Veterans & Active Duty Benefits
Southern California Seminary (SCS) is proud to support our military community and is approved to receive all Veterans and Active Duty government benefits.
Active Duty TA
Once your course(s) have been approved by your command, please let the Military Benefits Coordinator know at studentaccounts@socalsem.edu.
Veterans
Chapter 33 (Post 9/11), Chapter 30 (Montgomery), & Chapter 35 (DEA):
Email a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility to the Military Benefits Coordinator at studentaccounts@socalsem.edu.
Chapter 31 (VR&E):
Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment requires specific authorization for your chosen program. Ensure you have contacted your VR&E counselor to initiate the process. For any documentation your counselor requires from the school, contact the Military Benefits Coordinator at studentaccounts@socalsem.edu.
Chapters 30 & 35 (Montgomery GI Bill & Dependents’ Educational Assistance)
The Montgomery GI Bill provides education benefits to Veterans and service members who have at least two years of active duty. The DEA program offers education and training opportunities to the eligible survivors and dependents of Veterans who: are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or died while on active duty or because of a service-related condition.
Unlike Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) and VR&E (Chapter 31), benefits for Chapter 30 and Chapter 35 are paid directly to the student in monthly installments. Because the VA does not send these funds to the school, the student is solely responsible for ensuring that all tuition and fees are paid to the institution on time. It is recommended to coordinate with the Student Accounts to establish a payment plan or apply for financial aid through the FAFSA. Current payment rates for these programs can be found at www.va.gov.
Enrollment for Full-Time status and Housing Benefits
To maximize your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and maintain full-time status, please note the following requirements per module:
| Program | Full-Time Enrollment | Housing Benefit Requirement (Local) |
| Undergrad & Graduate Bible | 2 courses (6 units) | At least one course must be “on-ground” |
| Graduate Behavioral Sciences & PsyD | 1 course (3 units) | At least one course must be “on-ground” |
| Doctor of Ministry | Varies please see “Academic Load” in the SCS Catalog | At least one course must be “on-ground” |
New Military Student Checklist
- Apply for Benefits: If you haven’t already, visit VA.gov to apply for your education benefits.
- Submit Documents: Email your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or TA Authorization to studentaccounts@socalsem.edu.
- Confirm Course Delivery Method: If you are a local student, ensure your registration includes at least one “on-ground” course per module to qualify for full housing benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Once we receive your COE and you are registered for classes, we typically certify your enrollment with the VA within 7–10 business days.
To receive the full Post 9/11 Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) for your zip code, the VA requires at least one course be taken in a physical classroom setting. Students taking 100% online courses may receive a reduced national average rate. For more information, please visit https://www.va.gov/education/
Please direct all counselor requests to the Military Benefits Coordinator at studentaccounts@socalsem.edu. We can provide degree plans, tuition costs, and enrollment verification.
For Chapter 33 (Post-9/11) SCS uses a “Dual Certification” process to ensure you get your housing allowance as early as possible:
- First Certification (Pre-Term): We certify your enrollment (dates and units) without tuition charges about 30 days before class starts. This triggers your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and book stipend.
- Second Certification (Post-Add/Drop): We wait until the “Add/Drop” period for the module has passed to ensure your schedule is finalized. At this point, we submit the actual tuition and fee amounts to the VA. This is usually in the 5th week of the module for both Chapter 33 and Chapter 31.
Because we wait until after the Add/Drop period to bill the VA, your student portal may show a balance during the first few weeks of the term. Do not worry. As long as we have your COE or VR&E Authorization on file, we recognize that your account is “pending VA payment.”
No. Under 38 U.S.C. § 3679(e), SCS will not impose any penalty, late fees, or requirement that you borrow additional funds because of a delayed VA payment. This protection lasts for 90 days from the date we certify your tuition. To keep this protection, ensure you have:
- Submitted your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or VR&E Authorization.
- Provided any additional paperwork requested by the Military Benefits Coordinator.
Once we submit the second certification for Chapter 33(with tuition amounts) or invoice for Chapter 31 in Tungsten, the VA typically sends payment to SCS within 4 to 6 weeks.
The VA will pay their percentage directly to the school. You are responsible for paying the remaining balance (the “out-of-pocket” portion) by the standard tuition deadline for that module. We recommend contacting Student Accounts early to set up a payment plan for any remaining balance.