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Veterans Affairs Checklist

  1. Apply for admission at with the Southwest Online Application.  
  2. Apply for Financial Aid using the FAFSA website.
  3. Submit all documents required per the Admissions Checklist that pertains to you and Financial Aid, in a timely manner. 
  4. Apply to Receive your here: VA benefit type
  5. If using, Federal Tuition Assistance: You should contact your Educational Services Officer (ESO) or Military Career Counselor at your service branch listed below:
  6. 30 days after applying for benefits online, you should receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in the mail. 
  7. Bring it to the Southwest VA office, along with a copy of your or the veteran’s DD214.VA Coordinator - Corey Stewart 901-333-4092/ RM 2140 Macon Farris Building or EMAIL TO VETERANS@SOUTHWEST.TN.EDU 
  8. Complete hyperlink to Request for Certification Form. 

How To Receive Benefits

Southwest Tennessee Community College’s programs may be approved for students to use their VA Benefits. Please check WEAMS for the list of currently approved programs at WEAMS Public (va.gov). If your program is not listed, please contact the school certifying official. VA does not certify payment for non-degree seeking students unless in a transient status. Transient students must provide an authorization letter from the VA official at their primary institution. In addition, all previously earned credits, as appropriate, must be applied to the enrolled program. Only course(s) included in the requirements for the degree program being pursued will be certified for educational benefits.

  • Housing and books payments are made directly to the student.
  • VA benefit payments for tuition and fees are made directly to the school.
  • Students are responsible for completing the online Certification Request form to the school certifying official before the first day of class.

Note: Chapter 33 recipients who have been rated at less than 100% eligibility or are taking course work that cannot be certified ARE responsible for the remaining percentage of tuition and fees and charges not covered by the VA by the fee payment deadline.

  • Payments are made directly to the institution for tuition and fees.

  • Payments are made directly to the student.

For all other MGIB - Chapter 30, MGIB-SR - Chapter 1606 and MGIB-REAP - Chapter 1607, TA

  • Payment is made directly to the student for the number of days the student is certified for the month and NOT to the school.

The student is responsible for payments and the student may be dropped for non-payment.

 

It is the student's responsibility to self-verify at the end of each month to ensure timely payment. Beginning Aug. 1, 2021, the VA made changes and now requires all Post 9/11 GI Bill® recipients to verify their enrollment monthly. Opt-in for text verification or call 1-888-442-4551 to verify!!

 

Important Information about Courses 

For Chapter 33 (Post 9/11), if you enroll in only online courses for a semester, the VA will only pay you at the reduced online rate. If at least ONE of your classes is face-to-face class, then you will receive the amount of stipend you would normally get.

You need to report when you add or drop a class because it will affect your payments.  

The VA disburses MHA on the first of the month for the month prior. For example, on October 1st, students will receive MHA for September.

 

Section 103 of Public Law (PL) 115-407 ‘Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 

Southwest Tennessee Community College is in compliance with Section 103 of Public Law (PL) 115-407 ‘Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018’ that states: “a student who is entitled to educational assistance under Chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment, or Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits shall be permitted to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a Certificate of Eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under Chapter 31 or 33 (a “Certificate of Eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ website – eBenefits, or a VAF 28-1905 form for Chapter 31) and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

—The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution.
—90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the Certificate of Eligibility.

The College shall not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or require the student to borrow additional funds, in order to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under Chapter 31 or 33.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

The student will complete and submit the online Certification Request Form each semester of enrollment. Additional information and the required Certification Request Form is available on the Veterans Affairs page of the College's website.

Online Courses

For Chapter 33 (Post 9/11), if you enroll in only online courses for a semester, the VA will only pay you at the reduced online rate. If at least ONE of your classes is face-to-face class, then you will receive the amount of stipend you would normally get.

Changes in credit load that affect your training time

You need to report when you add or drop a class because it will affect your payments.  

When do I receive my MHA?

The VA disburses MHA on the first of the month for the month prior. For example, on October 1st, students will receive MHA for September.

Important Websites

For questions about your benefits, call the VA education Benefits line at: 1-888-GIBILL1 or 1-888-442-4551.

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