You don’t have to wait, you can apply in advance! Tbh I applied for the sole purpose of a degree and I contacted a scap counselor abt 3 weeks after I started. She guided me through the entire application process, which I did while waiting to be benefits eligible. I told my manager right away that I needed the hours for scap + healthcare so she did her best to give me 20+ hrs a week. It’s an average over the 3 months (and then 6 months once it’s the during an adult) so if I only worked 15 one week, but 25 the next it evened out. Since I already had my application done and ready to go, I was able to sign up for the next semester when I became benefits eligible! I was lucky, it lined up that I hit 3 months in November and the new semester started in January so I didn’t feel like I was wasting time. But you don’t have to wait to apply! I’d talk to your manager and reach out to a scap counselor asap! Good luck :)

I would try scheduling an appointment with an enrollment from the SCAP page. They're super helpful and have tons of answers

So it’s a benefit, you’re eligible after 90 days (3 months) OR after you hit the 520 audit in Jan/July. You’re then qualified to join the next semester of the following month. (I became benefits eligible in Feb and started during Spring 2022).