GI Bill® Benefits

View the Chapter 33 Handout

Eligibility

If the veteran's last date of discharge from active duty was prior to January 1st, 2013, you will remain eligible for Chapter 33 GI Bill benefits for 15 years from the date of discharge. If the veteran's last date of discharge from active duty was on or after January 1st, 2013 you fall under the Forever GI Bill and the benefits are yours to use forever until you exhaust the benefits.

You may use any one GI Bill benefit for up to 36 months of full time use and may be able to combine multiple GI Bill benefits for up to 48 months of use.

Applying for Benefits

If you have never used Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits before you will need to apply for the benefits.

1. Visit the VA's website
2. Select the Education & Training tab
3. Select the For Students tab
4. Select the Get Started tab
5. Select the Apply for Benefits link
6. Select the blue Apply for education benefits button
7. Answer the questions appropriately
8. Complete and submit the application (VA Form 22-1990)
   • In order to receive Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® you must relinquish another GI Bill®

The VA will mail you a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) (VA Form 22-0557) in 2-4 weeks. Please keep this document. DMACC does not require a copy of this document but other schools may.

Receiving Payments

After you complete DMACC's online Notification Request Form the Veterans Services Office will submit your enrollment information to the VA. Typically the VA can take up to 2-4 weeks to process certifications and send out payments.

To receive the benefit payment, you are required to complete a verification of attendance each month. The last day of the month is the first day you can verify attendance for that month. As an example; for a fall semester if school begins August 20th, the first day you can verify attendance is August 31st. Once you have completed the verification, the VA can process your payment.

After the DMACC Veterans Services Office submits your enrollment to the VA, the VA will reach out to you via email or text to establish a text option to complete your monthly verification.  At the end of each month the VA will send you a text message.

The percentage of benefit you are eligible for depends on time spent on active duty. Note: Multiple deployments may increase your eligibility.

There are three types of payments under Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill®.

1. Tuition payment - paid to school
2. Housing Allowance - paid to recipient for each completed month of school
3. Book stipend - paid to recipient

Each payment is paid out depending on the percentage of eligibility from the table above.

Example 1: Former active duty member who served over 3 years on active duty with an honorable discharge - Eligible at 100%.

1. Tuition - The VA will pay 100% of veteran's tuition cost (including fees).
2. Housing Allowance - The VA will pay the recipient 100% of the Basic Allowance for Housing of an E-5, with dependents, in the zip code of the school. To see the current rate please click here, select zip code 50023, and a rank of E-5 to see the “with dependents” rate.
3. Book Stipend - The VA will pay up to $1,000 per school year. Typically this is paid in two equal installments of $500 but could be more or less depending on the number of credit hours you are registered in.

Example 2: Actively drilling or former member of the National Guard or Reserves with one deployment over 12 months - Eligible at 60%

1. Tuition - The VA will pay 60% of veteran's tuition cost (including fees).
2. Housing Allowance - The VA will pay the recipient 60% of the Basic Allowance for Housing of an E-5, with dependents, in the zip code of the school. To see the current rate please click here, select zip code 50023, and a rank of E-5 to see the “with dependents” rate. Multiply this amount by 60% to calculate your Housing Allowance.
3. Book Stipend - The VA will pay up to $600 per school year. Typically this is paid in two equal installments of $300 but could be more or less depending on the number of credit hours you are registered in.

Note: In order to receive the full housing allowance and book stipend the recipient must be enrolled as a full time student (12 credit hours or more during Fall/Spring or 8 credit hours or more during Summer semester). The VA pro-rates the housing allowance and book stipend payments for recipients enrolled at less than full time.

In order to receive the housing allowance and book stipend payments at all a recipient must be enrolled over half time. At DMACC this means 7 credit hours or more during the Fall/Spring and 5 credit hours during Summer semester.

The VA prorates payments for partial months of school. As an example; if school begins August 20th the first housing allowance payment should be for August 20th to August 31st or 11 days of school. The housing allowance payment for August would be about 1/3 of the full monthly payment amount.

Taking All Online Courses

If you are registered for all online courses, the VA will pay the Housing Allowance at half the national average of an E-5, with dependents multiplied by your percentage of eligibility. 

View the Chapter 30 Handout

The Montgomery GI Bill®, Chapter 30 (commonly called the Active Duty GI Bill®) was created for former active duty members of all branches of the Armed Forces who receive honorable discharges and have a high school diploma or equivalent or have 12 hours of college credit.

Eligibility

Generally, you are eligible for Chapter 30 GI Bill® if you paid into Chapter 30 GI Bill® ($1,200), served on Active Duty for over 36 months, and have an honorable discharge. You may also be eligible if you paid into Chapter 30 GI Bill® ($1,200) and were medically discharged. You will remain eligible for Chapter 30 GI Bill® for 10 years from the date of separation from Active Duty (DD214). You may use any one GI Bill® benefit for up to 36 months of full time use and may be able to combine multiple GI Bill® benefits for up to 48 months of use.

Applying for Benefits

1. Visit the VA's website
2. Select the Educations & Training tab
3. Select the For Students tab
4. Select the Get Started tab
5. Select the Apply for Benefits link
6. Select the blue Apply for Education Benefits button
7. Answer the questions appropriately
8. Complete and submit the application (VA Form 22-1990)

Receiving Payments

After you complete DMACC’s online Notification Request Form the Veterans Services Office will submit your enrollment information to the VA. Typically the VA can take up to 2-4 weeks to process certifications.

To receive the benefit payment, you are required to complete a verification of attendance each month. The last day of the month is the first day you can verify attendance for that month. As an example; for a fall semester if school begins August 20th, the first day you can verify attendance is August 31st. Once you have completed the verification, the VA can process your payment.

After the DMACC Veterans Services Office submits your enrollment to the VA, the VA will reach out to you via email or text to establish a text option to complete your monthly verification.  At the end of each month the VA will send you a text message.

The VA prorates payments for partial months of school. As an example; if school begins August 20th the first housing allowance payment should be for August 20th to August 31st or 11 days of school. The housing allowance payment for August would be about 1/3 of the full monthly payment amount.

View the Chapter 1606 Handout

If you are an actively drilling member of the reserve components, you may be eligible for Chapter 1606 Reserve Component GI Bill®. The reserve components consist of Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard and Air National Guard.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Chapter 1606 you must:

1. Be a high school graduate or equivalent
2. Have a 6 year service obligation (typically your initial enlistment)
3. Complete your initial entry training (Basic Training and AIT or Tech training)

You will remain eligible for benefits for 14 years from the date of eligibility (usually the day you graduate AIT or Tech Training). You may use any one GI Bill® benefit for up to 36 months of full time use and may be able to combine multiple GI Bill® benefits for up to 48 months of use.

Applying for Benefits

1. Visit the VA's website
2. Select the Educations & Training tab
3. Select the For Students tab
4. Select the Get Started tab
5. Select the Apply for Benefits link
6. Select the blue Apply for Education Benefits button
7. Answer the questions appropriately
8. Complete and submit the application (VA Form 22-1990)

Receiving Payments

After you complete DMACC’s online Notification Request Form the Veterans Services Office will submit your enrollment information to the VA. Typically the VA can take up to 2-4 weeks to process certifications.

To receive the benefit payment you are required to complete a verification of attendance each month. The last day of the month is the first day you can verify attendance for that month. As an example; for a fall semester if school begins August 20th, the first day you can verify attendance is August 31st. Once you have completed the verification, the VA can process your payment.

After the DMACC Veterans Services Office submits your enrollment to the VA, the VA will reach out to you via email or text to establish a text option to complete your monthly verification.  At the end of each month the VA will send you a text message.

The VA prorates payments for partial months of school. As an example; if school begins August 20th the first housing allowance payment should be for August 20th to August 31st or 11 days of school. The housing allowance payment for August would be about 1/3 of the full monthly payment amount.

View the Chapter 35 Handout

The Dependent Education Assistance Program (DEA) Chapter 35 provides aid to a spouse, son or daughter (including stepchild or adopted child) of veterans who are either deceased or permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability.

Eligibility

As a son or daughter (including stepchild or adopted child) you can generally receive benefits under Chapter 35 from age 18 to 26 (8 years). Under certain circumstances you can begin before age 18 and continue after age 26. You can receive payments under Chapter 35 for a maximum of 36 months of full time benefit.

As a spouse of a veteran who is permanently and totally disabled based on a service-connected disability you generally have 10 years from one of the following dates:

1. Effective date of the veteran's permanent and total disability evaluation
2. Date the VA notifies the veteran of the permanent and total disability
3. Beginning date you choose between 1 and 2 above

As a spouse you can receive payments under Chapter 35 for a maximum of 36 months of full time benefit.

Applying for Benefits

1. Visit the VA's website
2. Select the Educations & Training tab
3. Select the For Students tab
4. Select the Get Started tab
5. Select the Apply for Benefits link
6. Select the blue Apply for Education Benefits button
7. Answer the questions appropriately
8. Complete and submit the application (VA Form 22-5490)

Receiving Payments

After you complete DMACC’s online Notification Request Form the Veterans Services Office will submit your enrollment information to the VA. Typically the VA can take up to 2-4 weeks to process certifications.

To receive the benefit payment, you are required to complete a verification of attendance each month. The last day of the month is the first day you can verify attendance for that month. As an example; for a fall semester if school begins August 20th, the first day you can verify attendance is August 31st. Once you have completed the verification, the VA can process your payment.

After the DMACC Veterans Services Office submits your enrollment to the VA, the VA will reach out to you via email or text to establish a text option to complete your monthly verification.  At the end of each month the VA will send you a text message.

The VA prorates payments for partial months of school. As an example; if school begins August 20th the first housing allowance payment should be for August 20th to August 31st or 11 days of school. The housing allowance payment for August would be about 1/3 of the full monthly payment amount.

Eligibility

You’re eligible to apply for VR&E benefits and services if you meet both of these requirements:

All of these must be true:

• You didn't receive a dishonorable discharge, and
• You have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% from VA

When the VR&E Office receives your VR&E application, they will schedule your initial evaluation with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC). The VRC will determine if you’re entitled to receive VR&E benefits and services. 

If you were discharged from active duty before January 1, 2013, your basic period of eligibility ends 12 years from one of these dates, whichever comes later:

• The date you received notice of your date of separation from active duty, or
• The date you received your first VA service-connected disability rating

The basic period of eligibility may be extended if a VRC finds that you have a serious employment handicap (SEH). Having an SEH means your service-connected disability significantly limits your ability to prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment (a job that doesn't make your disability worse; is stable; and matches your abilities, aptitudes, and interests).

If you were discharged from active duty on or after January 1, 2013, the 12-year basic period of eligibility doesn't apply to you. There’s no time limit on your eligibility.

Applying for Benefits

1. Visit the VA's website.
2. Select the Veteran Readiness & Employment tab
3. Select the Eligibility and Entitlement tab
4. Select the Green Arrow Apply for VR&E benefits link
5. Answer the questions appropriately
6. Complete and submit the application (VA Form 28-1900)

Or contact the Des Moines VR&E office at 515-323-7464 or 515-323-7569

Receiving Payments

Once approved for VR&E your VRC will send DMACC an authorization.  DMACC Veterans Services Office will submit your enrollment information to the VA and coordinate with Student Accounts and the bookstore. 

Tuition – paid directly from the VA to DMACC. Funds are placed on your student account 1-2 weeks prior to the start of the semester you are attending.

Books – the bookstore will place funds on your bookstore account prior to the start of the semester you are attending, typically 2-3 weeks prior to the start of the semester.

Supplies – Currently the VR&E program provides for supplies up to $50.00 per semester.  These funds can be used to purchase small items like notebooks, pens, pencils, etc.  If you need a higher priced item like new laptop/Macbook, printer, special software, backpack, etc those items must be specifically approved by your VRC.

Tools – If you are in one of DMACC’s Automotive or Diesel Tech programs please reach out to DMACC’s Veterans Services Office for details about how VR&E covers the cost of required tools.