Navigating the GI Bill
Learn how to avoid common GI Bill pitfalls and make the most of your educational benefits. Use the tips on this page to help you navigate registration, maintain your enrollment status, and choose courses that bring you closer to your academic goals.
GI Bill is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).Tips for Registration and Benefit Payments
Register on Time & Submit Certification Paperwork
By registering on your assigned date and time, you increase your chances of getting the classes you need.
Submit certification paperwork to the Veterans Office as soon as you register in classes. Military-affiliated students using VA Educational Benefits other than CH 33 (Post 9/11) and CH 31 (VR&E) will need to pay for their classes before certification can take place.
Determine Your Enrollment Status
Your educational benefits are based on a combination of the number of units taken within a semester, the start/end dates of each class, and whether the course(s) are in-person or online, for certain benefits.
Discover how different scenarios may affect your enrollment status and monthly stipend
by going to the GI Bill Comparison Tool.
Note: This resource can be used for all VA Educational Benefits.
Direct Deposit
Direct deposit of VA educational benefits payment is now available for Chapter 31, 30, 33, 35, and 1606 recipients. This program speeds up education and work study payments. It also decreases the chance of missing, lost, or stolen checks.
Get step-by-step instructions for changing your direct deposit information in your VA.gov profile
You can also add or change direct deposit information for these benefits by phone or in person.
To add or change direct deposit information by phone, call us at 800-827-1000 (TTY: 711). They're available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.
For international direct deposit updates, you can call 918-781-7550. They're available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET.
To set up direct deposit in person, go to your nearest VA regional office.
Find your nearest VA regional office
Note: If you don’t have access to the internet or a phone, you can update your direct deposit information with the Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form (VA Form SF-1199a).
Get VA Form SF-1199a to download
Payment Responsibility
Students using VA Educational Benefits assume full liability for any overpayment of veterans' benefits. You will need to report to the Veterans Service Office after registering for a class or dropping/withdrawing from a class.
To prevent the possibility of receiving an erroneous DVA educational benefits payment, promptly report any changes made to your enrollment to the Veterans Service Office. Any withdrawal or failure to attend class may result in an adjustment to your certification and may lead to debt to the US government, including interest.
Maximizing Your CH 31 (VR&E) Benefits
Did you know that CH 31 Benefits cover books, fees, and a parking pass? Make sure that the Veterans Office has an updated Purchase Order Number (PO#) for you on file so that you can pick up your books at the Bookstore or your parking pass at Student Accounting.
Maintain Your Contact Information
Ensure your contact information is always up to date with our office. View and update your information through your student portal.
Tips for Courswork
Select Applicable Courses
The VA will only authorize payment for the minimum required classes that are part of your major. If you have already completed the course, the VA will not authorize payment for that class if you have earned a passing grade. Please refer to your educational plan when registering for classes, and contact a counselor if you have questions about it.
Short-Term Classes
When registering for classes, keep in mind that short-term classes may affect your Monthly Stipend. When looking for classes in the online class schedule, double-check the start and end dates. For more information on short-term classes, please contact our office.
Online Classes
If you are only enrolled in online classes, you will only be eligible for 50% of the national average of the Monthly Housing Allowance if you are using CH 33 Post 9/11 or CH 31 VR&E educational benefits.
To be eligible for any MHA, students must have a Rate of Pursuit greater than 50%. Note: This means a minimum of 7 units for the Fall and Spring Semesters and 4 units for the Summer Semester if you are using CH 33 Post-9/11 or CH 31 VR&E educational benefits.
All other benefits are not affected by online classes.
Tutoring Assistance
You may qualify for VA assistance with individual tutoring. To qualify, you must be enrolled in 1/2 time or more and exhibit a need for tutoring assistance in a subject for which you are currently drawing VA educational benefits. If eligible for tutoring benefits, you may receive up to $1,200 maximum. For further information and to apply for tutoring assistance, contact your Certifying Official.
Free tutoring is available in the Learning Resource Center (LRC) and Veterans Success Center (VSC).
Estimate Your Monthly Housing Allowance
Use the following tool to estimate your BAH rates to offset the cost of housing.
In order to be eligible for the full MHA for San Diego, you need to be a full time student, and at least one of your classes needs to meet the in-person requirement for the VA. Note: Any class listed in our Class Search as "On Campus" or "Partially Online" will meet that requirement.
In order to be eligible for any MHA, students need to have a Rate of Pursuit greater than 50%. Note: That means a minimum of 7 units for the Fall and Spring Semester, and 4 units for the Summer Semester.
Monthly Enrollment Verification
Enrollment verification is a requirement for Post 9/11 GI Bill students to verify that they have remained enrolled in the same courses or training each month. Students who receive MHA/kicker payments will have their payments withheld if they fail to verify or report that they are no longer enrolled in their courses or training. To streamline the process, the VA is providing the options to verify enrollment easily and securely via text message, email, and online at VA.gov.
If you need to verify your enrollment and are looking for instructions on how to do it, check out the How to Verify Enrollment for Post-9/11 GI Bill Students video
