Education Benefits Help

[markerpower]

Is there a California law that states someone under Chapter 35 can get reimbursed for tuition?

I know some states give you extra veteran benefits, such as when I attended a college in Louisiana, the VA paid my tuition and the monthly benefits.

I have to ask because I attended a California University, and when I started my courses I was told by the Senior Admissions Advisor that whatever tuition I pay, the VA reimburses me. I paid my tuition in installments, and I was reimbursed for the first installment. I would now like to get reimbursed for the last installment, but I don't know how. I would also like to understand why I got reimbursed.

From my understanding, the process initiated when the Director of Student Services certified me and sent my status to the VA. The thing is, she certified me for the full tuition, so I have no clue as to how the VA knew what amount to reimbursed me for, for the first installment. The Director of Student Services doesn't seem to know anything about this reimbursement, and the Senior Admissions Advisor I spoke to isn't at the school anymore. I have all the text of my conversations to the Senior Admissions Advisor and Director of Student Services.

I need to know my facts before I contact the VA, so I won't get the usual "You only get the monthly benefits," reply.

Any help is appreciated.

[hurryupnwait]

Is there a California law that states someone under Chapter 35 can get reimbursed for tuition?

I know some states give you extra veteran benefits, such as when I attended a college in Louisiana, the VA paid my tuition and the monthly benefits.

I have to ask because I attended a California University, and when I started my courses I was told by the Senior Admissions Advisor that whatever tuition I pay, the VA reimburses me. I paid my tuition in installments, and I was reimbursed for the first installment. I would now like to get reimbursed for the last installment, but I don't know how. I would also like to understand why I got reimbursed.

From my understanding, the process initiated when the Director of Student Services certified me and sent my status to the VA. The thing is, she certified me for the full tuition, so I have no clue as to how the VA knew what amount to reimbursed me for, for the first installment. The Director of Student Services doesn't seem to know anything about this reimbursement, and the Senior Admissions Advisor I spoke to isn't at the school anymore. I have all the text of my conversations to the Senior Admissions Advisor and Director of Student Services.

I need to know my facts before I contact the VA, so I won't get the usual "You only get the monthly benefits," reply.

Any help is appreciated.

Here is a link to California benefits. Hope this helps

Cal Benefits.

Edited September 24, 2009 by hurryupnwait

[Berta]

I am going through something similiar now.

My Chap 35 date ran out under a past award in Dec 2004-and VA had paid 2 years of half time and part time tuition reimbursement under their credit schedule in Chap 35 DEA regs. I then continued my degree program at cost of 6,000 more in tuition which I paid myself.

I got just last week an new DEA entitlement date due to new SC death award.

They acknowledged some payments I made after the older EED ran out and are processing them (I think-the letter is hard to comprehend)

They told me (and this is what you might need to do as well) to have my school financial office fill out a 21- 1999 enrollment certificate and they should send it to the VA.

I had also sent them a copy of my financial school record but apparently they still need the 21-1999 from my school.

Do you have proof of your tuition payments to the Cal university?

Have you spoken directly to the school's VA counselor or liason officer?

I assume you are civilian like me to be getting CHap 35 and the VA counselor handles Chap 35 civilians too.

"The thing is, she certified me for the full tuition, so I have no clue as to how the VA knew what amount to reimbursed me for, for the first installment."

The VA needs to know as soon as you sign up for a class and pay the tuition -what credit hours the course involves, and how long the course is, and proof that the school was paid by you for the course.

The length of course is important for them to know as to start and end date.

They paid me what seemed to be higher rate for some accelerated courses I took.

The monthly rate lowered if I took a traditional 3-4 month course instead of doing the course in 8 weeks.

I got a runaround once at AMU on a different problem.I was getting answers I didnt like and it was frustrating because I also had heavy homework load.

I wrote to the Dean and the problem was resolved.You might have to go higher up in the pecking order to get this Chap 35 problem straightened out.

You will need proof you paid the tuitions for any courses and also proof that you completed them successfully.

I believe Chap 35ers can also receive Pell Grants but I never tried for one-so not sure there.