Changes in Your Enrollment

911GIBill What Ifs

October 20th, 2009

I received a letter from the VA today which described each of the payments that were deposited a few days ago for my Post 9/11 GI Bill benefit. One of the pages described some “what ifs” concerning any changes in my enrollment.

Grades You Receive
VA can’t pay benefits for courses that don’t count toward your graduation requirements. If your school reports that you received a grade that doesn’t count toward your graduation, you may have to repay all benefits VA paid for the course. Here are some examples:

An “I” grade for an incomplete which is not made up during the time period required by your school or within 1 year from receipt, whichever is earlier.
A “W” or other grade for withdrawing
An “AU” or other grade for auditing

Generally you do not have to repay benefits for a failing grade.

If You Withdraw
If you withdraw from one or more courses after the end of your school’s drop period and receive grades that don’t count toward your graduation requirements, you may have to repay all benefits VA paid for the course from the beginning of the term.

You may not have to repay the benefits if you show the change was due to reasons beyond your control. The reasons must be unavoidable and unexpected events that directly interfered with your enrollment.

Extended illness
Severe illness or death in your immediate family
Unscheduled changes in your employment
Lack of child care

Be prepared to send evidence to support your reason.

Withdraw to avoid a failing grade
Dislike of the instructor
Too many courses attempted

Not that I plan on ever failing a class, but I was under the impression that if you did fail one you better break out your check book, or maybe that is just Tuition Assistance… Whatever, I shall do my best and I hope you do also! Now back to studying for my accounting test.