Veterans Benefits

Supplemental Educational Benefits

There are two benefits students receiving VA educational assistance are eligible for: tutorial and the work-study program.

Tutorial Assistance 

Tutorial assistance may be arranged for eligible persons training under Chapters 30, 31, 32, and Chapter 35 to offset the cost of expenses incurred by their need for tutoring. This allowance is considered a supplement to the claimant's monthly educational assistance check, and it is paid without any entitlement charge for those training under Chapters 31 and 35. However; for those persons utilizing Chapter 30 and 32 benefits, an individual's period of entitlement will be charged with respect to the amount of tutorial assistance paid in excess of $600.

The DVA will pay up to $10 an hour and maximum of $100 per month for tutorial assistance. The maximum assistance to which a claimant will be eligible throughout the duration of his/her entitlement is $1,200.

Tutorial payment for Chapter 30, 32 and 35. Payment for tutorial services is sent to the student. The student is responsible for paying the tutor.

VA Tuition Deferment 

State regulations for community colleges chapter 6A14(12), entitles veterans that are eligible for VA benefits to receive a deferment once every academic year.

You can apply for that deferment through the College’s online registration system at Connections (student portal). Online, choose the payment option button displayed on the main menu of Connections (student portal). There is no interest or administrative fee charged for veterans if you have not received a deferment within the current academic year. Your registration will be covered within one business day.

Work-Study 

The DVA work-study program permits eligible veterans who are enrolled at least 3/4 times to perform specific services in return for a monetary allowance equal to the prevailing federal minimum wage. DVA work-study payments are not taxable. Eligible veterans may contract for a minimum of 25 hours per week and total of 1,300 hours per fiscal year.

Annual Certification Cycle

The application and supporting documents are forwarded from the campus to the administrative building and the original documents are mailed to the veterans administration regional office (VARO). After each registration deadline, a certification is completed and mailed to the VARO. Florida State College certifies enrollment as soon as allowable by DVA regulations, which differ by chapter, past enrollment history and course load.

In most instances, students are pre-certified as allowable by DVA regulation. Pre-certifications are completed for the fall and spring terms. This process allows Florida State College to certify a student for the upcoming term in the same number of credit or clock hours that they are currently enrolled in, thereby causing minimal delay in pay of benefits between terms. Students that do not wish to be pre-certified should submit a statement to that effect to the enrollment services office.

If you register for the following summer semester, re-certification will take place automatically by the veterans affairs office. There is no need to resubmit all educational benefit application packages again. You should receive a check for the break between the two terms after the DVA processes your summer semester certification.

The VARO can take from six to ten weeks to process enrollment claims. Once entitlement is established, the VARO will send the veteran or dependent an award letter. This letter outlines the amount of money to be received and the entitlement that was reported by the school. Payments are mailed monthly to the address on record with Florida State College.