the USPS website to learn more and sign up.

Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound Benefits Available

VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits provide monthly payments added to the amount of a monthly VA pension for qualified Veterans and survivors. If you need help with daily activities, or you’re housebound, click here find out if you qualify.