Benefit Payments

It is Oregon Tech's policy that we will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that an individual borrow additional funds because of the individual's inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under Chapter 31 or 33.

Oregon Tech may require additional payment or impose a fee for the amount that is the difference between the amount of your financial obligation and the amount of the VA education benefit disbursement. For example, expenses not reimbursed by the VA such as bookstore charges, citation fees, or other course charges that cannot be certified to or paid by the VA.

Students must keep their address current. The fastest way to change an address or change a direct deposit is to call VA (888-442-4551). The automated functions of the phone server do not include changing address or starting Direct Deposit. Students can bypass the phone server and connect to Muskogee by hitting 1 and then 0 when the recording starts.

If a student calls to start (chapters 30 and 1606 only) or change a direct deposit, the student should have their account information handy. The following information is needed to set up direct deposit and can be found on checks and bank statements:

If a student has direct deposit, the student still needs to keep his or her address current because the verification of enrollment form is mailed to the students address.

VA benefits can be paid for enrollments up to one year before the date VA receives a students application. The date stamp put on the students application determines the one-year date. The VA will determine the date of eligibility and the beginning date from which benefits can be paid.

Chapter 35 retroactive benefits may be handled differently and may exceed one year. If the chapter 35 eligibility date is more than one year before the date VA makes the eligibility decision, then the eligibility date may be considered to be the application date if the individual applies for chapter 35 within one year of the eligibility decision. Under this circumstance, retroactive benefits may be more than one year.

Advance Pay may be paid if:

• The student requests advance pay, and
• There's more than 30 days between terms and break pay won't be paid, and
• The student is enrolled at least half-time, and
• VA receives the advance payment request at least 30 days but not more than 120 days before the enrollment period.

If a student wants advance pay, the student needs to complete section 16 on form 22-1999 or a form created by the VA Rep.

Advance pay requests should be submitted 30 to 120 days before the begin date. The check will be sent to the school, payable to the student. A separate,Certification of Delivery (VA Form 22-1999V) will be sent to the school. Schools must handle advance paychecks securely and give the advance paycheck to the student when he or she registers (or not more than 30 days before the beginning of school if registration is earlier). When the check is given to the student, immediately complete and return the Certification of Delivery.

An advance will pay the first and second month. The first month may be a partial month, with payment prorated for the number of days attended that month. Advance pay for a student certified 9/27/04 through 6/11/05 would pay 9/27/04 through 10/31/04. Since VA normally pays after a month is completed, the student wouldn't receive another check until December when payment for November is made.

When an advance paycheck is issued, the next check won't issue unless the Certification of Delivery (or the Chapter 1606 generated letter with the same information) mailed to the school is received and processed by VA.

A Tuition Waiver application for Chapter 35 dependents is available for Klamath Falls students from Michelle Monteith in the Financial Aid Office, by email at michelle.monteith@oit.edu , or for Wilsonville students from Kendal Marks at kendal.marks@oit.edu. The waiver may not exceed 20 credit hours per term, and 180 credits in total.

There is also financial assistance for Army National Guard, Army active and Army Reserve through the Army National Guard Federal Tuition Assistance program. See your Unit Education Liaison for more information.

Navy, Marines and Coast Guard are encouraged to contact the Education Liaison for their branch.

Note: Late fees and interest will be charged to all student accounts (including students receiving financial aid and/or VA benefits) with unpaid balances after the payment due date (end of the second week of the term). However, late fees do not apply to students on a payment plan who make all payments by the payment plan due dates. For payment plan due dates, see the Cashier's Calendar here [https://www.oit.edu/business-affairs/accounts-receivable/cashiers-office]. In the case of a student receiving VA benefits who has paid all non-VA covered charges by the payment due date (end of the second week of the term), the late fee and interest will be removed once payment that clears the balance is received as long as the certification deadline (end of the second week of the term) was met. Contact the Cashier’s Office at cashier@oit.edu for help calculating amounts that will not be covered by the VA (please include which VA benefits you are expecting to receive).