Chapter 31 - Veteran Readiness and Employment

Support our troopsGeneral Overview

This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

Basic Eligibility

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

Veterans

  • Honorable or other than dishonorable discharge.

  • Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) service connected disability (SCD) rating of at least 10% or a memo rating of 20%.

  • Apply for VR&E services.

Service Members

  • Expect to receive an honorable discharge upon separation from active duty.

  • Apply for VR&E services.

  • Obtain a memorandum rating of 20% or a proposed IDES rating from VA.

To Enroll

  • Apply for benefits through the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website.

  • Your assigned VA case manager will complete a VA Form 22-1905 and a PO Authorization will be sent to the UC Merced Veterans Services Office.

  • All requests for personal reimbursements should be completed on a VA Form 28-1905M.

  • Each semester, the veteran must fill out a Veteran Enrollment Card in order to receive a monthly housing allowance and submit it to UC Merced's Veteran Certifying Official no later than 30 days after the start of the semester.

What does this benefit cover?

  • Tuition and Fees (excluding UC SHIP student health insurance).  To waive your UC SHIP insurance fee, please vist the health insurance website for more information on how to complete the waiver.
  • Monthly Housing Allowance
  • Books, supplies,and parking (if authorized by your Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor)

Changes to Schedule

  • All changes to the veteran's schedule (major/minor, adds, drops, class cancellations, and/or withdrawals) must be reported to UC Merced's Veteran Certifying Official.
  • If you are transferring in from another school you are required to complete and return VA Form 22-1995 to the VA Regional Processing Office.

Tutoring

If a veteran needs a tutor, they should apply for tuitorial assistance.  They must meet all of these requirements:

  • You're enrolled in an educational program for half-time or more, and
  • You're taking a course that's difficult, and
  • You have to take the course as part of your educational program.

How to get this benefit

  1. Complete form VA Form 22-1990t 
  2. Take form to your professor or instructor of the course for which tutoring was necessary to sign and date the application.
  3. Take form to UC Merced's Veteran Certifying Official to sign and date the application.
  4. Mail the completed form to VA Regional Processing Office after your tutoring is complete.

Note

  • Contact, negotiation of wages and pay is the veteran's responsibility.
  • The veteran is eligible to receive $100 per month and up to $1200 total, for tutor-reimbursement expenses.

 

Visitor Engagement Reporting Application (VERA)

Visitors who need assistance from the Regional Office Public Contact Team are encouraged to schedule a virtual or in-person appointment through the Visitor Engagement Reporting Application (VERA). VERA is a self-service portal that enables visitors to easily schedule, reschedule, or cancel their appointments.

You will receive an email confirmation once your appointment is successfully scheduled.

 

Contact Information

  • UC Merced's Veteran Certifying Official: veteranservices@ucmerced.edu
  • VA Benefits Hotline: 1-800-827-1000; Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m to 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Ask VA (AVA): https://ask.va.gov : Veteran specific questions require Veterans to log in via login.gov or ID.me
  • Veterans can contact their individual VRCs through e-VA, by email, and telephone.
  • Veterans may locate the nearest Regional Office at https://www.va.gov/find-locations/