Montgomery GI Bill Procedure

VA Required Forms

The following paperwork should be submitted to the VA Regional Office at PO Box 4616, Buffalo, NY, 14240

Students who have never received education benefits 

• VA Form 22-1990 for anyone claiming educational benefits for the 1st time.

Students who have received education benefits attending another school

• VA Form 22-1995 for any students who have received educational benefits at another school and are either transferring to/or applying for a new program here at UMass Lowell.

Chapter 35 (Survivor/Dependent Education Assistance)

• VA Form 22-5490 for students who have never received benefits in the past.
• VA Form 22-5495 for students who have received educational benefits at another school

Note: Above forms are available in Dugan Hall/Registrar’s Office through Veterans Benefits Coordinator or on GI Bill Website.

UML Required Documentation

The following paperwork should be submitted to UML:

• Provide 1 of the following forms (to Veterans Benefits Coordinator)
  • DD214 – discharge papers from active service – Chapter 30/Chapter 1607
  • NOBE (Notice Of Basic Eligibility - DD form 2384) Reserves or National Guard – Chapter 1606
  • Letter from Commanding Officer - Active Duty – Chapter 1606
  • Certificate of Eligibility – VA form 22-0557
  • Survivor & Dependent Award Letter – VA form 20-8992 – Chapter 35
• UMass Lowell Admissions Application for Degree or Certificate Program (to Admissions)                               
  
  • All students are required to be enrolled in a Degree or Certificate program

Important Notes:   

• If you are not sure if you are eligible for benefits or you have questions about why you are not receiving your benefit checks please call the VA Education Phone number 1-888-442-4551
• The Veteran’s Benefits Coordinators submits a Certification of Enrollment
  each term for the number of credit hours the student has registered for
• If you have not notified the VBC – you have not been certified with the VA
• If a student adds or drops classes - notify the VBC
• Once the VA received the Certification of Enrollment, it usually takes 8 - 10 weeks to enter the cert into the system, calculate the benefit and send out reimbursement checks (the sooner you notify the VBC – the sooner you will receive your checks)
• UMass Lowell does not accept advance payments from the VA for GI Bill benefits – payments go directly to the student

Verification of Enrollment

Students are required to verify enrollment with the VA on the last day of every month either by using the WAVE (Web Activated Verification of Enrollment) on the VA Website or by calling the IVR (Interactive Voice Response) phone line at 1-877-823-2378 (students receiving Chapter 35 & 1607 are not required to do this).

top