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Greetings GI Bill® student and welcome to the May 2024 edition of your GI Bill Student newsletter! Can you believe that we are already half-way through the month of May?
For many, May brings about a bit of spring fever, as you complete your spring term. Congratulations on taking one more step toward achieving your educational goal! Whether you plan to continue your studies through the summer or are planning ahead for the fall, we hope that you find this edition of the newsletter helpful in your education pursuit.
If you find this edition valuable, we hope you’ll share the newsletter with other Veterans and GI Bill® beneficiaries! Make sure you add Veteransbenefits@messages.va.gov to your contacts list to so that you don't miss any updates from us. Be sure to also follow us on Facebook!
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A message from VA Secretary Denis McDonough
 Recently, VA Secretary Denis McDonough released a message regarding VA’s stance on the current campus protests. Please click here to read his address and learn about resources that you or your fellow student Veterans may find helpful.
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Share your opinion by May 17!
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Understanding your monthly housing allowance
For some understanding how GI Bill monthly housing allowance (MHA) works can be a bit confusing. Here are five things to know about your MHA:
- MHA is paid only when you are actively enrolled and attending. This helps to ensure that you don’t run out of your benefits before you complete your school or training.
- You must be attending school or training at a rate that is greater than 50% of full time to receive MHA. Your rate of pursuit is based on how your school certifies your program.
- Your MHA is prorated if you are attending school or training at a part time rate.
- Changes in enrollment can affect your rate of pursuit, which will affect your MHA payments. If you make a change to your enrollment, be sure to let your School Certifying Official know immediately, so they can adjust your records with VA and ensure you are paid the proper benefits and avoid creating a debt.
- MHA payments are typically paid the first week of the month, for the previous month. Example: May 2024 MHA is paid during the first week of June 2024.
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Don’t let fraud ruin your education goals
As you continue your education journey, it’s important to ensure that your benefits are being used wisely. While searching for a program, be aware of education scams. Predatory institutions use a variety of methods to manipulate Veterans into committing to misleading or fraudulent education programs. Some of these methods include:
- Promises of immediate student loan forgiveness.
- Guaranteed scholarship or eligibility for financial aid in exchange for a processing fee.
- Free gifts for enrolling in classes
You can use the GI Bill Comparison Tool to find GI Bill approved schools and to compare benefits. To report suspected fraud or predatory companies, contact VA’s Office of Inspector General at (OIG) Hotline (va.gov). If you miss a VA benefits payment, identify a discrepancy in payments, or find suspicious activity with your direct deposit account, contact VA immediately at 1-800-827-1000.
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Watch the State of Education Service: Customer Service Excellence video
At Education Service, we prioritize providing GI Bill students life-changing customer service to make sure you have a smooth GI Bill experience. In the most recent, State of EDU video, Executive Director Joseph Garcia discusses the customer service we provide to thousands of you every year.
As we continue our Digital GI Bill initiative to improve education benefits delivery, we will continue to keep you informed about updates we make to the GI Bill benefits process. Watch the State of EDU: Customer Service Excellence video to learn more about the updates we made so far.
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Recap: GI Bill Roadshow at Bowie State University
On April 10, we hosted a GI Bill Town Hall and Veterans Benefits Fair at Bowie State University as a part of our GI Bill Roadshow. Over 20 GI Bill beneficiaries attended the events to connect with EDU leadership, have their GI Bill questions answered, and learned more about how VA is modernizing the GI Bill experience. During the Veterans Benefits Fair, students had the opportunity to meet with benefits experts to learn how to get the most out of their Veterans benefits. We enjoyed meeting you and appreciate all the feedback you provided. We look forward to seeing more beneficiaries at future GI Bill Roadshow stops!
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Veteran and Military Spouse Talent Engagement Program (VMSTEP)
Are you a Veteran or a military spouse seeking new career opportunities? We at the Veterans Affairs (VA) would be honored to have you join our team! With a wide range of positions available, we are committed to supporting those who have served and their families.
At VA, you’ll find a supportive community and meaningful work that continues to give back to those who have given so much. We encourage you to explore our current job openings and see where your talents might fit within our organization. Visit our careers page today and take the first step towards a rewarding new career at the VA: https://www.vaforvets.va.gov/vaforvets/JobSeekers/Pages/default.asp.
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Get your savings on track with Military Saves!
Get your savings on track with Military Saves, a Department of Labor program! The program provides valuable resources designed to help Veterans and military families achieve financial stability.
Whether you're looking to start your own business, buy a home, or build a secure retirement, our partners at the Department of Labor have tailored tips to guide you. We encourage you to take the military pledge. By doing so, you'll receive customized tips and regular reminders to help you stay on track with your savings goals. It's a great way to commit to your financial health and ensure a stable and secure future. For more information and to take the pledge visit https://militarysaves.org.
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Warrior-Scholar Project boot camp spots available
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Do you have a question or concern about your benefits? Contact us safely and securely with Ask VA!
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If you know a Veteran who is in crisis,
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