For new applicants, it can take up to 12 weeks before the first payment is made. However, once approved for benefits, students will receive retroactive pay. You must also certify your enrollment at the end of every month of attendance (prior Active and Reserve GI Bill only) before the VA issues you a check. You can do this in one of the following ways:

• By logging onto the W.A.V.E. system at:   http://www.gibill.va.gov/resources/verify-attendance/
• By using the VA's automated telephone system at: 1-877-823-2378

The current rates for students using GI Bill benefits can be found at:   http://www.gibill.va.gov/resources/benefits_resources/rate_tables.html

For students using the Post 9/11 GI Bill, current BAH rates can be found at:   http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bahCalc.cfm. Upon arriving at the website, insert rank as E-5 and zip code as 11790. Your current BAH rate will be the dependent rate.

Prior active duty students who contributed to the basic Montgomery GI Bill are entitled to 36 months of full-time benefits.

Members of the Selected Reserves are eligible for 36 months of full-time benefits (as long as they serve and meet the requirements of the selected reserve component) up to 14 years from the day they became eligible for benefits, or the day they leave the selected reserves (whichever comes first).

Members of the Selected Reserves who have been deployed receive 36 months of full-time benefits. However they can receive these benefits once they leave the selected reserves for the length of their deployment plus four months.

For example, if a student was deployed for 12 months, they can receive their GI Bill for 16 months after they leave the selected reserves.

Survivors and Dependents may be entitled to receive benefits for a total of 45 months of full-time benefits.

Find out more  information on forms and how to submit them. 

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It is very important that students notify the Office of Veterans Affairs by completing the SBU VA form. Once submitted they can bring a hard copy of their bill and schedule.  This information is then electronically sent to the VA Regional Office and a notification letter is sent to your mailing address.

Yes, you will normally receive benefits during these breaks, provided they are not longer than thirty days. It is also possible to receive payment for the winter intersession, but you must enroll for classes and notify our office before the end of the fall semester.

For example, if the fall semester ends on December 20th, the VA would normally pro-rate payments through December 20th. However, students who register for the spring before this date may come to the VA office and fill out the SBU Enrollment Application and receive full payment for December and January.

It is up to the student to decide whether he or she wants to collect benefits during these periods (keep in mind that the VA still subtracts these periods from the 36 month total award).

Students must immediately notify the Office of Veterans Affairs of any changes in their class schedule that result in less than full-time enrollment, since these changes may affect the amount of monthly benefits.

Note:  If a student is involuntarily activated, Stony Brook University has an official policy available in the Office of Veterans Affairs.

Yes, all students collecting VA benefits can enroll in direct deposit by simply signing onto the  W.A.V.E. system  on the GI Bill website, or by coming to the VA office and filling out a direct deposit form.

You must fill out a change of place of training form and the SBU enrollment form. We will submit it to the VA Regional Office, and you will receive notification from the VA once your application is processed. You don't have to submit a DD-214, NOBE or Application for Benefits form (VA Form-1990) if you previously received educational benefits at another institution.

In addition to the base pay received, you are entitled to an extra $150 per month as a full time student.

Prior active military members who:

Were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.

Have a service-connected disability that the VA has rated at least 10 percent.

Disabling and that arose on or after September 16, 1940.

Needs rehabilitation services and assistance to overcome an employment handicap or to improve his or her capacity for independent living in his or her family and community.

Yes, you will receive all increases in the GI Bill.

Yes, you can receive full-time benefits if you are enrolled for 4 or more credits in each of the two summer sessions.

In order to take classes at a different school and still receive benefits, you need to make sure that the classes will transfer over as SBU courses that go towards acquiring your degree. You will need to fill out a Transfer Credit Evaluation Form from Registrar and the Office of Veterans Affairs will need a copy.   If the classes are approved, the Office of Veterans Affairs will write a letter that will get sent to the secondary school.  

Make sure your primary school sends us a letter from their Veterans Affairs Certifying Official stating that the primary school will accept the credits.  We will then process benefits for whatever term you are using them at our school.  

Yes you can.  However, not everything will be covered by the GI Bill. Generally, tuition will be covered and any fees that pertain to a student who would not be studying abroad.  

If you take online classes you will still receive the housing allowance (as long as you are above 1/2 time)  however  the BAH will be set at the national rate. If you take one class on campus, then you will receive the Stony Brook zip code BAH rate ($2658- with dependents; $2013-without dependents).