Veteran Benefits
Lawson State School Code: 001059
Lawson State Community College is approved by the Alabama State Approving Agency (SAA) to offer VA Educational Benefits (GI Bill ® ) to eligible individuals enrolled in approved programs.
These are general guidelines that will help the process. However, you should check with the specific location you will attend. Contact information is at the end of this page. Click on each bulleted item for more information.
Complete an application for regular student status and submit to the Admissions Office.
1. Select a program of study (a requirement for VA benefits.)
2. Submit a copy of your high school transcript.
3. Take the placement exam.
4. Submit official college transcripts from all other institutions. This
form may help you when requesting a GED score report based upon a GED you earned while in the military or a DD214 for form 13038 or transcripts of military training / learning experiences.
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Only students who have been officially admitted by Lawson State may register.
Academic Advisors and Counselors will assist in planning a class schedule for incoming students. Only those courses within the student’s program of study are eligible to count toward enrollment certification of veterans benefits.
When Registration has been completed, tuition and fees paid, your enrollment will be certified to the Department of Veterans Affairs for applicable courses.
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1. Students receiving VA benefits may select any program offered at Lawson State Community College, including our GED program, upon approval from the Veterans Services Office. Only one program of study may be pursued and certified for enrollment at any one time. If the veteran decides to major in two programs at the same time, only the courses leading to the approved degree program will be certified. The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) will not pay for courses that are taken under an unapproved program.
2. Veterans may change a program of study and continue to receive benefits if the new program is approved by DVA.
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The Department of Veterans Affairs encourages students receiving veterans' benefits to attend all scheduled classes. Failure of a class due to poor or non- attendance may result in the loss of benefits and/or an overpayment of veterans benefits already received for the course (s) in which a grade of F was assigned. Students enrolled in a Certificate program must satisfy the Department of Veterans Affairs 85% attendance policy.
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Veterans Educational Benefits
The following must be submitted for the certification process to begin. It is the veteran’s responsibility to assemble all needed materials and submit them to the Institution's Veterans Services Office.
Applicants Under Chapters 30, 32, 34, VRAP - Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (under Ch 30 - Expired March 31, 2014)
1. New applicants complete VA Form 22-1990 or or online application via VONAPP ,
2. Transfer students must complete VA Form 22-1995 and,
3. Submit copy of: DD214 - Report of Separation (Member 4 copy)
4. Veterans eligible for CH34 benefits (entered service 1977 or earlier) also submit copies of:
• Marriage certificate
• Birth certificates of dependent children
• Divorce decrees
Applicants under Chapter 33
Chapter 33 is an educational benefit program ranging from 40% to 100% eligibility, for individuals who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. The effective start date for Chapter 33 was August 1, 2009. There are two benefit programs under Chapter 33:
1. Post 911 GI Bill - for eligible individuals who served on active duty after September 10, 2001; and
2. Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship - for children of service members who die in the line of duty after September 10, 2001.
CH 33 allows for the following benefits for students:
1. A tuition and fee benefit paid directly to Lawson State;
2. A monthly housing allowance provided to the student - based on zip code of institution;
(One - half the BAH national average for student training solely by distance learning - totally online)
3. A book stipend of up to $1,000 per academic year;
4. And in some cases, a one time rural benefit payment - (does not include Fry scholarship recipients).
The Yellow Ribbon Program:
•
Lawson State does not participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program
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Tuition rates fall within the national maximum per academic year for the GI Bill"
FAQs about the new Post-9/11 GI Bill
1. Eligible tuition and fees are paid directly to the institution;
2. Benefits can be transferred to a dependent - Must be 18 or older;
3. The Post 911 GI Bill includes active service as a National Guard member under title 32 U.S. C. for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training and active servce under section 502(f) of title 32 for the purpose of responding to a national emergency.
4. BAH is not payable to individuals on active duty or those enrolled at half time (Six credit hours or less). Students are paid to students enrolled at least eight credit hours.
Applicants Under Chapter 35 (Survivors/Dependents)
1. New applicants complete
VA Form 22-5490 or,
2. Transfer students complete
VA Form 22-5495 and,
3. Provide Veterans VA File Number (Not the Student's SS#).
Applicants Under Chapter 1606/1607 (Reserves/National Guard)
1. New applicants complete
VA Form 22-1990- or,
2. Transfer students complete
VA Form 22-1995 and,
3. Submit copy of DD2384 -Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE).
All Applicants Under All Chapters:
The best way to apply for your education benefits is online at Vets.gov.
You can also apply for education benefits by doing any of the following options:
- Visit your nearest VA regional benefit office to apply in person.
- Consult with the VA Certifying Official in our Student Financial Services office on either the Bessemer or the Birmingham campus.
- Call 1-888-GI BILL-1 (888-442-4551) to have the application mailed to you.
Visit the VA Education and Training website for more information education benefits.
Submit the following to our office:
1. Certificate of Eligibility or Copy of Application or Change of School Information Form;
2. Signed Statement of Understanding - (Obtained from Institution)
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Payment
The first check should arrive six to eight weeks after the first day of classes or later if the veteran should apply for certification after classes begin or if there is a delay in tuition payment to the institution.
Information about qualifying pay rates and payment dates for Chapter 30, 34, 35, 32 and 1606/1607 is made available to the student by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Student may also obtain information via the Education and Training site: Rate Tables .
If you receive the Montgomery GI Bill Chapter 30 or Chapter 1606/1607, you must verify your attendance at the end of each month, or at the end of a term, before payment is processed. You will not receive payment until VA receives your verification. You may do so via the automated telephone system at 1-877-823-2378 or via the Education and Training site - Enrollment Verification at Enrollment Verification.
Veterans planning to enroll in mini-terms, or a combination of full semester and mini-terms, may want to contact the Veterans Affairs Office to determine their training status.
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DVA may NOT pay educational benefits if one of the following should occur:
1.The veteran registers for classes that are not required for the student's declared program of study. Depending on circumstances, deficiency or remedial courses may be certified for benefits.
2.The veteran fails to submit all previous college transcripts for evaluation.
3.The veteran registers for two or more courses and receives a grade of “F” for all courses for one semester.
4.The veteran fails to convert an “I” grade to a letter grade within the institution's required deadline.
6.The veteran fails to achieve the minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for two consecutive semesters or sessions.
A student will be placed on academic probation during the first semester or session the minimum cumulative GPA is not achieved. By the end of the probation semester, the student must attain the minimum cumulative GPA.
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All questions concerning child and/or spouse eligibility can be located at the Department of Veterans Affairs at: http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/ or you may call toll free at 1 (888) 442-4551.
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Other Benefits
Military Tuition Assistance
A. Alabama National Guard Educational Assistance Program (ANGEAP)
When funded by the State of Alabama, the program may provide benefits for tuition to Army or Air Guardsmen. Applications may be obtained at: ANGEAP APPLICATION
The form will be completed by the Veteran’s assistant, and submitted to the applicable unit, who reviews form, and forwards to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. Once application has been reviewed and approved, a refund check for up to $5,232 per semester is remitted to the institution on behalf of the student for reimbursement to the student or for payment on the student account.
B. Army Tuition Assistance Program: Army Tuition Assistance (TA) provides financial assistance for voluntary off-duty education programs in support of a soldier's professional and personal self-development goals. The program is open to nearly all soldiers (officers, warrant officers, enlisted) on active duty, and Army National Guard and Army Reserve on active duty. There are some restrictions as to who may use Army Tuition Assistance and what courses it can be used for.
Payment
The maximum amount paid for tuition assistance: Up to 100% Tuition
Not to exceed:
- $250 @ Semester Credit Hour, or
- $166 @ Quarter Credit Hour, and
- $4500 @ Fiscal Year
The Army Continuing Education System has launched a new automated tuition assistance project. The TA automation will allow active duty soldiers to request TA and enroll in courses online. This will speed up the enrollment process and minimize wait times at Army Education Centers. Active Duty soldiers are now able to request TA online through www.GoArmyEd.com
*Please consult with your ESO or counselor within your unit for prior approval.*
C. Air Force Tuition Assistance: The Air Force offers airmen several programs to support their voluntary education goals including 100% Tuition Assistance for college courses taken during off-duty hours.
Air Force Tuition Assistance (TA) is an important quality of life program that provides 100% tuition and fees for courses taken by active duty personnel. The program is one of the most frequent reasons given for enlisting and re-enlisting in the Air Force.
Payment
The maximum amount paid for Tuition Assistance: Up to 100% Tuition and Fees
Not to exceed:
- $250 @ Semester Credit Hour, or
- $166 @ Quarter Credit Hour, and
- $4500 @ Fiscal Year
Application Process
You must apply for Tuition Assistance online using the Air Force Virtual Education Center. This must be done through the Air Force Portal at https://www.my.af.mil/.
There are six steps to completing the AFVEC online TA process
D. Navy/Marines Tuition Assistance: Tuition Assistance (TA) is the Navy's educational financial assistance program. It provides active duty personnel funding for tuition costs for courses taken in an off-duty status at a college, university or vocational/technical institution, whose regional or national accreditation is recognized by the Department of Education. Navy TA pays for both classroom and independent study/distance learning courses, regardless of course length. Courses must be offered in Semester Hours, Quarter Hours, or Clock Hours. The credit earned must show on the institution's transcript.
All Navy Tuition Assistance pays up-front the tuition and fees charged by educational institutions for course enrollments. Navy TA pays 100% of tuition costs for courses applicable to the completion of a high school diploma or equivalency certificate. For other education levels, there is a fiscal year credit limit of 16 Semester Hours, 24 Quarter Hours, or 240 Clock Hours per individual. (Waiver requests cannot exceed the FY $4500 DoD program limit.)
- Payment for tuition and fees will not exceed the following caps:
$250.00 per semester hour
$166.67 per quarter hour
$16.67 per clock hour
Application Process
Obtain application online at: https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/ta1.html.
Marine Corps Tuition Assistance
First-time students must complete a TA Orientation Class PRIOR to using TA. Marines at remote sites (non-Marine Corps installations) may access the course by clicking on the TA Orientation link below. All others: Please proceed to your local base Lifelong Learning or Education Office.Marines must apply for and receive written authorization for TA through the appropriate education office, PRIOR to enrollment. Use form NETPDTC 1560.
Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA)
The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts Program (MyCAA), a component of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) program, is a career development and employment assistance program. MyCAA helps military spouses pursue licenses, certificates, certifications or Associate's Degrees (excluding Associate's Degrees in General Studies, Liberal Arts, and Interdisciplinary Studies that do not have a concentration) necessary for gainful employment in high demand, high growth Portable Career Fields and Occupations. For more information regarding MyCAA program visit: https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/default.aspx
The MyCAA program provides up to $4,000 of financial assistance for military spouses who are pursuing degree programs, licenses, or credentials leading to employment in portable career fields.
Spouses of Active Duty members of the Department of Defense and activated members of the National Guard and Reserve Components are eligible. Currently, the period of eligibility for spouses of Guard and Reserve members is from the date of the Alert or Warning Order for Military Recall or Mobilization, through activation and deployment until 180 days following De-Mobilization.
Please Note:
1.For military members who have transferred their Post 9/11 GI Bill (CH33) to their spouse: Federal regulation prohibit spouses from using both MyCAA and CH33 tuition funds to pay for the same course(s).
2.MyCAA benefits must be considered when calculating Financial Aid Title IV eligibility.
The MyCAA Fact Sheet that provides current information on eligibility and application procedures: MyCAA Fact Sheet
Tutorial Assistance
A veteran is eligible to receive up to $600 for tutorial assistance if approved by Veterans Services. Chapter 1606/1607 applicants will not be paid for receiving tutorial assistance.
Department of Defense (DoD) expanded the eligibility for Tutor.com due to the COVID-19 transitions, to help military families eliminate academic stressors. Tutor.com for U.S. Military Families program will now include ALL active duty, National Guard, Reserve and Wounded Warrior service members; DoD civilian personnel; and all of their dependent children and spouses! Survivors of KIA service members plus ROTC, NROTC and DoD Service Academy Cadets are also now eligible for the program! For details please visit, https://military.tutor.com/home.
Tutor.com Provides:
Around-the-Clock Help
- Work with a tutor from any internet-connected device, anywhere in the world
- Connect to an expert tutor available on demand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week*
- Get online tutoring help three ways: request a tutor’s help right now, schedule a future tutoring session, or upload a document for offline review and get comments back within 24 hours
- Use the free Tutor.com app for IOS and Android mobile devices—take a picture of a homework problem and upload it for the tutor to see.
All Core Subjects, All Skill Levels
Personalized help is available in more than 100 subjects for grades K-12 and college students, including math, writing, reading, ELL, science, English, social sciences, history, accounting, finance, nursing, world languages, computer science, study skills and test prep. We also provide tutoring with bilingual Spanish-speaking tutors for math, science and social studies. For details, view a PDF of all tutored subjects.
Expert Tutors You Can Trust
- Each of our 3,000 tutors is a carefully screened subject matter expert who must complete a rigorous application process and background check
- Tutors include certified teachers, college professors and graduate students from accredited universities, and many are military-affiliated, including military spouses
Safe, Anonymous Learning Environment
- Every tutoring session is anonymous, and takes place in a secure online classroom; we do not offer in-person tutoring
- No personal information is shared between the tutor and the student
Work-Study
The Work-Study program allows a VA student to earn the Federal or state minimum wage (whichever is higher) for up to 1,300 hours per year. The benefit is tax free and allows each VA student to “earn while he learns” while he or she is pursuing an approved post-secondary program of education on at least a three-quarter time basis.
The VA Work-Study student must work in an office that permits them to perform VA related activities. These sites include, but are not limited to: Regional Offices, VA Medical Centers, Vet Centers, VA Outpatient clinics, National Cemeteries, and local educational institutions, and might include preparing and processing VA enrollment certifications, checking VA student attendance records or checking for course changes, etc.
Entitlement to Benefits
Lawson State certifies student enrollment status, changes in enrollments, programs of study, academic progress, and graduation. All questions concerning payment may be directed to the Department of Veterans Affairs at 1 (888) 442-4551 or by sending an electronic inquiry by going to:
https://gibill.custhelp.com .
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Address and direct deposit information must be kept current. Chapter 30, 1606 & 1607 students can use the WAVE system to update address and financial institution information. Links to do so are on the "Main Menu" available after you log onto WAVE.
If a student wants to start (Chapter 30, 33, 35, 1606, and 1607) or change a direct deposit, the student should have his or her account information handy. The following information is needed to set up direct deposit and can be found on checks and bank statements:
• Account number
• 9 digit bank routing number
• Type of account (checking or savings)
If a student has direct deposit the student still needs to keep his or her address current because all other correspondence including award letters are mailed to the student's address.
All other students can call 1-877-838-2778 to begin and change direct deposit.
*****Effective February 3, 2012, DEA (Ch35) is now eligible to use Direct Deposit as a means of payment (with the exception of Work Study programs or Tutorial Assistance).
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eBenefits
Students are strongly encouraged to register and utilize eBenefits to assist them in the following:
• Obtaining up to date information on their educational entitlement
• Updating their Direct Deposit and personal contact information
• Downloading VA letters and personal documents
• Viewing the current status of their payments (both education and disability)
GI BILL (®) SCHOOL FEEDBACK TOOL
VA Phone Apps
Make the Connection
Operation Reconnect
Transfer of Educational Benefits
Student Veterans of America
Troops to Teachers
Helmets to Hardhats
MilitaryScholar.org
Military.com http://www.afcea.org/site/?q=foundation/scholarships/war-veterans
Scholarships for Military Children
Army National Guard Scholarships
https://www.moneysavingpro.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-veterans-benefits/
http://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/Feedback.asp
http://www.aging.com/complete-guide-for-veteran-seniors/
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Lawson State is committed to non-discrimination and equal opportunities in its programs, activities and employment for students and employees regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability or sexual orientation. Information regarding affirmative action and equal access should be addressed to:
Director of Human Resources
Lawson State Community College
Administration Building
Birmingham, AL 35221
(205) 929-6308
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