Payment Deferral for VA Beneficiaries
Summary
Per Title 38 U.S.C. §3679(e), as added by Pub. L. 115-407, §103(a), and as amended by Pub. L. 117-68, §2(b), beginning on August 1, 2019, the State approving agency requires educational and training institutions (ETI) to provide protections for any covered individual using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational assistance under Chapter 31, Chapter 33, or Chapter 35 of Title 38 U.S.C..
Provision of the Law
1. For each semester of enrollment, protection for covered individuals begins when the student provides the school with a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or statement of benefit. If a covered individual is unable to meet their financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of a payment to be provided by VA, the institution:
a. Cannot prevent a covered individual from attending or participating in the course of education.
b. Cannot deny a covered individual access to classrooms, libraries, or other institutional facilities.
c. Cannot coerce a covered individual to borrow additional funds.
d. Cannot charge covered individuals late fees or penalties.
2. The protections for a covered individual end when VA makes payment or 90 days after the date the school certified tuition and fees, whichever is earlier.
Additional Required Actions
38 U.S.C. §3679(e)(4) details additional actions that may be required of a covered individual to remain enrolled in a course of education pending receipt of tuition and fees.
The University of Northern Colorado requires that a covered individual must submit a written request to use such entitlement each semester. This written request is referred to as a Veteran’s Certification Request (VCR), and can be found on all students’ URSA portals under the Student tab.