Veteran Student Services

I am a Veteran, how do I know what benefits I am eligible to receive?

• Eligibility is determined by the VA. You can determine eligibility and apply for VA Education Benefits on the VA Education website: Eligibility section.

I am the survivor, spouse, or child of a Veteran, how do I know what benefits I am eligible to receive?

• For VA Federal Benefits, eligibility is determined by the VA. You can determine eligibility and apply for benefits on the VA Education website: Survivor and dependent benefits section.
• For State of Oregon tuition waiver benefits, you can review the requirements and submit an application with LBCC.

I am currently serving as a Reservist, National Guard, or Active Duty member of the military, how do I know what benefits I am eligible to receive?

• For VA Federal Benefits: Chapter 1606 – Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) you can review eligibility on the VA Education website: MGIB-SR
• For Tuition Assistance Requests, you will need to contact your Education Services Officer (ESO) for approval. Each branch of the military has its own TA application for and procedures.
• For Army Tuition Assistance Requests, you can use ArmyIgnitED to submit your education plan and request funding.

• Active Duty: Military members who are currently serving full-time in their military capacity. This does not include all In-Service students. For Federal Financial Aid purposes, training in the Reserve forces or National Guard is not considered Active Duty. 
• ArmyIgnitED: The platform used by the Army, Army Reserves, and Army National Guard to request Tuition Assistance.
• BAH: Basic Allowance for Housing – for active-duty service members including some National Guard and Reservists. 
• DD-214: Department of Defense Form 214 – “Certificate or Release or Discharge from Active Duty.” The DD-214 is used to claim VA Benefits including GI Bill® benefits.
• ESO: Education Services Officer, the officer who works with students using tuition assistance.
• EV Form: Enrollment Verification Form – must be submitted each term. This form authorizes the Veterans Office at LBCC to certify and apply aid for specific courses.
• MHA: Monthly Housing Allowance – for GI Bill® students including veterans, spouses, who are not married to a currently serving service member receiving BAH, and children.
  • 2022 Linn County MHA: $1,755.00
  • 2022 Benton County MHA: $1,932.00
  • 2022 U.S. National average amount: $1,833.00
  • 2022 ½ U.S. National average amount: $916.50 (Maximum MHA if you attend all classes online)
• Mitigating Circumstances: Circumstances beyond the student’s control that prevent them from successfully completing a course or courses; prevent the student from continuing in school or cause the student to reduce credits taken in a given term.
  • Illness, injury, or death affecting the student or their immediate family
  • Unavoidable change in employment
  • Unavoidable employment related transfer
  • Financial obligations beyond student’s control
  • Unanticipated active military service
  • Unanticipated difficulties with childcare

What courses can I take?

• If you are using VA Federal Benefits you can only take courses that will apply to your current major. 
  • Make sure your major is kept up to date if you make any changes. 
  • Review the academic catalog for specific courses
  • Work with an academic advisor to select courses
• If you are using Chapter 33 or Chapter 31 benefits & receiving a MHA you must take one course in-person to receive the full MHA. 
• Your final term you can “top off” your schedule if necessary. 
  • Topping off means you can take courses that are not toward your major if you do not have enough courses required to make you a full-time student. 
  • You can only do this once at LBCC.
  • Check with the SCO to confirm your course selection if you choose this option. 
• If you are using TA or ArmyIgnitED benefits you must select courses from the education plan developed with your academic advisor. 

What is considered full time enrollment? 

• The majority of LBCC’s courses are 10-weeks in length but during the Summer Term LBCC offers some 5-week courses. 
• The VA considered 12 credits of 10-week courses full time:

Course Length →   # of Credits ↓	10 Weeks	5 Weeks
12 +	FT	FT
11	¾	FT
10	¾	FT
9	¾	FT
8	½	FT
7	½	FT
6	½	FT
5	<½	FT
4	<½	¾
3	¼	½
2	¼	<½
1	¼	¼

I’m in the ATTC program, do my benefits cover the Snap-On fee?

• If you are using Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® or Chapter 31 VR&E benefits, then yes your benefits pay tuition and fees directly to the school and will cover these fees. 

I need to purchase additional materials (like a welding mask or boots), is this covered by my benefits. 

• Only if you are using Chapter 31 VR&E Benefits could these be covered but you will need to get pre-approval from your VA Counselor. 

I’m using the State of Oregon tuition waiver, what does this benefit cover? 

• The State of Oregon tuition waiver is a last-dollar-paid benefit that only covers tuition and mandatory fees that are not covered by other financial aid. In other words, this benefit would only apply if you were not receiving Pell grant funding or other state funding. 
• This benefit will cover additional tuition costs associated with lab courses.
• This benefit will NOT cover individual course fees. 

I want to take a course that is outside of my major, will VA Benefits cover this course? 

• The short answer is: no. 
• The VA Education Benefits can only be applied toward courses that are working toward a specific degree. 
• Some degrees have space for electives that you can use to take courses outside of your major. These courses still apply toward your degree. 
• Exceptions can be made if your academic advisor can connect your course with an equivalent course that is within the scope of your studies and can satisfy a requirement toward your degree. These exceptions must be documented and signed-off on by your advisor. 
• If you are using Chapter 31, VR&E benefits you can take courses outside of your major so long as they are approved by your VA Counselor. These exceptions must be documented and signed-off on by your VA Counselor. 

I want to change my major, will this mess up my benefits? 

• No. Your benefits are determined by the major you are enrolled at the end of the add/drop period of a term. You can change your major for terms going forward and the requirements of the new major will determine what courses are covered by your benefits. Changing your major is not detrimental to your benefits. 
• If you are using Chapter 31, VR&E Benefits you must get your major change approved by your VA Counselor.