VMSDEP- Virginia Military Survivors & Dependents Education Program

• VMSDEP
• The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) is a Commonwealth of Virginia program that provides education benefits to spouses and children of qualifying Veterans who have been rated by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (USDVA) as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a result of military service or qualifying Military Service Members killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who have been rated by the USDVA as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a direct result of involvement in covered military combat.
• The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS) is responsible for certifying eligibility for benefits under the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program.
• VMSDEP can be utilized with federal military education benefits

*IMPORTANT – Laurel Ridge does not apply VMSDEP waivers retroactively. Eligible waivers are applied to current and/or future terms as determined by DVS. Student’s name must be on the semester roster in the VMSDEP portal by the last day of the current term for the waiver to be applied to that term.

1. Apply: VMSDEP ACCOUNT
   • How to Register a VMSDEP account
   • How to Submit Request for Veteran Verification
   • How to Submit an Application for VMSDEP Benefits
2. Beneficiaries must select Laurel Ridge Community College and desired semester within VMSDEP portal. Without this selection, tuition waiver will not be applied to student account.
3. Submit Laurel Ridge Online VA certification request form
   • This form is required each semester
4.  Make appointment with
   • Military Benefits Official, Sharon Painter
   • Laurel Ridge Veteran Advisor, Jeanmarie Corrado
5. Upon enrollment, pay all charges not covered by VMSDEP.  This includes course software access.

• Student must update enrollment via VMSDEP ACCOUNT for each semester
• How to update enrollment instructions: VMSDEP
• Submit Laurel Ridge Online VA certification request form every semester
• Open/Close Enrollment Dates within VMSDEP portal:

Timeline for waiver and stipend funding each semester:

• After the Drop and receive full refund period has ended for the longest session (14wk for Fall & Spring, 10wk for Summer), the Financial Aid Office will verify enrollment and submit stipend requests for eligible students in the VMSDEP Portal.  See Academic Calendar here.
• SCHEV manages the waiver and stipend portion of the program, and authorizes funding disbursement to schools. The school then applies the funds to eligible students’ accounts.
• As Laurel Ridge does not manage the funds, we cannot provide an exact date funds will be applied.

To check the status, you may contact Financial Aid at [email protected].

Stipend

• Applicable for Tier 2 students only.
• See VMSDEP for eligibility
• Stipend amount is based on enrolled credit hours. The amount is not guaranteed and depends on funding from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).

• Because tuition and mandatory fees are waived by benefit, Laurel Ridge will place service indicator on student account when student name is listed on VMSDEP term roster.
• Tuition and mandatory fee waiver will not be processed until Drop and receive full refund period ends. Please see Academic Calendar for dates.
• Students are responsible for purchasing textbooks, software charges and supplies.
• Upon enrollment, students must pay software charges, establish payment plan or utilize financial aid (FAFSA)
• To verify if a course has software charges, please review each course notes within SIS (student information system) and course syllabus.

To view your itemized charges:

• • Go to MyLaurelRidge to login
  • Click SIS (Student Information System)
  • Click My Student Information
  • Click Account Details – found in Tuition & Payments box
  • Click Account Activity – Follett and Cengage fees are charges not paid by VMSDEP

• Consult VMSDEP
• Frequently Asked Questions 2024-2025
• VMSDEP can be utilized with federal military education benefits