Applicants Receiving VA and Social Security Benefits

UF Office of Veterans Affairs
The University of Florida is approved by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to educate and train veterans, their spouses or their dependents (100 percent permanent and totally disabled or deceased service connected).

Ten federal public laws currently provide education/job-training programs for VA-eligible students. Five programs serve most students:

• Chapter 30 for U.S. Military Veterans
• Chapter 31 for Disabled U.S. Military Veterans
• Chapter 33 for U.S. Military Veterans or dependents of veterans
• Chapter 35 for Spouse and Children of Deceased or 100 percent (permanent and totally) Disabled Veterans (service connected), and
• Chapter 1606 for personnel in the National Guard or U.S. Military Reserves.
• Chapter 1607 for personnel in the National Guard or U.S. Military Reserves called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the President or Congress. Members may be eligible after serving 90 consecutive days on active duty after September 11, 2001.

UF's Office of Veterans Affairs in 222 Criser Hall coordinates veterans services and specific program information. Eligible students must submit an Application for Educational Benefits and request certification for full-time or part-time educational benefits in accordance with VA rules and regulations.

This office also can provide confirmation of student status for VA health care or other benefits. Additionally, the University of Florida provides military training to college credit evaluation and encourages all veterans to request this service from the campus veterans advocate.

A full-time fall and spring semester undergraduate load for VA benefits is 12 credit hours per semester; a full-time fall and spring semester graduate load is 9 hours. Summer terms full and part-time enrollment requirements differ. Students should refer to the UF VA website for specific information about summer credit requirements.

The Atlanta Regional Processing Office of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determines eligibility based on official service records, evidence submitted by the student and applicable laws. Students with established VA program eligibility at another college or university must submit a Change of Program or Place of Training and a UF enrollment verification request to 222 Criser Hall.

Chapter 30, 1606 and 1607 program participants are required to verify attendance each month to the federal VA. Verification can be done on the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment page, WAVE (https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/) or veterans can call 1-877-823-2378.

At the end of the term, if an undergraduate student’s cumulative grade point average falls below a 2.0 (C) average, the student will receive an academic warning. If at the end of the next term of enrollment, the cumulative GPA remains below 2.0, the student's educational benefits will be terminated and the DVA will be notified of the student's unsatisfactory progress for VA pay purposes. Students must meet the conditions for UF readmission to become eligible again for VA educational programs.

Social Security Benefits

Inquiries related to Social Security benefits should be directed to the student’s local Social Security Office. The Office of the University Registrar will complete enrollment certificates issued by the Social Security Administration for students eligible to receive educational benefits, as long as the student is a full-time undergraduate.

A full-time undergraduate load for Social Security benefits is 12 credit hours per semester; a full-time graduate load is nine hours.

Admission Information for All Applicants