VA Work-Study Program in Maryland: Earn Money While Using GI Bill

To qualify for VA Work-Study, you must be enrolled at least three-quarter time (or full-time if that is the only option) in an approved educational institution and pursuing a degree, diploma, or certificate program using VA educational benefits such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, or Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). Your school must participate in the VA Work-Study program. You must have a Service Connection rating from VA (any rating percentage) or be receiving VA education benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 3485.

You must be a U.S. citizen and have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable from active duty. There are no income or asset limits for Work-Study eligibility. The program is available to surviving spouses and dependents using DEA benefits, provided they meet the same enrollment and benefit-receipt requirements.

Foreign nationals attending U.S. schools may be eligible if they meet service requirements. Work-Study positions must be veteran-service related—meaning they support student veterans, coordinate veteran resources, or advance VA mission activities such as benefits counseling, peer mentoring, or administrative support to veteran offices. General campus employment or work unrelated to veteran services does not qualify, even if you attend the school on the GI Bill.

You cannot be receiving payment from another VA program for the same work hours. Your school must certify your enrollment and recommend you for Work-Study; you cannot self-nominate. There is no specific service-length requirement beyond an honorable (or other-than-dishonorable) discharge.

For 2024–2025, VA Work-Study compensation is typically federal minimum wage ($7.25 per hour) or your state/local minimum wage, whichever is higher. Maryland minimum wage is $15.00 per hour (effective 2024), so Maryland veteran work-study participants earn at least $15.00 per hour. Maximum annual earnings depend on hours worked: at 20 hours per week for 52 weeks, gross annual earnings reach approximately $15,600 before taxes.

Actual earnings may be higher if your employer offers above-minimum compensation; some institutions pay $12–$18 per hour depending on job duties and location. Compensation is determined by the employer (your educational institution) and the specific work-study position. You are paid by the educational institution, not by VA. Payment frequency varies by school—typically biweekly or monthly via check or direct deposit.

Work-Study earnings do not reduce your VA education stipend. You may earn additional income from other employment without affecting your eligibility or monthly payment. No COLA adjustments apply to minimum wage; future increases depend on federal or state wage legislation. Self-employment or work performed off-campus may not qualify for VA Work-Study.

Maryland does not provide a state-specific Work-Study program layered on top of the federal VA Work-Study benefit. Work-Study is exclusively a federal program administered through 38 U.S.C. § 3485, and states do not add supplementary payments or enhanced eligibility for this benefit.

However, Maryland has set its state minimum wage at $15.00 per hour (effective 2024), which is above the federal minimum of $7.25. This means Maryland veteran work-study participants automatically benefit from the higher state minimum wage. If your work-study employer (typically your school's office) pays above the minimum, you receive that rate. There is no separate state application, approval process, or state certifying official for Work-Study.

Maryland's commitment to supporting veterans extends through other channels—such as in-state tuition benefits for service members and veterans, and the Maryland Veterans Commission—but these operate independently from Work-Study. If you are a Maryland resident attending an out-of-state school, you receive federal Work-Study only; Maryland does not provide supplementary work funds. Conversely, if you are a non-resident attending school in Maryland, you are eligible for federal Work-Study under the same terms as Maryland residents. The program is uniformly federal across all states and institutions.

Your school's financial aid and veteran services offices are your primary contacts; the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) does not administer Work-Study directly. Always verify with your institution that your position is VA Work-Study approved.

The most common reason Maryland veterans' Work-Study nominations are denied is insufficient enrollment status. You must be enrolled at least three-quarter time (or full-time if that is only option available). If you drop below that threshold mid-semester, your Work-Study eligibility is terminated. Always confirm your enrollment load with your school's registrar before nomination.

Second, Work-Study positions must be veteran-service related. Common denials occur when a school nominates a veteran for a general campus job—such as library assistant, bookstore clerk, or dining hall worker—that has no connection to veteran services. VA will deny the nomination. Your position must involve veteran peer support, financial aid advising, benefits counseling, office administration for the veterans office, or other VA mission-related duties. If your school cannot identify a qualifying position, you cannot be approved.

Third, you must be receiving or eligible for VA education benefits. If you have exhausted your GI Bill entitlement or your benefits have been terminated due to unsatisfactory academic progress, you are ineligible for Work-Study. Some veterans mistakenly believe they can participate while on military leave or medical hold; this is false. VA must verify active benefit receipt.

Fourth, an other-than-honorable discharge or dishonorable discharge disqualifies you. Bad conduct discharges may qualify; discharge characterization is verified against your VA records. Finally, your school must participate in the VA Work-Study program. Not all institutions offer it; some have no funding or no veteran population large enough to justify positions. Always ask your veterans office whether Work-Study is available.

To strengthen your application, provide clear documentation of enrollment status, confirm the position description includes veteran-service duties, and ensure your discharge characterization is honorable or other-than-honorable. Request a letter from your school's veterans office stating that the nominated position is VA mission-related and supporting your role's specific duties.

If your Work-Study nomination is denied, you have the right to appeal. The appeal process follows the standard VA three-lane system: Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review (HLR), or Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA).

For a Supplemental Claim, submit new evidence within one year of the original denial date. If VA denies your Work-Study nomination because your school claims you are not enrolled three-quarter time, submit updated class schedules or a registrar's enrollment verification showing you meet the requirement. If the position was rejected for not being veteran-service related, provide a revised position description signed by your veterans office. Use VA Form 20-0995, 'Supplemental Claim for Disability Compensation, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Survivors Pension and Parents Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.' This lane is best if you have new documentation that directly addresses VA's stated reason for denial.

For a Higher-Level Review, request that a senior VA reviewer examine the same evidence without submitting new documents. Use VA Form 20-0996, 'Request for Higher-Level Review.' The HLR deadline is one year from the initial decision date. This is useful if you believe VA misinterpreted your school's recommendation or your eligibility, but you have no new evidence. Processing takes 4–6 months.

For a Board of Veterans' Appeals decision, file a Notice of Disagreement (VA Form 21-0958) within one year, and then request a BVA hearing. BVA is best for complex eligibility questions or if you disagree with VA's interpretation of the Work-Study statute. BVA can take 1–2 years.

Free help is available from your school's veterans services office, your county veterans service officer, Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) like the American Legion or VFW, or VA's Office of the Veterans Ombudsman (1-855-VET-VETS). Never pay a private claims agent; representation is free.