Financial Aid

Veterans Educational Benefits

Important notice for Chapter 33/POST 911 veterans:

  Effective with the fall 2011 semester, the VA will no longer pay

non-resident tuition charges!

 

STEPS TO THE VA EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS PROCESS

 

 

Step 1  Apply to the College of the Redwoods at www.cccapply.org

• this will enable you to receive a student id # and is necessary before certification can occur

 

Step 2  Complete an application for VA Educational Benefits

• can either be done at the CR Veteran Affairs Office, or online at  www.gibill.va.gov
• You will receive a Letter of Eligibility from the VA that will either confirm or deny your request for benefits. If granted benefits, the letter will state your award amount and length of benefits. You will need to keep this document and show it to the Office of Veterans Educational Benefits when applying for VA educational benefits at CR.
• REMEMBER: it can take up to 6 weeks or more for the processing  of initial applications for VA educational benefits.

 

Step 3  Contact the College of the Redwoods Office of Veterans Educational Benefits to start a VA file

• Complete the required school forms and supply all necessary VA documents pertaining to your VA educational benefits (including a copy of your DD-214 member-4 copy). Click here for common VA Benefits forms that are required by College of the Redwoods.
•  The VA does not require the filing of a Veterans Educational Plan (VEP) before beginning the first semester at a new educational institution. However, you will need to have a VEP on file with our office before the end of  your first semester in order to continue receiving VA educational benefits for future enrollment certification.

 

Step 4  Register for classes and fill out the Veterans Certification Request Form (VCRF)

 

• Turn the form into the College of the Redwoods Veterans Affairs Office. Click here to access forms online.

• Always check your class schedule against your current Veterans Educational Plan (VEP) to confirm that the classes you will be attending are on your current VEP.   Classes not required for your current program are NOT payable by the VA.

 

Step 5---Certification of Enrollment is sent electronically to the VA

 

• The sooner you register for classes and turn in your VCRF, the sooner we can certify your enrollment to the VA, thus eliminating any delays in your monthly payments. 

• It can take up to 4 weeks for the VA to process certification requests. 

• You will receive a letter from the VA confirming your certification has been processed. The letter will state how many units you were certed for, the semester for which you are being paid for, and how much you will

          receive monthly from the VA for your certification.

 

Remember:  It is very important to keep the College of the Redwoods Office of Veterans Educational Benefits notified of any changes to your class schedule, home address and phone number.

 

Who Is Eligible For VA Educational Benefits?

 

All students who feel they are eligible for VA Educational Benefits should submit an application to the VA.  It is important that their application be reviewed by the VA Regional Processing Office, resulting in an official denial or award of benefits from the VA.  The College of the Redwoods Office of Educational Benefits does not determine eligibility, but help facilitate the process with the Veterans Administration.

 

If you have ANY questions regarding your VA Educational Benefits, you can contact our office at 707-476-4110.  To check on your information with the Veterans Administration, call toll free (1-888-442-4551) or go online to www.gibill.va.gov.