For students who headed back to college this fall, it's likely their return looked very different from past years. Due to COVID-19 health and safety precautions, some U.S. campuses hosted only a limited number of students for the fall semester, while others remained permanently closed and only offered virtual classes.
Though merely an inconvenience for some, the recent changes presented a significant concern for veterans and military families whose housing, food, and other expenses are covered by their GI Bill benefits. Thankfully, Congress has agreed to continue providing benefits payments at existing levels through December of next year. The extension also applies to students in work-study programs.
Lauren Augustine, vice president of government affairs at Student Veterans of America, recently expressed her relief that both the House and Senate acted quickly enough to allow students ample time to plan for the next semester.
Applying for GI Bill education benefits? You'll need your DD214.
As with other veteran benefits such as health care assistance, disability reimbursement, and VA home loans, you will need a copy of your DD214 to show proof of service and honorable (or anything other than dishonorable) discharge.
Because it can take time to process your application for your education benefits, especially with recent coronavirus delays, it’s important to apply early and make sure you have all of the necessary documentation to ensure the application process goes as smoothly as possible. If you never received your DD214 or if you can't find it in your paperwork, you can order a replacement copy using our fast and hassle-free document retrieval services.
Veteran-owned DD214Direct helps you get the documents you need, when you need them.
Our cutting-edge technology platform and keen knowledge of government protocol and procedure allow us to deliver your documents faster than you could get them on your own. First, we digitize both your request and the returned documents, using electronic signatures to avoid extra time with the postal service. We also integrate email and fax throughout our entire process, while many agencies do not.
To further expedite the process, our team ensures your initial request is filled out properly the first time and includes the necessary supporting documentation so that it doesn't bounce back. In addition, we break up multiple requests (DD214, OMPF, etc.) so that each piece is handled separately and one does not delay the other.
Once your request is processed, DD214Direct becomes your personal advocate, working directly with the agency that holds your records (currently there are about 75 independent agencies) and immediately responding to any agency issues on your behalf. In many cases, DD214Direct is able to advance your request to a higher-priority workflow. Finally, we have team members at many locations to drop off and pick up documents.
Much like paying a small fee to have your taxes done by a professional, DD214Direct provides the service and convenience you’ve been hoping for, plus we make it a lot easier. Once we locate your DD214, we can email you a copy immediately—a service not offered by the government. And tracking your request through us is simple, so you never have to worry about long hold times and inconclusive answers.
Ready to get started? Click here to begin the order process.
