Education Benefit Programs and Coverage | Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships | UCI

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Veteran Benefits Office

Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Education Benefit Programs

Review eligibility and coverage information for federal and state veteran, military, and dependent education benefit programs. For complete benefit and program details, visit the VA and CalVet websites.

Applying for Benefits

Students must apply for federal benefits online or by mail through the Veterans Administration (VA), or for CalVet benefits at a local servicing office (CVSO). UC Irvine does not submit or process VA or state applications for students. Eligibility is determined by the VA or CVSO.

Students must submit their VA-issued Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to the Veteran Benefits Office through a secure file upload. VR&E recipients must submit their counselor contact information; CalVet recipients must submit their waiver to the UC Irvine Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

VA benefit recipients must be admitted and enrolled at UC Irvine. If you are an incoming first-year student, you must have enrolled in classes before the VBO certifies you for VA education benefits. If you are an incoming transfer student, you will need to enroll in classes with an academic advisor from the school of your intended major before the VBO certifies you for VA education benefits.

All documents must be submitted to UC Irvine using the secure file upload. VA documents should not be sent through email, as they contain partial social security numbers and email is not a secure platform.

Chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty)

Website

https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/mgib_ad.asp

Qualifications

The MGIB-Active Duty program (Chapter 30) provides education benefits to veterans and service members who have at least two years of active duty. Chapter 30 may be used for a variety of programs, and you may receive up to 36 months of education benefits.

Apply

Apply by filling out VA Form 22-1990 (Application for Education Benefits) at https://www.va.gov/education/apply/

Required Forms

Chapter 31 (Veteran Readiness and Employment)

Website

https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/index.asp

Qualifications

Service members expecting a discharge that is other than dishonorable who possess a VA memorandum or Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) rating of 20% or more—as well as service members currently going through a Physical Evaluation Board—may be eligible to receive VR&E services. VR&E services help with job training, employment accommodations, resume development, and job seeking skills coaching.

Apply

Apply by filling out VA Form 22-1990 (Application for Education Benefits) at https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/

Required Forms
  • Authorization Form (provided by your Chapter 31 Counselor and can be uploaded here)
    • Note: Two separate Authorization Forms are required to process your Chapter 31 benefits. Please provide the information below to your Chapter 31 Counselor:
  • Tuition, Fees, and Parking
  • Books and Supplies
    • Vendor: Barnes & Noble Education
    • Tax ID/Vendor Code: 46-0599018
    • Facility Code: 11800105
    • Email: SM8206@bncollege.com
    • * Please email The Hill (UC Irvine Bookstore) Staff by emailing them to inquire about receiving your books and supplies. You can contact them at SM8206@bncollege.com to discuss your request.
  • Request for Certification (RFC) Form
    • Academic Year 2024-2025
    • Academic Year 2025-2026 
      • Note: You must submit the RFC annually if you wish to continue receiving your benefits for that term.
      • For graduate students, have your graduate advisor complete the Academic Advisor Section before submitting it to the Veteran Benefits Office.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Payments for USHIP/GSHIP are not allowed per VA Policy M28R, Part V, Section A, Chapter 5 Revised November 19, 2015. As a result, student veterans that decide to use USHIP/GSHIP will need to cover this cost through means other than VA education benefits. Questions regarding this policy should be directed to a student veteran’s Vocational Rehab Counselor. For information about waiving your UC Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), please contact the UC Irvine Student Health Center.

Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill®)

Who is Eligible

Veteran, service member, or dependent

Website

https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/

Qualifications

To qualify for chapter 33, you must have at least 90 days of aggregate active-duty service after Sept. 10, 2001, or 30 days if you were discharged with a service-connected disability. You may be on active duty or be an honorably discharged veteran.

What it Covers

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides up to 36 months of education benefits, generally payable for 15 years following your release from active duty. Benefits may include a monthly housing allowance, an annual books and supplies stipend, and a one-time rural benefit payment.

Apply

Apply by filling out VA Form 22-1990 (Application for Education Benefits) at https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/.

Required Forms

Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill® - Transfer of Entitlement or Fry Scholarship)

Who is Eligible

Spouse or dependent of eligible Veteran or service member

Website

https://www.va.gov/education/transfer-post-9-11-gi-bill-benefits/

Benefit Detail

The option to transfer this education benefit is open to any member of the armed forces who is eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® and meets the necessary criteria. The transferability option allows service members to transfer all or some unused benefits to their spouse or dependents.

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) provides Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits to the children and surviving spouses of servicemembers who died in the line of duty while on active duty after September 10, 2001. Eligible beneficiaries attending school may receive up to 36 months of benefits at the 100% level.

***For Out-of-State Students inquiring about In-State Tuition, please visit Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act (VACAA) of 2014 and contact the Veteran Benefits Office.

Apply

In order to transfer unused benefits to a spouse or dependent, sponsors must fill out a Transfer of Education Benefit request form. After the transfer is approved, dependents must complete an application for benefits as well (Form 22-1990E) at https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/.

Required Forms

Chapter 35 (Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program)

Website

https://www.va.gov/education/survivor-dependent-benefits/dependents-education-assistance/

Qualifications

The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or of veterans who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.

Apply

To apply, complete VA Form 22-5490, Dependents Application for VA Education Benefits, at https://www.va.gov/.

Required Forms

 

Chapter 1606 (Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserve)

Website

https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/montgomery-selected-reserve/

Qualifications

MGIB-SR program provides education and training benefits to eligible members of the Selected Reserve, including the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components and VA makes the payments.

Apply

To apply, obtain the DD Form 2384-1, Notice of Basic Eligibility from military unit once eligible for the program. Then complete VA Form 22-1990 (Application for Education Benefits) at https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/.

Required Forms

CalVet College Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents

Please note that the CalVet College Fee Waiver is processed by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at fafiscal@uci.edu.

Website

https://www.calvet.ca.gov/vetservices/pages/college-fee-waiver.aspx

Benefit Detail

The CalVet College Tuition Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents benefit waives mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at any State of California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus for California residents. This program does not cover campus-specific fees, the expense of books, parking, room, and board. There are four plans under which dependents of veterans may be eligible.

For Undergraduates

For UC Irvine tuition and fees, the CalVet Fee Waiver only waives the tuition and the student services fee items, as seen on https://www.reg.uci.edu/fees/. Students and/or parents are still responsible for all other fees.

For Graduates

For UC Irvine tuition and fees, the CalVet Fee Waiver only waives the tuition and the student services fee items including the supplemental tuition for professional school programs. Programs listed as “self-supporting” are not eligible to use the CalVet Fee Waiver. For a list of these programs, please visit https://www.reg.uci.edu/fees/.

For Summer Session

All student veterans and dependents receiving a CalVet College Fee Waiver can enroll by requesting digital enrollment forms from summer-coursechanges@uci.edu.

In the email, please state the education benefit you wish to apply to your enrollment, and a Summer Session staff member will send you a digital enrollment form via email through DocuSign. Once your form is filled out and signed, the Summer Session team will review and process it. Please be aware that an outstanding balance will be reflected on your account until Summer Session adds the credit. The credit should be applied to your account 3-5 business days after submission of documents to the Summer Session office.

Apply

To apply for this benefit, please follow the College Fee Waiver website: https://www.calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/pages/college-fee-waiver.aspx. Scroll to the bottom of the webpage under “How to Apply” to complete your application and submit to your local County Veterans Service Office.

Required Forms

The CalVet College Fee Waiver Application needs to be submitted to your County Veterans Services Office prior to the start of the academic year (preferably April, prior to Fall term). Once you receive your approval letter, please upload a copy to the UC Irvine Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (OFAS) secure website (instructions below) beginning July 1, 2024. Please note that you only need to submit the letter once an academic year.

  • FAFSA Filers: Please follow this link for instructions on how to upload your 2024-25 CalVet College Fee Waiver letter beginning July 1, 2024.
  • Non-FAFSA Filers: If you did not submit a 2024-25 FAFSA, you must fax your CalVet College Fee Waiver Letter to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (OFAS) at (949) 824-4876.
  • Direct all questions regarding your waiver to the OFAS at fafiscal@uci.edu.
    • Please note that the CalVet College Fee Waiver is a state education benefit. As a result, it waives tuition and the student services fee only. Please refer to the chart of fees for the current academic year at https://www.reg.uci.edu/fees/ to review these covered benefits and how much you may still owe before the payment fee deadline. Students are still responsible for paying for all other fees and charges, including lab fees or technology fees incurred during the term.
Military Tuition Assistance (TA)

Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is a Department of Defense (DoD) benefit paid to current eligible service members of all branches of Armed Forces to assist with the cost of tuition. All four service branches-Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and the U.S. Coast Guard offer financial assistance for voluntary, off-duty education programs in support of service members’ personal and professional goals.

The program is open to officers, warrant officers, and enlisted active-duty service personnel. In addition, members of the National Guard and Reserve Components may be eligible for TA based on their service eligibility.

To be eligible for TA, an enlisted service member must have enough time remaining in service to complete the course for which he or she has applied. After the completion of a course, an officer using TA must fulfill a service obligation that runs parallel with – not in addition to – any existing service obligation.

Each military branch has its own criteria for eligibility, obligated service, application processes, and restrictions. The funds are usually paid directly to the institution by the individual services.

To start, visit your local installation education center, or go online to each education center portal.

How to apply for Military Tuition Assistance (TA) at UC Irvine: 
  1. Contact your Educational Services Officer (ESO). Each military service branch has their own criteria for TA. The ESO will assist with the creation of your education goals and how to apply for TA. Note: To use TA at UC Irvine, you must be an admitted UC Irvine student and enrolled in an approved program.
  2. Meet with your UC Irvine academic counselor to complete your education plan.
  3. For Air Force & ArmyIgniTED, check if your degree program is in the portal. If it’s not, email Financial Services Third-Party billing office at thirdpartybilling@uci.edu with the following information:
    1. Name of your Degree Program (Graduate or Undergrad) and UCI website for the program
    2. Total number of units to complete the degree
  4. Submit your education plan to the respective military site and wait for approval.
  5. When your program is approved, check the portal to see if your courses are already included. Send a list of courses that are NOT in the portal to thirdpartybilling@uci.edu. Courses will be uploaded to the respective military portal.
  6. Once your education plan is approved by the military, forward the signed TA request (signed by you and your military branch) to the Financial Services Third-Party billing office at thirdpartybilling@uci.edu in a PDF format.
  7. Financial Services Third-Party billing office will submit an invoice to the respective military portal for payment after the add/drop course deadline date.

    When UC Irvine receives payment from the military branch, Financial Services Third-Party billing office will post a credit in the student's ZOT account. Any credit posted in the student’s ZOT account will apply towards outstanding eligible charges first, and any remaining credit balance will be reimbursed to the student through their ZOT account.
TA Application Process:

Each military branch has its own TA application form and procedures. For detailed information on Tuition Assistance (TA) for each military branch, visit the following websites:

Frequently Asked Questions


GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website.