veterans benefits administration july 15-18, 2013 school certifying official hotline

VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION July 15-18, 2013

School Certifying Official Hotline

VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

SCO Hotline

• Purpose of SCO Hotline • The Do’s• The Don’ts• Resources• Troubleshooting Issues• Questions

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Purpose of SCO Hotline

• Prior to September 2012 the course of action for an SCO to solve school payment questions was through the Online Question Forum (www.gibill.va.gov) or send an email to the Education Liaison Representative (ELR).

• This was not working 100% due to slow response.• VACO established SCO Hotline on 09/21/2012.

– A dedicated toll-free hotline available for SCO’s– The toll-free hotline number is 1-855-225-1159.– The hotline is available from 7:00am – 5:00pm central time.– Office is located in Muskogee Oklahoma.

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SCO Hotline Do’s

• SCO Hotline is 1st step in resolving school payment questions.• ELR and Online forum always available for clarification or further

questions.• SCO must be identified on current VA Form 22-1998

– This is updated via the 22-8794 form (Designation of SCO)• SCO must provide Facility Code.• SCO must only ask questions about school payments or debts. • SCO should record the name of VA employee and date/time of every call.

Prior complaints have not been captured for feedback without this info.

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SCO Hotline Don’ts

• SCO must not give out the Hotline phone number to students.– Students must use 1-888-442-4551 call center for all of their

questions.• SCO should not ask questions about:

– Student BAH payments– Student Book and Supplies payments– Student Reimbursable Chapter payments – Student eligibility remaining– Student CH33 eligibility percentage– Student application status– Student debt

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Resources

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Contacting the VA•Education Liaison Representative •SCO Line: 855-225-1159•SCO Fax: 314-552-9444

*To fax certification forms only• Veteran Line: 888-442-4551 •Debt Management Center: 800-827-0648•Debt Management Center (schools only) email: [email protected]• Submit a Question: https://gibill.custhelp.com/app/ask/

* Once you have set up an account, contact ELR to code you as an SCO

GI Bill Websitewww.gibill.va.gov

eBenefitshttps://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/ebenefits.portal


Resources Continued

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SCO Resource Page: http://www.gibill.va.gov/school-certifying-officials/

• VA Once

•VA Once Guidance

•SCO Handbook

•Online School Training

•Other good training and resources


“VA Once is not working”•Which browser are you using? (Be sure to use Internet Explorer)•Clear cache, cookies, make sure pop up blockers are not on•If none of the above work, please send a screen shot to ELR

“The payment amount is not what the school expected to receive”•Is the student out of benefits?• Has the student hit the tuition and fee cap for the year?• Call the SCO Line or send in a question through Right Now Web• If none of the above work, call ELR

“We have a school debt that does not make sense”•What triggered the debt?• Call the SCO Line or send in a question through Right Now Web

•Still confused? Call ELR

“The student didn’t receive a payment or has a debt”•Have the student contact the VA

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Troubleshooting Issues

veterans benefits administration july 15-18, 2013 school certifying official hotline

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