VA Debt – Why do I or the school have to return benefit payments to VA?
Answer
Changes to course enrollment and receiving certain grades can result in VA requiring students and schools to return benefits paid for the affected course. VA will require students to return benefit payments that were sent directly to the student. VA will require schools to return benefit payments that were sent directly to the school. If an outstanding balance is created by the school’s return of benefit payments to VA, the student will be responsible for paying that balance.
In general, VA will not pay benefits for:
- Courses not required for the completion of the program.
- The retake of a course that was previously completed successfully.
- Courses the student does not attend.
- Courses from which the student withdraws.
- Courses for which the student receives a grade that will not count towards graduation or GPA (non-punitive grades).
