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The Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) is the government's $2-to-$1 educational matching program for Veterans who opened a VEAP account and contributed at least $25 before April 1, 1987. Learn about how you can get money for tuition, school fees, and other training programs.
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Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)

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You may be able to continue your education by using part of your military pay to help cover the cost of school. Find out if you can get benefits through the Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)—a $2-to-$1 government-match program for educational assistance.

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Q&A

Am I eligible for VEAP benefits?

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You may be eligible for VEAP benefits if you meet all of these requirements.

All of these must be true:

  • You entered service for the first time between January 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985 (for all branches other than Air Force), and
  • You opened and put money into your VEAP account before April 1, 1987, and
  • You put in $25–$2,700 on your own, and
  • You finished your first period of service and didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge

If you served in or are serving in the Air Force, you must meet these additional requirements:

  • You entered service for the first time between December 1, 1980, and September 30, 1981, and
  • You enlisted in one of these Air Force specialties: 20723, 20731, 20830, 46130, 46230A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, or Z, 46430, or 81130, and
  • You enlisted in one of these locations: Beckley, WV; Buffalo, NY; Dallas; Fargo, ND; Houston; Jackson, MS; Louisville, KY; Memphis, TN; Omaha, NB; Philadelphia; Seattle; Sioux Falls, SD; or Syracuse, NY

Note: If you’re currently on active duty, you must have at least 3 months of contributions available to use your VEAP benefits.

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Q&A

What benefits can I get?

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Money for tuition

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Q&A

How do I get VEAP benefits?

Process list
Steps

  1. Make sure we’ve approved your selected program


    If you have questions, we can help you and your school understand the requirements.

  2. Apply for benefits

    If you haven’t started training yet

    Submit an Application for VA Education Benefits (VA Form 22-1990) online.
    Apply for education benefits online now
    You can also apply by mail, in person, or with the help of a trained professional.
    Learn more about how to apply for education benefits

    Note:
    If you’re on active duty right now, you’ll need to have your Education Services Officer approve your enrollment and your Commanding Officer verify your service.
    If you're not on active duty right now, you'll need to send copy 4 (member copy) of your DD214, Certificate of Release, or Discharge from Active Duty.

    If you’ve already started training

    Take your VA Form 22-1990 application and the member copy of your DD214 to your school or employer. Ask them to complete VA Form 22-1999, Enrollment Certification, and send all the forms to us.
    Get VA Form 22-1990 to download

  3. Verify your enrollment

    Ask your school or training official to verify your enrollment with us. We’ll review your application and let you know if we need anything else.

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More questions about VEAP benefits

What’s covered under VEAP education benefits?

We’ll help you pay for these types of training, programs, and fees:

In some cases, we’ll help you pay for these types of courses:

  • Remedial courses (classes some students must take to build up their basic skills in math, reading, or English before they can take regular college courses),
  • Deficiency courses (classes some students must take in order to be admitted to a certain college)
  • Refresher courses (brief courses that help people review and improve their knowledge in a certain subject area)

How many months of benefits can I get, and how long do I have to use them?

The amount of benefits you get (up to 36 months) will depend on how much money you put into your VEAP every month.

You have 10 years from your release from active duty to use your VEAP benefits. If you don’t use the money after 10 years, we’ll automatically refund it to you.

Note: If you’re on active duty now and want to use VEAP, you must have at least 3 months of contributions in the fund.

Can I get the money back that I put into my VEAP account?

Yes. You can withdraw the money in your VEAP account if you don’t meet basic qualifying requirements or if you formally ask for a refund.

To ask for a refund, complete an Application for Refund of Educational Contributions (VA Form 22-5281).
Get VA Form 22-5281 to download

Send the form to your nearest VA regional office.
Get the address of your nearest VA regional office