Frequently Asked Questions
The first thing you should do is contact the VA and determine what benefits you qualify for. Next visit the VA Education website and complete the application for your benefit: https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/. Once processed, the VA will send you a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or Notice of Benefits Eligibility (NOBE). From there you can follow our checklist to get everything else going.
Depending on what chapter of benefits you are using we may be waiting on the add/drop period to pass before certifying your classes to the VA. This allows you to adjust your schedule without incurring a debt or an overage that will have to be paid back later. We suggest that you go to Mainestreet and update your anticipated resources so that you don’t incur a late fee.
You MUST certify your classes for each semester if you want to get paid by the VA. Fill out a Certification Request now!
There are two main reasons why students are not paid on time. The first is to be sure that you complete a certification request every semester. If you have not completed a certification request for a given semester, you will not be paid by the VA. The second reason is if you are Chapters 30, 33, or 1606, you will need to verify your enrollment to the VA on the 1st of the month before they will release your payment.
You should let us know any time there is a change in your class schedule. If it is done before the add/drop period we can help to ensure that you don’t incur any overages or debts.
There could be several reasons. If you have been getting paid regularly and there is a sudden change in your benefits (not related to end of semester or break periods) you will have to contact the VA to find out why. We do not process payments.
Along with the standard certification request for the term, you will need to complete an additional form for our office to send to the School Certifying Official of the guest school. This form is available upon request. It is your responsibility to verify that all of the classes you are taking are covered and required for your degree at UMaine.
You can request a Joint Services Transcript from the DoD be sent directly to the school.
The stipend for books is paid by the VA at the beginning of each semester and is based on the number of classes you are taking. The stipend is capped at $1000 for the entire school year.
The office for this region is located in Buffalo. They can be reached at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).
You can find out what benefits you have remaining by calling the VA RPO or visiting eBenefits
It is the responsibility of the student to request verification of enrollment each semester. Students must be certified with CHAMPVA every semester to receive this benefit. The Office of Student Records, at the University of Maine can provide verification of enrollment . You must specifically request that the verification of enrollment letter include your Social Security number if needed. Enrollment Verification Request
There is a veteran’s lounge in the VETS office located at 161 in the Memorial Union. It is staffed from 9 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday. We would love to have you come in and visit.
The University of Maine classes are not in session on Veterans Day except for classes that meet once per week.
If you have questions that aren’t answered here then please submit them to: um.veterans@maine.edu
