Veterans and Eligible Dependents Educational Benefits
Veterans and Eligible Dependents Educational Benefits
Former service personnel, their survivors, and dependents may be eligible for Veterans Affairs Educational Benefits. Atlanta Tech is pleased to offer programs that are approved for veterans and their eligible dependents. To determine your eligibility, please contact the Veterans Affairs Office for assistance at 1-888-442-4551.
Apply
If this is your initial claim, complete an Application for Benefits (VA Form 22-1990). This can be completed online at https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/. The Veteran's Affairs Regional Office will process your application and send you a Certification of Eligibility if you qualify. Upon receiving a Certification of Eligibility, you should submit a copy of it, the Veteran Information form, Statement of Understanding, Enrollment Certification Request, and your class schedule to the ATC School Certifying Official.
Certify
Once you have submitted the documentation described above, the School Certifying Official will validate your enrollment and send a certification to the appropriate VA Regional Office. This is called the Enrollment Certification Process. Since you cannot be paid for your benefits until the School Certifying Official certifies your enrollment, and he or she cannot certify your enrollment until he or she has your class schedule and Veteran Information form, you must remember to submit a copy of your class schedule and Enrollment Certification Request at the beginning of each semester.
Enrollment Status Changes and Withdrawals
It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Atlanta Technical College School Certifying Official of any changes in enrollment status, the program of study, place of training, etc. These changes affect your eligibility and must be reported to the VA Regional Office. If you withdraw from school or drop/add classes, we recommend you notify the School Certifying Official within three days of that change. Failure to do this can result in the loss of future benefits and/or repayment of benefits received in error. Please remember to report any enrollment changes promptly.
Change of Program or Place of Training
If you have been approved for VA educational benefits and then decide to transfer to another school and/or change programs or majors, you must complete a Request for Change of Program or Change of Place of Training (VA Form 22-1995 or VA Form 22-5495 depending on your program). You can get the forms from a School Certifying Official or download it from the VA web site: www.gibill.va.gov.
Address Changes
Address changes and changes in banking information should also be reported to the Department of Veteran Affairs. Since VA will not forward your benefits checks to a new address, it is important that these types of changes be reported immediately. If you close a bank account without first informing the VA, they will send your benefit payment to the old bank account. If the bank refuses the payment and sends the check back, it goes to the U.S. Department of Treasury and takes about two weeks to get reposted. You can change your payment information on the verification form or via telephone at the Department of Veteran Affairs phone number: 1-888-442-4551 (1-888-GI-BILL1).
Time Frame/Payment of Benefits
The time period for an original claim is roughly 120 TO 150 days to process. The time period for Previous Claimed Certification Claims is 30 TO 90 days. Since we do not have advanced pay, the way to effectively work this system is to give it plenty of time. Plan ahead, apply for both VA and Federal Financial Aid assistance, and fill out all the required forms completely and accurately to avoid the errors that will cost you time.
Educational Rates: To view the VA educational rates, please visit https://www.va.gov/education/benefit-rates/.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
All recipients are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) according to standards established and published by the College. This includes a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or greater. If you fail to meet the minimum requirements stipulated in the SAP policy, your benefits will be terminated.
Academic Probation
A student who fails for the second consecutive semester to achieve a semester GPA of 2.00 is placed on academic probation. It is recommended that the students consult with a program advisor to create a plan for improvement.
Academic Suspension
A student who fails for the third consecutive semester to achieve a semester GPA of 2.00 is placed on academic suspension. A student placed on academic suspension must stay out of school for one full semester before applying for readmission.
If you have any questions, please call the Atlanta Technical College School Certifying Official at 404-225-4718 or email veterans@atlantatech.edu.