UAB Veteran Services certifies enrollment for students using federal VA education benefits. Below is an overview of each benefit program - who it serves, what it covers, and how payments are delivered. For complete program details, visit VA.gov or contact our office.
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Chapter 30 - Montgomery GI Bill® (Active Duty)
Who is typically eligible:
Veterans who served at least two years of active duty and contributed $1,200 to the program during service.
What you receive:
- A monthly stipend paid directly to you based on your training time, length of service, and benefit category
- Recipients may receive up to 36 months of benefits, or up to 48 months when combined with another chapter benefit
Payments go directly to the student via VA direct deposit — not to UAB. Benefits are paid in arrears (e.g., payment for August arrives in September). Payments are prorated for partial months and do not include enrollment break periods.
Important: Recipients must verify their enrollment each month through VA.gov. You can verify online, by text, by email, or by phone. Failure to verify will result in non-payment of your benefit.
Verify Your Enrollment at VA.gov Opens an external link.
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Chapter 31 - Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)
Who is typically eligible:
Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% who need assistance preparing for, finding, or maintaining suitable employment.
What you receive:
- Tuition and fees paid directly to UAB on your behalf
- A monthly subsistence allowance paid directly to you
- Book and supply assistance
Tuition and fees are paid directly to UAB and applied as a third-party payment to your student account. Your subsistence allowance is paid directly to you. Eligibility and duration are determined by your VA Vocational Rehabilitation counselor.
Note: VA will not pay for courses already covered by Tuition Assistance or tuition scholarships, courses not required for your degree, courses repeated after an acceptable grade was earned, or courses that are withdrawn or dropped.
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Chapter 33 - Post-9/11 GI Bill®
Who is typically eligible:
Veterans, service members, and eligible dependents who served at least 90 days of active duty after September 10, 2001. Benefit percentage (40%–100%) is based on length of qualifying service.
What you receive:
- Tuition and fees paid directly to UAB
- A monthly housing allowance (MHA) paid directly to you based on the DoD Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate for an E-5 with dependents at UAB's zip code
- A book stipend of up to $1,000 per academic year paid directly to you ($41.67 per credit hour)
- Recipients may receive up to 36 months of benefits, or up to 48 months when combined with another chapter benefit
Tuition and fees are paid directly to UAB. Housing allowance and book stipend are paid directly to the student via VA direct deposit. Benefits are paid in arrears. Students enrolled exclusively in online or distance learning courses receive 50% of the national average BAH rate. Active duty service members are not eligible for the housing allowance.
Note: VA will not pay for courses already covered by Tuition Assistance or tuition scholarships, courses not required for your degree, courses repeated after an acceptable grade was earned, or courses that are withdrawn or dropped.
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Chapter 35 - Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA)
Who is typically eligible:
Spouses and children of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected condition, died while on active duty, or died as a result of a service-connected disability. Recipients may receive up to 36 months of benefits.
What you receive:
- A monthly stipend based on training time
- Payments go directly to the student via VA direct deposit — not to UAB. Benefits are paid in arrears and do not include enrollment break periods.
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Chapter 1606 - Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve
Who is typically eligible:
Members of the Selected Reserve, including the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard who meet qualifying service requirements. Recipients may receive up to 36 months of benefits, or up to 48 months when combined with another chapter benefit.
What you receive:
- A monthly stipend based on training time paid directly to you
- Payments go directly to the student via VA direct deposit — not to UAB. Benefits are paid in arrears. Payments are prorated for partial months and do not include enrollment break periods.
Important: Recipients must verify their enrollment each month through VA.gov. You can verify online, by text, by email, or by phone. Failure to verify will result in non-payment of your benefit.
Note: The Department of Defense does not authorize Tuition Assistance for courses for which a service member is also receiving Chapter 1606 benefits.
Verify Your Enrollment at VA.gov Opens an external link.
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Fry Scholarship
Who is typically eligible:
Surviving spouses and children of active duty service members who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001. Children must use the benefit before age 33. Surviving spouses lose eligibility if they remarry.
What you receive:
- The same benefits as Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill®) — tuition and fees paid to UAB, monthly housing allowance, and book stipend paid directly to you
- Up to 36 months of benefits
Tuition and fees are paid directly to UAB. Housing allowance and book stipend are paid directly to the student via VA direct deposit.
Not sure which benefit applies to you?
Contact our office - we'll help you identify the right benefit for your situation.
Email:
Phone: (205) 934-8804
Location: Hill Student Center, Suite 313
Hours: Monday – Friday | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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