Frequently Asked Questions   Veterans’ Affairs

Initiating benefits

Eligibilty

Active duty

Returning to school

Where do I go for veterans’ affairs services, assistance, and information?

See the UCLA Veterans’ Affairs Coordinator, 1113 Murphy Hall during regular business hours (no appointment required). Specific assistance includes

• Providing information for veterans and eligible dependents about Veterans' Administration (VA) educational benefits, tutorial assistance, and the work-study program
• Issuing fee waivers to dependents of California veterans who are deceased or disabled because of service-connected injuries and who meet the income restrictions in Education Code Section 10652
• Certifying student status for recipients of educational benefits under VA chapters 30-32, 35, and 1606

Be sure to visit the VA GI Bill website for useful information. See also the UCLA Veterans Resource Office website for additional resources.

How do I initiate VA benefits as a new student, transfer student, or dependent of a veteran?

Come to 1113 Murphy Hall to obtain paperwork from the Veterans’ Affairs Coordinator. Complete this paperwork and return it to the same location.

Should I bring any documents with me when I see the Veterans’ Affairs Coordinator?

No documents are required. However, if you would like to have documents from a previous school placed in your UCLA file, bring them with you.

How long does it take to receive VA benefits?

First-time recipients should receive their benefits in approximately six to eight weeks. Continuing students should receive their benefits in approximately three weeks.

What VA benefits are available to dependents of veterans?

Dependents are eligible for benefits under DEA chapter 35 (monthly payments) or the State of California Education Code fee waiver program; benefits cannot be received under both chapter 35 and the fee waiver program simultaneously. The VA decides all eligibility for these benefits. See the VA GI Bill website for more information.

How do I find out if I am eligible for VA benefits as a dependent of a veteran?

Contact the VA at (888) 442-4551. To bypass the automated attendent telephone tree, press 1 as soon as the greeting begins. When you hear the next prompt, press 0 to be connected directly to a VA representative.

What if I am called to active duty while I am receiving VA educational benefits?

If you are receiving VA benefits and are called to active duty, it is extremely important that you provide a copy of your military orders to the Veterans’ Affairs Coordinator in 1113 Murphy Hall so that the VA can be notified of your new status.

What if I am called to active duty and I have already paid registration fees and/or enrolled in classes?

A continuing student who has been called to compulsory military service should notify the University based on the following guidelines:

1. If you have paid registration fees prior to the beginning of instruction, complete a Cancellation of Registration form (available online or at 1113 Murphy Hall). File this form in person at 1113 Murphy Hall. Submit a copy of your military orders with the form. You are eligible for a 100% refund less a $10 cancellation fee.
    
   
2. If you have paid registration fees and are called to active duty after instruction begins, obtain a withdrawal form at your College/school office (undergraduate and professional school students) or department office (graduate students). Follow the instructions on the form for completion and filing information. Submit a copy of your military orders with the form. You are eligible for a 100% refund less a $10 cancellation fee. For guidance about how withdrawal will affect your academic progress, make an appointment with an academic counselor to discuss your options before you file the withdrawal.

If you have NOT paid registration fees, you may declare nonattendance through URSA.

How do I notify UCLA when I am ready to return to school?

Undergraduate Student

If you are absent for one term, no specific notification is required. Your registration information is automatically generated for the next term. Check the Registrar’s Office website for enrollment appointments and fee deadlines.

If you are absent for more than one term, you must apply for readmission. The readmission application can be requested by telephone at (310) 825-1091, option 6 or by e-mail; this form is not available online. Readmission deadlines are

Fall Quarter           August 15
Winter Quarter      November 25
Spring Quarter      February 25

For more information about undergraduate admissions for veterans, see the Undergraduate Admissions website.

Graduate Student

If you ever registered as a graduate student at UCLA, whether or not you completed a graduate program, you must complete the online graduate admissions application and submit the appropriate application fee.

Formal application for readmission is not required of a UCLA graduate student returning from an official leave of absence, nor of a currently enrolled UCLA graduate student changing from one major to another.

For more information on returning to graduate programs and the online graduate admissions application, see the Graduate Division admissions website.

Am I eligible for priority enrollment through URSA?

Yes. Pursuant to section 66025.8 of the California Education Code, current members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and former members within two years of leaving active duty, may enroll during the priority pass. Effective Winter 2009.