Veterans Benefits

Veterans Benefits

Veterans Benefit Information

Most programs and courses of instruction at the college are approved for veterans benefits. Persons who are eligible for veterans educational assistance should contact their local Veterans Administration office or the college Veterans Affairs Office and secure the forms needed to apply for educational assistance. Any veteran wishing to receive benefits must be officially accepted by the college into an approved program. Once veterans are accepted in a program of study, they are allowed to take required courses and electives as outlined in the catalog. Prior approval from the student’s faculty advisor is required to substitute other courses for required courses. Each veteran or veteran’s dependent in a degree, certificate, or diploma program must report withdrawals and/or class drops to the Veterans Affairs Office.

Military (Department of Veterans Affairs) Delayed Payment Policy

This policy documents compliance with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, section 3679 of Title 38 of the United States Code.

A covered individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, or chapter 35, Dependents Education Assistance.

Southside Virginia Community College requires all covered individuals to submit a written request of certification of their enrollment each semester for which they plan to use their Chapter 31, 33, or 35 entitlement benefits. The Certification Request for Veterans Affairs (VA) Educational Benefits must be submitted no later than the last day to drop and receive a refund for the respective semester.

Any covered individual will be permitted to attend or participate in a course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to Southside Virginia Community College a Certificate of Eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under Chapter 31, 33, or 35 (a “certificate of eligibility” can also include a Statement of Benefits obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website, eBenefits, or a VAF 28-1905 form for Chapter 31 authorization purposes) and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

1. The date on which payment from VA is made to Southside Virginia Community College

2. 90 days after the date Southside Virginia Community College certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.

Due to the delayed disbursement of funding from the VA under Chapter 31, 33, or 35, Southside Virginia Community College will not assess a late penalty fee, deny access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or require a covered individual to borrow additional funds because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to Southside Virginia Community College for the VA delay.

Southside Virginia Community College reserves the right to follow normal collection procedures for any difference between the amount of a covered individual’s financial obligation and the amount of the VA education benefit disbursement.

Eligibility for In State Tuition: Veterans

In December 2016, Congress passed Public Law 114-315, which modifies 38 U.S.C. 3679(c) of the Veterans Choice Act of 2014. As amended, 38 U.S.C. 3679(c) requires that The following individuals shall be charged the in-state rate, or otherwise considered a resident, for tuition purposes:

• A veteran using educational assistance under either Chapter 30 (Montgomery G.I. Bill® – Active Duty Program) or Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 G.I. Bill), of Title 38, United States Code, who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of their formal state of residence).
• Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits who lives in the state where the IHL is located, and the transferor is a member of the uniformed service serving on active duty.
• A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (38 U.S.C. § 3311(b)(9) who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of their formal state of residence).
• A spouse or child using benefits under Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance (Chapter 35) living in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of their formal state of residence).
• An individual using educational assistance under chapter 31, Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of their formal state of residence) effective for courses, semesters, or terms beginning after March 1, 2019.
• Anyone described above remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms) at the same institution. Therefore, the described person must be enrolled in the institution and use educational benefits under Chapters 30, 31, 33 or 35 of Title 38, United States Code.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Website at http://www.benefis.va.gov/gibill.

Waived Tuition-Survivors of Certain Veterans

Section 23-7.1 of the Code of Virginia provides that free tuition shall be granted to children of permanently disabled or deceased veterans of armed forces of the United States to state-supported institutions of secondary grade or college level.

Eligibility of such children shall be determined by the Division of War Veterans Claims which shall verify in writing to the admitting institution that tuition should be waived in accordance with the provisions of Section 23-7.1. An application may be secured from the Veterans Affairs Office. A letter of certification from the State Division of War Veterans Claims must be presented to the Veterans Affairs Coordinator at the time of registration before the tuition can be waived. The VA administers several programs under the GI Bill for veterans, active duty personnel, Reserve and National Guard, as well as qualified dependents of veterans. To obtain information on these programs contact the college’s Veterans Affairs Office.