VETERANS BENEFITS: SPECIFIC PROGRAMS

1.CHAPTER 30: MONTGOMERY G.I. BILL: A contributory program which covers up to 36 months of training. The duration and amount of benefits are based on the total contribution made while in service. Applications are available at the (GI Bill Website) and should be submitted electronically to the VA regional office in Atlanta, Georgia. A copy of your DD 214- Separation from Active Duty (available to those who served from 1985-present) must be mailed directly to the VA regional office in Atlanta, Georgia. Students must verify their attendance on the last day of each month at the (GI Bill -WAVE Website) or call 1-877-823-2378. Verification of attendance must be submitted before any check is issued.

2.CHAPTER 31: VA VOC REHAB: This is a program for veterans having a 10 percent or higher disability. Duration of benefits is 36 months. The entire cost of education is paid by the Veterans Administration. Veterans must attend a counseling session in person at the Divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation in Winston-Salem prior to enrollment. If eligible, the division will send an authorization to the college for billing purposes. The ACC Financial Aid office will issue a warrant each term to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and supplies. The veteran does not incur any out-of-pocket expenses. All charges are billed to the Veterans Administration. All correspondence and inquiries are submitted to the VA regional office in Atlanta.

3.CHAPTER 33: Post - 9/11 GI Bill: This is a new education benefit program for individuals who served at least 90 days on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. You may receive up to 36 months of entitlement beginning August 1, 2009 for any approved curriculum program offered at ACC. Based on your length of active duty service, you are entitled to a percentage of the following: Cost of tuition and fees, monthly housing allowance, and a book stipend of up to $1,000 per year. Applications are available at the(GI Bill Website) and should be submitted electronically to the VA regional office in Atlanta, Georgia.

4.CHAPTER 35: SURVIVORS AND DEPENDENTS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: This program provides educational benefits to surviving spouse and children of deceased veterans (service connected) or veterans currently having a 100 percent service-connected disability. Applications are available at the (GI Bill Website) and should be submitted electronically. Applications are also available at the ACC VA office or the appropriate county veterans services office. The application is form VA 22-5490 for children and spouses of veterans. Applications and all support documents are processed by the VA regional office in Atlanta.

5.CHAPTER 1606: MONTGOMERY GI BILL FOR RESERVE COMPONENT/ NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS: This program provides benefits to active members of the reserve forces to upgrade educational levels. To be eligible you must complete basic training and make at least a six-year commitment. Duration of benefits is 36 months, and you must attend mandatory drill functions and participate in annual training in order to maintain benefits. Applications are available at the (GI Bill Website) and can be submitted electronically. To apply you must also submit a notice of basic eligibility form DD 2384 (NOBE) along with a signature page to the regional office in Atlanta. All correspondence and inquiries are sent to the VA regional office in Atlanta.

6.CHAPTER 1607: Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP): This program provides educational benefits to members of the reserve components - who are called or ordered to a war or national emergency, as declared by the President or Congress. To be eligible you must serve on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 for at least 90 consecutive days under a contingency operation. The number of months of entitlement under REAP is 36 months. Applications are available at the (GI Bill Website) and can be submitted electronically. To apply you must also submit a notice of basic eligibility form DD 2384 (NOBE) to the regional office in Atlanta. All correspondence and inquiries are sent to the VA regional office in Atlanta.

PROCEDURES AND SPECIAL NOTES

1. VA Form 22-1999: Certification of enrollment is completed by the ACC Veterans officer and electronically submitted to the VA regional office in Atlanta only after all appropriate documents have been submitted by the applicant.

2. You must be fully accepted into an approved program at ACC before certification is possible. Full acceptance requires submissions of (1) a completed ACC application, (2) high school transcript or GED verification, (3) placement test scores (or equivalent), and (4) college transcripts, if you have previously attended college.

3. Transcripts from any college previously attended must be evaluated for transfer credit prior to certification of enrollment. This includes any change of program at ACC.

4. Enrollment is verified and courses are monitored for proper sequence. Excess courses outside the structured curriculum are not allowed for payment of VA benefits.

5. All grades are monitored at the end of each academic term for accuracy of hours certified.

6. Grades of "R", "W", "WP", and "WF" are not allowed for payments. Veterans receiving an "R", "W", "WP", or "WF" will have benefits reduced for the entire term if training time decreases below the original certification.

7. Attendance will be verified each academic term after drop/adds have been processed.

8. Change of program requires documentation and submission of VA change forms to the VA regional office. Stop by the ACC VA office to ensure that your record is up-to-date.

9. Contact the VA office directly concerning any problems; especially if benefits are not received in a timely manner.

10. There are two programs requiring documentation of dependents claimed: Chapter 31 Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation and Chapter 30-34 Combined Vietnam Era and Montgomery GI Bill.

Required documents are: marriage certificate, copies of any divorce decrees, and birth certificates of any children under age 18.

11. Telecourses and Internet-based classes require prior approval by the VA officer at ACC.

12. VA will not pay for classes taken for credit by exam (CE) or Audit (AU).

13. Benefits are paid on the following scale during the fall and spring semesters:

12 hours or more- full benefits

9-11 hours - three quarter

6-8 hours - one half

3-5 hours - tuition reimbursement

15. Benefits are paid on the following scale during the summer semester.

6 hours or more - full benefits

4-5 hours - three quarter

2-3 hours - one half

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR VETERANS

1. APPLYING FOR BENEFITS - Eligibility for veterans' educational benefits is determined by the Veterans Administration, not Alamance Community College. What ACC can provide is information on applying for VA benefits. Note: your initial application requires the DD214 - Report of Separation from Active Duty or Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE). Be prepared to supply this to the veterans officer early in the application process.

2. TIMEFRAMES - The VA application normally takes 60 - 90 days for the VA regional office in Atlanta to process. (Approval times vary with the particular program your entitlement falls under.) Additional delays often occur if there are any questions about your separation status or if your files have to be retrieved from another regional office. What this means is that you probably will not receive your first check from the VA for at least two months after you begin attending classes. However, this check will include back payments covering that waiting period. Thereafter, you will receive checks regularly on a monthly basis.

3. MAINTAINING BENEFITS - In order to keep your benefits, you are obligated to attend class(es) and maintain satisfactory progress in your chosen course of study. Only those classes required for your degree are approved for payment. The amount you receive is based on the number of academic hours for which you enroll. If you reduce that number during the academic term, it may reduce your benefit payment. It is your responsibility to contact the VA regional office in Atlanta and the ACC VA office in order to correct this payment. If the account is not adjusted promptly, you could be charged with an overpayment and be liable to repay money already received. This will affect the amount of subsequent VA benefits if you continue in school. It will put you in debt if you discontinue your studies.

4. QUESTIONS - If you have questions about your eligibility or payments, contact the VA officer at ACC (336-506-4105) or call the VA regional office in Atlanta at 1-888-442-4551.

Any other questions should be directed to the Financial Aid office. Our normal hours of operation are: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday. Evening hours (5 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.) are available on Mondays - Thursdays.

For more information, contact

Sherry Miller