A new rule took effect in August requiring many Post-9/11 GI Bill users to verify their school attendance with the Department of Veterans Affairs each month before receiving any payments. Starting this December, that requirement will be expanded to all Post-9/11 GI Bill recipients.
Users of all other GI Bill programs, such as the Montgomery GI Bill, long have been required to verify their school attendance each month. And if you don't verify your attendance, you don't get any money.
Beginning immediately, GI Bill users who are attending a technical school, also known as a "non-college degree" or NCD school, must verify their school attendance with the VA each month in order to receive their Monthly Housing Allowance, according to a VA press release.
For most students, this will be done via text message.
After enrolling in courses, students will receive a text message from the VA inviting them to enroll in text message verification. They can reply "Yes" to opt in.
At the end of each month, students will receive a text from the VA asking whether they are still enrolled in classes. If they respond affirmatively, their Monthly Housing Allowance will be sent to their bank at the beginning of the following month, the release says.
Those who fail to verify their attendance with the VA for two months in a row will have their housing allowance payments withheld until they do so, it adds.
If students don't receive the text message, don't opt into the service or don't have a mobile phone, they will be required to contact the VA by calling the GI Bill hotline at 888-442-4551 to receive payment.
Currently, this change applies only to technical school students; however, the VA is planning to roll out the verification process to all Post-9/11 GI Bill students by Dec. 17. All affected students should be notified by the VA before this requirement begins.
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