Aid for Veterans

• Students who HAVE NOT previously received benefits may apply online at the VA website
• All students must provide a copy of their DD214 Member 4 and/or if applicable, a copy of their NOBE.
• Students must be enrolled in classes that are required for their degree program. Students will NOT be certified for courses that deviate from their program.
• Students must maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or higher after every semester. Failure to maintain a 2.0 GPA may result in suspension of VA benefits.
• Students using Chapter 30, Chapter 1606, and Chapter 1607 must verify their enrollment on a monthly basis before any payment can be sent. Students can verify enrollment online through the WAVE system or by phone at (877) 823-2378. Please note that monthly verification of enrollment must be done on the last day of each month of attendance.
• Students using Post 9/11 GI Bill^® must be enrolled in seven credits hours or more in order to receive BAH.

Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)

You may be eligible if you have at least 90 days of aggregate active duty service after Sept. 11, 2001, and are still on active duty, or if you are an honorably discharged Veteran or were discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. Program details include:

• Benefits expire depending on when you were discharged from active duty.
• Pays for tuition and fees directly to the school.
• Amount of the benefit is a pre-determined percentage of eligibility established by Veterans Affairs (VA). 
• Can provide a book stipend
• Can provide a basic housing allowance based on the predetermined percentage of eligibility established by the VA and the number of credit hours the student is enrolled (seven credit hours or more).

For more information on this program, visit the official VA website.

Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapter 30)

An education program that provides up to 36 months of educational benefits. Program details include:

• Provides a monthly payment to the veteran directly - no funds are paid to the school.
• Benefits expire 10 years after the student's release from active duty or after the 36 months of benefit time have been exhausted, whichever comes first.

For more information, visit the official VA website.

Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserves (Chapter 1606)

An education program that provides benefits to eligible members of the Selected Reserve, including the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components.

For more information, visit the official VA website.

Montgomery GI Bill® - Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)

An education benefit for eligible spouses and children of certain veterans. Program details include:

• Eligible recipients can receive up to 45 months of full-time or equivalent benefits.
• Spouses have 10 years from the date VA establishes eligibility to use the benefit.
• Surviving spouses of veterans who died while on active duty have 20 years from the date of the veteran’s death to use the benefit.
• Children may use the benefit while they are between the ages of 18 and 26.

For more information, visit the official VA website.

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program (Chapter 31)

An educational program to help veterans with service-connected disabilities prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs. An evaluation of eligibility must be performed by VA in order to apply. Contact the local VA Regional Office for more information.

Requirements

Applicants to the following grants must:

1. Be enrolled at an Illinois public college, university or community college
2. Not be in default on any student loan, nor owe a refund on any federal or state grant
3. Maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher at the end of every semester

Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG)

A grant that provides tuition and allowable fees at any Illinois public college, university and community college. Recipients may apply the Illinois Veteran Grant to a maximum of 120 eligibility units, the equivalent to four academic years of full-time enrollment.

For eligibility requirements regarding IVG, visit the ISAC website. Eligible applicants can apply online here. The application takes approximately four weeks to process. If eligible, ISAC will send a notice of eligibility. A copy of the notice must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office.

Illinois National Guard Grant (ING)

A grant that provides tuition and certain fees at any Illinois public college, university and community college. Recipients may apply the Illinois National Guard Grant to a maximum of 120 eligibility units, the equivalent to four academic years of full-time enrollment. Students must renew their eligibility for the ING academic year.

For eligibility requirements regarding the ING, visit the ISAC website.

An online application, must be submitted every academic year. If eligible, students will be mailed a letter of eligibility. A copy of the letter must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office.

Illinois MIA/POW Scholarship Grant

A grant that provides in-district tuition and mandatory fees. Recipients may apply the Illinois MIA/POW Scholarship Grant to a maximum of 120 eligibility units, the equivalent to four academic years of full-time enrollment.

To qualify, a student must be a dependent (spouse or child) of a veteran who:

• has been declared by the Department of Defense or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to be a prisoner of war or missing-in-action.
• died as the result of a service-connected disability.
• is declared 100% disabled and was an Illinois resident at least within six months of entering the service.
• For eligibility requirements regarding MIA/POW, visit https://www2.illinois.gov/veterans/services benefits/education/Pages/MIA POW-Scholarship.aspx

Applicants must complete an online application. If eligible, a letter of eligibility will be mailed to student. A copy of the letter and an ID card must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office.

Military Service Credit

Veterans who have served at least one year of active duty and have been honorably discharged are eligible for four semester hours of credit in physical education to be applied to their transcripts. Additional credit may be granted for training received in certain service schools. A copy of the DD214 must be filed with the Office of Admissions and Records.

Requesting Military Transcripts

The Joint Services Transcript (JST) will create a transcript of all military training and experience to service members from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard. Members of the Air Force must obtain transcripts from the Community College of the Air Force. SMART and AARTS has been transitioned to JST.

Requesting Transcripts Online

Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy Personnel can request transcripts from the Joint Services Transcript (JST) website.

Contacts at Morton College

Financial Aid Veterans' Representative 
Blanca Martinez
Financial Aid Assistant/Certifying Official
Phone: (708) 656-8000 Ext. 2228
E-mail: Blanca.Martinez@morton.edu
Office: One Stop Center

Forms

Military Request Form 2023-2024 (PDF)
VA Process Checklist

Federal and State

Listed below are the offices to which we direct applications, claims, and any required billings.

Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation
VR and E Division
2122 W Taylor St
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 980-4458

Illinois MIA/POW Scholarship Grant
Department of Veterans Affairs
PO Box 19432
833 S Spring St
Springfield, IL 62794-9432
Phone: (217) 782-3564

Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
1755 Lake Cook Rd
Deerfield, IL 60015
Phone: (800) 899-4722

Montgomery GI Bill® Information
St. Louis Regional Processing Office
P.O. Box 66830
St. Louis, MO 63166-6830
Phone: (888) 442-4551

Direct Deposit (setup): (877) 838-2778
Self-Certification: (877) 823-2378

Verify enrollment: W.A.V.E. (Web Automated Verification of Enrollment)

More Resources

Military.com
GI Jobs
Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
Camp Patriot - For Disabled Veterans
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
National Resource Directory
 Student Veterans of America (SVA)
Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA)
VET Center Program