Veterans Student Handbook 2017 NWTC_Veterans_Handbook_2017 (1) trans | Page 14

WITHDRAWALS & NON-PUNITIVE GRADES
You must report in writing any additions, drops, withdrawals or other interruptions
to the SCO if you are receiving Federal VA education benefits. The law prohibits
payment of VA educational benefits for a course from which the student withdraws or
completes and receives a grade that is not used in computing the grade point average
(a non-punitive grade, i.e. “W”). Withdrawals must be reported to the SCO. Payment
may be allowed if you submit evidence of mitigating circumstances that are
acceptable to the VA. Also, the VA does not generally pay for classes that you don’t
attend.
MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES
Mitigating circumstances are circumstances beyond the student’s control that prevent
the student from continuing in school or that cause the student to reduce credits. If
mitigating circumstances are needed and adequate evidence of mitigating
circumstances isn’t received, the VA will not pay for the course(s) in question. Some
examples of mitigating circumstances include:
• An illness or death in the student’s immediate family.
• An illness or injury afflicting the student during the enrollment period.
• An unavoidable change in the student’s conditions of employment.
• An unavoidable geographical transfer resulting from the student’s employment.
• Unanticipated active military service.
VA EDUCATION OVERPAYMENTS
If you reduce your course load without notifying the SCO in a timely manner, a VA
overpayment may occur. The Department of Veteran Affairs charges interest and a
monthly administrative fee on overpayments of educational benefits; obviously, it is in
your interest to contact the SCO before you make changes in your student status. The
SCO must report changes to the Department of Veteran Affairs within 30 days of the
effective date of the change. If you have mitigating circumstances and have been in
contact with the SCO, they can send your completed Statement in Support of Claim
to the Department of Veteran Affairs with our notification of the change in your status,
and an overpayment may be avoided.
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