• You must be enrolled in a specific program of study in order to receive VA benefits. VA will only allow payment for those courses required in your program, prerequisite courses, or refresher courses if recommended by the placement test scores.

• If you have previously attended college, you must request official copies of your academic transcripts be sent to our Admissions Office. You will be certified for only one semester pending evaluation of your transcripts. VA will not pay you to repeat any courses for which you receive transfer credit(s).

• Our office will process your paperwork and submit it to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Decatur, Georgia (DVA). It will take 30 to 45 days for the DVA to process the paperwork. If you have not received an award letter or acknowledgment within 45 days, call the DVA at the numbers listed below.

• Checks are mailed to your home address will be received normally within the first 5 days of the month.

• If you are eligible to request an advance payment, you will be paid in advance for the first partial month and second full month of the semester. Therefore, you will not receive another VA check until after your third month of attendance. Advance payment requests may only be made if you are a new student, or if you have been out of school for one calendar month. There is a deadline each semester, so be sure to check with our office if you are interested.

• You must complete a VA registration Card each semester once you pay your tuition. When you pay your tuition, bring a copy of your schedule and your receipt of payment to our office and complete your registration card. Failure to complete this card will result in termination of your benefits. It is imperative that you complete this card every semester if you wish to receive benefits. Continuing students enrolled in 6 hrs or more can be certified for up to one year for continuous enrollment, which is normally done during the summer enrollment period. This does not exclude you from filling out your VA Registration Card.

• You are responsible for reporting any change in program, address, or schedule to our office. If you drop or are withdrawn from a class within the VA’s drop period (30 days for 16-week & 5 days for all other terms), you will be paid through your last date of attendance. Any withdrawals occurring after the VA’s drop period will result in an overpayment of your benefits. If mitigating circumstances caused the withdrawal, you must submit a statement explaining the circumstances, which we will submit to VA for determination.

• If you are in 3/4 or full-time attendance, you are eligible to apply for a VA work-study job. Applications can be obtained from our office.

The MTC VA Office is staffed with MTC employees that will assist you in every way possible. Please remember that any transaction we send to VA takes them 30 to 45 days to process, so be patient and follow the federal regulations governing your VA Educational Benefits.

Questions concerning specific information about the status of your claim or release dates of checks should be addressed to the Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-888-442-4551 or email them by visiting www.gibill.va.gov and click on Ask a Question and Find Answers.