VA Education Benefits
Students eligible to receive VA education benefits must be certified through the Veterans Affairs Office. Upon enrollment at Winston-Salem State University, students must make contact with the Veterans Affairs Coordinator either in person, by telephone, or via email of your status. In addition to applying to the VA, each student must complete the a VA Enrollment Certification Request form, which becomes a part of the student's permanent file at Winston-Salem State University's Veterans Affairs office.
Eligibility for VA Student Benefits
You may be eligible for VA benefits if you are a:
- Veteran or Veteran's dependent
- Surviving spouse, child or parent of a deceased Veteran
- Uniformed service member
- Present or former reservist or National Guard member
Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard
Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill®
This is an education benefit for eligible service members who have served on active duty for at least 90 days after 9/10/2001, or were discharged with a service connected disability after 30 consecutive days. An honorable discharge (character of service) is required for veterans. Individuals who are entitled to 100% of this benefit can have their entire cost of tuition and fees covered when eligible. For more information, visit va.gov.
Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill®
Eligible service members who have paid into this benefit while on active duty may have a significant portion of their tuition and fees covered. This benefit pays to the student, so you will need to arrange a payment plan with your South University financial aid officer. For more information, visit va.gov.
Chapter 1606: Selective Reserve Montgomery GI Bill®
This program is for eligible members of the Selective Reserve and National Guard who have enlisted or re-enlisted in the select reserve with an obligation to serve 6 or more years on or after July 1st 1985. In order to be eligible for this benefit, the member will have had to complete their IDAT (initial date active training). Chapter 1606 expires once a service member has separated. This benefit pays to the student, so you will need to arrange a payment plan with your South University financial aid officer. For more information, visit va.gov.
Kickers & Additional Contributions
A kicker is part of an enlistment contract and is a fixed dollar amount that will be disbursed in even installments over the course of the entitlement period for eligible Chapter 30 and 1606 recipients. The VA should automatically pay this benefit as an addition to the normal entitlement amount paid each month to the veteran. If not, the veteran should contact the VA Regional Office processing his or her claim. No additional paperwork is needed.
Veterans
Veterans Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill®
This is an education benefit for eligible service members who have served on active duty for at least 90 days after 9/10/2001, or were discharged with a service connected disability after 30 consecutive days. An honorable discharge (character of service) is required for veterans. Individuals who are entitled to 100% of this benefit can have their entire cost of tuition and fees covered while eligible. For more information, visit va.gov.
Yellow Ribbon Program
Winston-Salem State University proudly participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs. The Yellow Ribbon Program provides assistance to eligible veterans with 100% eligibility of Ch 33 Post 9/11GI Bill® whose cost of tuition and fees exceeded the annual cap. This program is designed to help cover the out of state tuition not covered by the Post 9/11 GI Bill. In general, a student must meet the following criteria to qualify for Yellow Ribbon funding:
- Student must be using Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits at the 100% level
- Student must be charged out of state tuition
For more information, visit va.gov.
Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill®
Eligible service members who have paid into this benefit while on active duty may have a significant portion of their tuition and fees covered. This benefit pays to the student, so you will need to arrange a payment plan with your South University financial aid officer. For more information, visit va.gov.
Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation
This employment program provides educational support to eligible veterans who are entering the workforce. Veterans will meet with their Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to develop an education plan. This benefit may cover the entire cost of tuition and fees. To contact a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, visit va.gov.
Spouses and Dependent Children
Spouses and Dependent Children Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MYCAA) Program
This program provides educational assistance to eligible spouses of Active-Duty members towards an Associate or Certificate program. Students who are eligible can qualify up to a $4,000 lifetime limit, with a maximum of $2,000 per Department of Defense fiscal year (Oct 1st – Sep 30th). For more information, please visit militaryonesource.mil.
Transfer of Education Benefit (TEB) Post 9/11 GI Bill® to Dependents
Eligible active-duty service members may be able to transfer their unused Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) benefit to their spouses or dependent children, while on active duty. This benefit may cover 100% of tuition and fees up to an amount established by the VA per fiscal year (Aug 1st – July 31st). For more information, visit va.gov.
Fry Scholarship
The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship), is a scholarship that provides for eligible children and dependents of service members who have died in the line of duty after 9/10/2001. Students who are entitled to this benefit may have a significant portion of their tuition covered. Effective January 1, 2015, the law expands eligibility for the Fry Scholarship to include surviving spouses of members of the Armed Forces who died or die in the line of duty after 9/10/2001. For more information, please visit va.gov.
Chapter 35: Survivor and Dependents Assistance
This program provides educational assistance to eligible spouses and dependents of veterans who have died or are totally and permanently disabled, as a result of their service, and may be able to assist with the cost of tuition and fees. This benefit pays directly to the student, so you will need to arrange a payment plan with your financial aid officer. For more information, visit va.gov.
Applying For VA Benefits
You can apply online at How to Apply for the GI Bill and Related Benefits. To retrieve a PDF version of the application go to VA Education Benefits (VA For 22-1990) application.
Conditions For Students Receiving VA Benefits
Students eligible for VA benefits must agree to notify the Veterans Affairs
Coordinator any time there is a change in status due to:
- Increase or decrease in semester hours
- Withdrawal from the university
- Selected Reserve status
- Change in legal name or mailing address
To register with Veterans Affairs at Winston-Salem State University please communicate with us via VeteransAffairs@wssu.edu. Failure to inform the Veterans Affairs coordinator of your current status, will result in a delay in processing your claim for benefits.
Students receiving aid under the Office of Veteran Affairs should visit the US Department of Veterans Affairs website frequently for the latest information regarding benefit.
Other Education Programs Under Veterans Affairs
E-Benefits for Veterans, Retirees, Service Members and their Families