Frequently Asked Questions
Application Process
How do I become a Valencia student and use my VA benefits?
If you are planning on using veteran benefits, an important part of registration for
our veteran students is completing the initial certification process.
For more information, visit the Enrollment page from the Office of Veterans Affairs.
How do I apply for my Veterans Affairs Educational Benefits?
Complete VA Educational Benefits application form to apply for educational assistance under the following benefit programs:
- Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill or
- Chapter 30, Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) or
- Chapter 1606, Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) or
- Chapter 33 TOE, Complete VA Form 22-1990E to apply for educational assistance under the Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) program.
- Chapter 35, Complete VA Form 22-5490 to apply for Dependent Educational Assistance (DEA).
- Chapter 31, Complete VA Form 28-1900 to apply for educational assistance under Veteran Readiness & Employment (VET Success).
How may I contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
- Education Benefits: 1-888-442-4551
- VA Regional Office: 1-800-827-1000, Fax 404-929-3009
- VA Debt Management Center: 1-800-827-0648
- VA Web Site
How do I transfer my benefits to Valencia College?
- If you are a Veteran or Service Member, complete VA Transfer of Benefits form through eBenefits.
- If you are a Dependent of a Veteran or Service Member, complete the VA Educational Benefits Application Form.
Can I apply for Financial Aid?
Yes. You can use VA Education Benefits and apply for Federal Student Aid. To apply,
fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
How do I change my address with the VA?
You must notify all of the following offices of your change in address:
- Valencia College — you can update your address in your Atlas Account. Instructions are available.
- Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs directly to update your information for
education benefits
- Call 888-442-4551 Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 7:00 pm E.T.
- Or sign into Ebenefits. Once you are signed in, click on Manage Your Benefits.
What about my military school credits?
Veterans should submit all copies of transcripts from military experience for credit
evaluation along with any other official college transcripts.
Payments
Do I have enough credit hours to qualify for your monthly payments during the summer
term?
Chapter 33 students must be enrolled more than 1/2 time to receive their BAH. Please
refer to chart below.
Fall/Spring Terms
| Enrollment (Credit Hours) | 12 Weeks of Class | TWJ or TWK) 8 Weeks of Class |
(H1, H2 or LSC) 6 Weeks of Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Time | 12 | 7 | 6 |
| 3/4 Time | 9-11 | 6 | 5 |
| More than 1/2 Time | 7-8 | 5 | 4 |
| 1/2 Time | 6 | 4 | 3 |
Summer Terms
| Enrollment (Credit Hours) | 12 Weeks of Class | TWJ or TWK) 8 Weeks of Class |
(H1, H2 or LSC) 6 Weeks of Class |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Full Time |
8 | 6 | 4 |
| 3/4 Time | 6-7 | 4-5 | 3 |
| More than 1/2 Time | 5 | N/A | N/A |
| 1/2 Time | 4 | 3 | 2 |
For Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) or Subsistence Allowance rates refer to the GI Bill Comparison Tool.
Do I qualify for a Tuition Deferment?
When you request certification of your enrollment with the Valencia College Veterans
Affairs Office, a Financial Aid protection is automatically placed on the student's
account. Upon receiving a confirmation email stating we have received your certification
request, a deferment will have been placed on the student's account. Once this email
has been received, you may disregard any emails from the business office reminding
you of a balance. It is your responsibility to ensure your balance is at $0.00 by
the VA deferment deadline. Please note, this protection only applies to the current
term. If you have a balance from a previous term, the protection cannot be awarded
and you will be dropped from classes.
Why has my Tuition NOT been deferred?
If you have not received a confirmation email stating your certification request has
been received, then something may have happened to prevent successful arrival of your
form. Re-submit the form and check on its arrival via phone 407-582-8387 or email
by contacting Veterans Affairs at Valencia College.
If you have not yet completed the initial certification process, please refer to the Enrollment page to complete this process. If you are a returning student, please refer to the Recertification page to submit the form.
How long does it take to get paid?
Once Valencia College submits your enrollment certification, it must be processed
by the Department of Veterans Affairs. At the beginning of each semester, the VA
is generally overwhelmed with certification requests; therefore it could take up to
6 weeks to process an enrollment during those times. Your patience is appreciated.
The Department of Veterans Affairs will process all of the enrollments in order of
date received.
How do I change my direct deposit information?
To update, change, or add direct deposit information call: 1-877-838-2778 or log in
to WAVE. Note: it can take up to 30 days for your direct deposit changes to become effective.
How do I receive benefits via direct deposit?
All Chapters of benefits may use direct deposit. Direct deposit authorization can
be initiated at time of application, by calling 1-877-838-2778 or logging into WAVE.
Does the VA pay my institution for tuition and fees?
For VA Chapters 30, 1606, and 35, the answer is no. It is the student's responsibility
to pay their tuition and fees to the Business Office by the VA Deferment deadline
stated on the web site under important dates and deadlines. The VA pays you directly on a monthly basis.
For Chapter 33, Post 9/11, the answer is yes, but only for Florida Resident tuition and fee amounts.
For Chapter 31, VA Veteran Readiness & Employment, the answer is yes.
Should I wait until my tuition and fees are posted to certify my hours?
No. You can submit your paperwork as soon as you register for classes. When tuition
and fees are posted, we will process all certifications in the order they were received.
How much money will I get?
To calculate your monthly entitlement please refer to the Benefits Summary for your
Chapter of Benefits on the Educational Benefits page.
How do I get my money?
After you have been certified by the Valencia College Certifying Official, the Department
of Veterans Affairs will:
- Deposit directly funds into your bank account after each month of school is completed.
- If you are a Chapter 30 or 1606 recipient you must verify your enrollment at the first of every month with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Once your enrollment has been verified, the payment will be released.
- Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs via telephone 1-877-823-2378 or by web through WAVE.
Why have I not been paid?
There are many reasons why you may not have received your benefits:
- You may not have applied for your benefits with Veterans Affairs. If you have not applied for benefits yet, you can do so on the VA benefits website.
- You may not have certified with Valencia’s Veteran Affairs Office.
- If you are a new student to Valencia College you will need to visit First Time Using Benefits.
- If you are a returning student to Valencia you will need to submit your Recertification Form.
- You may have recently certified with Valencia’s Veteran Affairs Office. If your paperwork was submitted recently, please allow two weeks for processing. After your certification is submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs, it may take 6-8 weeks to process your paperwork.
- If you have recently changed your direct deposit information or mailing address? If you have, it will take some time for the Department of Veterans Affairs to process the change. The Department of Veterans Affairs may have also tried to make a deposit in a previous account.
Who handles tuition assistance?
Tuition assistance is handled through your unit and the Valencia College Business Office.
Cost of attendance (COA) is an estimate of expenses you might encounter while attending Valencia College. Your COA includes more than just tuition and fees.
Registering for Courses
How often do I need to submit a Certification Request with Valencia Veteran Affairs
Office?
You need to submit a Recertification Request every semester you plan to receive your VA Benefits.
When should I turn in my certification?
Students must be registered for classes before a certification request can be submitted.
Certification Requests should be submitted 30 days prior to the Fee Payment Deadline
of the beginning of the term. This will ensure classes are protected and a deferment
placed on the student's account. This also allows for timely processing of benefits,
providing no additional changes are made to your classes.
What VA Chapter of benefits do I qualify for?
Please refer to the Benefits Summary for a brief description on eligibility requirements
for each Chapter of Benefits on the Educational Benefits page.
What do I need to bring with me when I come in?
Please refer to the Required Documents for a brief description on required VA documents
for each Chapter of Benefits on the Educational Benefits page.
What happens if one of my classes is considered non-compliant?
Student's should contact their academic advisor to verify if the non-compliant class is part of their degree program. If a class is non-compliant and the academic advisor verifies the class is part of their degree program, the advisor can send an email to the Veterans Affairs Office. The email should state the specific class and indicate the class is part of their degree requirements.
Any classes which are determined as non-compliant by the VA, the student is responsible for the payment of the class(es).
How do I know how many months of entitlement I have left?
The Veterans Affairs Office at Valencia College is not provided with this information.
However, you can request an updated Certificate of Eligibility before the beginning of each new term. You can also contact the Department of Veterans
Affairs Regional Office at 1-888-442-4551.
Certifying Enrollment
Do all classes count for VA benefits?
No, refer to First Time Using Benefits, under Things to Know.
- The VA will only pay for courses that are required for your degree program here at Valencia College. If you are registered for courses that are considered prerequisites for another college, the VA will pay for them if you submit a letter from that college listing what the required courses are.
- The VA will not pay for remedial (developmental courses) offered online and/or mixed-mode delivery method.
- Audit courses will not be paid for by VA.
Please speak with a Valencia VA representative for more details.
What do I need to do if I am taking courses at another school?
If Valencia College is your secondary school in Florida:
- Complete the online Transient Student Form.
- Verify with your academic advisor the classes you are taking at Valencia College apply to the degree program at your primary school.
- If you are a New Student to Valencia College, you will need to complete the First Time Using Benefits Process.
- If you are a Returning Student, you will need to submit a Recertification request to the VA office at Valencia College.
- Contact the School Certifying Official at the primary school where you are currently enrolled. They will need to provide a transient letter indicating the classes you are taking at Valencia College. Provide the transient letter to the School Certifying Official at Valencia College.
If Valencia College is your Primary School:
- Complete the online Transient Student Form.
- Verify with your academic advisor the classes you will be taking at the secondary school apply to your degree program at Valencia.
- Contact the School Certifying Official at Valencia College to request a Transient Letter for the secondary school.
If attending an Out-of-State School:
- You will need to contact the School Certifying Official at Valencia College for more details.
- Verify with your primary school the classes you are taking at Valencia College apply to your degree program.
- Contact the School Certifying Official at your primary school where you are currently enrolled. They will need to provide a transient letter indicating the classes you are taking at Valencia College. Provide the transient letter to the School Certifying Official at Valencia College.
Will the VA pay benefits for remedial (developmental) or deficiency courses?
Yes, the VA will pay for all mandated remedial or deficiency courses in a classroom/on-site
situation only. However, the VA will NOT pay benefits for remedial or developmental
courses in the online and/or mixed-mode delivery method.
Can I drop a class?
Yes. Before or during the drop/add period of registration, you may add or drop classes.
Can I withdraw from a class?
Yes, but before you do withdraw from a class, we strongly suggest you contact the
Valencia College of Veterans Affairs Office. It is important to understand the financial implications of withdrawing from a class
and how these debts are repaid.
How does the VA pay benefits for parts of term?
The VA pays benefits based on the term dates. Payment begins on the first day of your
class and ends on the official last day of your classes. Example: If you are enrolled
in both full term and part of term classes your monthly allowance may be affected.
Check with the VA office on your campus if you have any questions regarding your monthly allowance.
Does the VA pay benefits for breaks between terms?
Effective August 1, 2011 the VA will not pay benefits for breaks between semesters.
Example: Winter Break.
How do I Update my Change of Program Status with the VA?
You’ll need to request changes to your benefit if you decide to change your program
at Valencia College.
You can update your change in program by submitting a Request for Change of Program
or Place of Training (VA Form 22-1995). You can complete this form online now. Complete VA-Form 22-1995 online.
What do I need to do if I want to change my benefit type after I have been certified to the VA?
You'll need to request the Change of Benefit Type form from the Veterans Affairs office veterans@valenciacollege.edu. Once the form is completed, you will email it back to our office along with your certificate of eligibility. Please note, when changing benefit types you will incur a debt to VA and possibly to the school.