Do you know about your Certificate of Eligibility? GI Bill use is impossible without it. This is a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that will provide you with the percentage of benefits and length of time you have for your benefits. The GI Bill Certificate of Eligibility is a very important award letter for military families looking to use their benefits to pursue higher education, so knowing how to access it is imperative. Stay organized and learn more about getting your VA Certificate of Eligibility for the GI Bill. Read next:Montgomery GI Bill vs. Post-9/11: What's the Difference?

How To Get Certificate of Eligibility: GI Bill Basics

If you need to receive your Certificate of Eligibility for GI Bill, you can achieve it in just a few steps. But first, you’ll need to log into your Ask VA account:

• List your subject as something such as “VA GI Bill Certificate of Eligibility” or “Certificate of Eligibility VA GI Bill.”
• Next, you’ll want to simply ask for a duplicate copy of your Certification of Eligibility GI Bill.
• After you’ve completed your message, you’ll simply follow the path and input the appropriate fields. For example, you’ll choose GI Bill, and then as a category, you’ll select the appropriate benefits that apply to you.

To finish up, you simply submit the request and wait for a response/for them to send you a duplicate copy. If you need further assistance, both the VA and your school are great places to start. Each will have resources to help Veterans and their families with such benefits.

Checking Benefits for Post-9/11

If you’re looking to check in on your benefits and have received a Post-9/11 GI Bill Certificate of Eligibility, this, too, can be achieved online through the Post-9/11 GI Bill Statement of Benefits. Here are a few important notes when doing so:

• As of this writing, the GI Bill benefit statement is not available to family members and dependents online. If you need to request a new certificate letter to check your benefit status, you can do so by calling the Education Call Center at 1 (888) 442-4551 (TTY: 711).
• Those who have applied for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and received a decision from the VA are eligible to use the online tool.
• But to access the information, all eligible parties must have an active account from one of the following sources: Login.gov, ID.me, DS Logon, or My HealtheVet. Both DS Logon and My HealtheVet accounts must be premium.
• Time restraints exist, and it’s important to understand that the tool is not available 24/7. Eligible users can use the tool to view benefits as well as check the amount they have left and the timeframe in which to use them. You can only access the info Sunday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET and Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.

You Must Apply for the Post-9/11 GI Bill To Receive Your Certificate of Eligibility

Determining your eligibility or benefits is important, but in order to receive anything, you’re going to have to first apply. The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a helpful tool for the military community to receive financial assistance when pursuing education if you served in the U.S. military after September 10, 2001. To apply, simply call the VA at 1 (888) 442-4551 to have them mail you an application, receive help at your local VA office, or work with an accredited representative to get started. Once you receive your response, you’ll also receive your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA and be on your way to understanding where you and your benefits stand. You should note, however, that it can take the VA Regional Processing Office between 30 and 45 days to process your application. Those who are approved will be sent your Certificate of Eligibility for GI Bill in the mail. Updates involving your processing time are available by contacting the VA at the number listed above. Suggested read:The Veteran's Complete Guide to GI Bill Benefits