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GI Bill Information: Ask the Expert BlogArchive for August, 2010
August 31st, 2010
by GIBillExpert
by GIBillExpert
My husband is retired from the Navy. I would like to know if I can apply under the Hazelwood Act for educational benefits, but his place of entry residence was not Texas. Neither was his discharge, but he resides in Texas now. Can I qualify? — Carol H.
I’m afraid that, by the wording of the Hazelwood Act, you won’t be able to apply for benefits under that program.
In order to qualify for those benefits, you must have been a resident of Texas when you joined the military, either by having lived there when you joined or entered into service, or having claimed it as your home of record, or be a spouse or child of an eligible veteran who died or was permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty.
An eligible veteran can transfer unused benefits to a child, but not to a spouse.
August 31st, 2010
by GIBillExpert
by GIBillExpert
I am a Naval Academy grad that is about to receive a medical retirement. I only have about 4 years of service racked up. My requirement was 5. Am I eligible for the new GI Bill with my medical retirement? Thanks a lot. — Jeff S.
No, you are probably not eligible for the new Post 9/11 GI Bill, although I recommend you make an appointment to speak with a VA benefits counselor before you separate to make sure.
Your medical retirement will follow an honorable discharge, which is one of the requirements for the GI Bill. You have served about 4 years, and I will assume that you mean 4 years of active duty service. The new GI Bill only requires 90 consecutive days of service that fall after the date of September 11, 2001, and the benefits reach 100% tuition when you hit 36 months of qualifying active duty.
However, the service that you use to qualify for the new GI Bill cannot also be used to qualify for another education benefit. In order for your active duty service to count toward the new GI Bill, you would first have to complete the service obligation your accrued for your military academy education. The same would go for an ROTC officer who didn’t complete his obligation.
August 31st, 2010
by Ron Kness
by Ron Kness
Can I apply for Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits after I have used up some or most of my MGIB? — Rachel
You can Rachel provided you are eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Eligibility for minimum benefits requires at least 90-days after September 10, 2001; full benefit requires at least three years after the same date.
I do want to caution you on one thing though; if you switch to the Post 9/11 GI Bill without first exhausting your Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) entitlement, then you will only get the same number of Post 9/11 GI Bill months of entitlement as you had left on your MGIB.
If you first exhaust your MGIB entitlements, and then switch to the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you will get an additional 12 months of benefits. I wanted you to know the ramification of switching, in case the additional 12 months interests you. If they don’t, then you can switch at any time.
August 31st, 2010
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
My dad was active duty in the Army for 11 years and 9 years with the National Guard. I am unsure if he made provisions for the GI Bill, but if so, am I able to use it? I read material stating if he retired from active duty between the ages of 18-26 it is possible I can still use it. I plan on attending grad school or getting a professional certificate. Lonnie
Hi Lonnie, The only GI Bill that has a transfer of benefits provision is the Post 9/11 GI Bill and your father would have had to have been on active duty on or after 1 August 2009 to be eligible to transfer you his benefits under that GI Bill.
The transfer of benefits provision was added at that time and veterans who had already retired were not eligible for it. Part of the reason for that is service members who want to take advantage of the ability to transfer their Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to a spouse or dependent child must agree to remain on active duty for a period of time after the transfer is approved.
You might want to check with your state’s Department of Veterans Affairs office as some states have education benefits for the children of military veterans. Another place you should look is the Army Emergency Relief; they often have scholarships and grants available for the children of Army veterans.
August 31st, 2010
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
Will the GI Bill pay for tuition at a Bible College that is accredited? Lawrence
Hi Lawrence, I’m not sure which GI Bill you’re planning on using, but I would think you are in good shape with either one. The Post 9/11 GI Bill can be used at approved institutions of higher learning to earn a degree. Every Bible College that I am aware of has the ability to award several types of degrees, so they should qualify. The best way to find out for sure is to go to this VA website and click on the state your school is in to see if your school is on the approved list of schools in that state.
If for some reason the school you are considering is not on the list, I would look for other Bible Colleges that are on there. I think there would almost have to be some that are approved for the Post 9/11 GI Bill and you may even be able to find some that are Yellow Ribbon Program schools. A Yellow Ribbon Program school could be a big help if you are considering attending college out of your resident state. If you are accepted into the school’s Yellow Ribbon Program, they will cover a portion of your tuition that exceeds what the Post 9/11 GI Bill pays and the VA will match their contribution.
If you are planning on using Montgomery GI Bill benefits to attend the school, I would think that as long as it is an approved program you should be able to use your benefits for the school.
August 31st, 2010
by Ron Kness
by Ron Kness
I’m not new to the Post-9/11 GI Bill and had no issues with it last semester. I am concerned about receiving my full benefits for this fall semester though because of some small mistakes that were made on my part.
First of all, I didn’t fill out my FAFSA form until late July, which apparently the financial aid/veterans people at my university use as an indicator that I’m attending classes. Secondly, one of my classes was cancelled on very short notice and it was about a week before I realized this and scheduled another four credit class. During this time my billing statement was released, indicating that I only owe for three classes instead of four.
It is now August 9th and classes start on the 30th. I haven’t received my book stipend yet, so I’m afraid the VA either thinks I’m not attending, or that I’m only a part time student. I’m definitely going to need the BAH. I think the question is, how long should I wait before I need to call about it? As of now, I have no clue whether or not any of this actually a problem, but any advice would be helpful. – N.J.
N.J., maybe your school requires an FAFSA, but from the VA side of the house, you just needed to give your school your Post 9/11 GI Bill Certificate of Eligibility that you got back when you sent in your VA Form 22-1990. You did send in your VA Form 22-1990 stating your education intention for this term, didn’t you? Once you are registered, your school will send in their form to the VA and once the two forms match up, you’ll start getting paid benefits.
As far as your class mix-up, it sounds like you have the beginning of a mess, and the VA will probably withhold your GI Bill benefits until you contact them to get it straightened out, which now may be awhile. They probably have not sent you your book stipend because they are unsure of how many credits you are actually taking.
Contact the VA as soon as possible and start trying to get this fixed. I would start at either your State VA Office or the Regional Office that takes care of your state as they can be more responsive than the main GI Bill phone number. I would also have some other financial arrangements made in case this holds up your BAH.
August 30th, 2010
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
What’s the requirement for requesting the Post 9/11 GI Bill after exhausting the MGIB? I have 10 months left on my old GI Bill and have enrolled in a local university for classes. I was thinking of changing to the Post 9/11 GI Bill but read on the gibill website that there is an option of exhausting the old GI Bill and then requesting the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Do you know how this works? I was Air Force active duty from 1999 to 2005 and was honorably discharged. Thanks, Eileen
Hi Eileen, based on your active duty time it sounds like you are eligible for full Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits as well as your Montgomery GI Bill that you have been using. When you have completely used all of your Montgomery GI Bill benefits go to the VONAPP website and apply for the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
You will receive a Certificate of Eligibility showing that you are entitled to 12 months of the Post 9/11 GI Bill. You just show that to the Registrar’s office or the VA Certifying Official at the school you are attending and they should take care of all the paperwork the VA needs to get your benefits started.
You should not apply for your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits until your MGIB benefits are completely gone or the VA may think you are just switching GI Bills and you could only get a few months of Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. There is going to be a little lag time between when your MGIB runs out and your Post 9/11 GI Bill starts up, but as long as your school knows what is going on they should be willing to work with you.
You may also be eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill housing and book allowances and if your school is a Yellow Ribbon Program school, that may provide you with some additional tuition assistance as well.
August 30th, 2010
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
Can I transfer schools while receiving the Post 9/11 GI Bill? If I get a degree in a year and a half can I still continue receiving benefits as long as I stay in school? Schoonover
Hi Schoonover, You can transfer schools while using your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, but I would recommend doing it between semesters so that there is less chance of mix ups. You should show your Certificate of Eligibility to the Registrar’s office or the VA Certifying Official at the school you would like to transfer to and also provide a copy of your transcript so they can figure out how much you have remaining in Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. Remember to check to make sure the new school is approved for use with the Post 9/11 GI Bill and you should also see if it is a Yellow Ribbon Program school.
You should also talk to the VA Certifying Official at the school you are attending now so they know what your plans are. If you keep everyone in the loop and all parties coordinate their responsibilities, you may have a smooth transfer. Keep in mind that if you are receiving the housing allowance, the rates may change based on the zip code of your new school.
You can continue to attend school as long as you still have Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits and you are working towards an approved degree program. The Post 9/11 GI Bill is set up so that service members and veterans can earn college degrees so you are not going to be able to just take arbitrary classes after earning your degree. You will need to sit down with the VA Certifying Official at the school and work out another degree program such as a master’s degree and attend classes in that program.
As long as you are working toward that new degree and remain in good standing with the school, you should be able to attend school as long as your benefits last or you reach your 15 year time limit.
August 30th, 2010
by GIBillExpert
by GIBillExpert
My husband was in the Navy and he passed away September 2005 at the veterans facility in Vancouver, Washington, from lung cancer. Our daughter is wanting to go to college but I can’t afford it. Is she eligible for any of his benefits? I do not believe his death is due to the time served in the navy. — Barbara C.
If you’re right, and there’s no connection between her father’s death and his military service, then there’s probably no means to get any benefits specifically from him. It’s worth speaking with someone at a VA benefits office to find out if there is any connection. If his death was due to his military service, then she may be eligible for benefits under the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA). This provides up to 45 months of educational benefits for the spouse or child of a deceased or totally disabled veteran. These benefits would expire after 10 years of the VA’s finding of eligibility (for a spouse), or on the child’s 26th birthday, for a child.
There’s more than one way to get an education, however. Based on your financial means, your daughter may be eligible for a good amount of loans and grants for school. You and she should speak to a financial aid counselor at a university she would like to attend, and see what is available.
Also, perhaps she might consider earning her own GI Bill by serving a few years in the military. This is actually a double benefits, because it gives an opportunity to get some job skill training and income, and get some free tuition assistance for part-time college attendance, before even getting out and using the GI Bill. Also, an ROTC scholarship would pay for her school now, and she would be able to pay off the scholarship by serving a term as a commissioned officer.
August 30th, 2010
by GIBillExpert
by GIBillExpert
What are my options if I was enlisted active duty 1980-1992, then went reserve 1993 & received commission 1994? Do I still have GI Bill benefits & can I transfer them to my child? Thank you. — Carole L.
Maybe, and maybe.
Did you sign up for the Montgomery GI Bill when you first enlisted, and pay in the $1,200 during your first year of service to enroll in that program? If so, you may still be eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill. The MGIB benefits expire 10 years after your last period of active duty, but if you serve any period of at least 90 continuous days of active duty, the clock can be re-set to the last day of that period of service by the VA. You do not lose these benefits just due to being a commissioned officer.
What was your last period of active duty, not counting active duty for training? As a reservist, only deployments under Title 10 of the US Code count for this purpose. If at least 90 continuous days of active duty falls after September 11, 2001, then you are eligible for the new Post 9/11 GI Bill. 90 days of active duty qualifies you for 20% tuition benefits, and the benefits increase with time, up to 100% at 36 months.
In order to qualify to transfer your GI Bill benefits (if you have any), you must still be in the service (including active drill status in the Reserves), and must be eligible for the new GI Bill. The MGIB can only be transferred if you are in the Army, and also require you to still be in the service. Depending on your situation, you may have to agree to serve up to another 4 years in the military.
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