Getting help
Should I contact my SCO or the VA?
A who-to-contact guide for GI Bill questions: which issues your school certifying official handles and which only the VA can resolve.
Contact your school certifying official (SCO) about anything to do with your classes and what the school reports. Contact the VA about your eligibility, your payments, and any debt. When students are not sure, I tell them to start with me. If it is a VA question, I will tell you exactly who to call and what to ask.
Your school certifying official
- Whether your classes can be certified and when they were certified.
- Adding, dropping, or withdrawing from classes, and changing your major.
- How your schedule affects your housing allowance.
- Yellow Ribbon at your school.
- Confirming what was reported if you get a VA letter.
The VA
- Your application status, Certificate of Eligibility, chapter, or benefit percentage: VA.gov or the education line at 888-442-4551.
- Payment questions once your school has certified you: the same education line.
- Debts: the VA Debt Management Center at 1-800-827-0648.
- Written questions: the GI Bill help portal, Ask VA.
- Transfer of benefits to family: milConnect, through the Department of Defense.
- VR&E plans and approvals: your Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.
VASCO Assistant is an independent resource and is not part of the VA. For decisions about your own benefits, the VA and your school certifying official are the official sources.