Office of the Registrar

Veteran Benefits & Certification

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Welcome to UC Santa Cruz’s Veteran Benefits Services Office

We serve as a liaison between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and UCSC veterans and military-connected students.  Our mission is to assist you in processing your veterans’ education benefits while pursuing your degree. Our dedicated staff is here to provide you with the information and support in navigating the complexities of VA education benefits, ensuring a seamless experience throughout your academic journey.

Whether you have questions about eligibility, application processes, or accessing specific benefits and services, our knowledgeable team is ready to assist you. We understand the unique challenges faced by veterans and their dependents, and we are committed to helping you make the most of your educational opportunities at UCSC. Thank you for entrusting us with your veterans’ education benefits. We look forward to supporting you in achieving your academic goals.

First Steps

Upon your acceptance to UC Santa Cruz, it is important to initiate contact with the VA Certifying Official. Please notify us by email at vets_benefits@ucsc.edu. Upon receiving your email, we will send you a “Welcome Email” that will include all the information you will need in order to use your VA benefits. Additionally, to assist you in activating your education benefits at UCSC, we have provided below links to comprehensive information and instructions.

By following these steps and utilizing the provided resources, you can ensure that your education benefits are properly activated and that any necessary documents are securely transmitted. Should you have any further questions or require additional assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to the School Certifying Official for guidance.

Sharing Documents Securely

To securely share your documents with us via email, send your documents from your @ucsc email account to vets_benefits@ucsc.edu.

Military-Connected Benefits Drop-In Advising

One-on-one virtual advising with a School Certifying Official is available. You will be placed in a virtual waiting room until the meeting host invites you in. 

Schedule: Please check the calendar for dates and times. This calendar is updated by 9:00 a.m. if there is a change in the schedule.

Web Access: Join the meeting using this link.

Phone Access: Phone number +1 (669) 444-9171; use Meeting ID: 951 9600 8218; Passcode: 849481

Note: First-come first-served basis, 10 students maximum capacity based on limited resources. Although the Zoom meeting may appear “open” after these cutoff times, we will only be able to advise you if you entered the waiting room by the posted cutoff time and terms. If time runs out, you may join the next drop-in session. Please have your UCSC ID card or other photo ID ready.  If you don’t have your photo ID, we can only provide general information.

Monthly Housing Allowance

Effective from the winter quarter of 2022 onwards, your housing allowance rate will be determined based on the location where you attend classes. Starting Dec. 22, 2021, the Veterans Administration (VA) will cease paying the in-person housing allowance rate for classes designated as online or remote instruction. Consequently, UC Santa Cruz is obligated to report such learning modalities as Distance Learning to the VA. If the majority of your classes are classified as distance learning, your housing allowance will be calculated at 50 percent of the national average.

To ensure your housing allowance remains unaffected, we suggest that you carefully select your classes. In the event that any of your classes transition to remote instruction or online format, it is advisable to consider opting for an alternative class, as this change could potentially impact your monthly VA housing allowance. 

Monthly Verification of Enrollment

Starting from the winter quarter of 2022, GI Bill® students will be required to verify their enrollment with the VA on a monthly basis. Once your enrollment has been certified, you will receive a letter explaining the process for monthly verification. It is important to note that this notice will be sent by mail to the address listed in your records with the VA. Failure to certify your attendance for two consecutive months will result in the VA withholding your monthly housing payments until you verify your attendance.

Please ensure to carefully review this information and take the necessary actions to comply with the aforementioned instructions.

Forms

The following forms must be submitted to the UCSC Veterans Benefit Services Office:

  • VA Intake eForm
    • Students can access the Veteran Benefit Services Enrollment form in MyUCSC by going to either the Graduate or Undergraduate Student Form tile on their Student Homepage and selecting Veteran Benefit Enrollment from the menu.
    • Incoming students who are not yet eligible to enroll in classes can access the form in MyUCSC by going to the Application Status & Info tile on their Applicant Homepage and selecting the link in their Veteran Benefit Services Enrollment Admissions Message.
  • VA Study List Form
  • VBA-22-1990 (Application for VA Education Benefits)
  • VBA-22-5490 (Dependents Application for VA Benefits)
  • Chapter 31 Veterans Enrollment Verification
  • UC Parent School Letter
    • If you are a Visiting Student to UCSC or planning on attending another university as a Guest Student, you must complete the UC Parent School Letter with your request, and Certificate of Eligibility and/or Cal Vet WaiverAuthorization Letter.
    • Please see Page 2 for instructions on how to complete the Parent School Letter.

Frequently Asked Questions: Veterans

Q: I am a veteran student. How do I learn more about the education benefits I’m eligible for? 

A: Refer to the Federal and State Veterans education benefits page for information.

Q: I am a veteran student. How do I register for classes at UCSC? 

A: All students must apply to attend UCSC during fall, winter, and spring quarters. Please see the following web site to apply for the next fall term: Undergraduate: Undergraduate Admissions Graduate:  Division of Graduate Studies. Over the Summer Session, anyone can register as a visiting summer-only student to take classes.

Q: Will my coursework from other college(s) I attended transfer to UCSC? 

A: The Office of Admissions can answer this question. UCSC cannot guarantee transferability of courses. When you apply, your coursework will be evaluated to determine which credits are transferable. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions office at admissions@ucsc.edu or (831) 459-4008. Division of Graduate Admissions at gradadm@ucsc.edu or (831) 459-5905.

Q: Is there a deadline for submitting my VA Forms? 

A: You cannot receive education benefits until you submit all required forms. Enrollments certifications (VA form 22-1999) are submitted electronically in the order forms are received.

Q: My class schedule has changed from when I first submitted the VA Enrollment Verification Form. What should I do? 

A: The Department of Veterans Affairs will only pay for classes that fulfill your graduation requirements. If your class schedule changes, you must submit a new VA Enrollment Verification form and submit it to UCSC Veterans Services office immediately. Please note that if you are certified at below full-time (12 credits), you will receive benefits at a reduced rate. To view payment rates, refer to the GI Bill® web site.*

Q: I am changing my major. What do I need to do? 

A: You must submit your new Academic Planning Form to UCSC Veterans Benefit Services Office as soon as you have officially declared your new major.

Q: I am eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill® and a Cal Grant. Will I receive all my VA benefits? 

A: The Department of Veterans Affairs requires UCSC to report any fee-specific financial aid awards veteran for which students are eligible. Because the Cal Grant will pay the student services fee and tuition, these fees will not be reported to the VA as billed to the student. The VA will pay the remaining mandatory fees not covered by Cal Grant (e.g., campus fees, student health insurance).

Q: The Post 9/11 GI Bill is paying my tuition and fees. Do I still have to pay these fees by the registration deadline? 

A: No. Students receiving the Post 9/11 GI Bill®* do not have to pay the registration fees. It is recommended that students pay their housing fees by the due date to avoid late charges.

Q: I’m living on campus housing. What do I do about the housing fees if I haven’t received my benefits? 

A: It is recommended that you contact the Campus Housing Office to find out what your options are.

Q: I am a dependent of a veteran and have the Cal Vet fee waiver. Can I use it to study abroad? 

A: You can only use the Cal Vet waiver for study abroad if enrolled in UC’s EAP. It only qualifies for the UC’s tuition for the program; it does not cover program (travel, excursion, etc.) fees. After approval for EAP, submit a copy of your Cal Vet eligibility letter to the EAP office in Santa Barbara. This is the office that will assess charges and apply the fee waiver.

Q: I have a letter from the county VA office stating I am approved for the Cal Vet waiver. What do I do? 

A: Submit a copy of your Cal Vet eligibility letter to UCSC Veterans Benefit Services Office. You can submit this by scan and e-mail to vets_benefits@ucsc.edu or by fax to (831) 459-5051.

Q: Can my VA benefits pay the Summer Session tuition? 

A: Yes. Continuing UC students can use waivers for the Summer Session tuition. Mandatory campus fees are not waived by Cal Vet. Students from another UC Campus or California Community College may use the GI Bill® with a Parent School Letter agreement. Contact the vets_benefits@ucsc.edu for more information.

Q: Can my VA benefits pay the Summer Edge tuition? 

A: Yes. New fall admits taking Summer Session classes can use their GI Bill® for the preceding summer tuition if the courses fulfill their degree requirements. Mandatory campus fees are not waived by Cal Vet.

Q: I am considered a nonresident student and I have been approved to receive the Cal Vet fee waiver. Can I still use this waiver at UCSC? 

A: Even though a county office approved you for the Cal Vet fee waiver, you will not qualify to receive the waiver at UCSC if you are classified a nonresident student.

*GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Last modified: Sep 17, 2025