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Veterans Affairs

The IPFW Veterans’ Benefits certifying official provides educational support services for veterans of the U.S. military. Veterans’ benefits information and counseling for first-time, continuing, or transfer students is available from the VA-benefits certifying official in the Registrar’s office, Kettler Hall, room 107, 260-481-6126.

Certification of Veterans Educational Entitlements

After registering for classes and prior to the beginning of each semester, students are required to complete the Request for Certification for Future Enrollment Periods [PDF]. Forms are also available in the Registrar's office.

Veterans are required to keep the IPFW VA-benefits certifying official informed of their current status, especially with any add/drop to the class schedule or changes to the major area of study.

The VA-benefits certifying official can only certify courses that meet requirements for your educational objective as listed in the appropriate program bulletin. The VA-benefits certifying official cannot certify courses that have been taken twice. The VA will not pay for incomplete grades.

Don't Lose Your Veteran's Benefits

All veterans are required to notify the VA-benefits certifying official of the changes listed here:

  1. Non-attendance in class (last date attended)
  2. Dropping any classes (date you dropped)
  3. Increase in credit hours (number and date)
  4. Changes to audit (date)
  5. Non-payment of fees
  6. Classes not pertaining to your degree
  7. Deployment (provide a copy of your orders)

How to notify the VA-benefits certifying official:

  1. Fill out a Change of Enrollment Status [PDF] form with name, ID#, semester, and date dropped. Forms are also available in the Registrar's office.

Failure to comply will affect your VA benefits.

Getting Started

  1. You must be admitted and registered at IPFW before the VA-benefits certifying official in the Registrar's office can process your paperwork.

  2. The following must be considered:

    • First time applicants for Chapter 30, Chapter 1606 or Chapter 1607 benefits must submit the Application for Educational Entitlement (VA Form 22-1990) to the VA-benefits certifying official in the Registrar's office.

    • First time applicants for Chapter 35 benefits must submit the Application for Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (VA Form 22-5490) to the VA-benefits certifying official in the Registrar's office.

    • If you are already receiving benefits under Chapter 30, Chapter 1606 or Chapter 1607 and are changing schools or majors, submit the Request for Change of Program or Place of Training (VA Form 22-1995) to the VA-benefits certifying official in the Registrar's office.

    • If you are already receiving benefits under Chapter 35 and are changing schools or majors, submit the Request for Change of Program or Place of Training Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance (VA Form 22-5495) to the VA-benefits certifying official in the Registrar's office.

    • If you are presently qualified under Chapter 1606 and wish to transfer to Chapter 1607, submit the Request for Change of Program or Place of Training (VA Form 22-1995) to the VA-benefits certifying official in the Registrar's office. The VA generally takes at least twelve-to-fourteen weeks to process this paperwork.

  3. The VA-benefits certifying official in the Registrar's office will submit paperwork for Chapters 30, 1606, 1607, and 35 to the VA Regional Office in St. Louis. The VA generally takes at least eight-to-ten weeks to process the paperwork for continuing students and ten-to-twelve weeks to process the paperwork for new students. You will receive notification of your award at the address you provided on your application.

  4. Students who are receiving benefits under Chapter 30 and Chapter 1606 must submit a monthly attendance verification on the last day of each month you are enrolled, in order to receive your check or direct deposit. You may do this by contacting the VA Regional office at 1-877-823-2378 or by visiting www.gibill.va.gov and selecting the "Information for Benefit Recipients" link and then the "Certify Your Attendance (WAVE)" link. If you have not heard from the VA in more than eight weeks, you may wish to contact the St. Louis office to check on the status of your benefits at 1-888-442-4551. WAVE can also be used to check the status of processing for your benefits, processing for your monthly verification, to start or change direct deposit, and to set up an e-mail reminder about your monthly verification.

  5. Recipients now have the option of having their monthly check deposited directly to their checking accounts. Please call 1-888-442-4551 to establish direct deposit. You will need to provide your checking account routing number and account number (written along the bottom of your checks).

  6. If Direct Deposit has not been elected, benefit checks will be sent to the veteran’s address provided on their application. An individual may request the advance pay option if he/she is enrolled at least half-time. The advance paycheck will cover the initial or partial month and the following month at the beginning of the semester. The first check for the advance pay option will be sent to the Office of the Registrar and distributed by the VA-benefits certifying official. Application for the advance pay option should be made in writing and submitted to the VA-benefits certifying official in the Registrar's office eight weeks before the start of the semester.

  7. The VA is not responsible for paying your tuition. Veterans must have tuition paid in full or have payment arrangements made with the Bursar's office by the semester payment deadlines.

For further information, call 260-481-6126 or send an inquiry via e-mail to dixon@ipfw.edu.

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