Veterans Benefits — You and NCU

Preliminary Questions

Note: External links will open in a new browser window.

Am I eligible?

All eligibility questions must be directed to the Department of Verterans Affairs.

Eligibility for VA educational benefits can be extended to veterans, reservists, spouses and children of service-connected deceased or disabled veterans. ONLY the VA can determine your eligibility. Review the program details at the VA Educational Home Page or call a VA counselor at 1-888-GI BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).

Note: Active military should visit the NCU Military TA FAQ page.

Does the VA pay my tuition?

No. The VA will pay you a compensatory benefit to help you offset the cost of school. You are responsible for paying your tuition and fees in order to maintain continuous enrollment according to the policies as stated in our catalog.

How long does it take to receive my benefits?

You can expect a new claim to take up to 6-8 weeks to process though many are completed sooner. Always allow the VA six to eight weeks to process any change in your claim. Allow an additional four to six weeks if your main claim folder must be transferred from one VA regional office to another. Once your initial claim is processed, you will receive payments monthly. VA education benefits are paid in arrears. A beneficiary is entitled to payment at the conclusion of the month in which he or she trained.

What is overpayment?

An overpayment is a payment that is more than the amount to which you are entitled. If you promptly notify the Veterans Service Office of changes affecting your benefits, you can prevent or reduce overpayments. In addition, you should use reasonable judgment when you accept and cash a check. Carefully read all letters from VA about the monthly rate and effective dates of your benefits. If you think a VA check is wrong, contact VA before cashing the check. Return any checks for too much money to VA. If you cash a check for the wrong amount, you will be liable for repayment of any resulting overpayment.

Which office will process my claim?

Which VA Regional Office you use is determined by the location of the school rather than where you live. NCU claims are processed through the Western Office in Muskogee, OK. If you have utilized your benefits before, you must have your file sent to the Muskogee Office. You must contact them directly to request this file transfer.

Answers to more questions

If you have other questions, many can be answered at the VA Frequently Asked Questions page.

Steps to Receiving Benefits

Applying for Benefits

If you have NEVER used your VA benefits before, you must print an Application for VA Education Benefits (Form VA 22-1990) from the VA website, complete and sign it then mail it directly to NCU along with a copy of your DD214.

If you HAVE used your VA benefits before, you must print a Request for Change in Program (Form VA 22-1995) from the VA website, complete and sign it then mail the original directly to NCU.

If you already have a Certificate of Eligibility naming NCU as the school and naming your program of study, you will not need to submit a new application, simply submit the form to NCU for our records.

You may complete the online application, if you prefer. However, if you complete the online application, the VA will send you a form to verify your signature. This form MUST be returned directly to the VA before your application will be processed.

School Certification

After you enroll, the NCU Registrar will verify your enrollment to the VA. If you have applied to the VA online, you must notify the Registrar so we can submit certification to the VA. NCU will verify your enrollment but ONLY the VA can authorize\make payments. You will not be certified until you have actually enrolled.

VA Processing

The VA will process your application and our certification to determine the level of your payments based upon your current enrollment. Level of enrollment is determined by the number of units in which you are enrolled.

Payment

For Chapters 30, 1606 and 31, you may sign up for Direct Deposit of your benefits. Call toll-free 1-877-838-2778 to start this method of receiving your payments. You will be asked for your name, SSA\VA File number, type of benefit, Bank name and Address, account number, 9-digit routing number and your work and home telephone numbers.

Self Certification

Veterans receiving MGIB must submit monthly self certifications of their status. This may be done by phone at 1-877-823-2378 or directly online at WAVE, the 'Web Automated Verification of Enrollment' page. Entitlements WILL NOT be paid unless this certification is done each month.

Change in Status

You are responsible for notifying the VA of any change in your enrollment status. Though NCU will process a change of status form, you must also notify the VA of any change in your status, as soon as possible, to prevent overpayment of benefits. You must use the Request for Change in Program (Form VA 22-1995) if you wish to change your program of study or school.

Important Guidelines

Free Educational Counseling

All veterans are entitled to FREE Educational Counseling. Contact VA if you wish to take advantage of this program and they will direct you to a counselor in your area. This program is designed to help you determine what programs would best fit your needs and help you fulfill your goals.

Required Courses

VA will only pay for courses required in the degree you are seeking; therefore, if you wish to take a course that is not required in the degree you are working toward, you must take it above and beyond the credit hours needed for full VA benefits.

Fulltime Status

You must take at least 12 hours of required courses in your major to be classified as fulltime at the undergraduate level. For graduate Learners, NCU will certify you as full time if you are enrolled in at least 2 regular courses per semester. You will be classified as half time if you are enrolled in 1 regular course. VA will make final determination as to whether or not you qualify for full time benefits.

Program Definition

VA will only pay benefits for one program at a time. If you are working toward two different degrees and/or programs at the same time, you must choose which one will be your primary program to be reported to VA and notify the NCU Registrar accordingly.

Attendance

Because NCU is a distance learning university, attendance is not taken or reported, but you must continue to make satisfactory progress in your program in order to continue to receive VA benefits. The Registrar will report any non-satisfactory progress to the VA and they will adjust your benefits accordingly.

Break Pay/Finishing Early

NCU does not certify for periods of inactivity. you will only be certified for time ACTUALLY in a course. If you finish a course early, VA will be notified and your benefits will end for THAT course as of the official end date.

Parent School vs. Supplemental School

If you will be attending NCU as a Non-degree Learner wishing to utilize our SOC status to transfer courses into your degree program elsewhere. NCU will need a letter from the Parent School explicitly detailing which courses are allowable under your degree plan so that we can certify them to VA.

Repeating Courses

VA will only pay for repeating courses if a grade lower than a "C" is received and if the course is required for completion of your degree program.