Welcome Veterans!

Applying for Benefits

APPLY for your G.I. bill benefits online at: www.gibill.va.gov

• Chapter 30 Montgomery G.I. Bill
• Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation
• Chapter 33 Post 9/11 G.I. Bill
• Chapter 33 Transfer of Eligibility
• Chapter 35 Dependents/Survivors
• Chapter 1606 Guard/Reserves
• Chapter 1607 REAP
• Yellow Ribbon

If you are unsure under which Chapter you are eligible to receive benefits, see the Veterans Eligibility page.

If you are Chapter 30, 1606 or 1607, you MUST certify your enrollment at the end of every month. Call 1-877-823-2378 or go online to www.gibill.va.gov

If you at some time qualified for benefits but are no longer eligible, you may qualify for exemption from the registration fee and tuition charges. Please see the Financial Aid office for a Montana University System Honorably Discharged Veteran Fee Waiver application. Download here

Yellow Ribbon Program

The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions of higher learning (degree granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the Veterans Administration (VA) to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. The institution can waive up to 50 percent of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution.

Application and Certification Information

• Apply to the college: http://umhelena.edu/future/default.aspx You must be degree seeking, not non-degree status, unless you are enrolled at another college that will accept the classes you take at UM-Helena toward their degree program.
• Take the Compass test for math and English placement if you do not have transfer credits or sufficient ACT or SAT scores.

AFTER your college Admissions enrollment file is complete:

• Meet with an advisor.
• Register for classes.
• Go to the Veteran Services Office (VSO) every semester to sign off on your registration form and fill out a Certifying Information and Requirement/Guideline form. Benefit recipients are also required to report promptly when they drop/add courses or withdraw completely from the college.
• You MUST sign your bill and return it to the Cashier even if you receive G.I. bill benefits or financial aid. You may sign online ONLY if you pay in full or have full financial aid processed. Failure to sign your bill will result in course cancellation.
• Chapters 30, 35, 1606 and 1607 are always paid directly to the student and payments begin approximately one month after the semester starts.
• ALL CHAPTERS: If you need to defer payment of tuition and fees, you must sign a “Benefit & Recipient Reporting Responsibility” contract. Pick up a contract in the VSO or download here: Chapter 33 contract or Chapter 1606, 1607, 30, 35 contract.
• NOTE: Challenged and online course numbers below 100 are not certifiable to the Veteran’s Administration.
• You are ultimately responsible for tuition and fee payment to the college and for understanding your benefits.
• The college’s Veteran Services Office’s responsibility is to complete an accurate term certification enrollment (for all VA Education Chapters) that identifies the start/end date, credit hours, tuition/fees, and Yellow Ribbon (Chapter 33 100% eligible only), and to report grades and dates of attendance. The Veteran Services Office does not determine VA education eligibility or beneficiary payments.
• The Veterans Affairs education processing office is the only facility that will determine the amount of payment that will be issued.

The amount of credits you take will reflect the benefits you will receive:

12 credits= Full benefits
9-11 credits=3/4 benefits
6-8 credits=1/2 benefits
< 6 credits = Tuition & fees
(Summer credit loads differ.)

The Veterans Administration expects veterans to make satisfactory academic progress: http://umhelena.edu/catalog/academicinfo.aspx#scholastic

If you have issues related to PTSD or other concerns, we have a licensed counselor on campus you can meet with at no charge to serve you. Contact your VA Coordinator to make an appointment.

Additional Contacts

On Campus Free Mental Health Counseling: Call 444.5648 or 444-6897 to schedule.

G.I. Bill Eligibility, Education & Training Programs, Licenses/Certifications: Jack Bailey and Brad Nelson, MT Office of Public Instruction, 444.4122 or 444.0691

Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31): Dave Wirtz, 495.2013

Navigating the VA and Unresolved Problems: Bruce Knutson, Senator Jon Tester’s office, 449.5401

MT National Guard Transition Assistance Advisor: Pete Gardzina, 324.3257

Veterans Administration Regional Muskogee, OK, Office: 1.888.442.4551

Monthly Enrollment Certification:  1.877.823.2378