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August Education Office Hours
Retroactive Inductions: VR&E Service Update
Enhanced VA Form 22-1990 Update: My Education Benefits
Digital GI Bill (DGIB) Updates: Enrollment Manager
Section 1009 Update
VA Forms 22-1995/22-5495 Update
Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP) Update
Chapter 35 Applicability to 38 USC 3679(e) Clarification
School Certifying Official (SCO) Annual Training Requirements
Retroactive Inductions: VR&E Service Update
Question(s):
What are retroactive inductions?
Answer:
A retroactive induction is defined as a period of training, previously completed under another VA education program, or when the Veteran self-paid, for which the Veteran requests to have classified under Chapter 31 instead. Essentially, a retroactive induction goes back in time and pays the previous enrollment period(s) as if the Veteran was using Chapter 31 VR&E at that time as opposed to the other VA education benefit or having self-paid. If another VA education program, such as the Post 9/11 GI Bill, was previously used, the months under that program that are included in the retroactive induction to be moved to Chapter 31 can be returned to the Veteran for future use under the other VA education program if the delimiting date has not passed.
For a retroactive induction to be approved, a Veteran must meet the eligibility criteria outlined in 38 CFR 21.282.(c).
Question(s):
How and when will schools be notified of Retroactive Inductions?
Answer:
The Veteran’s assigned Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) will notify the school certifying official once a retroactive induction is approved if the involvement of the facility is needed. It should also be mentioned that the Veteran may reach out to the school certifying official for assistance in obtaining supporting documentation to approve the retroactive induction, which may include copies of transcripts, degree audits, and invoices.
Question(s):
Do Retroactive Inductions only apply to institutions participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program?
Answer:
No, retroactive inductions can be applied to previous enrollment periods under Chapters 30, 33, 35, and 1606 as well as previous periods where the Veteran self-paid. The Yellow Ribbon program only applies to Chapter 33, but a retroactive induction can be completed for a period of training previously under Chapter 33 regardless of if the Yellow Ribbon program was or was not used. However, facilities will only be provided authorizations in the Tungsten Network when the Yellow Ribbon program was applied for retroactive inductions involving previous periods used under Chapter 33.
Question(s):
VR&E previously provided guidance stating if a student isn't approved for CH 31 PRIOR to class start dates, the student would not be eligible until the next semester. Does this new information change previous guidance?
Answer:
If a Veteran is using another VA education program, he or she may not switch to Chapter 31 until the following semester. Veterans may not use more than one VA education program, including Chapter 31, at the same time. Once the Veteran is approved under Chapter 31, an authorization will be sent to the facility in the Tungsten Network for the Veteran to attend the program. If a Veteran has not been approved for VR&E prior to an enrollment period start date, he or she will need to work out alternative payment options with the facility until VR&E can approve the enrollment period(s) and an authorization is provided. The important thing here is that a Veteran cannot use Chapter 31 and another VA education program at the same time, but there is nothing preventing VR&E from providing an authorization after an enrollment period has started.
Question(s):
We have a chapter 33 recipient that just applied for VR&E benefits. Based on the new guidance, should we wait until he is approved for VR&E benefits before certifying, or should we certify his courses as chapter 33 until he is approved for chapter 31 benefits?
Answer:
As a school certifying official, you should continue to certify under Chapter 33 until you are informed that a Veteran is switching to Chapter 31. Once the Veteran and/or VR&E informs the certifying official that the Veteran is switching to Chapter 31 as of a certain date, further certifications under Chapter 33 for subsequent enrollment periods should not be processed. As a reminder, do not update certifications from Chapter 33 to Chapter 31 in the middle of a term.
Question(s):
Do Retroactive Inductions apply to graduation reporting? What if another school terminates for graduation while a Ch 31 student is at our school (i.e.: student finished an associate and then is pursuing a bachelors while switching to Ch 31)?
Answer:
If a Veteran is receiving Chapter 31 VR&E services and he or she has completed one portion of the program (i.e., an associate degree) and then continues on to a bachelor’s degree, the associate degree can be reported as completed while the Veteran pursues the bachelor’s degree.
Question(s):
Who can I reach out to for questions regarding Tungsten?
Answer:
For questions about Tungsten, please contact VA’s Enterprise Service Desk at vafscenterprisesupport@va.gov.
Question(s):
Who can we contact when we cannot get in touch with a Veteran’s VR&E counselor?
Answer:
Please refer to the following spreadsheet and contact the VR&E front office of the respective Regional Office if a Veteran’s assigned VRC is unresponsive. You may ask to speak with the VR&E Officer, Assistant VR&E Officer, or Supervisory VRC in this situation.
Question(s):
Is it possible to receive an official announcement about the retro inductions for chapter 31 to share with all students via email?
Answer:
Retroactive Inductions are discussed during a Veteran’s initial evaluation when he or she applies for Chapter 31 VR&E benefits. Regarding a mass communication about the new interpretation of the 48-month rule, the VA sent out a notification of this change to stakeholders in April 2021.
Enhanced VA Form 22-1990 Update: My Education Benefits
Question(s):
What is the website to use for My Education Benefits?
Answer:
Click on the Education “How to Apply” page and scroll down to
The wizard will guide the applicant to the correct form.
Question(s):
How does one access ID.me?
Answer:
Sign or create an account on ID.me.
Question(s):
Does logging into va.gov direct students to create and ID.ME account?
Answer:
No.
Question(s):
Who should students contact when having difficulty with setting up and accessing ID.Me?
Answer:
Question(s):
Are all SCO's required to create an ID.me account?
Answer:
If you are applying for benefits. Yes.
Question(s):
ID.me asks for personal information that I am not willing to provide and should be Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act protected. When will this change?
With student now being directed to apply for benefits through ID.ME, is va.gov no longer the portal they will go to?
Answer:
If you are applying for benefits using the enhanced application, you will need an ID.me account. You can apply without signing in.
Question(s):
Is there an alternative to using ID.ME? I am not a veteran and do not want to provide personal information.
Answer:
If you are not applying for benefits, you will not need an ID.me account.
Question(s):
Can dependents using VA benefits have an ID.me account and access to their benefit info the same as a service member?
Answer:
Currently the application is for Veteran, original claim, self-entitlement. In future releases dependents will be able to use the enhanced application to apply.
Question(s):
Can students choose to have a Certificate of Eligibility send directly to their school?
Answer:
In the current release, claimants do not have that option.
Question(s):
Will My Education Benefits update Enrollment Manager with students’ COEs?
Answer:
No. My Education Benefits has no interaction with the Enrollment Manager.
Question(s):
Will students be required to provide a cell number so VA can text them the monthly confirmation and stop asking SCOs to make sure students update this?
Answer:
Mobile phone number is not a required field within the application.
DGIB Updates: Enrollment Manager
Question(s):
When will we be officially rolling over to Enrollment Manager?
Answer:
We are targeting Spring 2023.
Question(s):
How will I switch to Enrollment Manager from VA-ONCE? What does that process look like?
Answer:
Users will log in to Enrollment Manager using an ID.me or Login.gov account. Those with existing VA-ONCE credentials will be able to log in with their ID.me/Login.gov credentials right away and new SCOs without existing credentials will be able to request access from VA through the new VA Education Platform Landing Page.
Question(s):
Should schools hold Spring certifications until rollout?
Answer:
No.
Question(s):
When will training start for Enrollment Manager?
Answer:
Training will consist of demonstrations during Office Hours and other webinars leading up to the system deployment, as well as self-paced learning that will be assigned 30-45 days in advance of go-live.
Question(s):
Who is the contractor building Enrollment Manager?
Answer:
Accenture Federal Services (AFS).
Question(s):
Is the Enrollment Manager just for chapter 33 or for all chapters?
Answer:
ALL chapters
Question(s):
If the new Enrollment manager does not include CH31, then will schools still be required to utilize VA Once to upload CH31? As long as we are in Web Enabled Approval Management System (WEAMS) and Tungsten, will we be ok once the VA-ONCE is replace?
Answer:
Enrollment Manager will include chapter 31.
Question(s):
Will Education and Training Institutions be required to submit a new Memorandum Of Understanding for the Enrollment Manager access?
Answer:
No, each user will have an End User Agreement they will have to acknowledge when logging in for the first time.
Question(s):
Will Enrollment Manager have functionality to enter standard term dates?
Answer:
Yes.
Question(s):
What level of access will Point of Contacts have in Enrollment Manager?
Answer:
Access to the new system will mirror the access users have now.
Question(s):
Will all SCO’s (even if they have read only access) need an ID.me account to log in into Enrollment Manager?
Answer:
Yes.
Question(s):
Is it possible to show presentations live using screens from the new program coming rather than screen shots?
Answer:
Both live demonstrations and interactive software simulations will be a part of training. Demonstrations will be provided in future Office Hours and an SCO Workshop that is coming soon.
Question(s):
We've learned that VA can go WAY back when sending additional tuition payments, debts, etc. and it's necessary for schools to be able to find older student records. How many years of data will be transferred to Enrollment Manager from VA-ONCE? Will schools be able to access VA-ONCE for data older than the period transferred?
Answer:
We are importing 5 years of data. VA-ONCE will no longer be available after it is disabled and the switchover to Enrollment Manager has occurred.
Question(s):
Will WEAMS approved programs be pre-populated, or will we still need to add the programs?
Answer:
The programs will be pre-populated.
Question(s):
Will Enrollment Manager allow us to see a veteran's remaining benefits (months/days)?
Answer:
Yes.
Section 1009 Update
Question(s):
What happens to an active duty student who has completed 29 days prior to school starting?
Answer:
Section 1009 changes the way monthly housing is paid for Post-9/11 GI Bill beneficiaries while they are on active duty. Effective August 1st, 2022, service members on active duty for 30 continuous days or more will no longer be eligible to receive monthly housing (MHA) payments.
Question(s):
Will they receive any housing benefits?
Answer:
Service members on active duty for 30 continuous days or more will receive BAH from DOD.
Question(s):
Are there set BAH rates or is housing determined on a case by case basis, depending on eligibility?
Answer:
DOD BAH is calculated by pay grade, location, and dependent status.
The MHA paid by VA is based on the DOD rate for an E-5 with dependents for the zip code of location where the student is taking the majority of their classes. VA MHA rates are prorated based on the student’s benefit level as well as the rate of pursuit if not attending full-time.
VA Forms 22-1995/22-5495 Update
Question(s):
I thought the requirement for 22-1995 when a student changed programs had not been required for some time now, is this new?
Answer:
A VA Forms 22-1995/22-5495 have not been required for some time when a student changed programs but remained at the same school. However, until this recent procedural update, the form was required if the student changed schools. It is now no longer necessary for a student to submit a VA Form 22-1995 or 22-5495 to VA or for the SCO to voluntarily collect the form on behalf of the student under any circumstances.
Question(s):
The 22-1995 is no longer required for Change in Program, but is it still required for Change in Place of Training?
Are students still required to submit the 1995 to VA, even though the SCO's don’t need to maintain the document?
Are we no longer required to take VA 22-5495?
Answer:
No, it is not required. It is no longer necessary for a student to submit a VA Form 22-1995/22-5495 to VA or for the SCO to voluntarily collect the form on behalf of the student whether changing programs or changing schools.
Question(s):
What if you have two different facility codes (Main Campus/Extension), would that be considered two different schools and need to obtain the 1995?
Answer:
The VA Forms 22-1995 and 22-5495 are no longer necessary even if a student changes schools.
Question(s):
With the change in program requirement gone - how does it affect the 85/15 reporting?
Answer:
This does not change 85/15 reporting in any way.
Question(s):
What happened that made VA decide not to require 1995? What is the process to make this or these kinds of changes? What else is VA considering changing based on the catalyst for this change?
Answer:
The enrollment certification received from a new school for a program in a different academic or career field fulfills the requirements necessary to approve a request for a change (38 U.S.C. § 3691). Additionally, the monthly enrollment verification process required by the beneficiary satisfies the change in program and/or place of training request. This procedural change will reduce processing time by allowing for increased automation of claims.
Question(s):
When submitting a change of program in VA Once, will we still see the message asking if we have a signed form on file for the change? If yes, do we select no and move forward without penalty?
Answer:
Yes, you will still see the pop-up as VA-ONCE has not been updated to remove it. If you click ‘cancel’ on the pop-up, the VBA remark regarding having the 22-1995 on file will not be placed on the enrollment certification.
VRRAP Update
Question(s):
Do VRRAP students who start a program in August 2022 need to complete the program by December 2023?
Answer:
No.
Question(s):
Who can I reach out to for questions regarding VRRAP?
Answer:
Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) or you may use the VRRAP mailbox listed on the participation agreement.
Question(s):
Is there a SCO Handbook for VRRAP?
Answer:
No, there isn’t a SCO Handbook.
Question(s):
I have a student interested in the Writer/Editor program but cannot find a school that offers it. What are my options?
Answer:
Unfortunately, there isn’t currently an option for the requested program.
Question(s):
For VRRAP students, are we required to go into VA-ONCE to certify students returned to resident training on June 1st?
Answer:
Yes, it is a requirement, SCOs must use the new COVID-19 recertification remark with the correct hours (resident or distant), which became effective June 1, 2022.
Question(s):
Are VRRAP student allowed to be remote?
Answer:
VRRAP students may be allowed to be remote only if the facility has an approval to conduct distance learning. If the facility is non-accredited, the answer is “no.”
Chapter 35 Applicability to 38 USC 3679(e) Clarification
Question(s):
For chapter 35 - it was very quickly said that we don't have to change our school processes since the payment is made directly to the student. I just want to clarify - are we allowed to drop a chapter 35 student if they have not made payment arrangements by our deadline?
Answer:
The VA Education Services Policy & Regulations Team determined that because Chapter 35 educational assistance is paid directly to the student and not the school, the provisions of 38 USC §3679(e) have no impact under Section 103 and schools do not need to change their current policies or procedures related to this statutory provision.
Please follow your school policy applicable to students who have not made payment arrangements by the school’s published deadline, unless the student is 31 or 33, as noted in 38 USC §3679 (e). The school must follow the provisions under 38 USC §3679(c), and only charge Chapter 35 students in-state tuition and fees, however.
Question(s):
Chapter 35 students may be waiting on the institution to convert them from out of state to in-state and are not able to pay/finalize their bill. Should students have late fees waived (not penalized)? We were about to implement this policy in line with the other Chapters covered under the Veterans Choice Act, this is a bit of mixed messaging.
Answer:
The law requires schools to charge tuition and fees to Chapter 35 students at the in-state rate for terms beginning on or after August 1, 2022. It is not appropriate to penalize these students because the school failed to bill them in accordance with federal law.
Question(s):
I am unclear about Chapter 35 also not getting penalized by a college while we wait for VA funds to land at the start of the term. The slide says the change has no impact on schools, but it does have an impact on the college policy. We state in our catalog which chapters are protected and I will change my procedures to include Ch.35 now. Please explain what "no impact" means.
Answer:
The Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act added Chapter 35 to the language in 38 USC §3679(c) which requires schools have a policy that permits any covered individual to attend without penalty while waiting for VA to pay tuition and fees – thus not penalizing a student if VA does not pay timely.
The policy states that there is no impact to Chapter 35 students because the school does not generally certify tuition and fees and VA never pays the school tuition and fees for Chapter 35 students.
SCO Annual Training Requirements
For questions about the SCO Annual Training requirements, please review these resources:
School Certifying Official Training FAQS - Education and Training (va.gov)
School Certifying Official (SCO) Training - Education and Training (va.gov)
