VA Work Study Program

This is one of the most popular programs that VA sponsors, especially at schools with large VA enrollments.  For many years it has been a significant factor in schools' ability to administer the VA educational program.  It allows a VA student to earn the Federal or state minimum wage (whichever is higher) for up to 1,300 hours per year (25 hours per week).  This tax-free benefit allows each VA student to "earn while he learns" while he/she is pursuing an approved  post-secondary program of education on at least a three-quarter time basis.

Once again, however, it must be emphasized that VA work study students may be utilized only for "VA related work" as specified in section 21.4142 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).  That section further specifies that VA students in this program may be utilized in connection with the "preparation and processing of necessary papers and other documents at educational institutions ..."  Some non-VA work may be performed only if it is unavoidably necessary in preparing or processing VA work.  VA work study students may perform any work at any VA facility.  

Examples of work which may be performed by a veteran under a VA work study contract include, but are not limited to:

• Preparing and processing VA enrollment certifications and other VA forms.
• Checking the programs of VA students for course drops and courses out of program (non-VA transcripts and files may be processed only to the extent necessary to separate them from VA student records).
• Checking VA student attendance records and processing certification of absence forms (non-VA records may be handled only to the extent necessary to separate them from VA student records).
• Any other work which directly produces a product (paperwork) to be submitted to VA.  Once again, non-VA work may be performed only to the extent necessary to accomplish VA work.

Examples of work which a VA work study may not perform include, but are not limited to:

• General maintenance or housekeeping.
• Registration activities of non-VA students.
• General typing related to non-VA students.
• Orientation activities for any students or relatives of students.
• Security activities.
• General errands for school staff.
• Tutoring (VA work study students may tutor, if qualified, during non-duty hours).
• Homework or personal business during VA work study duty hours.

Properly utilized, VA work study students can greatly enhance a school's ability to administer their VA educational programs and meet VA requirements for submission of certifications.

Chapter 1606 work-study students may perform work at D epartment of Defense facilities (e.g., military bases, reserve centers and National Guard facilities), that relates to the Chapter 1606 program.

Although prohibited in the past, the General Counsel has ruled that VA work study students may receive an additional stipend or payment from another source under certain circumstances for work performed under their VA work study contract.  Some schools have asked to be allowed to pay a supplement to their VA work study students to bring their total work study pay up to the same hourly amount as their college work study students (who are often paid an hourly wage higher than the federal or state minimum).  This practice has been approved.

Effective with all contracts entered into on or after January 1, 1999, at the student's option, an advance payment equal to the first 50 hours of work may be paid.  Prior to that date, the advance payment was mandatory and not optional.