Applying for Initial Title 38 Benefits
Students applying for veterans' educational benefits should allow eight to ten weeks for processing before receiving benefits. The amount of benefits awarded is determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs and is based on the number of credit hours (units) or clock hours for which a student is enrolled monthly. The process for applying for veterans educational benefits is different for New Students that have never recieved benefits before and for Continuing/Transfer Students that have already initiated benefits before.
New Students
New studenrs are those who have not used VA benefits before at any institutions of higher education. To apply for benefits please complete the following steps:
Complete and submit the appropirate VA application and supporting document to Veterans Services, located in building 1500, Financial Aid and Veterans Office, at Las Positas College.
| Chapter 30, 1606 & 1607 | |
| Chapter 35 | |
| Chapter 31 | Eligibility/Application is determined by the Department of Veteran Affairs, Vocational Rehabilitation Office. |
Applications can also be submitted to the VA directly on-line at VONAPP at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp
Required Supporting Documentation
- DD-214 (Military Discharge Document) - Copy Member 4 (Ch 30 & 1607)
- DD-2384 (NOBE - Notice of Basic Eligibility) - (Ch 1606, only)
- Birth Certificate and a copy of the Veteran's DD-214 (Ch 35 - dependent)
- Marriage Certificate and a copy of the Veteran's DD-214 (Ch 35 - spouse)
Additional Forms required for LPC's Veteran Services Office
- 2007/2008 LPC VETERANS ENROLLMENT CERTIFICATION
- 2008/2009 LPC VETERANS ENROLLEMENT CERTIFICATION
-
EVALUATION of COURSE REQUIREMENTS for CURRENT MAJOR
All students receiving Veterans Benefits are required to submit official academic transcripts from all schools attended before, during or after military service--whether or not benefits were received or units completed. Transcripts should be addressed directly to the Veterans Office at Las Positas, and will be forwarded to the student's permanent Admissions and Records file. Enrollment will only be certified for one semester pending evaluation of prior credit. These transcripts will be used when determining prior credit for courses that satisfy major requirements when completing the student's Evaluation of Course Requirements.
All veterans must make an appointment with the counseling office during their first semester in attendance, in order to complete a VETERAN' S EVALUATION OF COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR CURRENT OBJECTIVE. Evaluations cannot be done on a drop-in basis. The EVALUATION is required prior to certification of a student's second semester, and if and when a student changes to a new major a new evaluation must be completed prior to further certification. Only courses indicated on the evaluation will be certified for payment by V.A., as these are the courses that are needed to complete graduation or transfer requirements.
Monthly Verification
Ch. 30 and 1606 students are responsible for verifying their own enrollment at the end of each month. You must do this to get your benefit check for school attendance the previous month. Contact the VA Regional Processing Office each month by phone at 1-877-823-2378 or on-line at https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/.
IMPORTANT: YOU ARE REQUIRED TO INFORM THE VETERANS OFFICE WITHIN A WEEK OF WITHDRAWING FROM A COURSE, or you will be subject to overpayment of benefits by V.A., which may delay and/or reduce future benefits and/or require repayment of excess funds received
Advance Pay Option
New students, or students who did not attend the previous term (including summer) may request certification with "Advance Pay", but must do so at least 35 days prior to the first day of the term, and must first have registered into courses prior to requesting certification. Students interested in advance pay should notify the veterans office at the time they are requesting certification, as a separate signature is required. V.A. will subsequently forward a benefit check to the college, which includes pay in advance for the first two calendar months of the term.
CONTINUING/TRANSFER STUDENTS PROCESS
This process is for students who are either using their benefits at Las Positas College and are changing their major or degree program or are transferring students from another college or university where they have already used VA educational benefits.
| Chapter 30, 1606 & 1607 | Form 22-1995 |
| Chapter 35 | Form 22-5495 |
Required Supporting Documentation
- DD-214 (Military Discharge Document) - Copy Member 4 (Ch 30 & 1607)
- DD-2384 (NOBE - Notice of Basic Eligibility) - (Ch 1606, only)
- Birth Certificate and a copy of the Veteran's DD-214 (Ch 35 - dependent)
- Marriage Certificate and a copy of the Veteran's DD-214 (Ch 35 - spouse)
Additional Forms required for LPC's Veteran Services Office
- 2007/2008 LPC VETERANS ENROLLMENT CERTIFICATION
- 2008/2009 LPC VETERANS ENROLLMENT CERTIFICATION
- EVALUATION of COURSE REQUIREMENTS for CURRENT MAJOR
All students receiving Veterans Benefits are required to submit official academic transcripts from all schools attended before, during or after military service--whether or not benefits were received or units completed. Transcripts should be addressed directly to the Veterans Office at Las Positas, and will be forwarded to the student's permanent Admissions and Records file. Enrollment will only be certified for one semester pending evaluation of prior credit. These transcripts will be used when determining prior credit for courses that satisfy major requirements when completing the student's Evaluation of Course Requirements.
All veterans must make an appointment with the counseling office during their first semester in attendance, in order to complete a VETERAN' S EVALUATION OF COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR CURRENT OBJECTIVE. Evaluations cannot be done on a drop-in basis. The EVALUATION is required prior to certification of a student's second semester, and if and when a student changes to a new major a new evaluation must be completed prior to further certification. Only courses indicated on the evaluation will be certified for payment by V.A., as these are the courses that are needed to complete graduation or transfer requirements.
Monthly Verification
Ch. 30 and 1606 students are responsible for verifying their own enrollment at the end of each month. You must do this to get your benefit check for school attendance the previous month. Contact the VA Regional Processing Office each month by phone at 1-877-823-2378 or on-line at https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/.
IMPORTANT: YOU ARE REQUIRED TO INFORM THE VETERANS OFFICE WITHIN A WEEK OF WITHDRAWING FROM A COURSE, or you will be subject to overpayment of benefits by V.A., which may delay and/or reduce future benefits and/or require repayment of excess funds received.
Advance Pay Option
New students, or students who did not attend the previous term (including summer) may request certification with "Advance Pay", but must do so at least 35 days prior to the first day of the term, and must first have registered into courses prior to requesting certification. Students interested in advance pay should notify the veterans office at the time they are requesting certification, as a separate signature is required. V.A. will subsequently forward a benefit check to the college, which includes pay in advance for the first two calendar months of the term.