Military Student FAQs - Resident Program
If you are a Liberty University Online student please go to our online military student FAQs.
Getting Started
1. What military benefits am I eligible to receive from the university?
2. Can I receive college credit for my military training?
3. How do I obtain a copy of my DD-214?
Tuition Assistance
4. I am in the Virginia National Guard (VaARNG), how do I get TA?
5. When does registration open on the GoArmyEd (GAE) portal?
6. How is my Tuition Assistance processed if I have the seminary tuition cap?
7. How do I get a copy of my SOC Agreement/Degree Completion Plan?
8. How do I change my degree on the GoArmyEd (GAE) portal?
Veterans Benefits
All VA Chapters:
9. I am eligible for the GI Bill / VA Benefits. How can I start receiving these benefits?
10. When is my VA form due?
11. How much can I expect to receive from my GI Bill?
12. What is my VA chapter?
13. How do I figure out what form to fill out for the GI Bill?
14. What are the VA Training Times & Pay Rates?
15. The VA asks for a VA Form 22-1999. What is this form and how is it submitted?
16. How long does it take for the enrollment certification (22-1999) to be sent to the VA?
17. Why haven't I received my GI Bill funds? How long will it take for my funds to arrive?
18. Are GI Bill/VA Education Benefits Taxable?
Post 9/11 GI Bill (Ch. 33):
Eligibility
19. Who is eligible?
20. What am I eligible to receive under the Post 9/11 GI Bill?
Benefits
21. What are the detailed benefits?
22. Can I transfer this benefit to my dependents (spouse/children)?
23. What is the process to transfer the Post 9/11 GI Bill to a Dependent?
24. What do I need to start using the Post 9/11 GI Bill at Liberty?
25. What is my effective date and why does that matter for my benefits?
26. Will the benefits appear on my ASIST account?
27. How will I know when my benefits are processed?
28. How do I complete Financial Check-in (FCI) if I am using the Post 9/11 GI Bill?
29. What fees will the Post 9/11 GI Bill cover?
30. Why does my Post 9/11 credit not cover the entire balance on my account?
31. How do I take a course at another institution using the Post 9/11 GI Bill?
32. Why did the VA deposit money in my bank account?
33. What does this Debt Management Letter mean?
34. Why am I in overpayment?
35. Why does the amount you refunded me and what the VA is collecting not match up?
36. What happens when I withdraw from a course?
Housing Allowance (BAH) & Books Stipend
37. Who is eligible for the Housing Allowance (BAH)?
38. How do I calculate BAH?
39. How can I get BAH as a Online student?
40. Can I get BAH if I take a resident course at another institution?
41. How is the Books and Supplies Stipend paid?
42. When will I receive payment for BAH or the Books and Supplies Stipend?
Yellow Ribbon
43. What is the Yellow Ribbon Program?
44. Who is eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program?
45. Is Liberty University participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program?
46. How do I get the Yellow Ribbon Program scholarship?
Other
47. Do I need to verify my enrollment on W.A.V.E. if I am using the Post 9/11 GI Bill?
48. Who can I contact at Liberty if I have more questions?
1. What military benefits am I eligible to receive from the university?
Liberty University offers military benefits to service members, veterans (general or honorable discharge) and military spouses to students enrolled in the Liberty University Online program. Resident students are not eligible for these benefits. For a listing of those benefits, please visit our online benefits page.
2. Can I receive college credit for my military training?
Yes. Liberty University awards college credit for training evaluated and recommended by the American Council on Education. To request an official evaluation of your military training for college credit, please have your official transcripts sent to:
Liberty University Online
Attn: Office of Transfer Evaluations
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24502-2269
For more information on Military Transfer Credit please click here.
3. How do I obtain a copy of my DD-214?
You may order a copy of your DD-214 through the National Archives.
Tuition Assistance
4. I am in the Virginia National Guard (VaARNG), how do I get TA?
See our VaARNG TA web page, it will explain the process to get both Federal and State TA.
5. When does registration open on the GAE portal?
Registration will open eight weeks from the start date of the course.
6. How is my Tuition Assistance processed if I have the seminary tuition cap?
Each seminary student is eligible to receive the seminary tuition cap of $1,800 once he/she is registered for 9-15 credit hours in the residential seminary program.
GoArmyEd students will register on the GoArmyEd portal for two courses at the regular tuition amount ($750.00) and then register for a special section for $300.00 to insure student is only approved for the correct amount in TA.
7. How do I get a copy of my SOC Agreement/Degree Completion Plan?
You can access a copy of your degree completion plan through your ASIST account. If you are an active duty student using Tuition Assistance in an undergraduate degree please email soc@liberty.edu to request a copy of your SOC agreement.
Students using the GoArmyEd portal will have their SOC Agreements and Degree Completion Plans uploaded before the completion of their sixth credit hour that they have registered for through the GoArmyEd portal.
8. How do I change my degree on the GoArmyEd portal?
Please contact your ACES Counselor or submit a Helpdesk ticket through the GoArmyEd portal.
Veterans Benefits
All VA Chapters:
9. I am eligible for the GI Bill / VA Benefits. How can I start receiving these benefits?
To begin utilizing these benefits, you must first complete certain VA paperwork before enrolling in classes. Please click on the applicable benefit listed below and follow the guide provided:
• Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty)
• Chapter 31: VA Vocational Rehabilitation
• Chapter 33: Post-9/11 GI Bill
• Chapter 35: Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program
• Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill (Selected Reserves)
• Chapter 1607: Reservist Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
10. When is my VA form due?
Veterans’ Affairs forms (i.e. 22-1990, 22-1995, 22-8873, etc…) are due one (1) week before the Financial Check-in deadline for your first term of enrollment. If you have any questions, please email vabenefits@liberty.edu.
11. How much can I expect to receive from my GI Bill?
The GI Bill issues monthly payments based on your enrollment and course load or Training Time. Please review the VA training times and monthly pay rates based on chapter of benefits and course load.
12. What is my VA chapter?
Your VA Chapter is based on the type of VA benefit you are using. See the list below;
• Chapter 30 – Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty
• Chapter 31 – VA Voc Rehab
• Chapter 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill
• Chapter 35 – DEA (Survivors’ & Dependents’ Ed.)
• Chapter 1606 – Selected Reserves / National Guard
• Chapter 1607 – REAP (Reserve Ed. Assistance Program)
13. How do I figure out what form to fill out for the GI Bill?
Go to our VA Benefits web page and select your VA chapter. In the overview of your VA chapter the first step will tell you which form to complete.
14. What are the VA Training Times and Pay Rates? And how do they combine?
To learn more about Training Times and Pay Rates, please go to our VA Training Times & Pay Rates web page.
15. The VA asks for a VA Form 22-1999. What is this form and how is it submitted?
VA Form 22-1999 is an electronic enrollment certification that is submitted by our Military Affairs Office. This certification reports your hours and term of enrollment to the VA through our certification portal, VA-ONCE. After you have submitted your initial VA paperwork to our Military Affairs Office, your subsequent enrollments will automatically be reported to us. Our VA Certifying Officials will then report your enrollment to the VA through this electronic form. You will then be notified by a confirmation email containing further instructions on how to proceed.
16. How long does it take for the enrollment certification (22-1999) to be sent to the VA?
If all the required documents are on file with the Military Affairs Office the enrollment certification will be submitted to the VA in 1-3 business days from the time of course registration.
17. Why haven't I received my GI Bill funds? How long will it take for my funds to arrive?
It depends on which GI Bill benefits you are using. If you are under the Montgomery GI Bill (Ch. 30), Selected Reserves (Ch.1606), or REAP (Ch. 1607) you will receive your benefits after your enrollment certification has been submitted to the VA, the VA has processed it, and you have verified your enrollment on W.A.V.E. It usually takes a couple business days from the time a student verifies their enrollment on W.A.V.E. and when payment is direct deposited into their bank account.
If you are under the Post 9/11 GI Bill (Ch. 33), you will receive your benefits after your enrollment certification has been submitted to the VA, the VA has processed it, and courses have started. The VA will pay the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and the Books and Supplies Stipend directly to you, and is paid one month in arrears (i.e. BAH for January would be paid at the beginning of February).
18. Are GI Bill/VA Education Benefits Taxable?
No, when filing Taxes you are not required to include income from VA Education Benefits
Post 9/11 GI Bill (Ch. 33):
Eligibility
19. Who is eligible?
Veterans who have served at least 90 days of active duty service after Sept. 10, 2001 and received an honorable discharge will qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. To qualify for the full benefit a veteran must have served at least 3 years of active duty after Sept. 10, 2001. Those veterans who qualify for the Active Duty GI Bill, the Reserve GI Bill or REAP will have the option to choose which benefit best suits their need.
| Member Services | % of Max Benefit Payable |
| At least 36 mo. | 100% |
| At least 30 continuous days on active duty and must be discharged due to service-connected disability | 100% |
| At least 30 mo., less than 36 mo. | 90% |
| At least 24 mo., less than 30 mo. | 80% |
| At least 18 mo., less than 24 mo. | 70% |
| At least 12 mo., less than 18 mo. | 60% |
| At least 6 mo., less than 12 mo. | 50% |
| At least 90 days, less than 6 mo. | 40% |
20. What am I eligible for under the Post 9/11 GI Bill?
Eligible veterans will receive a percentage of the total benefit, as determined by length of active duty service:
Amount paid to institution:
- Amount of tuition and required fees charged, not to annual cap of $18,077.50
Amount paid to veteran:
-
Monthly housing allowance equal to the basic allowance for housing (BAH) amount payable to E-5 with dependents.
- Effective October 1, 2011. Individuals only enrolled in online courses will be eligible for a monthly housing allowance equal to 50% of the national average of all Basic Allowances for Housing (BAH). Rates will be multiplied by the rate of pursuit rounded to the nearest multiple of 10.
- Yearly books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000*
* Please note: The Housing Allowance (BAH) and Books and Supplies stipend are not payable to individuals on active duty or those enrolled less then ½ time. You must be enrolled more than ½ time to receive those benefits.
Benefits
21. What are the detailed benefits?
Effective August 1, 2011, veterans and their transferees will now receive a capped tuition and fee rate of $17,500 annually. For example, if you are 100% eligible the Yellow Ribbon Program still exists for additional costs once the annual $18,077.50 cap has been exceeded. If you are 40%-90% eligible, please see below chart for the applicable annual cap.
90% $15,750
80% $14,000
70% $12,250
60% $10,500
50% $8,750
40% $7,000
The Book Stipend will pay up to $1,000 per year and will be paid out in increments based on training time or enrollment status.
Students attending at least one course in a residential setting, with a training time of more than 1/2-time, will qualify for a living stipend or basic allowance for housing (BAH).
- Effective October 1, 2011. Individuals only enrolled in online courses will be eligible for a monthly housing allowance equal to 50% of the national average of all Basic Allowances for Housing. Rates will be multiplied by the rate of pursuit rounded to the nearest multiple of 10.
22. Can I transfer this benefit to my dependents (spouse/children)?
If you are a member of the Armed Forces on Aug. 1, 2009, the Department of Defense (DoD) may offer you the opportunity to transfer benefits to your spouse or dependent children. The DoD is responsible for determining eligibility for transfer of entitlement. The law provides that an individual must have served at least 6 years in the Armed Forces and agrees to serve a minimum of 4 more years. For transfer of entitlement for dependent children, the service member must have served at least 10 years and currently be serving as of Aug. 1, 2009. However, the law permits DoD to modify the number of additional years an individual must serve by regulation. DoD is currently developing their policies and regulations to implement the transferability program.
To learn more about transferring benefits to a dependant please go to the What is the process to transfer the Post 9/11 GI Bill to a dependant? FAQ.
23. What is the process to transfer the Post 9/11 GI Bill to a Dependent?
In order to transfer benefits to a dependant the following steps must be taken;
The service member must go to the DoD transferability application website to determine if their dependent(s) are eligible to receive the transferred benefits. This website is only available to military members.
Upon approval, the dependent may apply to use transferred benefits with VA by going to the VONAPP website and filling out the 22-1990e. Once the online form is filled out and submitted, you will need to print a copy and send it to us so we will have it on file. To verify you have successfully submitted your form, a confirmation number will appear on the bottom of each page of the form you print out to send us.
The VA Form 22-1990e should only be completed and submitted to Liberty University by the dependent after the DoD has approved the request for Transfer of Education Benefits on the DoD website.
Please fax the completed VA form to (434) 455-1287 or e-mail to vabenefits@liberty.edu.
Once the VA processes the 22-1990e they will send the dependent their own Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or Award Letter. Once received, the dependent should forward a copy of the COE or Award Letter to the Military Affairs Office. Once we receive a copy of a VA form, COE, or Award Letter we will send a Post 9/11 GI Bill Account Credit Contract (PACCT) to the dependent. They will need to follow the directions in the email to complete the PACCT and send back to the Military Affairs Office. The Military Affairs Office will then post the credit on their student account and will notify the dependent by e-mail so Financial Check-in may be completed for the semester.
24. What do I need to start using the Post 9/11 GI Bill at Liberty?
To start using this new chapter, please follow the steps on our Post 9/11 GI Bill overview page.
25. What is my effective date and why does that matter for my benefits?
The effective date is the date a student wishes to start using his or her benefit. This date is listed on the original VONAPP application form (22-1990 or 22-1990E). The VA will only pay for courses that start after this date. For example, if the student’s effective date is listed as 2/1/2011 and the student started classes on 1/17/2011 the VA will not pay for the dates 1/17 to 1/31. Therefore the student will be responsible for the remaining charges.
26. Will the benefits appear on my ASIST account?
Yes, once all required documentation is received, the Military Affairs Office will post a credit on your student account for the amount to be paid by the VA. You will be able to view this on your Account Summary and Financial Check-in pages on the ASIST portal.
27. How will I know when my benefits are processed?
When we receive your VA Form, Certificate of Eligibility (COE), and/or Award Letter we will send an email to you to confirm receipt. When we post the credit to your student account and certify your enrollment to the VA, we will send you another email. These emails will be sent to your Liberty University email address.
28. How do I complete Financial Check-in (FCI) if I am using the Post 9/11 GI Bill?
Once we receive your Post 9/11 GI Bill Account Credit Contract (PACCT) and you have enrolled in courses, the Military Affairs Office will post a projected (memoed) credit on your student account to match the amount to be covered by the VA. An e-mail will be sent to your Liberty email address when this credit is posted and you are ready to complete Financial Check-in. When you go through the Financial Check-in process, you will see the credit on your student account.
If there is a balance on your account after the credit is posted, you are responsible for that amount.
If there is a credit on your account after we have posted the credit for the Post 9/11 GI Bill (and we have been paid by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs), then the credit will be refunded to you via the option you chose during Financial Check-in. This will occur if you have previously completed Financial Check-in and entered into a payment plan. It is important for you to complete Financial Check-in again, once the VA credit is posted, so your payment plan will be canceled. If you do not, the payments will continue to draft from your bank account or credit card.
If you believe the amount credited to your account is inaccurate please contact us at vabenefits@liberty.edu. We will investigate the situation to ensure the amount credited is correct.
Please note: The PACCT will not allow us to post a credit for a past semester. We must receive a COE or Award Letter to retroactively post credits to a student’s account.
29. What fees will the Post 9/11 GI Bill cover?
The Post 9/11 GI Bill will only cover fees that are directly associated with tuition and attendance at the University. For instance, the Technology Fee, Transportation Fee, Activity Fee, and Class Fees, will all be covered.
However, fees that are not required are not covered by the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Some of these fees include; Parking Registration Fee, CLEP/ICE Exam Fee, Library Fees, and Monthly Printing Charges.
30. Why does my Post 9/11 credit not cover the entire balance on my account?
If your Post 9/11 credit does not cover your entire balance, it could be caused by a variety of reasons. To name a few, it could be that you are only eligible for a percentage of the Post 9/11 GI Bill (i.e. 60%), you may have other changes like certain fees that the Post 9/11 GI Bill will not cover (i.e. Housing Charges, Printing Charges, Parking Registration, etc...) Remember, the amount the Post 9/11 GI Bill covers is based on percentage. If you have any questions about the credit posted to your student account please feel free to contact our VA Certifying Officials at vabenefits@liberty.edu.
31. How do I take a course at another institution using the Post 9/11 GI Bill?
To have a course certified for VA benefits at another school, Liberty University must issue a Parent Letter to your secondary school's VA certifying official. Before a letter can be issued, the course must first be approved by the Registrar's Office. Please follow the instructions below to submit this request.
1. Retrieve the Request to Take Courses at Another Institution form on the Forms and Downloads web page..
2. Submit the form for approval.
3. Once approved, please submit the completed form (signed and completed by the Liberty University Registrar’s Office) to the Military Affairs Office by e-mail: vabenefits@liberty.edu or fax: (434) 455-1287 with the following information:
• Name of secondary school
• Name of VA certifying official at secondary school
• Phone/Fax number and e-mail address of certifying official at secondary school
32. Why did the VA deposit money in my bank account?
The VA likely deposited either your Books and Supplies stipend, based off of the $41.67 per credit hour rate, or your BAH. If you are not eligible for either of these funds, or question the amounts that were deposited, please contact the VA at (888) 442-4551.
33. What does this Debt Management Letter mean?
The letter that you received details the amounts that the VA has over paid, which is likely due to a change of enrollment. The portion that was overpaid will be refunded back to your Higher One account by Liberty University so you can send those funds back to the VA. This is in accordance with VA policy. If you do not think you should be in overpayment or have more questions as to why you are in overpayment, please contact the VA at (888) 442-4551.
34. Why am I in overpayment?
A change in enrollment is the most frequent reason for being sent into overpayment/debt management status. Other causes are often switching your GI Bill without notifying the school prior to certification, or a processing error. If you have specific questions as to why you were sent into overpayment, including specific amounts, please contact the VA at (888) 442-4551.
35. Why does the amount you refunded me and what the VA is collecting not match up?
If the amount refunded to your Higher One account for the overpayment does not match up with the amount the VA is collecting from you, please contact the VA at (888) 442-4551. There can be many reasons why the amounts would not match; VA may have made an error or Liberty University has received an additional overpayment that has not yet been refunded to your Higher One could be two of the reasons.
Once you have spoken with the VA and determined the cause, if it is additional funds sent to the school after the overpayment was processed back to you, please notify us at vabenefits@liberty.edu.
36. What happens when I withdraw from a course?
When a student withdraws from a course, Liberty University must submit an adjustment of enrollment to the VA. Because the VA will only pay for courses that receive punitive grades of A-F (grades that contribute towards the GPA), a student may be charged a portion of the course in which he or she withdraws. This amount will be collected by the Debt Management Center at the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Housing Allowance (BAH) & Books Stipend
37. Who is eligible for the Housing Allowance (BAH)?
Veterans using the Post 9/11 GI Bill might be eligible for the Housing Allowance (BAH) if he or she meets the following conditions:
- Veteran must be attending more than ½ time (see VA Training Times).
- Veteran must be taking at least one resident course to receive full BAH.
- In order to receive the maximum amount of BAH as a residential student, you must be considered a full time student at any point in the semester. 12 credit hours is the minimum to be considered a full time student. If at any point during the semester a student drops below 12 credit hours then they will not receive the maximum amount of BAH they are entitled to receive.
If you are a dependent (child) of an Active Duty service member, you will still receive the BAH. The BAH is paid directly to the veteran/dependent.
Individuals only enrolled in distance learning courses will be eligible for a monthly housing allowance equal to 50% of the national average of all Basic Allowances for Housing. Rates will be multiplied by the rate of pursuit rounded to the nearest multiple of 10.
38. How do I calculate BAH?
The BAH is based on the Allowance for an E-5 with dependants and the institution’s location. To calculate the BAH for the location of Liberty University please go to the Defense Travel Management Office (Select the year, insert 24502 as the zip code, & select E-5).
39. How can I get BAH as an Online student?
You can get BAH if you are a Liberty University Online student by taking a resident course or taking an intensive. The same requirements must be met as stated in the previous FAQ, Who is eligible for the Housing Allowance (BAH)?
Individuals only enrolled in online courses will be eligible for a monthly housing allowance equal to 50% of the national average of all Basic Allowances for Housing (BAH). Rates will be multiplied by the rate of pursuit rounded to the nearest multiple of 10.
40. Can I get BAH if I take a resident course at another institution?
Yes, students who are only enrolled in online programs cannot get the BAH but they can take a resident course at another institution to qualify for the BAH.
For more information on the process to take a course at another institution using the Post 9/11 GI Bill, please review the How do I take a course at another institution using the Post 9/11 GI Bill? FAQ.
41. How is the Books and Supplies Stipend paid?
The VA will pay up to $1000.00 per academic year (Fall, Spring & Summer) for Books and Supplies. The Books and Supplies stipend and BAH are paid directly to you, in a lump sum, based on the information given to the VA (i.e. address or bank information on VONAPP or application form). The stipend is calculated by multiplying $41.67 by the number of credit hours enrolled (up to 24). The stipend is prorated based on the percentage of the maximum benefits payable. For example, if you are eligible for 70% of the Post 9/11 GI Bill then you would receive 70% of $41.67 per credit hour ($29.17).
42. When will I receive payment for BAH or the Books and Supplies Stipend?
You will receive your benefits after your enrollment certification has been submitted to the VA, the VA has processed it, and courses have started. The VA will pay the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and the Books and Supplies Stipend directly to you, and is paid one month in arrears (i.e. BAH for January would be paid at the beginning of February).
Yellow Ribbon
43. What is the Yellow Ribbon Program?
The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions of higher learning (degree granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution.
For example, if you are a full-time student and your tuition and fees are $15,000 but the VA only paid $10,000 (because they only pay up to the highest in-state tuition rate). Then the VA and Liberty would split the remaining 5,000 (2,500 paid by VA & 2,500 paid by Liberty University). The Yellow Ribbon Program does not cover charges like Housing and Monthly Printing.
44. Who is eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program?
Only individuals entitled to the maximum benefit rate (based on service requirements) may receive this funding. Therefore, you may be eligible if:
• You served an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001, of at least 36 months;
• You were honorably discharged from active duty for a service connected disability and you served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001;
• You are a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on a veteran’s service under the eligibility criteria listed above.
45. Is Liberty University participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program?
Yes, Liberty University is participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program. To see a list of approve institutions, go to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program website.
46. How do I get the Yellow Ribbon Program scholarship?
When we receive your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or Award Letter we will see if you are eligible for the maximum benefit (100%). If you are eligible, and you need the Yellow Ribbon Program, we will credit your student account with the appropriate amount using the Yellow Ribbon program.
Other
47. Do I need to verify my enrollment on W.A.V.E. if I am using the Post 9/11 GI Bill?
Those using the Post 9/11 GI Bill (Ch. 33) do not need to verify their enrollment on WAVE. The BAH and the Books and Supplies stipend will be paid out automatically to you once Liberty University submits the enrollment certification (22-1999) to the VA. The VA will then process the certification and will see you actively attending courses and deposit the funds in the bank account you provided them during the application process. This will occur once a month, similar to those under the Montgomery GI Bill.
48. Who can I contact at Liberty if I have more questions?
VA Benefits Representatives
- E-mail: vabenefits@liberty.edu
- Phone (434) 592-5990
- Fax: (434) 455-1287
- Web: www.liberty.edu/militaryaffairs
Hours of Operation:
- Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. (EST)
- Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (EST)
