Should I Do Anything at VONAPP Now, or Should I Wait Until I Plan to Attend School?

Hi Michael, thank you for complimenting the site!  Hopefully we are helping service members, veterans, and their families know more about their education benefits and what their options are for using them.  You do not have to do anything with VONAPP at this time, but it might be a good idea if you did. 

When you apply for your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits on VONAPP you will be sent a Certificate of Eligibility which shows the amount of benefits you are eligible for.  When you have decided on an education plan and a school to attend, show the Certificate to the Registrar’s Office or the VA Certifying Official at the school.  The school takes care of filling out all of the necessary paper work and submits it to the VA.  Receiving your Certificate early lets you know if everything is in order concerning your benefits and might avoid trying to straighten out a mistake when you are ready to start school.  If you have been following the site, you already know that it is not unheard of for there to be some confusion as to benefits with the VA.  It happens a very small percentage of time, but if it happens to you it doesn’t really matter how rarely it happens.

You have 15 years to use your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits from when you left active duty, and don’t forget that with the Post 9/11 GI Bill you are also eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program.  Choosing a school participating in the program, and being accepted into the program by the school, can help a lot with tuition the GI Bill may not cover.