Buying Course Materials with VA Education Benefits

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Start with Your VA Counselor
• If You're Using the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
• If You're Using Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31)
• Where to Buy
• Receipts and Reimbursement
• In Review: Quick Checklist

Are you wondering if you can use VA Education Benefits to pay for required course materials? How those purchases get paid for or reimbursed depends on which benefit you're using. See below for more information.

Please note: Lesley does not operate a campus bookstore. Students buy required course materials directly from outside vendors.

Start with Your VA Counselor

Contact your assigned VA counselor or case manager before you buy anything. You should confirm what your specific benefit will cover and how payment will work. The details vary by benefit type, so make sure you understand the following as it applies to you:

• coverage rules
• pre-approval requirements
• reimbursement eligibility vary

Your counselor can tell you what your benefit covers and how payment works in your case.

If You're Using the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)

The VA pays your books and supplies stipend directly to you. The stipend is calculated per credit hour and prorated by your eligibility percentage. The VA pays it at the start of each term. You don't need pre-approval, and you can buy your materials from any source.

For information on how much funding you can receive, check the VA's Post-9/11 GI Bill rates page. Scroll to the section titled "Money for books and supplies."

If You're Using Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31)

Chapter 31 generally requires pre-approval before you purchase anything. Ask your VR&E counselor to confirm how they'll handle your authorization. They might issue a purchase order to one of the vendors listed below. Or they might authorize you to buy the materials yourself and request reimbursement.

Direct reimbursement requests use VA Form 28-1905m. You can download it from VA.gov or ask your counselor for it. Return the completed form to your assigned counselor once you've completed it.

Please note: Buying without prior authorization can result in a denied claim. VR&E also covers only materials required of all students in the course, and it may apply a cost cap. Confirm limits with your counselor before you buy anything.

Where to Buy

We direct students to these vendors for required course materials:

• Amazon
• Chegg
• ThriftBooks
• AbeBooks
• VitalSource

Receipts and Reimbursement

Save every receipt and order confirmation, especially if your counselor authorizes reimbursement. You'll need to submit receipts along with course syllabi that show the item was required. The VA reimburses required materials only, not optional or recommended ones.

In Review: Quick Checklist

1. Contact your VA counselor/case manager before buying anything.
2. Confirm whether your benefit pays a vendor directly or reimburses you after purchase.
3. If purchasing yourself, buy only from Amazon, Chegg, ThriftBooks, AbeBooks, or VitalSource.
4. Save every receipt and confirmation email.
5. Submit receipts and your course syllabi to your counselor promptly for reimbursement processing. Chapter 31 students use VA Form 28-1905m.