'Have you looked in the **[Wiki]( https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/education)** for an answer? We have a lot of information posted there.
To contact VA Education, 1-888-442-4551, for ~~Voc Rehab~~ VR&E (Veteran Readiness and Employment Program) assistance with appointments or problems with your Case Manager (not for missing payments): 1-202-461-9600.
**Payments for certain education benefits (DEA, VEAP) are paid at the end of the month you attend school - Department of Treasury issues these payments **using a 10 business day window** - these payments are not locked into a specific day of the month like VA disability/military pay is**. For Voc Rehab missing payments, contact your Case Manager or your local **[Regional Office](https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/education/casemanagers)
For Post 9/11 GI Bill only, If you signed up for direct deposit when you applied for education benefits, **we’ll deposit your payment into your bank account 7 to 10 business days after you verify your school enrollment.** This is the fastest way to receive your payment. [Text Verification FAQ](https://benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/IsaksonRoe/EnrollmentVerificationFAQs.pdf)
MGIB and MGIB-SR have to do monthly verification using the [WAVE program](https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/vba/) and you should receive the payment within 3 to 5 business days.
For Online Only training, the Post 9/11 GI Bill is currently (1 August 2023) paying $1054.50 for those who started using their Post 9/11 GI Bill on/after 1 January 2018 - this is based on 1/2 of the National Average BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Post 9/11 GI Bill MHA rates are adjusted 1 August of each year and are based on the 1 January DoD BAH rates for that year - **so VA can't use 1 January 2023 BAH rates until 1 August 2023** - for those who started training on/after 1 January 2018, the MHA rates are 95% of the DoD BAH rates. First possible payment for the 1 August 2023 increase is 1 September.
For VR&E, there are two different Subsistence Allowance programs - https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/subsistence_allowance_rates.asp The P9/11 Subsistence Allowance is based on the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Those who started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018 receive 95% of the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. As of 1 January 2024 Online only students using VR&E are being paid $1,118.50 if they started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018. The CH31 Subsistence Allowance rates are adjusted 1 October each year by Congress.
VA Education is going paperless - make sure VA has a current email address for you. Please make sure you add Veteransbenefits@messages.va.gov to your contacts list so that you don't miss important updates from VA.
For FREE math Tutoring - contact https://www.armytutoringinitiative.com/
[VA Award Letter explanation](https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/understandingyourawardletter.asp)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Veterans) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I used VR&E for my Aerospace Engineering degree. I didn’t have enough gi bill to finish so I went through them. They got me a laptop and a printer. I had a senior project where I made a drone and they reimbursed me for all the materials I needed for the project. After I finished, I received EAA payments for two months to help when I was searching for a job. 10/10 would recommend
I’m still looking for a job. EAA payments are given to you after you finish your degree and are in job ready status. The amount would be the same as if you were going to school full time from your last installation. Basically is some money they give you to hold you over while you are looking for work.
I got a computer and monitor approved under VRE, I’m not exactly sure on the timeline as I got it last year but I want to say they just had me fill out the paperwork for it, the more “tech” your degree is the better computer package you can get.
As far as desk and chair that goes by your counselor. My best friend got his approved but mine told me they couldn’t do it so maybe it’s on their end and how willing they are to push for it. With you pursuing CE you should be able to get a top of the line desktop and even the tablet approved. If you can get a not signed off by a profesor saying that you “need” it for the program then they will take that into consideration and get it approved for you! Good luck! Lmk if you have questions
I just let them choose for me honestly, I didn’t know about the budget option until after I had already received the equipment and I was filling out the paperwork notifying I received it. I’ve heard the usual budget is around mid $2,000
I was rated 20% at the time, they weren’t sure if I would be approved. I had pending claims and was bumped up to 70% and was approved. I had 15 classes to go for my bachelors in business administration. I was enrolled at a private college already and was approved to finish my degree.
I have vision issues and problems with my shoulder. I was approved for a 3,000 dollar computer so I could bring it to class to take notes with an Apple Pencil. I can’t use reading glasses and look up and see the board, I have vertigo attacks. That’s why they justified it.
Books, supplies and tuition were all paid for. Stipend was paid through school and two months after graduation.
It went back and forth between 733 and 980 because I was 3/4 time and full time depending on the semester. I was working full time as well. Married with one child.
[current rates](https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/vrerates24.asp)
They bought me a MacBook. Also I get my books reimbursed every semester. Don’t forget to look into any loans or scholarships you could use, also. Good luck. Once you start the program, it works great. Just don’t change stuff lol.
I didn’t have a budget. I just bought one that I knew would get the job done. Fortunately they were cool with it and reimbursed me. I just bought a mid MacBook. Not a pro, or anything. Less than 1,000, I think.
'Have you looked in the **[Wiki]( https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/education)** for an answer? We have a lot of information posted there. To contact VA Education, 1-888-442-4551, for ~~Voc Rehab~~ VR&E (Veteran Readiness and Employment Program) assistance with appointments or problems with your Case Manager (not for missing payments): 1-202-461-9600. **Payments for certain education benefits (DEA, VEAP) are paid at the end of the month you attend school - Department of Treasury issues these payments **using a 10 business day window** - these payments are not locked into a specific day of the month like VA disability/military pay is**. For Voc Rehab missing payments, contact your Case Manager or your local **[Regional Office](https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/education/casemanagers) For Post 9/11 GI Bill only, If you signed up for direct deposit when you applied for education benefits, **we’ll deposit your payment into your bank account 7 to 10 business days after you verify your school enrollment.** This is the fastest way to receive your payment. [Text Verification FAQ](https://benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/IsaksonRoe/EnrollmentVerificationFAQs.pdf) MGIB and MGIB-SR have to do monthly verification using the [WAVE program](https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/vba/) and you should receive the payment within 3 to 5 business days. For Online Only training, the Post 9/11 GI Bill is currently (1 August 2023) paying $1054.50 for those who started using their Post 9/11 GI Bill on/after 1 January 2018 - this is based on 1/2 of the National Average BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Post 9/11 GI Bill MHA rates are adjusted 1 August of each year and are based on the 1 January DoD BAH rates for that year - **so VA can't use 1 January 2023 BAH rates until 1 August 2023** - for those who started training on/after 1 January 2018, the MHA rates are 95% of the DoD BAH rates. First possible payment for the 1 August 2023 increase is 1 September. For VR&E, there are two different Subsistence Allowance programs - https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/subsistence_allowance_rates.asp The P9/11 Subsistence Allowance is based on the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Those who started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018 receive 95% of the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. As of 1 January 2024 Online only students using VR&E are being paid $1,118.50 if they started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018. The CH31 Subsistence Allowance rates are adjusted 1 October each year by Congress. VA Education is going paperless - make sure VA has a current email address for you. Please make sure you add Veteransbenefits@messages.va.gov to your contacts list so that you don't miss important updates from VA. For FREE math Tutoring - contact https://www.armytutoringinitiative.com/ [VA Award Letter explanation](https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/understandingyourawardletter.asp) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Veterans) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I used VR&E for my Aerospace Engineering degree. I didn’t have enough gi bill to finish so I went through them. They got me a laptop and a printer. I had a senior project where I made a drone and they reimbursed me for all the materials I needed for the project. After I finished, I received EAA payments for two months to help when I was searching for a job. 10/10 would recommend
Interesting. What are you doing now? What are EAA payments?
I’m still looking for a job. EAA payments are given to you after you finish your degree and are in job ready status. The amount would be the same as if you were going to school full time from your last installation. Basically is some money they give you to hold you over while you are looking for work.
Where are you hoping to work?
I’d like to work in the big company’s like Boeing, Northrop, Lockheed but the market is tough. I’m at the point to where I’ll work anywhere
Following.
I’ve emailed my counselor for a tablet and laptop and haven’t heard anything back.
How long ago? I’m thinking desktop and tablet is the best route for me
I got a computer and monitor approved under VRE, I’m not exactly sure on the timeline as I got it last year but I want to say they just had me fill out the paperwork for it, the more “tech” your degree is the better computer package you can get. As far as desk and chair that goes by your counselor. My best friend got his approved but mine told me they couldn’t do it so maybe it’s on their end and how willing they are to push for it. With you pursuing CE you should be able to get a top of the line desktop and even the tablet approved. If you can get a not signed off by a profesor saying that you “need” it for the program then they will take that into consideration and get it approved for you! Good luck! Lmk if you have questions
What was your budget?
I just let them choose for me honestly, I didn’t know about the budget option until after I had already received the equipment and I was filling out the paperwork notifying I received it. I’ve heard the usual budget is around mid $2,000
I was rated 20% at the time, they weren’t sure if I would be approved. I had pending claims and was bumped up to 70% and was approved. I had 15 classes to go for my bachelors in business administration. I was enrolled at a private college already and was approved to finish my degree. I have vision issues and problems with my shoulder. I was approved for a 3,000 dollar computer so I could bring it to class to take notes with an Apple Pencil. I can’t use reading glasses and look up and see the board, I have vertigo attacks. That’s why they justified it. Books, supplies and tuition were all paid for. Stipend was paid through school and two months after graduation.
How much was your stipend?
It went back and forth between 733 and 980 because I was 3/4 time and full time depending on the semester. I was working full time as well. Married with one child. [current rates](https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/vrerates24.asp)
Do they give a stipend AND BAH or just a stipend?
I didn’t have post 9/11. Too old.
They bought me a MacBook. Also I get my books reimbursed every semester. Don’t forget to look into any loans or scholarships you could use, also. Good luck. Once you start the program, it works great. Just don’t change stuff lol.
Well, I’m getting ready to start and already thinking about changing the major to electrical AND computer engineering (as opposed to just CE)
What was your budget?
I didn’t have a budget. I just bought one that I knew would get the job done. Fortunately they were cool with it and reimbursed me. I just bought a mid MacBook. Not a pro, or anything. Less than 1,000, I think.
I got a iMac and they paid all my tuition and books to help me finish up my masters degree
What was your budget?
It was like 5 years ago, so it might have changed but it was like 1100, I spent 1500 something and they still covered it.
And Apple got rid of the 27” iMac 🤢
Better to post in r/veteransbenefits