STUDENT FINANCES FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
Expenses
Financial Aid
Scholarships, Awards, Grants, Loans
Student Employment, Veterans’ Benefits
EXPENSES
(Payment must be in U.S. dollars. Expenses are subject to change without notice.)
TUITION AND FEES
Tuition and all fees are due
and payable in full by registration day for each semester or summer term.
Please make checks or money orders payable to the University of North Carolina
at Pembroke. A returned check charge of $25 will be levied on each returned
check.
It is the policy of the
administration and trustees to keep the cost of a college education as low as
possible. Since UNC Pembroke is maintained by the people of North Carolina for
the education of residents of the State, it is available to them at less cost
than to nonresidents. The residency status of each student is determined at the
time of original admission. (See below for further information on residency
status.) Registration for any semester
or session may not be completed until all special or extra fees, fines,
payments for lost or damaged articles, etc., incurred in the previous semester
or session, have been paid; no transcript nor record will be issued until all
fees/fines owed have been paid.
Tuition Surcharge on Undergraduates
The North Carolina Legislature
directed the Board of Governors to impose a twenty-five percent tuition
surcharge on students who take more than 140 credit hours to complete a
baccalaureate degree in a four-year program or more than one hundred ten
percent (110%) of the credit hours necessary to complete a baccalaureate degree
in any program officially designated by the Board of Governors as a five-year
program. The calculation of these credit hours taken at a constituent
institution or accepted for transfer shall exclude hours earned through the
College Board’s Advanced Placement or CLEP examinations, through institutional
advanced placement or course validation, or through summer term or extension
programs.
No surcharge shall be imposed
on any student who exceeds the degree credit hour limits within the equivalent
of four academic years of regular term enrollment, or within five academic
years of regular term enrollment in a degree program officially designated by
the Board of Governors as a five-year program.
The undergraduate credit hours
to be counted for calculation in the surcharge requirement include:
* all regular session degree-creditable courses taken at this institution including repeated courses, failed courses and those dropped after your official census date (normally the last date to add a course); and
* all transfer credit hours accepted by this institution.
The hours excluded from the
calculation include:
1) those earned through the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or similar programs;
2) those earned through institutional advanced placement, course validation, or any similar procedure for awarding course credit, and
3) those earned through the summer session or degree-credit extension division on this campus or at another UNC institution.
SCHEDULE OF UNDERGRADUATE EXPENSES: REGULAR SESSION
(Subject to change without notice.)
|
Sem. Hrs. |
In‑State Tuition |
Out‑of‑State Tuition |
Fees |
Ins. |
In‑State Total |
Out‑of‑State Total |
|
12+ |
$844.50 |
$5,564.50 |
$568.00 |
$190 |
$1,602.50 |
$6,322.50 |
|
9‑11 |
$633.38 |
$4,173.38 |
$426.00 |
$190 |
$1,249.88 |
$4,789.38 |
|
6-8 |
$422.25 |
$2,782.25 |
$284.00 |
0 |
$706.25 |
$3,066.25 |
|
1-5 |
$211.13 |
$1,391.13 |
$142.00 |
0 |
$353.13 |
$1,533.13 |
ROOM AND BOARD EXPENSES
|
|
Dorm
Rate |
Meal
Plan Rate |
Total
Semester |
Total
Year |
|
Pine
Hall |
|
|
|
|
|
Double |
$1,363.00 |
$975.00 |
$2,338.00 |
$4,676.00 |
|
Private Single |
$1,643.00 |
$975.00 |
$2,618.00 |
$5,236.00 |
|
Private Double |
$1,712.00 |
$975.00 |
$2,687.00 |
$5,374.00 |
|
West,
Wellons, Belk, and North Hall |
|
|
|
|
|
Double |
$1,305.00 |
$975.00 |
$2,280.00 |
$4,560.00 |
|
Single |
$1,655.00 |
$975.00 |
$2,630.00 |
$5,260.00 |
|
University
Village Apartments |
|
|
|
|
|
Double |
$1,725.00 |
|
$1,725.00 |
$3,450.00 |
Meal Plan Options
|
Meals Per Week |
Semester Bonus Money |
|
5 |
125.00 |
|
9 |
100.00 |
|
14 |
50.00 |
|
19 |
0.00 |
DETAILED EXPLANATION OF CHARGES: TUITION, FEES, AND INSURANCE
|
TUITION: FULL-TIME STUDENT (per semester) |
|
|
North Carolina Residents ‑ Undergraduates |
$844.50 |
|
Out-of-State Residents ‑ Undergraduates |
$5,564.50 |
|
GENERAL FEES (Per Semester) |
|
|
Educational and Technology Fee |
$66.00 |
|
Health Services This fee is used to operate Student Health Services. |
$62.50 |
|
Other Required Fees This fee is used to support various University programs such as Athletics, Band and Chorus, Dramatics, Debt Service, Student Center, Student Government, Braves One Card, Intramurals, Yearbook, Newspaper, and the Performing Arts Series. |
$439.50 |
INSURANCE
Students taking 9 or more
credit hours will be charged $158 per semester for health insurance.
If you wish to waive this
insurance, you must complete and return the insurance waiver form to the
Student Accounts Office no later than the published cut‑off date. The Student Health Services Office can
answer any questions you may have about the coverage or waiver process.
MISCELLANEOUS FEES
|
Application Fee This fee, paid at the time of initial application, is non-refundable and cannot be applied to meet any other charges. |
$40 |
|
Undergraduate Graduation Fee Graduate Graduation Fee This fee must be paid at the time the student makes application for graduation. It is used to pay for the cap, gown, and diploma. This is a non-refundable fee. |
$40 $70 |
|
Late Payment/Registration Fees Students who register and/or pay for classes after the scheduled registration date has passed must pay this fee. |
$25 |
|
Dormitory Deposit Fee (refundable) |
$125 |
|
Vehicle Registration Fee: |
|
|
Commuter (Day) |
$60 |
|
Commuter (night) |
$40 |
|
Dormitory Resident |
$60 |
|
Permits sold after April 30 will be half price. A vehicle registration permit is valid for one full year, commencing August 15. |
|
|
Transcript Fee |
|
|
Mailed |
$3 |
|
Faxed |
$5 |
|
Walk‑in |
$10 |
|
Returned Check Charge |
$25 |
REFUND POLICY (This Policy Is Subject to Change)
A. TUITION
AND FEES
Withdrawals
Tuition and fees, including
room and board will be refunded per the following schedules, provided a student
officially withdraws from the University.
|
Fall
and Spring Semesters |
|
|
Prior to the first day of classes |
100% of fees paid |
|
1 through 12 calendar days |
90% of fees paid |
|
13 through 30 calendar days |
50% of fees paid |
|
31 through 60 calendar days |
25% of fees paid |
|
after 60 calendar days |
no refund |
|
First,
Second, and Special Five-Week Summer Sessions |
|
|
Prior to first day of classes |
100% of fees paid |
|
1 through 9 calendar days |
50% of fees paid |
|
after 9 calendar days |
no refund |
|
Intra
Session |
|
|
Prior to first day of classes |
100% of fees paid |
|
1 through 6 calendar days |
50% of fees paid |
|
after 6 calendar days |
no refund |
The
University counts calendar days beginning with the first official day of
classes (not the first day of particular classes). A completed withdrawal form must be filed with Student Accounts
Office in the Controller’s Office.
Forms for withdrawal during the first six weeks of the semester, the
first 9 calendar days of first, second, and
special five-week summer sessions, and the first 6 calendar days of intra
sessions may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office. After these times, forms may be obtained from the Office for
Academic Affairs.
Reducing Hours
Students who officially drop
from full-time to part-time status or those who drop to a lower block of credit
hours will receive a refund equal to the difference between the amount paid and
the charge for the block of hours for which the student is officially
registered at the end of the registration (drop/add) period.
Refunds for withdrawing or
reducing hours will be processed after the registration period. Please allow
two weeks for processing of any refund. Students receiving financial aid will
not receive a refund until the Financial Aid Office determines if any funds
from an awarding agency must be returned.
If a return is required, withdrawal may result in a student liability to
the University.
B. ROOM DEPOSIT
The University will refund all
but $25 of the room deposit to incoming new students if written cancellation is
received by August 1 preceding the fall semester and December 1 preceding the
spring semester. The room deposit is
non‑refundable after these deadlines.
The $125 room deposit (less
damages and /or any other financial obligations owed The University of North
Carolina at Pembroke) will be refunded to established residents provided the
resident submits written cancellation by November 15 preceding the spring
semester and by April 15 preceding the fall semester. Established residents must follow check‑out procedures as
detailed in the Student handbook to ensure an appropriate refund of the room
deposit.
If a student withdraws from
the University prior to mid‑semester, the room deposit will be
forfeited. If a student withdraws after
mid‑semester, the room deposit (less damages if any) will be refunded,
provided checkout procedures have been followed.
RESIDENCE STATUS FOR TUITION PURPOSES
The basis for determining the
appropriate tuition charge rests upon whether a student is a resident or a
nonresident for tuition purposes. Each student must make a statement as to the
length of his or her residence in North Carolina, with assessment by the
institution of that statement to be conditioned by the following.
Residence
To qualify as a resident for
tuition purposes, a person must become a legal resident and remain a legal
resident for at least twelve month immediately prior to classification. Thus
there is a distinction between legal residence and residence for tuition
purposes. Furthermore, twelve months legal residence means more than simple
abode in North Carolina. In particular it means maintaining a domicile
(permanent home of indefinite duration) as opposed to “maintaining a mere
temporary residence or abode incident to enrollment in an institution of higher
education.” The burden of
establishing facts which justify classification of a student as a resident
entitled to in-state tuition rates is on the applicant for such classification,
who must show his or her entitlement by the preponderance (the greater part) of
the residentiary information.
Initiative. Being classified a
resident for tuition purposes is contingent on the student’s seeking such
status and providing all information that the institution may require in making
the determination.
Parent’s Domicile
If an individual, irrespective
of age, has living parent(s) or a court-appointed guardian of the person, the
domicile of such parent(s) or guardian is, prima facie, the domicile of the
individual; but this prima facie evidence of the individual’s domicile may or
may not be sustained by other information. Further, nondomiciliary status of
parents is not deemed prima facie evidence of the applicant child’s status if
the applicant has lived (though not necessarily legally resided) in North
Carolina for the five years preceding enrollment or re-registration.
Effect of Marriage
Marriage alone does not
prevent a person from becoming or continuing to be a resident for tuition
purposes, nor does marriage in any circumstance insure that a person will
become or continue to be a resident for tuition purposes. Marriage and legal
residence of one’s spouse are, however, relevant information in determining
residentiary intent. Furthermore, if both husband and his wife are legal
residents of North Carolina and if one of them has been a legal resident longer
than the other, then the longer duration may be claimed by either spouse in
meeting the twelve-month requirement for in-state tuition status.
Military Personnel
A North Carolinian who serves
outside the State in the armed forces does not lose North Carolina domicile
simply by reason of such service. Students from the military may prove retention
or establishment of residence by reference, as in other cases, to residentiary
acts accompanied by residentiary intent. In addition, North Carolina affords
tuition rate benefits to certain military personnel and their dependents even
though qualifying for the in-state tuition rate by reason for twelve months
legal residence in North Carolina. Members of the armed services, while
stationed in and currently living in North Carolina, may be charged a tuition
rate lower than the out-of-state tuition rate to the extent that the total of
entitlement for applicable tuition costs available from the federal government,
plus certain amounts based under a statutory formula upon the in-state tuition
rate, is a sum less than the out-of-state tuition rate for the pertinent
enrollment. A dependent relative of a service member stationed in the state is
eligible to be charged the in-state tuition rate while the dependent relative
is living in North Carolina with the service member and if the dependent
relative has met any requirement of the Selective Service System applicable to
the dependent relative. These tuition benefits may be enjoyed only if the
applicable admission requirements have been met; these benefits alone do not
provide the basis for receiving those derivative benefits under the provisions
of the residence classification statute reviewed elsewhere in this summary. To
be considered , the student must submit a military residency application.
Grace Period
If a person (1) has been bona fide legal resident, (2) has
consequently been classified a resident for tuition purposes, and (3) has
subsequently lost North Carolina legal residence while enrolled at a public
institution of higher education, that person may continue to enjoy the in-state
rate for a grade period of twelve months measured from the date on which North
Carolina legal residence was lost. If the twelve months end during an academic
term for which the person is enrolled at a State institution of higher
education, the grace period extends to the end of that term. The fact of
marriage to one who continues domiciled outside North Carolina does not by
itself cause loss of legal residence, marking the beginning of the grace
period.
Minors
Minors (persons under 18 years
of age) usually have the domicile of their parents, but certain special cases
are recognized by the residence classification statute in determining residence
for tuition purposes.
If a minor’s parents live
apart, the minor’s domicile is deemed to be North Carolina for the time
period(s) that either parent, as a North Carolina legal resident, may claim and
does claim the minor as a tax dependent, even if other law or judicial act
assigns the minor’s domicile outside North Carolina. A minor thus deemed to be
a legal resident will not, upon achieving majority before enrolling at an
institution of higher education, lose North Carolina legal residence if that
person (1) upon becoming an adult “acts, to the extent that the person’s degree
of actual emancipation permits, in a manner consistent with bona fide legal
residence in North Carolina” and (2) “begins enrollment at an institution of
higher education not later than the fall academic term next following
completion of education prerequisite to admission at such institution.”
If a minor has lived for five
or more consecutive years with relatives (other than parents) who are domiciled
in North Carolina and if relatives have functioned during this time as if they
were personal guardians, the minor will be deemed a resident for tuition
purposes for an enrolled term commencing immediately after at least five years
in which these circumstances have existed. If under this consideration a minor
has deemed to be a resident for tuition purposes immediately prior to his or
her eighteenth birthday, that person on achieving majority will be deemed a
legal resident of North Carolina of at least 12 month’s duration. This
provision acts to confer in-state tuition status even in the face of other
provisions of law to the contrary; however, a person deemed a resident of 12
months duration pursuant to this provision continues to be a legal resident of
the State only so long as he or she does not abandon North Carolina domicile.
Lost, but Regained Domicile
If a student ceases enrollment
at or graduates from an institution of higher education while classified a
resident for tuition purposes and then both abandons and reacquires North
Carolina domicile within a 12-month period, if he or she continues to maintain
the reacquired domicile into re-enrollment at an institution of higher
education, may re-enroll at the in-state tuition rate without having to meet
the usual 12-month durational requirement. However, any one person may receive
the benefit of this provision only once.
Change of Status
A student admitted to initial
enrollment in an institution (or permitted to re-enroll following an absence
from the institutional program which involved a formal withdrawal from
enrollment) must be classified by the admitting institution either as a
resident or as a nonresident for tuition purposes prior to actual enrollment. A
residence status classification once assigned (and finalized pursuant to any
appeal properly taken) may be changed thereafter (with corresponding change in
billing rates) only at intervals corresponding with the established primary
divisions of the academic year.
Transfer Students
When a student transfers from
one North Carolina public institution of higher education to another, he or she
is treated as a new student by the institution to which he or she is
transferring and must be assigned an initial residence status classification
for tuition purposes.
FINANCIAL AID
The primary role of the
Financial Aid Office, located on the second floor of Lumbee Hall, is to provide
financial aid as well as financial counseling to students requesting these
services. This office coordinates a variety of State, Federal, private and
institutionally funded aid programs, each with different regulations and
requirements. While most of these programs require students to demonstrate
financial need, there are loan funds available to help students and parents
which are not need based. All students requesting consideration for any type of
financial aid, including loans, must apply each year. The application, “Free
Application for Federal Student Aid,” should be completed, listing the
University of North Carolina at Pembroke as the school of choice, and mailed in
the envelope attached to the application. These applications are available in
all high school guidance offices and the Financial Aid Office. The application
should be mailed by March 15 to allow time for processing so awards can be made
before Fall Registration.
To be eligible for financial
assistance a student must have a high school diploma or GED; be enrolled as a
regular student in an eligible program; be a U.S. Citizen or eligible
non-citizen; generally, have a social security number; make satisfactory academic
progress; register with the Selective Service, if required; and, not be in
default on any federal loan or owe a refund on a federal grant. In addition, a
transfer student must submit to the Financial Aid Office a completed Financial
Aid Transcript from each institution previously attended. Financial aid is
awarded on the basis of academic achievement and demonstrated financial need.
The first responsibility of financing a student’s education rests with the
student and the student’s family. A student’s parents are expected to
contribute towards his or her expenses insofar as they are able from income and
assets. A student is expected to provide funds for his or her own education
through savings, summer work, and other resources. Each student is individually
considered on the basis of the family financial situation.
A Financial Aid Brochure which
explains in detail the financial aid programs at UNC Pembroke is available in
the Financial Aid Office.
SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS, GRANTS, LOANS
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships, including
endowed scholarships, are provided by donors to the University: Friends, alumni, corporations and
foundations have provided funds to aid students in the pursuit of academic achievement.
A wide range of scholarships is available, some with specific
restrictions. Scholarships and endowed
scholarships are available in these categories:
Alumni Sponsored Scholarships
General Scholarships
Departmental Scholarships
Specialized Scholarships
For application information, a
student is encouraged to contact the Office of Financial Aid or the Chair of
the Department in his or her major field.
For a complete listing of
scholarships and awards, see Appendix B.
For further information about
specific scholarships, their donors, and their honorees, please consult the
Office of Advancement.
AWARDS
Special awards are presented
to recognize outstanding graduating seniors.
Currently there are awards in the Social Work Program and the Teaching
Fellows Program.
GRANTS
Grants are provided by state
and national agencies.
North Carolina Grants
Funds for grants allocated by
the North Carolina Legislature are made available on an annual basis to
residents of North Carolina in attendance at UNC Pembroke. These grants vary in
amount according to students’ demonstrated need.
Federal Pell Grants
This program is for students
who have financial need. The U.S. Government fixes the amount of financial
assistance a student may receive under the Pell Grant Program on the basis of
need. These grants are awarded upon enrollment in good standing in an
institution of higher education. Applications are available in the University’s
Financial Aid Office and any high school guidance counselor’s office. To apply
for a Pell Grant a student must complete the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid. A Student Aid Report will be sent to the student’s home address.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
The purpose of this program is
to provide Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants to students who have
demonstrated exceptional need and who would be unable to enter or remain in
college without such assistance. Recipients must show academic or creative
promise. The grant may be renewed for each year of undergraduate study for a
period of up to four years if the student continues to qualify for assistance.
Students must reapply each year.
North Carolina Student Incentive Grant Program
This program is administered
by College Foundation, Inc. Funds are provided to the Foundation by the North
Carolina State Education Assistance Authority under the 1965 Higher Education
Act, as amended, from state and federal appropriations. To qualify for a North
Carolina Student Incentive Grant (NCSIG), a student must be a legal resident of
North Carolina, be accepted for enrollment as a regular student or be enrolled
full-time in good standing in an undergraduate program, and must demonstrate a
substantial financial need. Grants are based on an individual student’s
demonstrated need in relation to resources and the cost of education, but may
not exceed $1,500 per academic year.
To apply for NCSIG, the
student’s parents and/or the student and spouse must complete the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid, and mail it to the processor no later than
March 1. All North Carolina residents are encouraged to apply for this grant.
All students applying for the
NC Student Incentive Grant must also apply for the Pell Grant.
Vocational Rehabilitation Scholarships
Students who have disabilities
which constitute vocational handicaps are eligible for scholarships from the
North Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department. For information, qualified
students should write to the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, Raleigh,
NC.
Minority Presence Grant Program
The Minority Presence General
Grant Program: Part I - provides funds for grants to white students at
predominately black institutions and to black students at predominately white
institutions who are residents of North Carolina, are enrolled for at least
three hours of degree credit course work, and demonstrate financial need; Part
II - provides funds for grants to Native Americans and other minority students
at the constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina who are
residents of North Carolina, are enrolled for at least three hours of degree
credit course work, and demonstrated financial need.
American Indian Student Legislative Grant Program
Established by the NC General
Assembly, this program provides assistance for resident North Carolina Indians
who demonstrate financial need according to federal guidelines. Recipients must
be enrolled at least half time in a regular degree-seeking program and
maintaining satisfactory academic progress.
LOANS
Loans are available through
federal and state programs as well as through private donors.
Federal Perkins Loan
Assistance is available in the
form of loans which bear no interest while the student is enrolled at least
half-time in an institution of higher education. Interest begins to accrue at
the rate of five (5) percent and payment begins nine months after the borrower
ceases to be enrolled in at least a half-time course of study. Repayment may be
extended over a period of ten years as long as a minimum repayment of $40 per
month or $120 per quarter is made.
Loans are made to entering
freshmen and transfer students who are enrolled as regular students and to returning
students who are in good academic standing and who can demonstrate financial
need. The Perkins Loan program is funded by the federal government.
Federal Stafford Loan Program
Subsidized: Based on financial need, these are
low-interest loans made by lenders such as banks, credit unions or savings and
loan associations and insured by state guaranty agencies. Loan limits are based
on need and grade level.
Non-Subsidized: These loans
are not based on need. Interest accrues to the borrower beginning on the date
of disbursement by the lender. The borrower is responsible for the interest
during in-school and deferment periods.
N.C. State Scholarship Loan Fund for Prospective Teachers
Students desiring loans of
this type should make applications to the North Carolina State Department of
Public Instruction, Raleigh, North Carolina. This fund provides as much as
$2500 per year in financial aid for a prospective teacher. Repayment of the
loan is canceled for recipients who teach four years in North Carolina public
schools.
Student Loan Funds Provided by Donors
A student with special
financial needs may approach the Financial Aid office for information about
loan services provided by donors to the university. The Office of Advancement has additional information about the
donors of these loans and their honorees.
EMPLOYMENT AND VETERANS’ BENEFITS
STUDENT EMPLOYMENT
The student employment
programs help eligible students pay University expenses while attending classes
full time. Students participating in the programs are employed with the
Maintenance Department, Library, Cafeteria, Switchboard, Administrative and
Departmental Offices, and Laboratories.
The student employment
programs consist of the University Self-Help Program and the Federal Work-Study
Program, which is a federal assistance program. To participate in the programs,
a student must have a completed application for aid on file in the Financial
Aid Office. To participate in the Federal Work Study Program, a student must
demonstrate financial need.
A student’s work schedule will
depend upon class schedules and can be arranged by the student and the
student’s work supervisor. These jobs provide learning opportunities as well as
financial aid.
VETERANS’ BENEFITS
Vocational Rehabilitation
Veterans who enter the
University under Chapter 31, Title 38, U.S. Code, Vocational Rehabilitation for
Disabled Veterans, and have the approval of the Veterans Administration will
have their University fees paid directly to the University by the U.S. Government.
GI Bill
Veterans eligible for the G.I.
Bill, Chapter 30, Title 38, U.S. Code effective October 19, 1984, and Chapter
32, Title 38, United States Code, effective January 1, 1977, must make
application for their benefits. For information regarding eligibility, or
application forms, contact the Veterans Administration, Regional Office, 251
North Main Street, Winston-Salem, N.C. or the Financial Aid Office, University
of North Carolina at Pembroke. Transfer students on the G.I. Bill should complete
VA Form 21E-1955, Request for Change of Program or Place of Training, prior to
the time they plan to transfer.
Once the veteran is enrolled,
he/she must attend classes regularly to continue receiving benefits.
NC National Guard, Chapter 106
Upon enlistment in the North
Carolina National Guard, students will be eligible to apply for up to $1000 per
year tuition assistance. The Tuition Assistance program was established by the
North Carolina Legislature to provide educational assistance for members of the
North Carolina National Guard. For further information students can write to:
NORTH CAROLINA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD,
Educational Opportunities, Att: AGRR
4105 Reedy Creek Road
Raleigh, NC 27607
Veteran Dependents
Children of disabled or
deceased veterans may receive financial assistance in the payment of tuition,
room, meals, and other required University fees. For information and
application forms, students should write to the North Carolina Department of
Veterans Affairs, Raleigh, N.C.
Chapter 35, Title 38, U.S.
Code provides for the training of sons, daughters, spouses, and widows of
veterans who died in service; who died as a result of a service-connected
disability; who became permanently and totally disabled as a result of a
service-connected disability; or who have been listed as missing in action,
captured, detained, or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or
power.
Students enrolling under
provisions of Chapters 30, 32, 35 and 106 will pay fees at the time of
registration and receive a monthly education and training allowance from the
Veterans Administration. Since the first check is usually delayed, a veteran or
dependent should make arrangements as early as possible.