New Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill)

The College of Coastal Georgia is approved by the State Department of Veterans’ Services, under existing public laws, to accept and certify students eligible for Veterans’ benefits. Eligible Veterans and/or their eligible dependents should make application for Veterans’ benefits with the Veterans’ Affairs Certifying Official located in the Office of Financial Aid and Veteran’s Affairs. Individuals applying for Veterans’ benefits must meet all admissions requirements. No benefits can be received until the student’s eligibility has been certified by the Certifying Official. Certification of enrollment may be approved only for a program leading to an educational, professional, or vocational objective for which the application is not already qualified. (Exception: Students may be permitted to take certain remedial or refresher courses commensurate with the college requirements or needs in their degree areas of study).

At the beginning of EACH semester, it is IMPERATIVE that students who are receiving VA benefits must fill out a form with the VA Counselor showing the number of credit hours he/she is attempting to complete. If any changes are made at any time during the semester in the number of credit hours carried, this information must also be submitted to the VA Counselor.

Veterans Benefits

If you are a veteran and enrolled either full or part-time in college, you may be eligible to receive educational assistance through the GI Bill. VA education benefits may fall into one of these categories (chapters) :

Chapter 30 - Active duty service person
Chapter 31 - Vocational rehabilitation and employment
Chapter 33 - 9/11 GI Bill information
Chapter 35 - Veteran's dependent (spouse, surviving spouse, or child)
Chapter 1606 - Active selective reservist or National Guardsperson
Chapter 1607 - REAP - (Reserve Educational Assistance Program)

For a complete description of each chapter, go to the GI Bill website.
Payment rates for the VA programs are listed here: http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/rates.htm.

Application Procedures for VA Education Benefits

Verify your eligibility and determine the benefit chapter you are eligible for by calling the VA Educational Office at 1-888-442-4551. The chapters are: 30 (active duty veteran); 31(Voc. Rehab. veteran); 32 - Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP); 35 (children/dependents or spouse); 1606 (Selected Reserve); and 1607 (Activated National Guard and Reserve members after 09/11/01).
Submit the following documents, together, at the Financial Aid Office:

Application Form

First Time Using Benefits (Initial Application) :
CH 30, 32, 1606, 1607 - VA Form 22-1990
CH 35 - VA Form 22-5490
Online application is available through the Veterans ON-Line APPlication (VONAPP) here. Click on the “Start VONAPP” button.
• CH 31 - VA Form 28-1900 - must submit application to your Voc Rehab case manager

Have Used Benefits Before? (Change of Program or Place of Training):
CH 30, 32, 1606, 1607 - VA Form 22-1995
CH 35 - VA Form 22-5495

VA form DD-214 Member Copy-4 (if you are a veteran) or form DD-2384 (NOBE, if in the Reserves)
Official transcripts from previous colleges attended
Math and English Placement Scores if remedial coursework is needed

Responsibilities of students receiving benefits:

To be eligible to receive educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill, you need to be in a degree seeking program offered at College of Coastal Georgia. VA will not pay for benefits if you are not seeking a degree or certificate.
The Veterans Counselor will not submit an enrollment certification for you until notified to do so.
VA will not pay for courses that do not count toward your program of study at College of Coastal Georgia. Courses will be tracked, and could result in an overpayment if courses are taken that are not required in your major program.
VA does not pay for withdrawal of a course(s) unless there are mitigating circumstances involved. If you withdraw from a course, you need to let the VA Counselor know right away. A withdrawal/drop will get reported whether or not you notify us! You will have an overpayment to the VA and will owe them money.
If you are repeating a class for a better grade (not because you failed the course), that class will not count in your certification for GI Bill benefits!
If you are changing your major, you need to let the Veterans Counselor know. Proper paperwork must be processed in order to receive education payment benefits.
All students receiving either the Montgomery GI Bill Active duty, Selected Reserve and Dependents must verify their enrollments monthly to receive payments. Verification can be done by using either the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) application on the Department of Veterans Affairs website or by calling 1-888-442-4551 and following the prompts.
VA takes 6 – 8 weeks to process an enrollment certification. Please be timely when submitting your request.

Links and Resources: