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How do I receive my financial aid?
UWT Students utilizing both VA Education Benefits and Financial Grants/Loans must register at least a week before the quarter and have their direct deposit set up in MyUW. The financial aid funds will be automatically released and deposited into your account approximately 2-3 days before the start of the quarter.
Those who register after the deadline must request their funds be released by Financial Aid (uwtfa@uw.edu ) via your UW email.
Note: You are responsible for paying any balance on your account, not covered, or approved by your VA benefits.
Why hasn't my tuition been paid?
Not submitting a Quarterly Certification Request to the VMRC is the most common cause for late or no VA stipend payments. Please visit the Quarterly Request for Certification webpage via this link: https://az1.tacoma.uw.edu/multi/vetcert/ , log in using your UW NetID, and submit or edit your VA Certification Request.
Note: Chapter 33 tuition payments are submitted to the VA after UW's Add/Drop Period. Once submitted, it can take the VA 4-6 weeks to submit payment to UW Tacoma. Please note, Chapter 33 recipients enrolled with VMRC will not receive late fees for VA payments made after the tuition deadline.
If your tuition has not been paid by the end of the quarter, or you have not received any VA payments (after the first month of the quarter), please contact the VMRC.
Can I use my VA benefits to take any class?
VA will approve:
- Courses specifically required for the degree major (the VA will use your Degree Audit).
- UW formally approved the student's Dual Majors, and this is reflected in student records.
- The VRMC will need an updated Change of Program form (COP) with both Majors. Once one of the degrees is complete, another COP for the remaining Major (the electives are interchangeable- two audits are run).
- Minor Courses that fall within the current Major as an elective (view audits or email from the Academic Advisors to support it is within the Major (not Minor).
- They are using the VA's Round Out Rule to finish their degree with SCO-Approved courses and want to stay Full-Time with Benefits. For the Last Quarter ONLY.
Students ONLY utilizing State Waivers do not need supporting documents or additional approvals.
Using benefits: Only courses part of the students elected program (as reflected on your VMRC paperwork) will be approved.
Any unapproved courses will be out of pocket cost for Chapter 33 & Chapter 33 TOE benefit users/
Chapter 31 students - please contact VR&E Case Manager for approvals.
Chapter 35 students also utilizing a tuition waiver: will have the tuition exempt, but this will not reflect GI Bill® Stipends- only the approved courses are submitted.
Which fees are not covered by the VA?
Federal regulations have changed the amount of tuition and fee charges that schools can report to the VA for Chapter 33-Post 9/11 GI Bill® Recipients. For periods of enrollment beginning on or after August 1, 2011, schools are to report actual net cost for in-state tuition and fees assessed by the institution, after deducting funds or assistance provided directly to the institution and designated for the sole purpose of defraying tuition and fees.
Examples of funds or aid that will be deducted when reporting tuition and fees include:
- Tuition-based scholarships
- Institutional or employer-based aid
- Federal or state tuition assistance (ex.: Federal TA through the Reserves or National Guard)
- Waivers
- Any other means designated specifically to pay tuition and fees
University Charges Due to Drop(s) or Withdrawal are the Student's Responsibility
Any student who drops or withdraws on or after the first day of the term will be charged a percentage of the tuition and fees assessed by the University. The student will be responsible for these charges.
Why haven't I received my monthly payment (MHA / Stipend)?
Answer 1: Review your emails for any paperwork issues and double-check if your quarterly certification request is correctly submitted. Please visit the Quarterly Request for Certification webpage via this link: https://az1.tacoma.uw.edu/multi/vetcert/ , log in using your UW NetID, and submit or edit your VA Benefits Request.
Answer 2: The VA typically pays on the first of every month from the previous month. For example, on October 1st, you will receive your funds for September.
Note: Payments are prorated, and you only receive payment for the number of days each month you are attending classes.
Answer 3: Starting in the 2021-2022 school year, Post-9/11 GI Bill® (CH33) students who receive Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments are required to verify their enrollment to continue receiving their payments. Enrollment verification is a new requirement for students to verify that they have remained enrolled in the same courses or training every month. Students who receive MHA/kicker payments will have their payments withheld if they fail to verify or report that they are no longer enrolled in their courses or training. For more information on initiating VA Enrollment Verification visit https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/isaksonroe/verification_of_enrollment.asp.
Answer 4: For Chapters 30 and 1606: Your enrollment can be verified on the last calendar day of each month. You will not receive payment until you have confirmed your attendance on WAVES.
Answer 5: If your Certification Request was delayed, the VA may not have processed your request yet; it can take anywhere from 3-4 weeks after your Certification Request has been sent from the school to the VA for the VA to process your benefits.
All students will receive an "enrollment" or "adjustment" email from VAOnce once the VMRC completes your Certification Request.
For Chapter 33/ Chapter 33 TOE, an "amendment" from VAOnce is to indicate the tuition was requested.
Answer 6: Previous over payments (debts)/balances with the VA could be satisfied by current awards or stipends. Please call the VA Regional Education Office at 1-888-442-4551 for more details.
How do I receive funds via direct deposit?
Direct deposit authorization is initiated at the time of VA benefit activation. To update, change, or add direct deposit account information, call the regional VA office at 1-877-838-2778 or 1-888-442-4551, or through your VA.Gov account.
How do I receive a Verification of Enrollment Letter to confirm my Tuition Assistance (TA)?
Contact the Registrar's office reguwt@uw.edu for Verification of Enrollment
I need verification of enrollment to renew my military ID. Where do I get this?
This process varies based off of the student and VA Education Benefit being utilized. Please contact the VMRC uwtva@uw.edu for more information.
How can I find out how many months of benefits I have remaining?
This information is available through VA.gov. Follow steps for obtaining a Statement of Benefits.
If you do not already have an account, visit their website to set one up or call the VA Regional Education Office at 1-888-442-4551.
Can I use my VA education benefits to study abroad?
VA will Approve:
- Students must be enrolled in courses that apply to their program.
- The program at the "host" school in a foreign country school must be approved.
- VA cannot pay study abroad fees unless required as part of the student's program.
- VA will cover:
- VA could pay the home school's tuition, up to the in-state maximum allowed. (Room and board charges cannot be included in tuition costs)
- VA could provide a monthly housing allowance to the student if the student is enrolled more than ½-time that the student uses to help pay room and board costs
- VA could provide books and supplies stipend
- VA will not cover:
- VA cannot pay airfare
- VA cannot pay amenities fees or host school fees (lodge or meals).
Each Benefit is different; please contact the VMRC Benefits Advisors for guidance.
Where can I find more information about the Choice Act and how it affects tuition reduction for veterans and eligible spouse/child?
Please review information at the following link regarding Tuition Reduction for Veterans and Eligible Spouse/Child (https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/vmrc/tuition-waivers-veterans-dependents). Additional information is available at the following VA site: Section 702 of the Choice Act (https://www.va.gov/resources/in-state-tuition-rates-under-the-veterans-choice-act/ ).
Isakson & Roe: Public Law 116-315 (Section 1019)
Effective January 5th, 2021, this new law provides for the improvement and/or expansion of various GI Bill® programs, including Section 1019 which outlines over payments to eligible persons or Veterans. For more information on how this legislation affects VA education benefit users, please visit https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/presentations/IsaksonRoeSection1019.pdf.