Applying for Benefits

Step 1. Apply for your benefits by visiting va.gov:

• Complete and submit your application.
• Submitted applications cannot be viewed or printed. However, you will be able to view and print your submission Confirmation Page. A copy of this page should be kept in case confirmation of application submittal is needed by the School Certifying Official.

Using Benefits at NC State

Step 2. Register for classes at NC State as soon as your enrollment appointment opens. To see when your enrollment appointment opens, log into the MyPack Portal.

Step 3. Submit a benefits request in the MyPack Portal after you have completed class enrollment. You can access the Certification Request by following the steps below. You can also click on this link for a video walkthrough.

• MyPack Portal: Student Homepage > Personal Information tile > Veterans Information > Request Benefits Certification

Step 4. Upload a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). The VA will email or mail this once Step 1 is complete. You can also upload supporting documentation listing your benefit eligibility, however ensure that at least one of your documents is uploaded as the COE, or you’ll encounter an error.

• When uploading your COE or supporting documentation:
  • Select the “COE” bubble
  • Enter a file description
  • Select the “upload” button and locate the file on your device
  • Select the ‘return” button

NOTE: Any schedule change made after the term’s census date resulting in reduced credit hours may result in a VA or school debt.

Understanding Payments

While using CH 33 Post 9/11, upon completion of your benefits request, the Cashier’s Office will be informed that the VA will pay for your tuition and fees. From a Student Account perspective, this indicates:

Tuition and Fees

• Your deadline for tuition and fees will be deferred to the end of the semester, protecting your classes from the general tuition and fees deadline.
• The VA only pays for the in-state tuition and fees, and only pays for required fees for graduation (e.g. the VA will not pay for Greek or study abroad fees).
• Payments for tuition and fees, consistent with your Post-9/11 Percent Eligibility, will be wire transferred by the VA directly to your NC State student account. However, at the direction of the VA, the amount of your tuition and fees is not reported to the VA until after NC State Census Day, normally the 10th day of the term.
• Before the census date, $0.00 tuition and fees are reported in the first certification. When you receive your letter from the VA reflecting your enrollment, it will note that $0.00 tuition was paid. This is correct and a new letter will be mailed or emailed to you after we report your tuition after the Census date.

Book and Monthly Stipends

• To initiate VA payment processing of your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and your Book Stipend, both consistent with your Post-9/11 Percent Eligibility, your enrollment credit hours are reported to the VA as soon as your “Benefits Request” is processed by the NC State Veterans’ Education Office.
• The VA pays the Book Stipend at a rate of $41.67/credit hour with a maximum of $1,000 per year. This stipend is wire transferred to the bank account identified in your VA benefit application. It typically arrives two weeks after the initial enrollment certification.
• Your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) will be wire transferred to the bank account identified in your VA benefit application. It is paid on the first of the month for the previous month and is only paid for the days that you are enrolled in class (e.g., approximately half of August would be paid on or around September 1st).
• For VA payment questions regarding book stipend, MHA, and/or tuition and fee payments, please contact the VA at 888.442.4551.

Maximizing Monthly Benefits

• Only classes that are degree-seeking can be certified by the VA. To get the full amount each month, ensure that you are enrolled in enough certifiable credit hours to be full-time the entire semester. 12 credit hours for undergraduate programs and 9 credit hours for graduate programs.
• Keep in mind that the VA goes by enrollment periods, not total credit hours. This means that you’ll need to be enrolled full-time the entire duration of the term. For instance, if you are enrolled in 12 credit hours, but a 3 credit hour class ends mid-way through the semester, you’ll drop to 9 credit hours after that class ends.
• The VA pays for the classes that you enroll in. Enrollment changes that occur after certification (e.g. Withdraw, Grade Exclusion, “U” Grade in an S/U Course) may result in VA debt. If you are unsure of the potential debt impact of contemplated enrollment changes, please check with NC State Veterans Education Benefits.

Optional GI Bill® Payment Plan

Upon completion of VA Enrollment Certification processing, an indicator is placed on your student account informing the NC State Cashier’s Office that you are a Chapter 33, VA Benefits student. For student account charges above the Post-9/11 VA wire transfer amount (such as housing and meals), the Cashier’s Office can offer a GI Bill® Student Payment Plan, a four-month plan that coincides with the VA release of wire transfers and student monthly stipends. This would make the first payment due after the start of the term, either September 15th or February 15th.