Summer Session Benefits
Recent legislation has changed how VA education benefits can be paid for a break between school terms. Generally, the current policy allows payment of VA education benefits for a break between terms provided 1) the break doesn't exceed eight weeks (56 days) and 2) the terms before and after the break are not shorter than the break.
Eligible veterans wishing to receive continuous VA educational benefits during the summer need to meet specific requirements. You must enroll in a minimum of eight weeks of summer sessions. The eight-week requirement can be met with these combinations of sessions:
- Eight-week Session
- Pre-session and First Five-week Session
- Pre-session and Second Five-week Session
- First Five-week Session and Second Five-week Session
| Credit Hour Enrollment Breakdown for VA Reporting | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| UNDERGRADUATE | F/T | 3/4 Time | 1/2 Time |
| First & Second Semesters | 12 Hours | 9-11 Hours | 6-8 Hours |
| Pre-session | 2 Hours | ---- | 1 Hour |
| Eight-week Session | 6 Hours | 4-5 Hours | 3 Hours |
| First Five-week Session | 4 Hours | 3 Hours | 2 Hours |
| Second Five-week Session | 4 Hours | 3 Hours | 2 Hours |
| GRADUATE | F/T | 3/4 Time | 1/2 Time |
| First & Second Semesters | 9 Hours | 6-8 Hours | 4-5 Hours |
| Pre-session | 2 Hours | ---- | 1 Hour |
| Eight-week Session | 4 Hours | 3 Hours | 1-2 Hours |
| First Five-week Session | 3 Hours | 2 Hours | 1 Hour |
| Second Five-week Session | 3 Hours | 2 Hours | 1 Hour |
