Advance Pay

Advance pay is available to students enrolled at a rate of one-half time or higher under Chapter 30, 35, 1606, and 1607.  Advance pay is processed for the first partial month plus the first full month of the student's enrollment. Students who receive advance payment will not receive another payment until the fourth month of the term. (Example: A student receives who receives advance pay for the fall term will receive payment for the partial month of August plus the full month of September. They will not receive payment for the month of October until November.) VA will mail the advance payment directly to Minot State University to be picked up by the student at the Business Office at the beginning of the semester.

Students interested in receiving an advance payment must contact the VA certifying official approximately 45 to 60 days in advance of the beginning of the term. Students must either sign an enrollment certification requesting advance pay or provide a signed and dated letter requesting the advance payment.

Advance payments will only be processed for terms which begin at least 30 days after the end of the student's last period of enrollment and if the student was not eligible for advance pay for that interval.

Am I eligible for an advance payment of my education benefits?

Advance payment of benefits is available for all GI Bill programs EXCEPT the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

If your school agrees to handle advance payments, you may receive an advance payment. (You can check with the office at your school that handles veterans’ benefits. This is usually the Registrar’s or Financial Aid Office.) For you to receive an advance payment:

  • You must have an advance payment request on file at your school,
  • You must be attending school at least half time,
  • You must have a break of at least 30 days before the start of the term, and
  • VA must receive your enrollment certification at least 30 days before classes start.

If you’re eligible, you'll receive an advance payment for the first partial month plus the first full month of your enrollment.We’ll send the advance payment check to your school for you to pick up.

For example, if your enrollment starts on August 25th, your first payment will be for the period August 25th through September 30th. VA will mail the advance payment to your school for you to pick up. Since GI Bill benefits are paid at the end of the month, your next payment for October 1 - October 31 will be issued in early November. In this example you won’t need to verify attendance until October 31.

If you reduce your enrollment or withdraw from all courses during the period covered by an advance payment, you will have an overpayment that VA is required to collect from you if you cash the check. If you think the amount of a VA check is incorrect, contact VA before cashing the check.