Accelerated Payment Information
General Information
Accelerated Payment Information for Schools
List of Approved High-Technology Programs
An accelerated payment is a lump sum payment
of 60% of tuition and fees for certain high cost, high tech programs. If you
do not have sufficient entitlement to cover 60% of tuition and fees, we will
pay you based on your actual remaining entitlement.
VA will make accelerated payments for one term, quarter, or semester at a
time. However, if the program is not offered on a term, quarter or semester
basis, the accelerated payment is paid for the entire program. To qualify,
you must be enrolled in a high tech program and you must certify that you intend
to seek employment in a high tech industry as defined by VA. Accelerated payment
is paid instead of Montgomery GI Bill benefits that you would otherwise receive.
Only individuals eligible for
the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (Chapter 30), Montgomery GI Bill - Reserve Duty (Chapter 1606), and Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) qualify for accelerated payments. Additionally, Reservists and REAP participants only qualify for accelerated payments for programs of education that began after October 1, 2008.
To receive accelerated payment,
the tuition and fees must be more than double the Montgomery GI Bill benefits
that you would otherwise receive for that term. For example, if your full-time
rate is $732 and you are enrolled in a 4-month semester, your tuition and fees
must be over $5,856 (4 months x $732=$2,928; $5,856=2 x $2,928) before
you could receive an accelerated payment.
If you receive $900 monthly benefits, your tuition and fees must be over $7,200 (4 months
x $900=$3,600; $7,200= 2 x $3,600). If you receive $1,050 monthly benefits,
your tuition and fees must be over $8,400 (4 months x $1,050 = $4,200; 2 x $4,200 = $8,400).
For Active Duty GI Bill recipients, both degree and non-degree
programs qualify. You must be enrolled in a program in one of the following
categories:
· Life science or physical science (but
not social science);
· Engineering (all fields);
· Mathematics;
· Engineering and science technology;
· Computer specialties; and
· Engineering, science, and computer management
For Reserve GI Bill and REAP recipients, only non-degree programs that last under 2 years qualify for accelerated payment.
You must intend to seek
employment in one of the following industries:
· Biotechnology,
· Life Science Technologies,
· Opto-electronics,
· Computers and telecommunications,
· Electronics,
· Computer-integrated manufacturing,
· Material Design,
· Aerospace,
· Weapons,
· Nuclear technology
Ask your school to include
your request for accelerated payment to VA when it sends your enrollment information
to VA for processing. Your request must include your certification that you
plan to seek employment in a high technology industry.
We will divide your accelerated
payment by the amount of your full-time monthly rate (including kickers and
additional contributions) and we will reduce your entitlement by the resulting
number of months and days.
Example: Jill received an accelerated payment of $3,600. Her full-time rate
is $900. VA will charge her entitlement as follows: $3,600/$900 = 4 months.
Accelerated payments may only be
made for terms or other enrollment periods that begin on or after October 1,
2002.
No. Only
the school's tuition and fees can be considered for accelerated payment.
Yes, as
long as they are approved for VA benefits. Short, expensive, IT courses offered
by businesses typically are not approved for VA benefits.
Yes. However, your degree or certificate must require the completion
of these other non-technical courses. For reservists and REAP participants these courses do not qualify.
No. VA needs to verify that you have enrolled before sending
out the large payment. VA will pay you as soon after the start of the term
as possible. You will receive your payment faster if you receive direct deposit.
No. After you complete your enrollment, we will ask you
to verify that you received the accelerated payment and we will also ask you
to tell us how you used the accelerated payment (such as toward tuition, fees
and books and supplies). We are asking the latter question for statistical
purposes only because the law requires us to collect this information. Your
answer will have no bearing on your entitlement to the accelerated payment.
You must respond to these questions within 60 days from the end of your enrollment
period or we will create an overpayment equal to the accelerated payment. As
with any course, you must notify us of any change in your enrollment. Your
school will be reporting any changes as well.
Yes. If you
receive a non-punitive grade (a grade that does not count toward graduation
requirements such as a "W" for Withdrawal), you may have to repay
all or part of your accelerated payment depending on the reasons you received
that grade. You may have to repay a large amount of money.
No. The fact that you intended to find
employment in a high technology industry is sufficient to let you keep your
accelerated payments.
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Paper Enrollment Certification. Schools should complete VA Form 22-1999,
Enrollment Certification, in the usual manner with the following exceptions:
- Schools should certify only one term at a time and should always include
the total charges (tuition and fees) for the student's courses. The student
must request accelerated payment separately for each term.
- The Remarks should contain the phrase "I request accelerated payment",
the student's signature and the date.
- On the student's first request for accelerated payment, the Remarks should
also contain the following: "I certify that I intend to seek employment
in a high technology industry as defined by VA. I have read VA's approved
list of high technology industries."
Electronic Certifications (VACERT). The school should complete electronic
certifications in a similar manner but include in Remarks, "Acceleration
certification on file." To make this certification, you must have in your
files the student's written request for accelerated payment for each term that
accelerated payment was requested and the necessary certification as described
above.
Schools should submit changes in enrollment certifications in
the usual manner. Be sure to include tuition and fees. Mitigating circumstances
are an issue in these cases as in other cases.
No. A student may not receive both for the same period.
No. VA may send an accelerated payment check to the student shortly after
the term begins if:
- The school certifies the claimant's enrollment before
the beginning date of the term and
- VA processes the enrollment at the start
of the term.
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NOTE :"*" means all programs are considered
high technology programs within that discipline.
- 1.09 Animal Sciences
- 01.0901 Animal Sciences, General
- 01.0902 Agricultural Animal Breeding
- 01.0903 Animal Health
- 01.0904 Animal Nutrition
- 01.0905 Dairy Science
- 01.0906 Livestock Management
- 01.0907 Poultry Science
- 01.10 Food Science and Technology
- 01.1001 Food Science
- 01.1002 Food Technology and Processing
- 01.1099 Food Science and Technology
- 01.1101 Plant Sciences General
- 01.1102 Agronomy and Crop Science
- 01.1103 Horticultural Science
- 01.1104 Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding
- 01.1105 Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management
- 01.1106 Range Science Management
- 01.12 Soil Sciences
- 01.1201 Soil Science and Agronomy General
- 01.1202 Soil Chemistry and Physics
- 01.1203 Soil Microbiology
- 01.1299 Soil Sciences
- 03.01 Natural Resources Conservation and Research
- 03.0104 Environmental Science
- 03.03 Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management
- 03.0301 Fishing Fisheries Sciences and Management
- 03.05 Forestry
- 03.0501 Forestry, General
- 03.0502 Forest Sciences and Biology
- 03.0506 Forest Management/Forest Resources Management
- 03.0508 Urban Forestry
- 03.0509 Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology
- 03.0510 Forest Resources Production and Management
- 03.0511 Forest Technology/Technician
- 03.06 Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
- 03.0601 Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
- 09.07 Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
- 09.0702 Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia
11. Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
- 11.0101 Computer and Information Sciences, General
- 11.0102 Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
- 11.0103 Information Technology
- 11.0199 Computer and Information Sciences,
- 11.02 Computer Programming
- 11.0201 Computer Programming/Programmer General
- 11.0202 Computer Programming Specific Applications
- 11.0203 Computer
- 11.03 Data Processing
- 11.0301 Data Process and Data Processing Technology/Technician
- 11.04 Information Science/Studies
- 11.0401 Information Science/Studies
- 11.05 Computer Systems Analysis
- 11.0501 Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst
- 11.07 Computer Science
- 11.0701 Computer Science
- 11.08 Computer Software and Media Application
- 11.0801 Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design
- 11.0802 Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration
- 11.0803 Computer Graphics
- 11.0899 Computer Software and Media Applications, Other.
- 11.09 Computer System Networking and Telecommunications
- 11.0901 Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
- 11.10 Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
- 11.1001 System Administration/Administrator
- 11.1002 System, Networking and LAN/WAN Management/Manager
- 11.1003 Computer and Information Systems Security
- 11.1004 Web/Multimedia Management and Webmaster
- *14. Engineering. Instructional program that prepare individuals
to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the solution of practical
problems.
- *15. Engineering Technologies/Technicians. Instructional programs
that prepare individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in
support of engineering and related projects.
- *26. Biological and Biomedical Sciences. Instructional programs that
focus on the biological sciences and the non-clinical biomedical sciences,
and that prepare individuals for research and professional careers as biologist
and biomedical scientist.
- *27. Mathematics and Statistics. Instructional programs that focus
on the systematic study of logical symbolic language and its applications.
- *29. Military Technologies. A program that prepares individuals
to undertake advanced and specialized leadership and technical responsibilities
for the armed services and related national security organizations. Includes
instruction in such areas as weapons systems and technology, communications,
intelligence, management, logistics and strategy.
- 30.01 Biological and Physical Sciences
- 30.0101 Biological and Physical Sciences
- 30.06 System Science and Theory
- 30.0601 System Science and Theory
- 30.08 Mathematics and Computer Science
- 30.0801 Mathematics and Computer Science
- 30.10 Biopsychology
- 30.1001 Biopsychology
- 30.11 Gerontology
- 30.1101 Gerontology
- 30.16 Accounting and Computer Science
- 30.1601 Accounting and Computer Science
- 30.17 Behavioral Sciences
- 30.1701 Behavioral Sciences
- 30.18 Natural Sciences
- 30.1801 Natural Sciences
- 30.19 Nutrition Sciences
- 30.1901 Nutrition Sciences
- 30.24 Neuroscience
- 30.2401 Neuroscience
- 30.25 Cognitive Science
- 30.2501 Cognitive Science
- *40. Physical Sciences. Instructional programs that focus
on the scientific study of inanimate objects, processes of matter and energy, and associated phenomena.
- *41. Science Technologies/Technicians. Instructional programs that
prepare individuals to apply scientific principles and technical skills in
support of scientific research and development.
- 42.11 Physiological Psychology/Psychobiology
- 42.1101 Physiological Psychology/Psychobiology
- 42.19 Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology
- 42.1901 Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology
- 42. 42.24 Psychopharmacology
- 42.2401 Psychopharmacology
- 42.26 Forensic Psychology
- 42.2601 Forensic Psychology
- *51.14 Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies
- 51.1401 Medical Scientist (MS, PhD)
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