How to apply for VA Educational Benefits
Apply to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for a formal determination of eligibility for GI Bill benefits. This is required of all Veterans and eligible family members and must be done if you believe you are eligible for GI Bill benefits.
You may submit your application on line by visiting the GI Bill website.
NOTE: It can take up to 12 weeks for the VA to process an initial eligibility determination request and issue your certificate of eligibility. The VA will make no benefit payments until this process is complete.
Prior to being certified for benefits, you must submit all official transcripts from your High School/High School Equivalency Diploma and from any college/universities you’ve attended to the Admissions Office. To check to see if your transcript has been received, you may contact the Admissions Office at 252-527-6223, ext. 373.
Once you’ve registered and paid for classes, you need to submit a copy of your schedule to the VA Certifying Official (VACO) located in the Admissions Office in the Administration Building, Room 140F.
Once this information has been received, the certifying official will submit your enrollment certification to the Department of Veteran Affairs. It can take anywhere from 60-90 days for VA to process your information and for you to receive your first check.
Individuals who are attending LCC may be eligible for an advanced payment of their GI Bill for their first semester only.
The deadline for submitting an advanced payment is 30 days prior to the start of classes. All VA paperwork and official transcripts must be received prior to this deadline in order for the advanced payment to be submitted. For more information, please contact the certifying official.
**Students receiving GI Bill benefits must submit a copy of their schedule for each semester they wish to be certified.
Prior to receiving your check, you must verify your enrollment at the end of the month on a monthly basis. You should wait until the end of the first month of school to verify your enrollment for the first time.
You can verify your enrollment by one of the following methods:
- Call 1-877 VA-ECERT (1-877-823-2378) to verify by telephone
- Visit W.A.V.E. Web Automated Verification of Enrollment to verify online
