VA Benefits

Follow these steps to use your VA benefits at Mason!

Prior to Enrollment:

• Ensure the degree program you select has been approved by the Department of Veteran Services.

• Apply for or update your education benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Please note, If you have previously used benefits at another school, the VA requires a Request for Change of Program or Place of Training. The VA will process your application and mail a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to the address you have on file. 

• Make sure you are in a declared major if you are classified as a junior or higher. The Department of Veterans Affairs requires that students receiving benefits declare a major once they reach junior academic standing. A student cannot be certified beyond his or her sophomore year unless a major has been declared. The VA policy can be found here. 

After you have submitted your intent to Enroll and have an Active Student Gnumber:

1. Upload the COE or a copy of your Ebenefits page HERE. 

 Students are required to have a Certificate of Eligibility on file with the exception of Chapter 31 (Voc Rehab.)  We will not certify VA benefits until a COE is received. The COE is required in order to submit a VRRF your first semester.

2. Submit a Veterans Registration and Reporting Form (VRRF) to request your benefits certified.

A tutorial is available here. Please be sure you have registered for classes prior to submitting your request. To avoid late fees, the VRRF must be submitted prior to the first day of class. If you make any changes to your schedule after you have received confirmation that your initial VRRF has been completed, meaning it has been certified to the VA, please submit a new VRRF. The first VRRF every term is a new request and any subsequent changes are a change. If you intend to combine TA with Chapter 33 as Top Up, be sure to write "Top Up" in the comments section. If you intend to combine TA with Chapter 30 as Top Up, be sure to select that option on the VRRF.

**The VRRF is equivalent to what the VA references as a 22-1999. The VRRF is the forward-facing Mason specific electronic form used to generate and submit a 22-1999**

3.  Submit a Section 702 Out-of-StateTuition Exemption if you are domiciled Out-of-State.

Students using the Post 9-11 GI Bill Chapter 33, Chapter 35, Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill or Chapter 31 and reside in Virginia are eligible for a Section 702 Out of State Waiver.  The application must be submitted prior to the first term you are using benefits and meet the eligibility criteria of residing in Virginia. The waiver is only applicable while using VA education benefits and residing in Virginia. The Registrar will do periodic audits to identify students that no longer meet the criteria. The tuition classification will subsequently revert to out-of-state. 

For Chapter 33 Students only:

A memo will be placed on your student account approximately a week after the VRRF is submitted.  This will be reflected in your student account as an expected payment from the VA.  Any outstanding balance remaining for housing and meal plan will need to be settled by the first day of class, either through a payment plan or paid in full. Remember, the monthly housing stipend is paid directly to the student in arrears at the end of each month. Chapter 33 students also need to verify enrollment monthly.  Please review the FAQs and VA enrollment verification website for additional info.

For Chapter 30 or Chapter 1606 Students only:

You must verify enrollment monthly by calling 1-877-823-2378. The enrollment application will soon be available for enrollment verifications at https://www.va.gov/education/verify-school-enrollment. In addition, recent changes in DoD policy now allow Federal Tuition Assistance and Chapter 1606 to be used concurrently if a student is attending class half-time or greater.  1606 requests less than half-time will be validated to ensure a student is not using Federal Tuition Assistance in conjunction with the VA benefit. 

Please Note:

Any changes to your schedule after the last day to drop with 100% tuition refund will result in a debt to the school and/or the Department of Veterans Affairs. Please reference the academic calendar published by the University Registrar. Additional information on debt created by changes to your schedule can be found on the VA website. 

Request that your benefits be certified! Submit a Veterans Registration and Reporting Form (VRRF) before the first day of class each semester. If you change your schedule after turning this form in, you must submit another VRRF. If you intend to use TA with Chapter 30 as Top Up, please be sure to write Top Up in the comments section of the VRRF. A tutorial is available here. 

**Any changes to your schedule after the last day to drop with 100% tuition refund will result in a debt to the school and/or the Department of Veterans Affairs. Please reference the academic calendar published by the University Registrar.**

Please note, recent changes in DoD policy now allow Federal Tuition Assistance and Chapter 1606 to be used concurrently if a student is attending class half-time or greater.  1606 requests less than half-time will be validated to ensure a student is not using Federal Tuition Assistance in conjunction with the VA benefit.