Frequently Asked Questions

Every semester you wish to receive benefits. Please see our Forms page for the certification form.

You can be one of five chapters:

• Chapter 35: You are the dependent of a veteran who is 100% permanently disabled or deceased.
• Chapter 33: You are a veteran that has qualified for either chapter 30 or chapter 1607 benefits, or the dependent of a veteran who has qualified for either chapter 30 or chapter 1607 benefits and they have transferred their benefits to you.
• Chapter 31: You are a veteran who has a service connected disability of at least 10% or more.
• Chapter 30: You were, or are, active duty who has completed the initial obligation period of at least two years.
• Chapter 1606: You are currently serving in the National Guard or the Reserves.
• Chapter 1607: You are currently serving in the National Guard or the Reserves and have been deployed for at least 90 days under Title 10 orders.

Your chapter will determine which forms you will need to complete or bring with you. All forms must be typed (except the checklist). Please see the Forms page of our website.

This can only be done as a chapter 33.

1. Go to https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/TEB/consent?continueToUrl=%2FTEB%2f and complete the Transfer of Educational Benefits (TEB) form. Print and keep for your records.
2. Once the TEB is completed, your dependent must go to http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp. They will need to complete a 1990E Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) application form through the Veterans’ Online Application (VONAPP). Print and keep for your records.
3. Once both the TEB and TOE have been completed, bring copies of these to the school’s Veteran Services Office (VSO) to finish processing.

Tuition and fee deferrals at the University of Central Florida (UCF) are automatic. Once you have certified with the UCF Veteran Services Office (VSO) (done every semester you wish to receive benefits), you will automatically be deferred if you submit your certification by the end of drop/add week for that semester.

If you see through your myUCF account (under “Fee Invoice”) that your tuition and fees have not been deferred, yet you already certified with the UCF Veteran Services Office, it is because Financial Aid has not updated this yet. The reason is Financial Aid does not update this to the school until after the drop/add week of the semester, at which time they determine who receives deferrals. After the drop/add week, it may take a week or two for your fee invoice to reflect your deferral date.

You can read updated charts of the GI Bill payouts at http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_BILL_INFO/RATES.HTM

When you filled out your application, there was a block for you to write in your financial information for direct deposit. You may also have elected to receive your benefits by mailed check. Chapter 35 is the only chapter that cannot choose to receive direct deposit. Chapter 35 receives benefits by mailed check only. If you initially set up your benefits to be sent by check, you may change to direct deposit through https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/.

Note: it may take a couple pay cycles before you receive your benefits by direct deposit after you switch.

There are many reasons why you may not have received your benefits:

• You may not have applied for your benefits with Veteran Affairs.
  If you have not applied yet, you can apply here at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp.
• You may not have certified with the University of Central Florida (UCF) Veteran Services Office (VSO).
  If this is the case, you will need to visit our Forms page and submit the proper paperwork.
• You may have certified with UCF VSO within 30 days of the start of the semester.
  You may not have submitted your paperwork early enough to be fully processed. Generally, your paperwork is processed by the UCF VSO within 5-7 business days. If your paperwork was submitted near the beginning of the semester, please allow two weeks for the UCF VSO to process. After we submit your certification to Veteran Affairs (VA), it may take the VA 6-8 weeks to process your paperwork.
• Have you recently changed your direct deposit information or mailing address?
  If you have, it will take some time for Veteran Affairs to process the change. If you receive your benefits by check, the check may have been sent to your old address. If you receive your benefits by direct deposit, Veteran Affairs may have tried to make a deposit in your previous account.

University of Central Florida (UCF) Veteran Affairs Office (VSO) can qualify you for up to a $600.00 short-term advance meant for books. You can find this form here http://finaid.ucf.edu/index.htm and clicking “Forms,” then the respective aid year in the drop-down list. On the newly loaded webpage, click “Short Term Advance for Books.” Fill out the form and bring it to the UCF VSO to be approved so you can turn it in to Financial Aid.

You can change your direct deposit information by logging in to https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/, and making your adjustments. Note: it may take at least 30 days before you receive your benefits by direct deposit.

Unfortunately, the list of benefit programs that Veteran Affairs (VA) allows you to collect along with the chapter 33 is not yet for certain. As soon as we know more information, we will post the details here.

In order to certify here with the Veteran Services Office (VSO), you need to make sure the classes you are taking at the transient school will count as credit toward your degree at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Go to http://www.facts.org and complete the online Transient Student Form. You will receive an email confirming the courses at your transient university can be credited to your degree here at UCF. Print out the confirmation email and turn in to the UCF VSO along with your certification form. At the end of the semester, you will need to send/turn-in your transcripts from the transient institution to UCF or you will not be able to receive veteran benefits the following semester.

The VA will pay for any course you take that falls under your degree program; minors and certificate programs included.

Contact the University of Central Florida’s (UCF) Veteran Services Office (VSO) to find out if the course(s) you are taking have been approved by the Veteran Affairs (VA) State Approving Agency (SAA).