Educational Benefits and You Number One - Certification (Posted by Walter Sweeney)

DISCLAIMER AND INTRODUCTION

One of the things I would really like to do with this page is routinely post general information about Veteran's Educational Benefits and other benefit related topics.  It is important that you, as the reader, be aware that these posts are borrowed from outside sources, some of whom post information specific to their state or institution.  The information posted here is meant to be nothing more than a resource to understand how things work in some places, so maybe it will be easier for you, as a Veteran, to figure out how they work in the place where you are.  If you have specific questions about where the information is taken from or where it specifically applies to, please feel free to contact us at VeteransVoiceOnline@gmail.com and we will attempt to assist you.  Again, we have received no formal training concerning Veterans Benefits and can speak only based upon our own individual experiences to try and help friends figure out their situations.  If we're wrong, don't hate...we don't claim to be right all the time.  That being said, hope this and the posts to follow help.

Part One - Certification of GI Bill and Educational Benefits

Certification Required

To receive education benefits you must be certified, a process that can take up to three months. Your first step is to go to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website and apply for your federal GI Bill education benefits utilizing their Veteran On-line Application (VONAPP).  Applicants for Chapter 31 must meet with a US Department of Veterans Affairs counselor. 

Once a student has applied for benefits and registered for classes they will need to submit a Veteran Registration Reporting Form (VRRF) to the Office of the Registrar. The Office of the Registrar will then issue a Verfication of Enrollment (VA Form 22-1999) via VA ONCE to inform the VA that the student is enrolled at Mason and requesting education benefits. For more information regarding the veteran enrollment certfication process at Mason please visit the Office of the Registar.

Keep in mind that any veterans’ education benefits you receive must be reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you have specific questions, please contact the US Department of Veterans Affairs' Buffalo Office toll-free at 1-888-442-4551 or go to the US Department of Veterans Affairs web site, www.gibill.va.gov.

Verify Your Enrollment

Chapter 30, 1607 and 1606 recipients: Once you are certified for your benefits, you must verify your enrollment with the Veterans Administration at the end of each month before you will receive your payment. To verify enrollment, go to the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) or call 1-877-823-2378.