Student Work-Study Allowance Program
Introduction
Who is Eligible?
How Much May I Earn?
What Type of Work May I Do?
How Do I Apply?
If you're a full-time or 3/4-time student in a college degree program, or a vocational or professional program, you can "earn while you learn" with a VA work-study allowance.
Don't rely on this document to determine if you're eligible for work-study
or education benefits. To receive a formal decision from VA, you must
file a claim for benefits.
The VA work-study allowance is available to persons training under the following programs:
- Post-9/11 GI Bill--(38 U.S.C. Chapter 33)
- Montgomery GI Bill--Active Duty (38 U.S.C. Chapter 30)
- REAP Participants
- Montgomery GI Bill--Selected Reserve (10 U.S.C. Chapter 1606)
- Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (38 U.S.C. Chapter 32)
- Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (38 U.S.C. Chapter 35)
- Eligible dependents under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 may use work study only while training in a State.
- National Call to Service Participants
- Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Program -- (38 U.S.C. Chapter 31)
VA will select students for the work-study program based on different factors. Such factors include:
- Disability of the student
- Ability of the student to complete the work-study contract before the end of his or her eligibility to education benefits
- Job availability within normal commuting distance to the student
- VA will give the highest priority to a veteran who has a service-connected disability or disabilities rated by VA at 30% or more.
The number of applicants selected will depend on the availability of VA-related work at your school or at VA facilities in your area.
Go
to TopYou'll earn an hourly wage equal to the Federal minimum wage or your State minimum wage, whichever is greater. If you're in a work-study job at a college or university, your school may pay you the difference between the amount VA pays and the amount the school normally pays other work-study students doing the same job as you.
You may elect to be paid in advance for 40 percent of the number of hours in your work-study agreement, or for 50 hours, whichever is less. After you've completed the hours covered by your first payment, VA will pay you each time you complete 50 hours of service.
You may work during or between periods of enrollment. You can arrange with VA to work any number of hours you want during your enrollment. But, the total number of hours you work can't be more than 25 times the number of weeks in your enrollment period.
Services you perform under a VA work-study program must be related to VA work. Examples of acceptable work are:
- Processing VA paperwork at schools or VA offices
- Performing outreach services under the supervision of a VA employee
- Performing services at VA medical facilities or the offices of the National Cemetery Administration
The work you actually do will depend on your interests and the type of work available.
For forms and information, one or more of the following offices or representatives can assist you:
- Any VA regional office.
- Any VA office or Vet Center.
- Local representatives of veterans organizations.
- Reserve Education and Incentives Officers.
You can download a copy of the application form HERE.
Consult a telephone directory under United States Government, Department of Veterans Affairs, for the telephone number of the office nearest you. Toll-free telephone service is available in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U. S. Virgin Islands. Call 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) or for the hearing impaired call 1-800-829-4833.
VA supervisory personnel occasionally monitor telephone calls. They do this to ensure that the public receives accurate information and courteous responses. The person monitoring a call does not keep a record of the caller's name, address, file number, or telephone number.
To obtain information on other sources of assistance, contact the financial aid office at your school.