Start Your Benefits with PCC

Sylvania CC 246 | 971-722-4502 | FAX: 971-722-8160 | Contact Us

Activate your Veteran educational benefits at PCC

After you have applied for Veteran Educational benefits on the Veterans Affairs website, submit the following forms to the PCC Veterans Service office at the Sylvania Campus in the CC building, Rm. 246 (see our Contact page for mailing address):

Make sure you know what is required to maintain your eligibility benefits.

Before You Register for Classes

Click the Chapter you are receiving benefits under to get helpful pay information before you register:

Chapters 30, 1607, 1606, 35, and 31
  • Full-time: 12 credits
  • 3/4 time: 9 to 11 credits
  • 1/2 time: 6 to 8 credits
  • Less than 1/2 time: 5 credits or less

Full-time equivalency is defined as regularly enrolled for 12 or more credit hours, full length of the term. Students certified for less than full-time will have their eligibility proportionately extended. Veterans registering for classes which meet for less than the standard 10-11 week session will be certified by the number of credits for the class and the class dates and paid accordingly. Contact the Veteran Certifying Official for details or help determining credit loads for short term classes and during summer term.

Chapter 33

Rate of pursuit applies specifically to chapter 33. It differs from training time, which is used for all other chapters. Schools certify actual credit. VA calculates rate of pursuit by dividing the number of credit (or credit hour equivalents) being pursued by the number of credit considered to be full-time by the school. The resulting percentage is the student’s rate of pursuit.

Examples: If full-time is 12 credits, then rate of pursuit for:

  • 6 credits (or credit equivalents) is 50% (6¸ 12 = 50%)
  • 7 credits (or credit equivalents) is 58% (7¸ 12 = 58%)

The housing allowance is paid if the student’s rate of pursuit is more than 50%. Rate of pursuit determines whether a student receives or doesn’t receive the housing allowance. If pursuit is more than 50% the student receives the housing allowance. If pursuit 50% or less the student doesn’t receive the housing allowance.

Housing allowance is now payable to students (other than those on active duty) enrolled solely in distance learning. The housing allowance is ½ the national average BAH for an E-5 with dependents (the full time rate would be $673.50 for 2011)