VA Educational Assistance Programs

Portland State University has a long and proud tradition assisting veterans realize their post-secondary educational goals. In fact, Portland State was founded with the specific intent to provide the returning veterans of World War II an opportunity to use their education benefits in the Portland metro area.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has a number of education programs they manage for veterans, active duty personnel, and the spouses or dependents of veterans. Each program may have different eligibility requirements in order to receive financial assistance. The following information is designed to assist those persons eligible for education benefits to better understand each program.

Montgomery GI Bill : The MGIB, know as, “Chapter 30”, is for active duty personnel or those eligible veterans who made their financial contribution into the program while in-service.
 

Vocational Rehabilitation: Known as “Chapter 31”, this is a “back to work’, education/training program for those veterans found eligible who have suffered a service connected disability.
 

1. Veterans receiving MGIB benefits must do a monthly verification of enrollment with the VA before payments will be forwarded to your account. Monthly verification can be done via a toll-free phone number or on-line.

 

• · Phone: 1-877-822-2378
• · On-line: www.gibill.va.gov

2. Any change of enrollment, adding or dropping of courses must be reported to both the VA and the PSU Certification Office.

MGIB: Chapter 30 (active duty)

1. If you have never used your MGIB you must apply for the benefit by completing VA form 22-1990.

2. Provide the PSU Certification Office with page four of your DD-214. Establish an account with a bank for the mandatory direct deposit.

3. If you are entitled to a, kicker, attach a copy of your contract to your DD-214.

4. If you applied for your MGIB on-line provide a signature page to the PSU Certification Office.

5. Each term you must provide the Certification Office with a blue Veterans Course Description and Certification form.

6. If you are a new transfer student to PSU and have already been found eligible for the MGIB and have used them in the past you need only submit form 22-1995, to change your place of training to Portland State.

Vocational Rehabilitation: Chapter 31

1. If eligibility was not determined at the time of discharge an application must be made directly to the VA using VA form 28-1900. Processing of a vocational rehabilitation application can take from six months to two years.

2. Veterans approved for vocational rehabilitation benefits will be assigned a rehabilitation counselor by the VA who will oversee your program of study and manage the payment of tuition, fees books and supplies.

3. Each term Chapter 31 recipients must submit a Veterans Course Description and Certification form to the PSU Certification office.

 

NOTE: Applications for both MGIB and Voc. Rehab. Benefits should be completed on-line at: http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.as

Dependents Educational Assistance: Chapter 35

1. First time applicants must submit VA form 22-5490 to the VA. Applicants must provide the VA with the veterans VA file number.

2. If eligibility has been established and you are transferring to PSU you must change your place of training to PSU by submitting VA form 22-5495.

3. Each term you must provide the PSU Certification office with a blue Veterans Course Description and Certification form.

 

MGIB: Chapter 1606/7 (Guard/Reserve)

1. First-time applicants must submit VA form 22-1990.

2. You must provide the PSU Certification Office with a "Notice of Basic Eligibility", which is provided by your unit.

3. If you have used the benefit at a prior school you must change your place of training to PSU by submitting VA form 22-1995.

4. You must have a bank account in order to establish direct deposit.

5. Each term you must provide the PSU Certification Office with a blue Veterans Course Description and Certification form.

Other financial assistance available to veterans:

1. All veterans are encouraged to apply for student financial aid through PSU's Office of Financial Aid. For your best chance to receive financial aid be aware of application deadlines.

2. Persons on active duty or in guard/reserve units may have access to “Tuition Assistance”. Tuition Assistance is a benefit from the Dept. of Defense and not managed by the VA. Interested persons should request information on Tuition Assistance from the Education office on base or the Education officer attached to each guard/reserve unit. TA is administered on campus by the PSU Office of Student Financial Aid.

3. Oregon Guard reservists who were deployed to a combat zone may be entitled to a state sponsored benefit called Voyager. The program is a last dollar fee remission program after all financial aid to which the student is entitled has been used. The Voyager program is managed by the PSU Office of Student Financial Aid.

4. Additional information about privately funded scholarships available to veterans and their dependents can be acquired by contacting the PSU Scholarship Coordinator at 503-725-5445 or refer to: www.pdx.edu/finaid/scholarships.html.

5. State of Oregon Veterans Grant. The State of Oregon has established a stipend for
Oregon veterans who did not use their VA educational benefits before they expired. To learn more about eligibility for this stipend contact the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs.

6. Veterans enrolled at least 3/4 time and who are receiving benefits under Chapters 30, 31, 35, or 1606/7 are eligible for VA Work-Study employment. This is a separate version of the Federal Work-Study program that does not affect any other financial aid package, and is also tax-free. These jobs can be located at qualified college campuses, the VA Medical Center, or a variety of federal and state offices. Contact the PSU Veterans Certification Officer for more information or for an application. A list of work-study locations can be obtained at the VA Regional Office located in the Federal Building in downtown Portland (SW 3rd and Jefferson Streets).