How to use Post 9/11 Gi Bill®

• Dept of Veterans Affairs Post 9/11 GI Bill®

• Initial VA benefit application or update your school on file in the VA system:
• Submit Certificate of Eligibility to Laurel Ridge Veteran Services
  • If benefit application is complete, you may call VA Education hotline, 1-888-442-4551 to request copy or  Download VA education letter
• Submit Laurel Ridge VA certification request form
• Send official transcripts
  • Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy
  • Air Force
  • All college transcripts
• Make an appointment with
  • Military Benefits Official, Sharon Painter
  • Veteran Academic Advisor, Jeanmarie Corrado

6. Enroll in courses required for VA approved degree/certificate
7. Pay balance not covered by Post 9/11, including software charges
8. Attend and complete the course(s)
9. Student must verify enrollment with VA by phone or online each month

• To receive full housing allowance every day of semester, enroll as a full-time student and 1 in person course.
  • Full time = 12+ credit hours (based on 14 week session)
  • Summer = 7-8 credit hours
  • All online courses = lower housing allowance
  • Verify your enrollment with Laurel Ridge Veteran Services
  • Housing allowance is based on campus zip code for in person class(es)
• Determined by the VA, housing allowance is calculated using rate of pursuit and location of equal or majority of in person courses.  Student must have greater than 50% rate of pursuit to receive any housing allowance
• Students can receive full housing allowance if they choose to enroll in sessions other than 14 week. Please contact Military Benefits Official for more details.
• 100% eligible recipients receive 100% of calculated housing allowance
• Housing allowance is deposited 1^st day of month into student’s personal bank account for prior month’s attendance days

For more information, contact VA education hotline 1-888-442-4551 or visit GI Bill® Comparison Tool

• In-state tuition and fees will be paid by VA directly to Laurel Ridge approximately 3 weeks after drop for refund period. Tuition balance will reflect on student account until VA payment is received.
• If student has submitted a certificate of eligibility and Laurel Ridge VA certification request form, Laurel Ridge will not penalize student for 90 days if VA is late making payment. Failure to submit both requirements will initiate debt notifications from the business office.
• Less than 100% eligibility recipients are responsible for balance
• Reductions in enrollment may cause a tuition debt to student
• Students using military education benefits can also use financial aid (FAFSA)

• VA book stipend is paid to student approx. 10 days prior to session.
• Book stipend is $41.67 credit/hour for maximum of $1000/academic year
• Some Laurel Ridge courses require software purchase and access, which is automatically charged to student financial account. These software charges are not paid by Post 9/11 Gi Bill.
• Upon enrollment, students must pay software charges or utilize financial aid (FAFSA)
• To verify if a course has software charges, please review course syllabus and notes within SIS (student information system).

Please verify all benefit information:

• Dept. of Veteran Affairs education hotline 1-888-442-4551
• Dept. of Veterans Affairs “Ask VA”
• Dept. of Veteran Affairs education and training benefit information