Veteran's Education

Bellingham Veterans Center
3800 Byron Avenue, Suite 124
Bellingham, WA 98228
Phone: 360.733.9226
Web: www.va.gov/directory/guide/facility.asp?ID=5104

Western Region-VA Regional Office
PO Box 8888
Muskogee, OK 74402-8888
Fax: 918.781.7863

• VA GI Bill® Educational Website – gibill.va.gov
• Apply for VA Benefits  – https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/
• Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) Payment Rates – benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/resources/benefits_resources/rates/ch33/ch33rates080117.asp
• Search VA Forms – va.gov/vaforms/search_action.asp

VA Educational Benefit Chapters

• Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill®
• Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment
• Chapter 33 Post 9-11 GI Bill®
• Chapter 35 Dependant Educational Assistance (for spouses and children of 100% disabled or diseased veteran)
• Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI Bill® – Selective Reserve
• Chapter 1607 Reserve Educational Assistance Program

Academic Credit Compensation Breakdown

Debts with the Department of VA
You have options to manage your VA related debt such as establishing or adjusting a repayment plan, requesting a waiver, submitting a compromise offer, requesting temporary hardship and more. Visit https://www.va.gov/manage-va-debt/ for more information.

Debts with Skagit Valley College
If you have unresolved debts directly with SVC based on an adjustment to your veterans benefits, please contact Lisa Mirante ([email protected]) to learn more about repayment options.

• Student Veterans of America – studentveterans.org
• com – www.military.com
• National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – ptsd.va.gov
• SAMHSA National Center for Trauma-Informed Care – samhsa.gov/nctic
• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network – nctsn.org
• Feds Hire Vets – fedshirevets.gov
• Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – fafsa.ed.gov
• Troops to Teachers Program – proudtoserveagain.com
• Helmets to Hardhats (Construction Careers) – helmetstohardhats.org
• One Freedom (Reintegration Issues) – onefreedom.org
• Online Colleges Database – Veterans Resources – onlinecollegesdatabase.org/online-college-resources-for-veterans
• Drug Treatment Guide – therecoveryvillage.com/drug-treatment-guide

• Education Benefits (VA Regional Call Center) 442.4551
• Monthly Verification of Enrollment & IVR (Interactive Voice Response System) 823.2378
• Direct Deposit Enrollment (students) 838.2778
• Benefit Questions for Students Studying Overseas 781.4379
• VA Debt Management Center 827.0648
• Other VA Benefits (Local Regional Office) 827.1000
• VA Vocational Rehabilitation – Mount Vernon 416.0126
• Education Call Center
  The toll-free number for the Education Call Center is 442.4551. The Call Center is in Muskogee, OK, and Education Case Managers are available 7am – 7pm. Central Time, Monday through Friday. Best time to call is early in the morning. The system’s automated functions can provide information about benefits, applications, etc., and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Individual veterans can access their own record to obtain date of last benefit payment, check amounts, etc. Please utilize the automated system when benefit questions arise.

To receive VA Work-Study benefits, the student must be receiving benefits under one of the following education programs:

• Post-9/11 GI Bill®–(38 U.S.C., Chapter 33) (Veterans and transfer-of-entitlement recipients)
• Montgomery GI Bill®–Active Duty (38 U.S.C. Chapter 30)
• REAP Participants
• Montgomery GI Bill®–Selected Reserve (10 U.S.C., Chapter 1606)
• Post-Vietnam Era Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (38 U.S.C. Chapter 32)
• Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (38 U.S.C. Chapter 35)
• Eligible dependents under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 may use work study only while training in Washington
• National Call to Service Participants
• Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Program — (38 U.S.C. Chapter 31)

VA will select students for the work-study program based on different factors. Such factors include:

• Ability of the student to complete the work-study contract before the end of the student’s eligibility for education benefits
• Job availability within normal commuting distance to the student
• Veterans with service-connected disabilities of at least 30% may be given priority consideration

The number of applicants selected will depend on the availability of VA-related work at your school or at VA facilities in your area.

You’ll earn an hourly wage equal to the Federal minimum wage or your State minimum wage, whichever is greater.
VA Work-Study pay is non-taxable.

You may work during or between periods of enrollment. You can arrange with VA to work any number of hours you want during your enrollment. But, the total number of hours you work can’t be more than 25 times the number of weeks in your enrollment period.

Services you perform under a VA work-study program must be related to VA work. Examples of acceptable work are:

• The preparation and processing of necessary papers and other documents at SVC
• Assisting with dissemination of general information regarding Veteran benefits and/or services
• Providing assistance to Veteran students with general inquires about Veteran benefits via phone, email or in person
• Maintaining and organizing veteran-related files

The work you actually do will depend on your interests and the type of work available. You can find out more about the VA Work-Study Program by clicking here: VA Work Study

Contact the nearest SVC Veterans Education Office to inquire about a VA Work Study position and/or to be added to our waiting list.