Education Benefits

What are Chapter Benefits? 
You may hear us refer to G.I. Bill® benefits using a "chapter" number. The VA organizes education benefits into these different categories, and each chapter outlines specific eligibility requirements and types of support. 
These benefits include (but are not limited to): Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31), Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (Chapter 30), Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606), Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35).

How do I submit my request for enrollment certification? 
Continuing students using VA Education Benefits must submit a certification request each term after registering for classes. Submitting early helps prevent delays in your payments.

View step-by-step instructions: How to Request Enrollment Certification. 

If you do not see "Veteran Benefit" in your Student Center, please contact our office. 

What courses will qualify for certification? 
We can only certify classes that apply to your declared program. 
Be sure to review your Academic Requirement Report. Courses listed as “Unassigned” may delay your certification or require additional review.

Pre-major students: Only general education courses and those required to declare your major can be certified.

What happens if I fail or withdraw from a course?
The VA does not pay for courses that do not result in earned credit (e.g., NC, RD, or W). 

If you withdraw due to circumstances beyond your control, you may submit documentation to request consideration of mitigating circumstances.

How do I complete my monthly enrollment?
Students using the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, Montgomery Selected Reserve GI Bill®, and Dependent Educational Assistance program must verify their enrollment each month to receive their monthly housing allowance or monthly stipend payments. 

 Visit the enrollment verification webpage for more details: GI Bill enrollment verification FAQs. 

Do Chapter Benefits cover summer and winter courses?
Yes. Benefits may be used for summer and winter terms if the courses apply to your program. 

What is considered full-time enrollment? 
Full-time status depends on your academic level, term, and session length. Review the chart below for unit requirements. 

*VA Housing Stipend for CH 33 are not paid at or below ½ Time.It will still be pro-rated based on rate of pursuit above this threshold.

Are Study Abroad courses covered?
Study abroad eligibility varies. Please meet with Veteran Services before applying, as benefits may not apply to all programs..

How can I request certification for a course taken at another institution?
If you are taking classes at another school, submit the Request for Parent School Letter form.

The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Program. This benefit provides education and training opportunities to dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled with a VA rating of 100% due to a service-related condition, or who died while on Active Duty or as a result of a service-related condition.

Tuition & Fees:
- Eligible for Fee Deferment/Do Not Cancel Indicator which prevents you from being dropped from your courses.
- Only mandatory tuition and fees are covered.
Make sure to pay attention to payment deadlines after class registration.

Monthly Stipend: 
- Paid directly to student (Rates change each fiscal year).
- Percent of pay is determined by the student’s <¼, ¼, ½, ¾ or Full Time Training level.

The Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (MGIB-AD) program, commonly known as Chapter 30 and provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible Veterans and Service members.

The Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR, Chapter 1606) provides up to 36 months of education benefits to members of the Selected Reserve.  

Tuition & Fees:
This chapter is not eligible for Fee Deferment/Do Not Cancel Indicators.
Make sure to pay attention to payment deadlines after class registration.
Making payment arrangements is your responsibility.

Monthly Stipend:
- Paid directly to student (Rates change each fiscal year) ​
- Percent of pay is determined by the student’s <1/4, ¼, ½, ¾ or Full Time Training level.
- You must verify enrollment each month to activate payment via the Web Automated Verification system Links to an external site. (called “WAVE”) or by phone by calling 877-823-2378.

Veteran Readiness and Employment, or VR&E also referred to as Chapter 31, provides services to eligible Service members and Veterans with service-connected disabilities.

In order to receive the benefit, your VR&E Counselor must provide the following PO/Authorizations:

1. Tuition & Fees Authorization
2. Books & Supplies Authorization

*We cannot start any processes until we have received the PO/Authorization for authorized services from your VR&E Counselor via Tungsten Network. Below you will find some information on the types of Authorizations.

Tuition & Fees:
- This chapter is eligible for Fee Deferment/Do Not Cancel Indicators. However, please make sure to pay attention to payment deadlines after class registration.
- Authorization is sent from VR&E directly to Veterans Services
- Authorization is required for certification and for billing purposes​.
- Paid directly to the school on behalf of the student.
- Parking semester/yearly plans may be included if authorized by the VR&E counselor. 
- Although a course, item/equipment may not be a mandatory fee, it may be included if authorized by the VR&E counselor. 

Books & Supplies:
- All required books and supplies are 100% covered and may be paid to the school on behalf of the student. Sent from VR&E directly to 49ers Bookstore.
- Instructions on how to obtain books & supplies can be found here.
- Highly recommend you obtain your Books & Supplies Authorization number from your VR&E counselor prior to contacting/going to the bookstore.​
- Our office does not have access to this authorization, so we are unable to provide the PO number.​

Monthly Stipend:
- Paid directly to student (Rates change each fiscal year).
- Pay is determined based on ½, ¾, or Full-Time enrollment, plus an additional amount for each dependent. ​

Impact on Financial Aid:
- No double dipping Financial Aid that is specific to tuition and fees, such as State University Grant, with VA funds. Other sources of funding will be utilized to cover tuition and fees before VA funds.
- Does not apply to Pell Grant or Loans as they are not limited to tuition and fees.

The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, or also known as Chapter 33, is the most comprehensive education benefits package since the original GI Bill was signed into law in 1944 by providing financial support for education and housing to eligible individuals.

Tuition & Fees:
- Eligible for Fee Deferment/Do Not Cancel Indicator which prevents you from being dropped from your courses.
- Only mandatory tuition and fees are covered.

Monthly Stipend:
- Paid directly to student (Rates change each fiscal year).
- Percent of pay is determined by the student’s <1/4, ¼, ½, ¾ or Full Time Training level.
- You must verify enrollment each month to activate payment in one of two ways:
  1. Text messaging through the VA when you "Opts-in"; you will receive a text message each month to verify enrollment
  2. Telephone by calling the Education Call Center (ECC) at 888-442-4551
  NOTE: If you do not verify for two consecutive months, the VA will withhold future MHA payments until you call the ECC.

Books & Supplies:
- Annual books and supplies stipend at $41.67 per unit, not to exceed $1,000 per year.

Dual Certification:
Two step certification process required by the VA to prevent over payment of tuition and fees
Step 1: Initial Certification - Submitted for units only and $0 tuition and fees to ensure students receive their housing allowance and books & supply stipend.
Step 2: Secondary Certification - Tuition and fees added after the end of the Add/Drop period.
Even though tuition and fees will not be added until a later time, you will not be dropped from your courses because you have a Do Not Cancel (DNC) Indicator on your account.

Impact on Financial Aid:
- No double dipping Financial Aid that is specific to tuition and fees, such as State University Grant, with VA funds. Other sources of funding will be utilized to cover tuition and fees before VA funds.
- Does not apply to Pell Grant or Loans as they are not limited to tuition and fees.

The dependent child, spouse or unmarried surviving spouse of a service-connected disabled or deceased veteran may be entitled to fee waiver benefits at any State of California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus.

To use the CalVet College Fee Waiver at CSULB:
- You must apply each academic year at a County Veterans Services Office. CSULB does not determine eligibility for the CalVet Fee Waiver.
- If found eligible, the County Veterans Services will provide you with an authorization or award letter. Submit a copy of your award letter to the CSULB Veterans Services Office for processing. Do not complete a Request for Enrollment Certification form unless you are also using Chapter 35 benefits.

Note: Students must submit their award letters at least one week before the Tuition Fee is due or they may be responsible for payment. Payments toward the Tuition Fee may be refunded once the award letter is processed.

Other important information about the CalVet Fee Waiver:
- The CalVet Fee Waiver covers mandatory systemwide fees, i.e. the Tuition Fee at CSULB. All other fees are the responsibility of the student.
- This fee waiver cannot be used for programs or courses taken through the College of Professional and Continuing Education, including winter and summer sessions, except for select programs offering State-Supported courses during the summer.
- You must be a California resident to use this fee waiver.