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How to apply for the GI Bill and related benefits

Find out how to apply for the GI Bill and other VA education benefits as a Veteran, service member, or qualified family member.

How do I prepare before starting my application?

What documents and information do I need to apply?

  • Social Security number
  • Bank account direct deposit information
  • Education and military history
  • Basic information about the school or training facility you want to attend or are attending now
Checking your application status.

Note: To apply for Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31) or educational and career counseling through Personalized Career Planning and Guidance (Chapter 36), you’ll need to use a different application.

Find out how to apply for Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31)

Find out how to apply for educational and career counseling (Chapter 36)

You can also apply:

By mail

Call 888-442-4551, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET, to request that we send the application to you. Fill it out and mail it to the VA regional claims processing office that’s in the same location as your school.
Get a list of regional claims processing offices

In person

Go to a VA regional office and have a VA employee help you.

Find a VA regional office near you

Work with your school’s certifying official. This person is usually in the Registrar or Financial Aid office at the school.

With the help of a trained professional

You can work with a trained professional called an accredited representative to get help applying for education benefits.

Get help filing your claim

What happens after I apply?

Find out what happens after you apply

You can’t make changes to your application, but if you have questions about VA education benefits, please call 888-442-4551, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.

If we’ve asked you for documents, you can upload them using QuickSubmit on AccessVA.

Upload supporting documents using QuickSubmit on AccessVA

How long does it take VA to make a decision?

30 days

Average time to process education claims