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This site will provide you with the information about the processes required to receive your education benefits. This page will provide information to Veterans eligible for education benefits through the Veterans Administration. Alison Valone Suhocki serves as the Veteran’s certifying official who will provide assistance to Veterans with their VA educational benefits. Alison will assist all undergraduate students at the Greater Hartford Campus as well as Master of Public Policy students and Teacher Certification students. The certifying official contact information for all other professional schools and campuses in the area is indicated below.

Contact Information:

Alison Valone Suhocki
Phone: (860) 570 9022
e-Mail: Alison.Valone@uconn.edu
Office hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30AM to 4:30PM (The office is located in the Student Administrative Services Office in the Undergraduate building at the Greater Hartford Campus.)


Certifying Officials for local campuses and other professional schools

UCONN School of Social Work

Barbara Meyers
Phone: (860) 570 9305
e-Mail: Barbara.Meyers@uconn.edu 		Hartford MBA program

Karen Mathieu
Phone: (860) 728 2400
e-Mail: Karen.Mathieu@business.uconn.edu 		UCONN Law School

Susan Steen
Phone: (860) 570 5141
e-Mail: Susan.Steen@law.uconn.edu

Important Links:

GI Bill: gibill.va.gov

UCONN Veterans benefits website: veterans.uconn.edu

WAVE: https://gibill.va.gov/wave

Department of Veterans Affairs facilities locator and directory: http://www1.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isFlash=1

G.I. Bill Education Benefits Process

  • If you are Chapter 30 or 1606 request education benefits by completing the Application for VA Education Benefits form 22-1990, The form can also be completed at the Department of Veterans Affairs website at gibill.va.gov

  • If you are eligible for Chapter 30 or 1606 benefits and you have received benefits from another institution and this will be your first semester receiving benefits from the University of Connecticut please complete the Request for Change of Program or Place of Training form 22-1995

  • If you are eligible for Chapter 35 benefits please complete the Application for Survivors’ and dependents’ educational assistance form 22-5490

  • If you are eligible for Chapter 35 benefits and have changed your training program or location please complete the Request for Change of Program or Place of Training Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance form 22-5495

  • Each semester complete the “Form D” to request certification of your enrollment. The form requires your advisor’s signature. Once you have completed the form it can be faxed, mailed, emailed or dropped off at the Student Administrative Services Office to Alison Valone.

Voc-Rehab or Chapter 31 Benefits

The Vocational Rehabilitation program of the Veterans Administration deserves investigation by any veteran who is in or planning to be in school and has a disability. This program is a viable alternative to the GI Bill for disabled vets. If you currently have a disability of 20% or more, you are eligible to be considered for vocational rehabilitation.

If you think you have a service-related disability but don't have a VA rating, you should call the VA 1800-827-1000. Voc-Rehab offers educational benefits similar to those provided by the regular GI Bill. Participants receive a monthly stipend and their tuition, books, fees, and the VA pays for supplies. Under certain circumstances, help may also be available for medical and dental care and financial emergencies.

For more information on Vocational Rehab, please visit www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre

Post – 9/11 GI Bill Information

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is for individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Post-9/11 GI Bill will become effective for training on or after August 1, 2009. This program will pay eligible individuals:


This benefit is payable only for training at an Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) (See comparison chart for more information). If you are enrolled exclusively in online training you will not receive the housing allowance. If you are on active duty you will not receive the housing allowance or books & supplies stipend. This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits, generally benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty.

Information from the Veteran Benefits website (gibill.va.gov)

Comparison between the Post-9/11 GI Bill and other benefits

A chart listing the 2008 - 2009 maximum tuition & fees

Letter to veterans explaining the Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefit

Pamphlet

Link to 38 CFR Part 21 - Post 9/11 GI Bill (Final Regulation)

Frequently Asked Questions about the major changes contained in the Post-9/11 GI Bill

Since the new benefit contains many major differences from the current Montgomery GI Bill you may wish to sign-up for e-mail alerts as new information is added on a regular basis.

Regular Pay

For students who do not apply for advance pay, the first check arrives at their home or account within four to six weeks from the first day of class. Subsequent checks are delivered to the students' homes the first part of each month to pay for the preceding month. You can also have the checks sent right to your bank if you select the Electronic Pay option, in order to do this you must set up a direct deposit account, have a checking or saving account and your financial institution's routing number. Submit claim Forms for each semester you wish to claim.

Remember:

  • In order to continue receiving education benefits for any semester, the Form D must be completed and submitted to the Veterans Certifying Official.

  • Students receiving Chapter 30 or Chapter 1606 benefits must submit monthly verifications of enrollment to the VA. The verifications can be made on the last day of each month by either phone: 1-877-823-2378, or the internet by using the wave system. This must be done in order for your next check to be released.

Educational Benefits

ACES students are entitled to receive benefits for two semesters only. To continue receiving benefits, students are required to be accepted in any of the VA approved Programs.

Veteran’s Tuition Waiver

Waivers cover only the costs of tuition for accredited programs at undergraduate and graduate levels. Other charges- such as books, student activities, room and board and parking are not covered. The waiver applies only to courses paid for out of colleges' tuition revenue and not to so-called “extension-fund” courses paid for from student fees, such as summer and evening classes and noncredit “enrichment courses” that are not part of degree programs. Typically, all students, including veterans who participate in these programs, are charged course fees, which are not tuition fees as defined in statutes.

To qualify for the waiver, the veteran must have at least 90 days of active-duty service during time of war, and if National Guard or Reserves units; must have been called up to active duty under Title 10 USC at least for 90 days, or unless the veteran was separated from service earlier because of a service-connected disability or the military operation lasted less than 90 days and he served for the duration. To be eligible for the tuition waiver students must fulfill the following criteria: must be enrolled to a Degree Program (Undergraduate or Graduate Level), have been discharged under Honorable conditions from the U.S. Armed Forces, have a domicile in the State of Connecticut at the time of admission, must be a matriculated student and must have served in Time of War at least for 90 Days.

To apply for the waiver:

  • Send a certified copy of your DD-214 (member 4) to the Storrs VA benefits office to determine eligibility.

  • Provide proof of domicile. (A copy of Driver License OR A copy of your income tax return Form 1040)

  • Complete and return Veterans Waiver Application