Veteran Student Services Office   

Welcome to NMU’s Veteran Student Services Office Web site. We are here to assist you in processing your VA educational benefits.

A Veteran Benefits Checklist can be found here for new, continuing, and transfer veteran students.

New to the Veteran Student Educational Benefits Process?

We recommend that you review the G.I. Bill education program information at http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/benefits.htm.             

If you would like to apply for your educational benefits, please stop in our office, 2107 C. B. Hedgcock, to complete the necessary paperwork.  You can also reach us by telephone at 906-227-1715 or e-mail veterans@nmu.edu.

Continuing Veteran Students

In order to continue receiving your VA Educational Benefits each semester, you must complete a Veteran Student Services Enrollment Form at the beginning of each semester, even if certified for more than one semester by the school's VA Certifying Official.  Once you have completed the form, which can be printed here, submit it to the Veteran Student Services Office in 2107 C. B. Hedgcock. 

Veteran students will be certified to the VA in accordance with the current VA regulations.  We are required to report complete details of your enrollment, and any subsequent changes, to the VA.  Your failure to provide complete information may result in a delay of certification to the VA Regional Office.  Completion of the NMU - Veteran Student Services Enrollment Verification Form is not a guarantee that you will receive payment from the VA. 

IMPORTANT UPDATE - October 7, 2009

Status of Payment of Veterans Benefits

The Veterans Administration (VA) has announced one-time advance payment application procedures to assist veteran students who have already applied for educational benefits but who have not yet received their monthly payment for the Fall 2009 Academic Term.

At present, VA has received 277,403 claims for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and has 72,329 claims pending.  According to the VA, it currently takes an average of approximately 35 days to process a Post-9/11 GI Bill claim; processing time for all educational benefits increases every September and October due to fall enrollment spikes.

As of October 2, 2009, veteran students can either go to a regional VA office with a government-issued photo ID and proof of enrollment (class schedule, enrollment verification letter, etc.) to sign for checks, or apply online at https://advancepay.gibill.va.gov/.

It is important to note that these payments are one-time advances on funds, not new awards, and will be deducted from future education benefits.  If a veteran student receives an advance payment and either stops attending school or drops enough classes so that her or his benefit is affected, the veteran student may have to repay the advance to VA.

Maximum advance payment amounts per program are as follows:

• Post-9/11 GI Bill:  $3,000.00
• Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty:  $3,000.00
• Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve:  $1,000.00
• Reserve Education Assistance Program:  $2,000.00
• Post Vietnam Era Educational Assistance Programs:  $1,000.00

Payments that are not received at a Regional VA Office will be made in the form of a U.S. Treasury check and mailed to the veteran student.  The VA has stated that payments will be issued within three (3) workdays (Monday - Friday) following the submission of a payment request but that veteran students should add an additional three (3) days' time to allow the U.S. Postal Service to deliver the check (not counting Sundays).

More information and a list of regional VA offices is available at http://www.gibill.va.gov/.