Veterans Services

Dependents of Veterans

Los Medanos College Veterans Services offers a variety of services and supports to dependents of U.S. Military Veterans.  Our Checklist is designed to help you get started at Los Medanos College and guide you through the process of applying for VA Education Benefits, specifically Chapter 35 Dependents Educational Assistance.  We also provide assistance with the CalVet Tuition Fee Waiver, attendance reporting, and enrollment verification needed for CHAMPVA benefits and Department of Defense dependent identification card.  

To access services, please submit a copy of your veteran sponsor's DD-214 Member Copy 4.


Submit your veteran sponsor's DD-214 here.

For more information, please click the links below. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at veterans@losmedanos.edu, call us at (925) 473-7511, or visit the Veterans Resource Center during our office hours for hands-on assistance.

  • Checklist

    Checklist for Dependents

    1. APPLY OR RE-APPLY TO LMC:  If you are a new student, apply and obtain a student ID number.  If you are a returning student absent for one or more academic years, re-apply to reactivate your student account.

    2. ORDER TRANSCRIPTS & SUBMIT EVALUATION REQUEST:   Request electronic academic transcripts from ALL school(s) you have attended outside of our College District. E-transcripts should be sent to transcripts@losmedanos.edu.

    • Check if LMC has received ALL your transcripts by visiting the InSite Grades-Transcripts tile, then click on Received Transcripts.
    • Submit a Request for Transcript Evaluation and select your LMC Pathway and Program/Major.

    3. MATRICULATION:  Complete the following for an earlier registration date. 

    • Online New Student Orientation
    • Online English and Math Guided Self-Placement
    • Education Plan with a Veterans Services Counselor.  Required annually and any time there is a change to your course schedule and/or academic program.  

    Set an appointment with a Veterans Services counselor..  
    • Register for Classes Required for Your Degree/Program Major

    4. APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID:  You can receive VA education benefits, CalVet Fee Waiver, and financial aid simultaneously.

    5. APPLY FOR VA EDUCATION BENEFITS:  You will need information from your Veteran sponsor.  We recommend completing the application with your Veteran sponsor present.  The Contra Costa County Veterans Service Office can provide expert technical assistance.

    6. SUBMIT DOCUMENTS TO LMC:

    • Submit your Veteran Sponsor’s DD-214 Member Copy 4 here.
    • If you are using VA education benefits,  submit ALL pages of your VA Certificate of Eligibility “COE” here.
    • If you are transferring from another school and have previously used your VA educational benefits,  complete VA Form 22-5495 Change of Program/Place of Training .  Do NOT complete Direct Deposit Information and do NOT submit to the VA.   Upload the form here.
    • If you are using your VA education benefits and are a guest at LMC, a letter from your home School Certifying Official should be sent to veterans@losmedanos.edu
    • If you're in the Police Academy (Basic Law Enforcement Academy Intensive) and using VA education benefits, upload your Employment Hire Letter here.  The letter must reflect your name and address.

    7. REGISTER AND SUBMIT AN ENROLLMENT CERTIFICATION REQUEST:   If you are using VA education benefits, submit this document each semester and whenever you make any changes to your schedule.  Ensure that all required items are completed before submitting your request.  If items are missing, your request will be returned unprocessed.

    8.  GET YOUR SCHOOL SUPPLIES, PARKING PERMIT, BOOKS, ETC.  

  • CalVet Tuition Fee Waiver

    CALVET Tuition Fee Waiver

    The College Fee Waiver Program for Veteran Dependents is a State of California Veterans Services program (CalVet) administered by individual California counties. 

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

    To obtain eligibility requirements and assistance in applying for these benefits, please contact:

    Contra Costa County Veterans Service Office
    10 Douglas Drive, Suite 100
    Martinez, CA  94553
    Phone:  925 313 1481
    Fax:  925 313 1490
    Email:  veterans@vs.cccounty.us

    For more information about the CalVet Dependents College Fee Waiver Program, the process, and

    to apply, visit the Contra Costa County Veterans Services Office CalVet Tuition Fee Waiver page.

    If you have been issued a CalVet College Fee Waiver Authorization award letter for the current academic year (summer through spring semesters, e.g. 24SU, 24FA, and 25SP for 2024-2025),

    Submit your Award Letter here. 
    The deadline to submit your letter is June 30 each academic year, e.g. June 30, 2025 for the 24-25 academic year.  A CalVet College Fee Waiver Program application must be submitted each academic year.  For CalVet Plan B:  The dependent child's annual income may not exceed the annual gross income (AGI) limit. The current academic year fee waiver is based upon the previous calendar year's annual income, e.g., 2023 taxes apply to the 24-25 academic year if the application is submitted by December 2024.  Please contact the County Veterans Service Office for annual AGI data.

  • Financial Aid, Grants and Scholarships

    Financial Aid, Grants and Scholarships

    Financial Aid

    AUSA Dean Chapter Scholarship -  Military Dependents Scholarship - 04/18/25 Deadline 

  • Forms and Uploader Links

    Forms and Uploader Links

    CalVet Dependents Tuition Fee Waiver Information and Application

    CalVet Dependents Tuition Fee Waiver Award Letter (Uploader)

    DD-214 Service Member Copy 4 (Uploader)

    Enrollment Certification Request & Change Notification 

    Financial Aid Application

    Guided Self-Placement - English and Math

    Student Orientation

    Transcript Evaluation Request

    VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Education Decision Letter - Download Copy from VA

    VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) - Upload through InSite

    VA CHAMPVA School Enrollment Certification Letter (for Health Insurance)

    VA Education Benefits Application

    VA Form 22-5495 Dependent’s Change of Program/Place of Training All Parts Except Section 9.  Do NOT complete Direct Deposit Information.  Upload the form here.

  • School Attendance Reports and Enrollment Verification Letters

    School Attendance Reports and Enrollment Verification Letters

    For CHAMPVA benefits, Department of Defense/U.S. Government identification card, school attendance reporting and/or all other requests,  email request and completed form to mjackson@losmedanos.edu.  Please include School Enrollment Verification in your subject line and your student identification number in your email.

  • VA Education Benefit - Dependents Educational Assistance

    Chapter 35 Dependents Educational Assistance

    What is Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA)?

    Chapter 35 Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits provide financial support for education and training, books and supplies, and housing to eligible dependents of certain veterans.  The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits (eight years for children ages 18-26; ten years for a spouse; and 20 years for a spouse of a veteran rated permanently and totally disabled within three years of discharge or death on active duty).  81 months maximum if combined with one or more programs.  Payment rates for Ch. 35 recipients can be found here.  Payment is made by the VA to the student.  Please note that payment is pro-rated if the Rate of Pursuit is less than full-time enrollment.

    Who Is Eligible?

    You may be eligible if you are the son, daughter, or spouse of a service member:

    • Who died or is permanently and totally disabled resulting from a service-connected disability, or
    • Who died while on active duty or resulting from a service-connected disability, or
    • Who is missing in action or captured in the line of duty by a hostile force, or
    • Who is forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government or power, or
    • Who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability.


    If you are a dependent who does not meet the above criteria, you may still qualify for VA education benefits if the veteran or service member transferred some or all of their Post-9/11 GI Bill® entitlement to you while they were on active duty.

    Where Can I Apply?

    For a detailed description of Chapter 35 DEA benefits, eligibility requirements, and to apply, click here.  For payment rates, click here, and please note the example provided therein.  If you have specific questions, please call toll-free 1-888-442-4551.

    Rates of Pursuit (ROP) 

    Fall and Spring Term

    • 12 credits or more is full time
    • 9-11 credits is ¾ time
    • 6-8 credits is ½ time
    • 4-5 credits is less than ½ time (<½-time)
    • 1-3 credits is ¼ time or less (<¼-time)


    Summer Session

    The VA converts credit earned during nonstandard quarters or semesters to equivalent credit hours. The VA makes the conversion, not the schools. LMC will report your actual units pursued.

    The VA uses this formula to determine your payment:

    • Credit × 18 ÷ weeks = credit hour equivalents
    • 4-semester credits earned in 4 weeks is the equivalent of 18 credits earned during a standard semester (4 × 18 ÷ 4 = 18) and will pay full-time for 4 weeks.

    Rates and Payments

    Please note that the VA determines payment amounts.  Please direct payment-related question to the VA by calling 1-888-442-4551 should you have any questions.

    Monthly Self-Reporting to the VA

    Students are required by the VA to self-verify continued course enrollment every month.  Students can opt-in with the VA for text messaging verification. Students who do not opt-in for text messaging will automatically be enrolled in email verification and sent an automated email on the last day of the month. Students can also verify online at Monthly Verification of Enrollment or call 1-887-823-2378.

    Changes After Enrollment Certification

    Military-connected students must immediately report any changes to their LMC School Certifying Official by submitting a Course Enrollment Certification Request & Change Notification and/or appropriate (veteran or dependent) Request for Change of Program or Place of Training.  Failure to report changes, such as withdrawal from courses or the college, will be interpreted as a violation of the Educational Benefits Act.