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CHAPTER 33: POST 9/11 GI BILL

Brief Description

  • Served on active duty on or after 9/11/2001 and
  • Served a minimum of 90 aggregate days or served at least 30 continuous days on active duty with a service-connected disability discharge or a qualifying member from the reserve component called to active duty, or qualifying spouse/guardian transferred benefits to student
  • Entitlement is generally 36 months; however, individuals are limited to a maximum of 48 months under 2 or more programs
  • Students eligible for Chapter 30, 1606, or 1607 must relinquish to receive Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits; however, please be mindful that Chapter 33 elections are irrevocable

Please be sure to use the GI Bill® Comparison Tool in order to calculate your benefits.

Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill® Benefits May Include

  • Tuition and Mandatory Fees: In-state tuition and mandatory fee charges are paid directly to the school and prorated according to the student's eligibility percentage. 
    • Deduct the amount of any tuition and fee waiver, scholarship, aid or assistance provided specifically for defraying tuition and mandatory fees (this includes HOPE/Zell Miller scholarship)
    • The following are not calculated in the tuition and mandatory fee charges because VA will not cover these charges: Courses that are not required for the completion of the degree program, late fees, housing, meal plans and such like
  • Book Allowance: Lump sum payment each term paid directly to the student.  Sometimes students may not receive their book allowance prior to the start of class; please be prepared to use other sources to initially cover the expenses of your books until VA reimburses you up to your eligibility.  (This amount cannot exceed $1000/year)
  • Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA): The MHA is paid directly to the student at the beginning of the month, for previous month.  MHA can only be paid while the student/spouse is not on active duty. 

Benefits are based on:

  • Eligibility percentage
  • Rate of Pursuit
  • Exclusive Distance vs. At least one on-campus course

In compliance with The Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, Clayton State University does not impose penalty to Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill® recipients nor Chapter 31: Veterans Readiness & Employment (VR&E) recipients due to the delayed disbursement of funds from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).  Clayton State University allows eligible students to attend scheduled courses and receive on-campus services, provided that the student has submitted a copy of the approval for entitlement to education assistance under Chapter 33 (Certificate of Eligibility/Statement of Benefits) and/or the VR&E Counselor has provided an approval for Chapter 31 recipients (to include the current term).  The approvals should be submitted to Clayton State University's Office of Financial Aid/Veterans Affairs. 

Please be mindful of the following:

  • Monthly Housing Allowances are based on the previous month's enrollment.  Since the Department of Veterans Affairs no longer pays for break, then the benefits for the course(s) only applies when the course(s) are in session.  Consider this when taking courses with different beginning and ending dates. 
  • In order to get the full Monthly Housing Allowance, up to your eligibility, student must be full time and have at least one on-campus course. 
  • If student is not full time, but more than half time, then the Monthly Housing Allowance can be prorated accordingly. 
  • Student does not receive a Monthly Housing Allowance if the Rate of Pursuit is not more than 50%. 
  • Changes to enrollment, schedule, attendance, charges, scholarships, waivers, program of study and such like can affect your VA Educational Benefits.
  • If benefits are exhausted during the term, the amount VA pays may be affected.
  • Changes to Degree program:

    • After the change in degree program is approved by the Department, please submit a VA Form 22-1995
    • If the change in the degree program is effective during the current term, please be sure that your current courses are required for the new degree program.  If not, your enrollment certification has to be adjusted. 
    • If the change in degree program is effective the next term, please be sure to register for classes that pertain to the new degree program. 
    • Consider the remaining eligibility time and determine if you will be able to complete the program in the remaining time. 
  • In the event that VA does not pay benefits or the expected amount, it is the student's responsibility to pay any outstanding balances.  Prior to registration, negative balances for previous terms should be paid in full. 
  • Because the Monthly Housing Allowance is given directly to the student, the on-campus housing costs are the student's responsibility.  Payment/Payment arrangements must be made prior to move in.
  • Process Effective January 5, 2021: In adherence to Section 1019 of regulation changes, If you have a change, which resulted in an overpayment for tuition and fees, then VA will collect the debt from the school.  Please understand that the school will require that you pay any outstanding balances.  VA will copy you onto the correspondence that is sent to the school (via mail).  
    • Please understand that sometimes these notices of overpayments may not be sent until a substantial amount of time later.  It is the student’s responsibility to pay all outstanding balances.  Unfortunately, payment arrangements for previous tuition and fee debt may not be applicable.     
    • It is our standard procedure to protect Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill recipients with a Certificate of Eligibility on file from being dropped through the fee payment deadline.  Please understand that students with negative balances from previous semesters risk being dropped from courses.    
  • Process Effective Fall 2021:
    • Two Certification Requirement -For the Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, initial enrollment certifications can be submitted prior to the No Show deadline with $0 Tuition and fee charges.  Then, within 30 days after the school's drop/add period, we will amend the enrollment certification to include Tuition & Fee charges.  This will typically occur after the No Show reinstatements are completed. 
      • Please understand how this change may affect Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill® recipients:
        • Tuition and Fees are sent to the school later; therefore, the outstanding balance may be on the student's account longer.  Please understand that this may delay when the student receives the financial aid refund, if applicable.
      • Amendment schedule to add tuition and fee charges are as follows for Fall 2022:
        • For Fall 2022 Full Sessions and First Short Sessions, I will begin submitting the amendments to include Tuition and Fee charges on Monday 08/29/2022
        •  For Fall 2022 second short session courses, the drop/add period for that session isn't until October 13, 2022 and No Shows are reported October 20, 2022; therefore, tuition and fees for second short sessions will be reported after October 24, 2022
      • Amendment schedule to add tuition and fee charges for Spring 2023 are as follows:
        • For Spring 2023 Full Sessions and First Short Sessions, I will begin submitting the amendments to include Tuition and Fee charges on January 24, 2023.  **Update: Department of Veterans Affairs is switching their processing system; therefore, enrollment certifications cannot be amended until the new system is active-expected date February 1st.   
        • For Spring 2023 second short session courses, the drop/add period for that session isn't until March 14, 2023, and No Shows are reported on March 21, 2023; therefore, tuition and fee for second short sessions will be reported after March 24, 2023.
  • Process Effective Spring 2022
    • Students using Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits are required to verify enrollment each month. Failure to verify for two consecutive months will impact their Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments. 
    • The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are encouraging students to sign up for text message verification. This will provide students a simple and convenient verification option and ensure they receive MHA and/or kicker payments uninterrupted.  After December 17, 2021, all impacted students with a US mobile phone number on file will receive an opt-in text as their next enrollment period approaches. Note: Students who do not have a US mobile phone number on file with VA will not be able to use text verification. They will be automatically enrolled into email verification.

If you have any further questions or concerns about eligibility or payments, please feel free to contact the Veterans Affairs Processing Center at 1-888-442-4551

View instructions on How to Receive VA Education Benefits at Clayton State University