Can't find a group to put this in, so I'll start here....

[10thFO]

Need some help or guidance, So my 18 yo son just went to college this August.  He has yet to recieve any of his chapter 35 bennies, which is just for Room and Board, but it's still 1298 a month.  Currently my ex wife and I have put it on credit cards or anything that works.  The college Veteran financial persosn, sent the letter in proving his enrollment, but here I am October 3 and still no money has showed in his account.  He has to pay it with the money they put in his account.  I can't find a phone number or anything to try and assist him.  Even called my SO and he claims he can't help with education stuff.  Just looking for a lead as to a number to call, or a lead.  Any help is appreciated.  

[john999]

I got a Pell grant way back in the 1970's.  It wasn't much, but I was a poor as a church mouse.  One way to get more aid is to rent a cheap room and make that your son's official address.  Since the idea is that he is paying rent etc.  on a very low income he should be able to get more aid.  I got consideration for work at the college I was attending.  I was getting the G. I. Bill but that was so little I could not live and pay tuition and books.  Tuition is so much higher these days.  I could not do it now and I would not borrow a lot of money to go to school. Unless you finish and get a really good job you will be paying back for decades.  I had to work 20-30 hours all the time I was in school.

[brokensoldier244th]

Your son needs to call them- Chap 35 is a benefit that belongs to the dependent. Unless he has given you signed release you can't inquire about anything regarding his Chap 35. You say the college veteran coordinator sent a letter proving enrollment- do you know if  the registrar has formally certified the veteran to the VA as being enrolled? That isn't a letter- that is a process where the school provides enrollment/credit hour information to the VA so that the proper amount for payment can be released. You also can't call them- that has to be the student due to FERPA, unless he gets a form from the school that he fills out authorizing you to call the school for the student's information.

My daughter enrolled in Aug and just got her first payment the other day and it had depended on when the school actually certified her to the VA- no money can be released until that happens. Has he received his letter from VA (or email, sometimes) that proves his entitlement? This letter also has contact information to inquire about benefits. The phone number for VA Education benefits is 1.888.442.4551

Edited October 3, 2022 by brokensoldier244th

[pacmanx1]

I know semantics but let's be clear, CH 31 is for the veteran and CH 35 is for the dependents. While I do agree with Broken, let's not confuse anyone especially the VA. 

VA Education Benefits For Survivors And Dependents | Veterans Affairs

Contact Us - Education and Training (va.gov)

[brokensoldier244th]

Corrected- thank you

[pacmanx1]

All students should apply for the PELL GRANT which is free, and they do not have to repay it. The PELL GRANT works like first come first serve but there may be some funds available after all applicants are granted funds.  Also, students who are having financial problems should consider applying for any student loans to invest in their own education and future but use the funds wisely. There are a lot of companies and agencies that will either repay their loans or assist them in repaying their loans.  I am not referring to any type of loan forgiveness but actual businesses and government agencies that would assist the student in repaying their loans.

[ASU_0331]

So while I was attending college on my Post 9/11 GI Bill I worked in the student veteran center and later on at a county veterans services center.

Colleges/Universities are absolutely notorious about certifying veteran educational benefits, meaning that they take forever to do it.  I saw this at the community college level up into the university level where veterans would be looking at eviction, repossession, and food shortages due to the ineptness of certifying officials.

Firstly, you need to hammer the student veterans center constantly.  Start emailing the college administration, CC'ing your representatives from the city, state, and federal level.  When I was vice-president of the student veteran association on campus, we had to make fools out of the admin, shame them in the press, and show their asses to every politician we could to force the change needed to gets veterans certified and their benefits flowing.