As a veteran, you are eligible for benefits while attending Kirkwood Community College. The school can back up to 12 months to certify you for benefits, but it does require some time for the VA to process for payment. So start your application process early!
Below you'll find some helpful information about your benefits. The VA representative is available to help you with questions regarding admission and an application for educational benefits.
The VA representative is available to help you with questions regarding admission and an application for educational benefits.
There may be options available to you regarding payment procedures, enrollment certifications, etc., which can be explained when you apply for VA assistance. Please remember that although the school can back up to 12 months to certify you for benefits, it does require some time for the VA to process for payment.
You must apply to be eligible for Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) benefits. Forms are available at the VA office located on 2nd floor Iowa Hall.
While it is not required, it is recommended that all paperwork be routed through the Kirkwood VA certifying official. Copies of all paperwork will be made and maintained in the student's file.
The Process
If your benefits are a result of having been on active duty, you will be asked to submit a certified copy of your DD214. This form must be certified by the county recorder’s office.
For students who previously received VA benefits while attending another school, VA Form 1995 (Change of Program or Place of Training) must be completed and on file in the student’s folder at Kirkwood. A new form must be filled out for each change of major or change of schools.
Monthly benefit payments received under the Montgomery GI Bill® (active or reserve), VEAP and the Dependents' Educational Assistance Program will be sent directly to the student-veteran.
In some cases, checks may be directly deposited into your bank account. Those funds are never sent directly to the school. It is important that you keep the VA informed of the address where you want correspondence (including your check, if appropriate) to be sent.
You need to update the address with both the Kirkwood VA certifying official and with the St. Louis office. Their phone number is: 888-442-4551.
You need to be aware that when your bill is posted on MyHub, it will have a "Date Due" listed. That’s when the school expects the bill to be paid.
You should be aware that the VA always pays after the fact, each month. There is no money up front for tuition and books.
You may pay the bill by cash, check, credit card, or apply for financial aid. Check with your VA certifying official for other payment options. If you are receiving National Guard, Army Reserve Tuition Assistance, or Chapter 33 Post 9/11 Tuition Assistance, notify your certifying official.
Chapter 31 Payments
The VA will make a payment directly to the school when a student is attending under the VA Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation program. In that case, once you have met with a counselor from VAVR, received confirmation of approval to go to school, registered for classes, and notified the school’s VA certifying official, your account will be marked as paid.
A dollar amount for books and supplies will be entered on the computer, and you will be sent to the bookstore to charge your books. The VA will then be billed for the total amount of your expenses.
Chapter 33 Payments
Chapter 33 Post 9/11 also pays tuition directly to the school, depending upon your eligibility tier. The book stipend and monthly Basic Allowance for Housing are paid by the VA directly to the student.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Information regarding the following additional programs can be obtained from the VA certifying official in 2046 Iowa Hall.
FTA can be used to pursue one credential at each of the following levels:
Note: First professional degrees, such as Doctorate degrees or Juris Doctorates, are not eligible for FTA funding.
For more information on how to apply for FTA, please visit: Iowa National Guard.
Note: The ARMY IgnitED link is configured to direct you to a security warning page initially. On that page, please select 'Advanced' and then click the link that appears at the bottom to proceed to the website.
If you have any questions about your benefits, our Veteran Services Coordinator on Kirkwood's Main Campus in Cedar Rapids can help you work through issues with your application, payments, and more.
Ramona Taylor
Veteran Services Coordinator/School Certifying Official
Student Services Office, 2nd floor Iowa Hall
319-398-4962
veterans@kirkwood.edu
Eligibility for GI Bill educational benefits can be extended to veterans, members of the Selected Reserves, or National Guard. Additionally, children or spouses of service-connected deceased or totally and permanently disabled veterans can be eligible for benefits.
Specific questions on eligibility should be directed to the Department of Veterans Affairs or at the toll-free number 888-442-4551.
You may receive benefits under only one VA education chapter at a time, even if you have eligibility under more than one chapter. See chapters details below.
Kirkwood's Veteran and Military-Connected Lounge is located at 2004 Iowa Hall. It's a place reserved just for students who have served our country.
This study lounge space has four computers, a printer, snacks, and a microwave. This is a great place to find up-to-date information and talk with other veterans.
Lounge Hours
M-Th 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
F 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
As part of the DVA application process, you are required to predetermine an educational, professional, or vocational objective. You are required to comply with Kirkwood’s standards, rules, and regulations regarding entrance and continuance in your program.
Learn more about federal regulations for keeping your benefits.
The Montgomery GI Bill has different sets of eligibility requirements based on your active duty service. The benefits available under each category may vary depending on your particular situation and length of active service. You need to meet only one set of eligibility requirements to obtain benefits.
The basic requirements for eligibility under Chapter 30 are:
If you were separated from active duty for reasons that could be classified as "convenience of the government," you may be eligible for Chapter 30 benefits without meeting the length of service requirement.
Additional forms of eligibility include:
Monthly payments under Chapter 30 will depend on time in service, which branch of service you were in, and the amount of hours taken each semester.
To be eligible under Chapter 31, you must receive or be entitled to receive compensation for a service-connected disability at a rating of 20% or greater. You must have been discharged or released from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable. The need and nature of vocational rehabilitation necessary to overcome your disabilities are determined by the DVA.
Generally, Chapter 31 expires 12 years following the date you were notified of your eligibility. That time frame may be extended at the discretion of the DVA. Benefits include payment of tuition, fees, books, supplies, and a monthly subsistence allowance.
In addition to Chapter 31 benefits, you may also want to consider vocational rehabilitation programs administered by the state of Iowa. You may contact the VAS for more information.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill became effective for training on or after August 1, 2009. The amount of support that an individual may qualify for depends on where they live and what type of degree they are pursuing.
Under this bill, you may receive:
Approved training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill includes graduate and undergraduate degrees, and vocational/technical training. All training programs must be offered by an institution of higher learning (IHL) and approved for GI Bill benefits. Additionally, tutorial assistance, and licensing and certification test reimbursement are approved under the Post- 9/11 GI Bill.
Note: If you participated in the $600 buy-up under the Montgomery GI Bill or REAP, you will not receive that additional benefit under the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
Spouses and dependent children (ages 18-26) of deceased veterans or veterans who are 100% permanently and totally disabled are eligible, provided that the veterans death or disability was/is service connected.
Also included are the spouses and dependent children of service persons in cases where those service persons have been listed for more than 90 days, and who remain in one of the following three categories:
If you are an eligible child 18 years of age or older, or if you are under 18 and have graduated from high school, the DVA may begin your educational benefits. In addition, if you have not yet received your high school diploma, you may use your Chapter 35 benefits for courses leading to a high school diploma, a GED certificate, for deficiency or remedial training, or for refresher training. You may receive up to five months of such full-time training without any entitlement charge if you meet eligibility requirements.
You are entitled to 45 months of training, provided that you complete the training by the delimiting date.
In order to be eligible for Chapter 1606 benefits, you must:
Your period of basic eligibility dates from the time you complete your requirements, and lasts for a period of 10 years. If you separate from the Selected Reserves or National Guard, your entitlement ends on the date of separation. If you separate as a result of a disability, you may remain eligible for the entire 10 years, even though you are not training.