1. You have to apply to use your VA Educational Benefits.
Initial
claim sent to Atlanta takes anywhere from 60-90+ days to
process.
You
can apply on-line by going to www.gibill.va.gov, click
on apply and that will take
you to VONAPP. You can
also request
an application by contacting CSU’s Military Services
Office at rodom@csuniv.edu, or by calling (843)863-8063.
You will need to provide your name, mailing address and
VA Chapter.
2.
If you apply on-line you will have to submit supporting
documents to the Atlanta VA Regional Office. These include
your DD214 (for Chapter 30* or Chapter 33), or your NOBE
(Notice Of
Basic Eligibility – available through your National
Guard Unit for Chapter 1606 and Chapter 1607). Even if you
register on-line using VONAPP Atlanta requires documents
to complete the initial process. If you bring your documents
to the Military Services Office at CSU, these documents will
be mailed to Atlanta VA Regional Office at no cost to you.
*
If you paid in an additional $600.00 under Chapter 30,
Atlanta will require all copies of your pay sheets showing
the additional payment.
After
you are in Atlanta’s system and you continue
taking classes (with less than a 30 day break in enrollment)
the certification process will not take as long. You will
have to verify you enrollment under Chapter 30, Chapter 1606 & Chapter
1607 at the beginning of the month. Example: If you are certified
for classes starting the end of August you will need to verify
the first part of September in order for your check to be
released by Atlanta.
3.
If you are planning to attend classes for the first time
in the Fall you will need to apply to CSU the prior Spring
in order to be admitted and be able to register for classes.
You will
also need to begin the initial VA Educational application
process. Once you have applied and Atlanta has processed
your paper work you will receive a letter from the (Chapter
33 students will receive a Certificate of Eligibility). You
will need to take the letter to the Office of Military Services
at CSU so you can be certified. A file will be started and
all of your certifications will be kept for inspection by
the Commission On Higher Education in South Carolina and
by the state VA Regional Office.
All
VA Educational Benefits are part of what is know as the
GI BILL. Veterans using benefits are identified by the
different chapters of the bill. Before you apply to use
VA Educational Benefits you will need to know which chapter
you are eligible for. To find out what chapter you are
under and which documents are required click here.
Admission To CSU
Complete
an undergraduate application as a degree seeking* veteran
student, and submit to Enrollment
Services (located
in the Hunter Reception Center). Graduate students need to
apply to CSU’s Graduate Center located in Jones Hall.
*Students have to be degree seeking in order to meet requirements
to use their VA Educational Benefits. If you have questions
concerning this please contact the Military Services Office
by e-mailing rodom@csuniv.edu.
Cross-Registered
Students: If you are only attending CSU for one semester,
or the summer,
you must provide the Military
Services Coordinator with a copy of an approved cross-registration
form. This form is available through the Registrar’s
Office at your home college. This form must show that the
courses taken at CSU will be accepted by your home college
and applied to your degree.
Policies that will help you maintain VA eligibility
The VA only pays VA Educational Benefits if a veteran student
is enrolled. You must not change your enrollment (drop, add,
withdraw) without notifying the Military Services Coordinator
at CSU. Any change can result in a VA overpayment that has
to be reported by the Military Services Coordinator to the
Atlanta VA Regional Office. If a VA overpayment occurs then
the VA will request money back from the beginning of the
term, unless you furnish documents that prove mitigating
circumstances. Mitigating circumstances include: change in
job hours, child care issues, veteran students extended illness,
or death in family. Supporting documents have to be furnished
to Atlanta VA Regional Office for their decision.
Veteran
students who receive VA Educational Benefits may qualify
for Financial Aid (which may include grants, federal
work study and loans). You should apply for Financial Aid
when you apply to attend CSU. The Financial Aid Office is
also located in the Hunter Reception Center.
