VA will determine under this section the commencing date of an award or increased award of educational assistance provided pursuant to subpart C or G. When more than one paragraph in this section applies, VA will award educational assistance using the latest of the applicable commencing dates.

(a) Entrance or reentrance including change of program or educational institution: individual eligible under 38 U.S.C. chapter 32. When an eligible veteran or servicemember enters or reenters into training (including a reentrance following a change of program or educational institution), the commencing date of his or her award of educational assistance will be determined as follows:

(1) For other than licensing or certification tests.

(i) If the award is the first award of educational assistance for the program of education the veteran or servicemember is pursuing, the commencing date of the award of educational assistance is the latest of:

(A) The date the educational institution certifies under paragraph (b) or (c) of this section;

(B) One year before the date of claim as determined by §21.1029(b);

(C) The effective date of the approval of the course, or one year before the date VA receives the approval notice, whichever is later; or

(ii) If the award is the second or subsequent award of educational assistance for the program of education the veteran or servicemember is pursuing, the effective date of the award of educational assistance is the later of—

(A) The date the educational institution certifies under paragraph (b) or (c) of this section; or

(B) The effective date of the approval of the course, or one year before the date VA receives the approval notice, whichever is later.

(2) For licensing or certification tests. VA will award educational assistance for the cost of a licensing or certification test only when the veteran or servicemember takes such test—

(i) While the test is approved under 38 U.S.C. chapter 36;

(ii) While the veteran or servicemember is eligible for educational assistance under subpart G; and

(iii) No more than one year before the date VA receives a claim for reimbursement of the cost of the test.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3672, 3689, 5110, 5113)

(b) Certification by school—the course or subject leads to a standard college degree.

(1) When the student enrolls in a course offered by independent study, the commencing date of the award or increased award of educational assistance will be the date the student began pursuit of the course according to the regularly established practices of the educational institution.

(2) Except as provided in paragraphs (b)(3), (b)(4) and (b)(5) of this section when a student enrolls in a resident course or subject, the commencing date of the award or increased award of educational assistance will be the first scheduled date of classes for the term, quarter or semester in which the student is enrolled.

(3) When the student enrolls in a resident course or subject whose first scheduled class begins after the calendar week when, according to the school's academic calendar, classes are scheduled to commence for the term, quarter, or semester, the commencing date of the award or increased award of educational assistance allowance will be the actual date of the first class scheduled for that particular course or subject.

(4) When a student enrolls in a resident course or subject, the commencing date of the award will be the date the student reports to the school provided that—

(i) The published standards of the school require the student to register before reporting, and

(ii) The published standards of the school require the student to report no more than 14 days before the first scheduled date of classes for the term, quarter or semester for which the student has registered, and no later than the first scheduled date of classes for the term, quarter or semester for which the student has registered.

(5) When the student enrolls in a resident course or subject and the first day of classes is more than 14 days after the date of registration, the commencing date of the award or the increased award of educational assistance will be the first day of classes.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3481(a), 3680(a); Pub. L. 98-525)

(c) Certification by school or establishment—course does not lead to a standard college degree.

(1) Residence school: See paragraph (b) of this section.

(2) Correspondence school: Date first lesson sent or date of affirmance whichever is later.

(3) Job training: First date of employment in training position.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3481, 3687)

(d) Entrance or reentrance including change of program or educational institution: individual eligible under 38 U.S.C. chapter 35. When a person eligible to receive educational assistance under 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 enters or reenters into training (including a reentrance following a change of program or educational institution), the commencing date of his or her award of educational assistance will be determined as follows:

(1) For other than licensing or certification tests.

(i) If the award is the first award of educational assistance for the program of education the eligible person is pursuing, the commencing date of the award of educational assistance is the latest of:

(A) The beginning date of eligibility as determined under §21.3041 or under §21.3046(a) or (b), whichever is applicable;

(B) One year before the date of claim as determined by §21.1029(b);

(C) The date the educational institution certifies under paragraph (b) or (c) of this section;

(D) The effective date of the approval of the course, or one year before the date VA receives the approval notice, whichever is later; or

(ii) If the award is the second or subsequent award of educational assistance for that program, the effective date of the award of educational assistance is the later of—

(A) The date the educational institution certifies under paragraph (b) or (c) of this section; or

(B) The effective date of the approval of the course, or one year before the date VA receives the approval notice, whichever is later.

(2) For licensing or certification tests. VA will award educational assistance for the cost of a licensing or certification test only when the eligible person takes such test—

(i) While the test is approved under 38 U.S.C. chapter 36;

(ii) While he or she is eligible for educational assistance under subpart C; and

(iii) No more than one year before the date VA receives a claim for reimbursement of the cost of the test.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3512, 3672, 3689, 5110, 5113)

(e) Adjusted effective date for award of educational assistance under 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 based on an original claim. When determining the commencing date under §21.4131(d)(1), the Secretary will consider an eligible person's application for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 as having been filed on his or her eligibility date if—

(1) The eligibility date is more than 1 year before the date of the initial rating decision that establishes either:

(i) The veteran's death is service-connected, or

(ii) The veteran has a P&T disability;

(2) The eligible person files his or her original application for benefits under 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 with VA within 1 year of the initial rating decision;

(3) The eligible person claims educational assistance for pursuit of an approved program of education for a period that is more than 1 year before the date VA receives his or her original claim;

(4) VA either:

(i) Received the original application on or after November 1, 2000; or

(ii) Received the original application and, as of November 1, 2000, either—

(A) Had not acted on it; or

(B) Had denied it in whole or in part, but the claimant remained entitled to pursue available administrative and judicial remedies as to the denial; and

(5) The eligible person would have been eligible to educational assistance under 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 if he or she had filed a claim on his or her eligibility date.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 5113; Pub. L. 106-419, 114 Stat. 1832)

(f) Liberalizing laws and Department of Veterans Affairs issues. In accordance with facts found, but not earlier than the effective date of the act or administrative issue.

(g) Correction of military records. Eligibility of a veteran or eligible person may arise as the result of correction or modification of military records under 10 U.S.C. 1552, or a change, correction or modification of a discharge or dismissal under 10 U.S.C. 1553, or other competent military authority. In these cases the commencing date of educational assistance allowance will be in accordance with the facts found, but not earlier than the date the change, correction or modification was made by the service department.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3462(b), 3501(d))

(h) Individuals in a penal institution. If a veteran or eligible person is paid a reduced rate of educational assistance or no educational assistance under §21.3132 (a) or (b) or §21.5139, the rate will be increased or benefits will commence effective the earlier of the following dates:

(1) The date the tuition and fees are no longer being paid under another Federal program, or a State or local program, or

(2) The date of the release from the prison or jail.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3482(g), 3532(e))

(i) Fugitive felons. An award of educational assistance allowance to an otherwise eligible veteran or person will begin effective the date the warrant for the arrest of the felon is cleared by—

(1) Arrest;

(2) Surrendering to the issuing authority;

(3) Dismissal; or

(4) Court documents (dated after the warrant for the arrest of the felon) showing the individual is no longer a fugitive.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 5313B)

(j) [Reserved]

[31 FR 6774, May 6, 1966, as amended at 39 FR 43220, Dec. 11, 1974; 41 FR 47929, Nov. 1, 1976; 46 FR 62060, Dec. 22, 1981; 48 FR 37977, 37978, Aug. 22, 1983; 49 FR 5113, Feb. 10, 1984; 50 FR 48581, Nov. 26, 1985; 51 FR 16318, May 2, 1986; 54 FR 28677, July 7, 1989; 57 FR 40614, Sept. 4, 1992; 61 FR 6782, Feb. 22, 1996; 61 FR 26113, May 24, 1996; 64 FR 23772, May 4, 1999; 66 FR 38938, July 26, 2001; 70 FR 25786, May 16, 2005; 72 FR 16968, Apr. 5, 2007; 72 FR 35661, June 29, 2007; 73 FR 30491, May 28, 2008]