Facts About Using The Post 9/11 Gi Bill For College
Originally written by:; Vanessa Hicks,; Corporate Veterans Affairs Officer
Are you a Veteran looking to go back to school, but dont fully understand what is covered with your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits?; Dont worry, youre not alone.; There is a lot of information out there and also a lot of misinformation.; Trying to keep it all straight sometimes can be a bit of a struggle.; Even the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs admits it can be confusing and each person using benefits should fully understand them before using them.
Heres a quick look at our top 5 important facts you should know about your Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
You have 10 15 years to use your GI Bill benefits.
Once you have separated from the service you have 10 years to use all of your benefits under the;Montgomery GI Bill and 15 years to use you Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Although separating from service starts the clock on your 10-year time limit, you should know that if you rejoin active-duty service for more than 90 days, during the 10- year period, your 10-year clock is reset. In other words, you get 10 years from your last discharge.
The;GI Bill is not Federal Financial Aid.
The GI Bill is not considered Financial Aid in the traditional sense. College and University financial aid departments do not consider the MGIB financial aid because it is normally paid directly to you, not the school. This also means that you are eligible for student loans, scholarships, and Pell Grants along with the GI Bill.
Other Ways To Reduce College Tuition
Were still a long ways out from college, so we have many unknown variables to work with. Hopefully, our children will make things easy on us by receiving some form of scholarship, financial aid, grants, or have some of their own savings to contribute. There are also work-study programs and other ways to reduce the cost of tuition. Or, like me, they may decide to join the military and receive tuition assistance benefits to help pay for college while they are serving .
Another way to reduce college expenses is to attend a less-expensive community college for two years to earn the basic college requirements, then transfer to a traditional four-year university. Doing this makes it easier to pay for community college using college savings, paying cash as you go, or if you live in Tennessee, not paying tuition at all. The bonus is most community college students will be able to continue living at home, saving a lot of money on room and board. Then you can save the GI Bill for the more expensive tuition and room and board at the university.
Some students are even choosing international colleges where they can receive tuition that is more or less free, leaving them on the hook for room and board, and travel. This can be much less expensive than a traditional four-year university in the United States.
College Benefits For Military Dependents
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Vet Tec Funding Suspended Until October 2021
Because of the popularity of the VET TEC program, we’ve used our full budget for the current fiscal year and can’t accept new enrollments until October 1, 2021. You can still apply to receive a decision for a program that begins on or after October 1, 2021.;
If you’re currently enrolled, you can continue your training uninterrupted.;
Please check back here for program updates.;
What Is The Stem Edith Nourse Rogers Scholarship
Through the STEM Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship, Post-9/11 GI Bill® students who have exhausted or are about to exhaust their entitlement may be eligible for nine months of additional benefits. Review this approved degree list for a complete list of eligible STEM fields. Priority for the Rogers STEM Scholarship will be given to individuals who are entitled to 100% of Post-9/11 GI Bill® Benefits and who require the most credit hours.
You may be eligible if you are a Veteran or Fry Scholar currently enrolled in a STEM undergraduate degree program and:
- Your current STEM undergraduate degree program requires at least 120 semester credit hours for completion.
- You have completed at least 60 semester credit hours toward your degree.
- You have or will soon exhaust your Post-9/11 GI Bill® entitlement
Apply on VA.gov/education. Scholarships are awarded on a quarterly basis in January, March, July and October.
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Using Your Gi Bill To Attend A Foreign School
- Post-9/11 GI Bill: If you, or a family member using transferred benefits, are attending a foreign school you will have your tuition paid at up to the annual maximum reimbursement rate, currently $26,042.81 yearly. The monthly housing allowance is $1,833 monthly for a full-time student. The book stipend is the same as if you were attending school stateside. Remember, if you are on active duty, you won’t get a housing allowance, neither will your spouse. See our Post-9/11 GI Bill page for details.
- All other GI Bill Programs: You will be paid the same as if you were using your GI Bill stateside. If you are on active duty, you will receive payment up to the actual cost of your program. If your school costs more than what the GI Bill would reimburse, you will have to make up the difference yourself. See our Montgomery GI Bill, Dependents Education Assistance, or Fry Scholarship Program pages for more details.
- Tuition Assistance: Not available for foreign-based schools.
If you are attending a foreign-based school, you may want to check out the VA’s Information for Students Wishing to Attend Foreign Schools for helpful tips.
What Kind Of Training And Education Can I Get With Gi Benefits
Most regionally accredited programs are approved for the GI Bill, but there are other kinds of training that you might not think about. Here are some specific things your GI Bill can pay for.
- Programs leading to an associates, bachelors, and other advanced degrees
- Non-college degree programs focused on vocational or technical education
- Apprenticeships
- National tests like the SAT or CLEP
- Pilot training
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Ways To Squeeze Every Dime Out Of Your Gi Bill Benefits
Having 36 months of Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits is an earned entitlement valued by veterans that many civilians would do anything to get their hands on. It is one reward we receive for the hardships endured while serving.
However, without careful and deliberate management, this benefit can end up wasted or not used to its full potential.
To assist you in the best use of your Post 9/11 GI Bill, consider the five ways mentioned below and apply the ones pertinent to you to get the most out of your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits post-secondary education benefits.
MONTGOMERY GI BILL VS. POST 9/11 GI BILL BENEFITS
Since 2009, more and more veterans have both of these GI Bills. And while it is easy to gravitate toward using the Post 9/11 GI Bill because in most cases it pays more, your education goal can be a factor that can determine which one you should use first. Under the current VA rules, veterans must give up their MGIB if using their Post 9/11, so they only get 36 months total in eligibility.
However, by using all 36 months of their MGIB first, they can get an additional 12 months of Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. This can be useful if pursing an advanced degree, as it provides an additional year of entitlement that in most cases will pay for half of an advanced degree.
HYBRID VS. ONLINE
YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM
EDITH NOURSE ROGERS STEM SCHOLARSHIP
THE TWO-YEAR SCHOOL ADVANTAGE
GI BIL BENEFITS VALUABLE TOOL FOR VETERANS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Do I Need To Tell Anyone If I Make Changes To My Enrollment
Yes. If you make changes to your schedule by adding and/removing course, please submit an updated Enrollment Certification Request or email the Veterans Coordinator . Even if the total number of credits remain the same, you need to communicate the change because there may be a change in course fees.
If you drop a course or need to withdraw from school after the drop period contact the as soon as possible. The VA may reduce your benefits retroactively unless there are mitigating circumstances. The VA will automatically grant a 6-credit hour exclusion the first time you drop/withdraw from courses while using benefits. Mitigating circumstances are those beyond your control that prevent you from continuing to be enrolled or that cause you to reduce the number of credits. Examples include:
- An illness or injury afflicting you during the enrollment period
- An illness or death in your immediate family
- An unavoidable change in your conditions of employment
- Unanticipated active duty military service, including training
- Immediate family or financial obligations beyond your control that require you to suspend pursuit of your education to gain employment.
- COVID-19
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How Many Credits Must I Be Enrolled In To Be Eligible For Mha Under The Post 9/11 Gi Bill
Students using CH 33 benefits must be enrolled in at least seven credits to be eligible for MHA during fall and spring semesters. If you are enrolled less than fulltime during fall or spring, MHA payments will be prorated in 10% increments. Please note that if you are enrolled in condensed courses your MHA will also be impacted. MHA rates are based on the zip code of the school. Current GI Bill® payment rates can be found on the GI Bill® Comparison tool. WSU Vancouvers zip code is 98686. Rate of pursuit is calculated differently for summer term, so please contact the Veterans Coordinator for guidance.
Gi Bill For College Students
Gi Bill benefits are available for attendance at Institutes of Higher Learning such as:
- Four Year Universities
- Community Colleges
- Advanced Degree Programs
The GI Bill will allow you to attend more than one college at a time, as long as the classes at both institutions count towards your degree, and the school granting your degree accepts the classes at the second school as part of your requirements. However, the GI Bill will not pay you to take the same classes twice unless you receive a failing grade in a class that is a graduation requirement.
The GI Bill can pay you for more than one degree, for example: it will pay you for a degree in Business and then for a second degree in Computer Science, or for an AA, BA, MA in the same field. Once you have a degree, you can get another one provided you have remaining entitlement on your GI Bill.
Payments are issued monthly for the previous month’s training. For the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the tuition and fees are paid directly to the school, the book stipend is paid to you at the beginning of the term, and the housing allowance is paid to you each month.
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Spouse And Child Benefits
41. How is child defined under the WI G.I. Bill provisions?
For the purposes of the WI G.I. Bill, the UW System has chosen to use the definitions outlined in Wis. Stats. §45.01, which define a child as any biological child, any adopted child, any stepchild, or any other child who is a member of the veterans household, or any non-marital child if the veteran acknowledges paternity or paternity has been otherwise established.
42. What documentation is necessary to prove that I am the child of an eligible veteran?
The following documentation in addition to providing your own government issued photo I.D. demonstrates that a student applicant is a child of an eligible veteran.
- Biological Child: A copy of the students Birth Certificate or similar official documents that identify parentage.
- Adopted Child: A copy of the students Adoption Certificate.
- Stepchild: A copy of the students Birth Certificate and a Marriage License that demonstrates the eligible veteran has married a biological parent of the student, or a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility for Federal VA benefits that indicates recognition as a stepchild.
- Other Child Who is a Member of the Veterans Household: A copy of the veterans most recent state and federal income taxes where the student is listed as a dependent and the students permanent address is the same as the veterans household address.
- Non-marital Child: A copy of a certificate of paternity.
Yes. Photocopies are fine.
I Recently Came Off Active Duty Why Havent I Received Any Mha Payments Yet
You probably need to send the VA an updated DD214. You are not eligible for MHA from the GI Bill® while you are active duty. For example, if the semester starts in August, but you come off active duty in October, you will not be paid MHA for August, September, or October. You will begin earning MHA November 1 and you will receive payment on December 1 for the month of November. The VA needs the most up to date DD214 showing when you came off active duty in order to start paying your MHA. You can fax your updated DD214 to the VA at 1-918-781-7863.
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What Gi Bill College Programs Are Available
There are many different ways to qualify for GI Bill college benefits that will enable you to go to college. Especially relevant are the two well focus on here: The Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Before we get started, its important to note that each of these programs has different benefits and eligibility requirements. You can find out more about them from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs . You can also read these additional resources to see if your desired school works with your benefits.
With that said, lets get an overview of each:
Yellow Ribbon Program For Non
UW-Madison has a limited number of Yellow Ribbon Program slots to cover fees for non-resident students who are eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill® at 100%.
You can use the Yellow Ribbon Program until your benefit expires. Contact us once youve been accepted to the university to ask about availability well need your certificate of eligibility to secure a slot.
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Use Your Gi Bill Benefits To Help Pay For College
Do you remember the first time you ever sat down to talk to a recruiter?
He or she probably told you about the benefits of joining the military. Your recruiter may have shown you a stack of small plastic cards with different benefits printed on them and asked you to pick a few that were important to you. Among the benefits, such as world travel and leadership development, there was a card that said education benefits. This card is really popular most recruiters will tell you that education benefits are a key reason people enlist in the Armed Forces.
In order to take advantage of all the education benefits available, you probably elected to invest in the Montgomery GI Bill . If you were on Active Duty, you paid $100 per month for 12 months. If you enlisted in the Reserve, you had to agree to serve a minimum number of years to qualify for the benefits. You decided that college was something you might pursue later on, and you made a significant investment in the idea.
But most service members and veterans do not return to college. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 339,742 veterans used their GI Bill benefits to pay for higher education in 2002. When you consider that more than 215,000 people leave the military each year and millions of people are qualified to use the GI Bill, it is clear that many veterans are not taking advantage of a good thing.
Will The Gi Bill Pay For Me To Study Abroad
The VA will not pay for students to study abroad unless study abroad is explicitly required for the degree program . WSU instructional costs may be covered depending on your VA education benefit. The VA does not cover fees associated with foreign study, unless it is mandatory for your degree program. The VA will not pay any costs related to travel or third party charges .
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Accessing And Applying For Your Benefits
If you meet the eligibility requirements for at least one of the programs outlined above, you have a number of ways to apply for your education or training benefits.
- Apply in person at a VA Regional Office
- Request an application by phone at 884-442-4551, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CST, Monday-Friday.
If you have questions or need help navigating the application process, you have a couple options.
- Ask a Question: The GI Bill® help portal allows you to submit inquiries online. This method typically takes 4-5 working days for a response.
- Consult with a VA Certifying Official at your school. These officials usually work in the registrar’s or financial aid office. They keep application forms on hand and are an excellent resource during the application process.