Veterans Affairs
Contact Veterans Administration:
NMSU-A VA/Financial Aid (505) 439-3632
VA Muskogee 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551)
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):
Am I eligible to receive the Montgomery G.I. Bill?
To find out if you are eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill you may call 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to speak with a Veterans Benefits Counselor.
I am eligible for the GI Bill. What do I do next?
If you are eligible for the GI Bill please come visit the Financial Aid/VA office at NMSU-Alamogordo in the Student Services building or contact us at (505) 439-3632. We will help you apply for your benefits and can help you understand the specifics of your situation.
I have not attended college before. Do I register for classes or apply for my GI Bill first?
It is better to apply for your GI Bill prior to registering for classes to be sure that you will receive the correct benefits and because for different situations you may need to take more or less classes than you expected to.
I don’t want to start using my GI Bill until next semester. How soon should I start the application process to receive my benefits?
It is okay to complete your application before you plan to attend school. Sometimes it is better to complete things early in case any unexpected issues arise.
I am already a college student and I have used my GI Bill before but I want to start taking classes at NMSU. Do I still need to visit the VA/Financial Aid office?
Absolutely! We still need to complete a transfer form for VA purposes so that you can receive your benefits.
If I drop a class will it affect my VA Benefits?
Dropping a class can affect each student differently. It is important that every student contact the VA/Financial Aid Office any time there is ANY change to your schedule because it can have a big impact on funding.
I am currently getting funding from the GI Bill. Can I also receive financial aid at the same time?
You may apply for financial aid while receiving GI BIll benefits. To apply for grants and loans visit the FAFSA website at www.fafsa.ed.gov and then visit our office for a checklist of what to do next.
I applied for my GI Bill and have been attending class for two months, why haven’t I received any money?
If at any time you think you are not receiving the proper amount of money or you find you are not receiving any money at all contact us immediately so that we may research the issue for you.
Is it true that I have to contact the VA every month in order to keep receiving my payments for the semester?
This is only true depending on what Chapter you are. Call us if you have questions about this. If you know you need to do this but forgot how: Before the end of each month contact the VA to activate your monthly payment for the previous month. The easiest way to do this is to call 1-877-823-2378 which is a quick and easy automated system that processes your Monthly Verification of Enrollment.
I’ve been going to school for a month and my first payment of GI Bill was considerably lower than it should have been. Is there a reason for this?
It is possible that classes may have started toward the end of the month and that next month you will receive a full payment but it is important to contact us anyway to be sure there isn’t any other issues that might be affecting you funding.
I applied for the GI Bill and have started taking classes. How and when should I expect my first payment?
Usually the VA pays every month for the previous month attended and usually students choose what type of payment (either check or automatic deposit) they want during the application process.
How do I know what Chapter I am?
The VA has different Chapters of VA eligibility. To be sure which Chapter you are you would need to contact the VA but the description for each chapter can also be viewed at www.gibill.va.gov. When you click on Education Benefits it will have a list of the different chapters.
I am in the Guard. Can I receive my Tuition Assistance and my GI Bill at the same time?
Yes. But make sure to research this before you do it because in some cases it may be better to use them separately.
Can I apply for the GI Bill as a non-degree seeking student?
You can apply for the GI Bill as a non-degree seeking student so long as you change to degree seeking before your third semester.
I’m still Active Duty but I will be getting out soon. How soon should I start applying for my GI Bill benefits?
It is okay to apply early however we recommend that you wait to use your benefits until you seperate from the military.
Is there a certain amount of classes that I need to attend each semester in order to receive my GI Bill benefits?
There is no minimum requirement for the number of classes you take; however, the amount of funding you receive does depend on how many classes you take.
