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GI Bill Information: Ask the Expert BlogArchive for February, 2010
February 25th, 2010
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
I joined the U.S. Navy back in 1983 and retired back in 2006 from the U.S. Navy, served 23 years and 5 months. I tried to go to school in 2007, but the VA said they can’t find my record in Montgomery GI Bill, so I provided them copies of my LES showing my allotment for $210 plus $600, and DD Form 2366, and Enrollment Certificate, and strings of emails, but still I was denied. I went to VA Board in VA Mission Valley, CA, but since then I never heard from them or any VA rep. I kept sending emails, but no luck, they said just wait. Now with this Post 9/11 GI Bill, I believe I’m qualified now, what will happen to my $2700 contribution? Will this rollover to the New GI Bill? Or should I ask if VA found my money I contributed will rollover to the new 9/11 GI Bill? Since this new bill covered all members who served at least 90 days after 9/11, honorable discharge, whether they contribute or not? Please advise. Thank you so very much. Very Respectfully, Armando
Hi Armando, I’m sorry you are having such a problem with the VA and your Montgomery GI Bill benefits. Hopefully it will get straightened out, it sounds like you are eligible for both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post 9/11 GI Bill. The VA establishing your eligibility for the Montgomery GI Bill is important, because with you being eligible for both bills, you can receive a total of 48 months of benefits, instead of the 36 months you receive if you are eligible for only one of the bills.
Normally, if a veteran is eligible for both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post 9/11 GI Bill, and they switch to the Post 9/11 GI Bill, their contribution to the MGIB is returned to them after they have exhausted their Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, as I mentioned in this blog post. If they used any Montgomery GI Bill benefits, that percentage would be deducted from their contribution prior to it being returned. I say normally, because in your case, if the VA is not recognizing your contribution, there may not be a refund of your contribution.
I recommend that you stay on top of that situation, and not let it drop just because you may use the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits now. I would continue to stay in contact with the VA, and let them know you are not going away. They should at least give you a reason why they are continuing to deny you benefits, when you have evidence of your contributions.
February 25th, 2010
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
I am an active duty Marine. I entered the service on May 19, 1985. I enrolled in VEAP, and withdrew from that program sometime in the late ’80’s. What education program do I fall under? MGIB or Post 9/11 GI Bill, or both? Thanks, George
Hi George, You may fall under both programs. Did you ever enroll in the Montgomery GI Bill program? To be eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill, service members had to enroll in it, and contribute $100 a month for the first 12 months they were enrolled. If you did that, then you are eligible for the full benefits of that program. Even, if you did not enroll in the Montgomery GI Bill, due to your time on active duty, you should be eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. And of course, as I’m sure you know, while you are on active duty you are eligible for Tuition Assistance.
If you happen to be eligible for both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you can actually get a total of 48 months of benefits, instead of the 36 months you would normally receive if you were eligible for just one of the programs. You could use your 36 months of MGIB benefits, and then have 12 months of Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to use. If that is the case, or even if you are just eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, don’t forget about the additional education benefits you may be eligible for by combining the Yellow Ribbon Program with the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
February 25th, 2010
by Ron Kness
by Ron Kness
I’m confused. I’m 3 years into my 4 year enlistment, and i had the MGIB from the start. Some people are saying that if i use the Post 9/11 GI bill i will only have 12 months of benefits (whats left of enlistment) others are saying that I will have full benefits just like i always had the Post 9/11 GI bill? So if i use the Post 9/11 GI bill will i have 100% of the benefits? — Perry
I’m always amused Perry how rumors get started and continue to spread changing as they get passed from one person to another and another. Rest assured, you will get 100% of your benefit under either GI Bill and if you work it correctly you could get up to an additional 12 months of benefit under the Post 9/11 Bill. That may be the 12 months mentioned in the rumor, but it got twisted around.
Because you are eligible for both GI Bills, you can get up to a total of 48 months of benefit under the Rule of 48, however, there is a catch.
If you switch to the New GI Bill, with months of benefit left on your MGIB, then you will get the same number of months transferred to the New GI Bill. If you use all of your months of benefit under the MGIB and then switch to the New Bill, you will get the extra months of benefit.
February 24th, 2010
by GIBillExpert
by GIBillExpert
My question is how do you know what VA forms to file for the new GI Bill? For example I just started at a new university, and I want to change this from the old one and I also want to change over to the new GI Bill. What forms do I need to fill out for all of this? I’ve done VA forms 22-1995, and 1990. – Mariel T.
Actually, this can vary from situation to situation. Yes, the VA needs the same forms for everyone, but your school’s veterans affairs office and financial aid office will have a specific way that they will want to send in the forms that need to be signed. Most universities will tell you exactly what you need to do, and will mail or email you the forms that you need to fill out with proper instructions.
As far as what you need to do from your end, if you have access to the Internet, it is very simple. The forms are online, and are accessible via an interactive system called Veterans Online Application (VONAPP). This system creates an account for you that lets you fill out the information at your leisure, and walks you through the process of filling out the forms in detail.
February 24th, 2010
by GIBillExpert
by GIBillExpert
I’m a Mississippi guardsman. I’m currently deployed in Iraq and going back home to a dead-end computer technician job. I started going to a junior college a couple of years back and quit on my second semester because I was offered a full-time job. I’m now looking UAT (University of Advancing Technology). My question is: am I still eligible for the GI Bill/Kicker benefits because I quit half-way through my second semester? I’m serious about going this time to get my Network Security degree and need to know if GI BILL will cover it. Thanks in advance. – Christian N.
I can’t promise you anything based on the information you gave me, but you are probably in luck. First of all, your GI bill benefits remain until you either use them up by drawing on 36 months of total benefits, or you run out of time after 10 years from your last period of qualifying service. Since you’re currently deployed, you have plenty of time before your benefits expire, and if you only used 2 semesters of your benefits, you probably have another 24 months or more left.
However, it is important that you contact the Veterans Affairs department to find out your status. Because your situation may be involved, you may wish to contact them by their toll-free number, at 1-888-442-4551. If you quit school in the middle of a semester, it’s possible that you owe the VA money for benefits that paid for courses you didn’t complete. In that case, you may have to repay that amount before you can draw benefits again. Of course, they should have told you already if that was the case, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Meanwhile, the new Post 9/11 GI Bill came into effect in August of 2009, and you will most likely be eligible for at least some benefits under that bill. If so, you should compare the different benefits available through the two programs and decide which one suits you best. Basically, if you change over to the new GI Bill, you will have a number of months of benefits on that bill equal to the number of months you had left on the old GI Bill, and you will not be able to change back. Check out the benefit comparison page to help you understand the difference between the two programs.
February 24th, 2010
by Ron Kness
by Ron Kness
I enrolled in an on-line university through Villanova in Nov 09. I’ve received two e-mail notifications from the VA stating they had received my enrollment information and would process my claim in the order it was received. It is now Feb and I’ve not seen any reimbursement or any request for further information from the VA. The VA customer support rep I talked with at the VA help line said all I could do is Fax the Buffalo Regional office a note asking for the claim status. I did that a week ago and still haven’t heard a thing from the VA….what do I do now? Isn’t there a phone number for the Buffalo office I call call to talk to someone about the issue? Waiting patiently. — George
George, I can’t find a phone number for the Buffalo Office either, but I did find one for the Manhattan Office. Their phone number is 1-800-827-1000.
One other possible solution for the delay is if Villanova did not submit a GI Bill school Certificate of Enrollment. Your claim won’t be processed unless the VA receives that document from your school. When the certificate and your application match up, your claim is paid.
One other possible contact is by contacting the Veterans Affairs in your State.
February 24th, 2010
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
Sir, I have a quick question for you. My husband and I were looking over his GI Bill, and we are trying to figure out how to or if we can transfer it to me. My husband was in the military for 8 years. He is not going to use his GI Bill, and would like for me to use it since I am going on to further my education by getting my RN degree. I am currently a nurse now, and I have a high GPA (if this matters)? What else should we be doing, or looking at and what are the steps or whom should we speak to to find out if we can do this? Thanks, Jessica
Hi Jessica, I’m afraid you will not be able to use your husband’s GI Bill benefits. The provision for transferring benefits was added to the Post 9/11 GI Bill in August 2009. In order to be eligible for the transfer of benefits, service members had to have been on active duty on or after 1 August 2009. Service members who were nearing retirement with 20 years of service, could become eligible for the transfer without incurring any additional active duty time, but everyone else has to agree to remain on active duty for at least 4 years after they are approved for the transfer.
I would offer a couple of suggestions to you. First, you might consider ROTC scholarships. The military usually has a need for nurses, and in return for having your education paid for, you would serve on active duty in a military hospital for a period of time.
I would also try the relief organization of whichever branch of service your husband was in. They often have scholarships and grants available for spouses and children of veterans. They also have links on their websites of other organizations which offer education benefits to military families. The organizations I am referring to are the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society, the Army Emergency Relief, the Air Force Aid Society, and the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance.
February 24th, 2010
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
I am about to finish using my three years of allowable GI Bill by this coming Fall. However, I still have at least two more years of school. Is there any financial aid for veterans after they use up their GI Bill through the government, or any other means? How about scholarships for veterans, where is there a trusted link to go to? Joshua
Hi Joshua, I think it’s great that you have used your GI Bill benefits, so many veterans never take advantage of them. The first thing I would ask is, are you by chance eligible for more than one GI Bill? Some veterans are eligible for benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post 9/11 GI Bill, and if you fall into that category, you might be eligible for an additional 12 months of GI Bill benefits.
If you do not fall into that category, then I would look for additional benefits in a few places. The first place I would check is your school’s financial aid office. There are often scholarships and grants that are available on an individual basis, that aren’t advertised, and few people know about them. Somebody might have had a son or daughter who attended school there, and they joined the military, and they or their parents established a scholarship in their name for veterans. Sometimes there are scholarships for a students pursuing a particular major.
You should also check with your state’s Department of Veterans Affairs. Some states offer education benefits for veterans attending state supported schools. Another place to look is the relief organization that supports the branch of military you were in, such as the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society. Most of the programs they have are for spouses and dependents, but they list various links to organizations which also offer education benefits such as scholarships and grants. And don’t forget about the civilian benefits that you may be eligible for, such as Pell Grants. The financial aid office should be able to fill you in on those.
February 24th, 2010
by Ron Kness
by Ron Kness
I’ve been reading that you may transfer your Bill to a dependent as long as you have 10yrs in service and enlist in 4 more once transferred. You may be on Active Duty or selected reserves. I was told directly from the VA office when I called, that you have to have at least 10yrs of service, and YOU HAVE TO BE ON ACTIVE DUTY STATUS to be able to transfer the GI Bill to a dependent. What is the truth?
Also, my wife is medically retired (Dec.2009) due to service related injury while in a combat zone. She only had 8yrs in. Is she still able to transfer GI Bill to her dependents since she did retire after Aug. 2009? Thanks for your time. — Marco
To answer your first question Marco, eligibility for the Post 9/11 GI Bill is established by having been on active duty a minimum of 90 days. As far as the transfer, you can either be on active duty or in the reserves to transfer benefits. The exact wording of who is eligible for Transfer of Entitlements (TEB) is:
“Any member of the Armed Forces (active duty or Selected Reserve, officer or enlisted) on or after August 1, 2009, who is eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and:
- Has at least 6 years of service in the Armed Forces on the date of election and agrees to serve 4 additional years in the Armed Forces from the date of election.
- Has at least 10 years of service in the Armed Forces (active duty and/or selected reserve) on the date of election, is precluded by either standard policy (service or DoD) or statute from committing to 4 additional years, and agrees to serve for the maximum amount of time allowed by such policy or statute.”
So as you can see Marco, no you do not have to be on active duty at the time you transfer benefits, however, you do still have to be serving at the time of transfer.
To answer your second question regarding your wife’s transfer eligibility, I do not find anything changing the requirement that the service member must be still serving at the time of transfer, so based on this I would say she can’t transfer benefits, however, I recommend contacting the VA to be sure. There may be a disability provision not posted on their website.
February 23rd, 2010
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
Hi, my dad served in the U.S. Navy from 1983 until 2008, and retired as a CPO. I was told by the college I am attending that I cannot get the benefits because he is retired, but some students I have talked to said they are getting the GI Bill, and their father/mother is retired. I’ve called VA, and every other place I can, and they don’t really know if I’m eligible or not. I think it’s pretty stupid if I am not, because my dad is not going to use the benefits. Anyways, if you could let me know if I am eligible or not, and if not, what other benefits could I receive from being the son of a retired service member. Thanks, Cody
Hi Cody, I’m afraid your college is basically correct. Your father is not eligible to transfer his Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to you. In order to qualify for the transfer of benefits provision, service members had to be on active duty on or since 1 August 2009.
The other students who are telling you that they are using their parents’ benefits are doing one of three things. Either their parents were on active duty as of 1 August 2009, and they have retired since then, so they were eligible to transfer their Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. Or there were a few specialized cases, mainly in the Army, where occupational specialties were shorthanded, and the ability to transfer benefits was a re-enlistment incentive which was offered on occasion. But I think what is probably going on with the other students, is that they are simply lumping all education benefits under the heading of the GI Bill. There are a number of education benefits programs that children of veterans may be eligible for, and if they are participating in those, they may think it is the GI Bill, but they are entirely different benefit programs.
The first place you should look is the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society. They offer scholarships and grants for eligible children of Navy veterans, and they also have links to quite a few other organizations which have benefits programs for the children of Navy veterans. You should also check with the financial aid office of your school, they may be aware of some individual scholarships or grants you could be eligible for. One of my college classmates, and a good friend, was killed in Desert Storm, and his parent’s established a scholarship in his name at our college, and there may be scholarships such as that at your school. And don’t forget about ROTC Scholarships, they can pay for your entire undergraduate degree.
You should talk your father into using his GI Bill benefits, instead of letting them go to waste. He is probably eligible for both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
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