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GI Bill Information: Ask the Expert BlogArchive for September, 2010
September 30th, 2010
by Ron Kness
by Ron Kness
I understand that a revision of the Post 9/11 GI Bill is underway allowing for flight schools to be covered. Is this true, and if so when will this go into effect? – Ross
It is true Ross, but I can’t tell you when it will go into effect, because it has not passed yet. It is still being debated in Congress and a vote has not been taken, so we have no idea if the revision will pass or not.
Actually, there are six various bills relating to the GI Bill floating around right now and I heard a rumor that they were going to be incorporated into one bill before the vote, so we don’t know what the give and take will be when they combine all the bills.
As far as what the revision, right now it says “pay up to $20,000 for non-degree programs”. How this will relate to flight schools, I have no idea. If it is structured similar to the Montgomery GI Bill flight school policy, it would pay 60% of the course expenses.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill will pay for flight training now, if you go for a four-year degree in Aviation as that is then a covered course because it produces a degree. If you plan to fly commercially, that might be a better way to go anyway.
September 30th, 2010
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
My father retired from the Army in 2001 with 70% disability. I currently receive Books, Fees, and Tuition under his GI Bill. I am wondering if I will lose those benefits if I get married before I graduate. He enlisted and retired in the state of Alabama and I am currently enrolled in a four year institution in the state. Brent
Hi Brent, I’m glad you threw in that part about Alabama as I was stumped there for a moment as to what GI Bill benefits you were using. It sounds to me like you must be using a state program such as the Alabama GI and Dependents Scholarship Program which provides a scholarship to a state supported school for eligible Alabama veterans and their dependents.
This is an issue you’re going to have to check with the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs about; I don’t want to take a chance on giving you incorrect information. I checked their site and don’t see any mention of what happens when a dependent using benefits gets married. I do know that when a dependent is using transferred Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits and they get married it doesn’t affect their use of the benefits. They can continue to use the transferred benefits until they are exhausted or the dependent turns 26.
I would imagine the program you’re in works the same way as it has the same 26 year old age limitation, but you still need to check with an office to verify that marriage doesn’t eliminate you from the program.
September 30th, 2010
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
My Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits run out Nov 2011, but I will still have 24 credit remaining towards my 4 year degree (2 semesters), also I’m enrolled in a private school that charges $900 per credit hour, what should I do? Cal
Hi Cal, It’s good that you’re looking at your situation a year ahead instead of waiting until your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits have expired; it should give you lots of time to work up a solution. You should check with your state’s Department of Veterans Affairs office. Many veterans aren’t aware that most states have their own Department of Veterans Affairs office that can offer education benefits to veterans and their dependents. Unfortunately in your case I’m not sure how much help they might be as the benefits are usually at state supported schools, but they may also have some scholarships and grants available.
I would also check with the relief organization that supported the branch of service you were in, or if you are using transferred benefits the branch of service the service member was in. I am referring to organizations such as the Army Emergency Relief and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society; they sometimes have grants and scholarships available for eligible veterans.
Don’t forget about federal student aid as it has helped many students earn their degrees. Some of their programs don’t require repayment and others don’t require any payments until you’ve graduated.
September 30th, 2010
by GIBillExpert
by GIBillExpert
Hello again, I’m a long time reader/second time writer. I forgot to include a question last time so here it is. If a student had been taking classes at a half time plus rate (7 credits) at some point of his academic career and was coming up on a semester whereby he only had 3.5 months worth of benefits left to tackle a 5 month semester, how would the benefits be distributed? Would the BAH just run out or would all benefits somehow become exhausted halfway through (even though the tuition has already been paid for via the G.I. Bill)? Thank you again for your time and knowledge. Your work is greatly appreciated. — Jaden
Not to worry. Your benefits won’t run out in the middle of an academic term. If your GI Bill benefits are exhausted during a term, they are automatically extended until the end of that term. You will continue to receive all normal benefits, including the housing allowance if you have been getting that.
September 30th, 2010
by Ron Kness
by Ron Kness
I have transferred my GI Bill benefits to my spouse. I switched to Post 9/11 benefits from Chapter 30 and received an award letter. I turned it in to the University and they have verified my wife’s full time status and how much we have been charged.
Today I received a letter stating payment has been sent to school for the maximum in-state rate. The Yellow Ribbon Program is picking up the rest. Also it says an aggregate payment of $583.33 has been sent to my address for books and supplies and we will receive the BAH rate for our area from Aug. thru Dec. 2010. Does this all seem right? – Jarrod
I guess I’m trying to see what part you are questioning Jarrod. This is exactly the way it is supposed to work. Why do you think there is an issue with it? Like I said, this is the textbook solution and there are probably hundreds of veterans who would uncontrollably salivate, if their Post 9/11 GI Bill experience would go as smooth as yours did.
The $583.33 covers 14 credits. Is that the course load your wife is taking? Actually your housing allowance is based off of the zip code of your school, so I don’t know how that amount relates to where you live.
Post 9/11 GI Bill housing allowance amounts greatly differ depending on where you live, but the average is $1,000 per month with the most being New York City at $2,700 per month. Your wife’s housing allowance will always be one month behind, so she can expect to get her September payment sometime in October.
After this term, your wife will have to enroll in classes and her school will have to send in her Certificate of Enrollment to the VA and the process starts all over again for the next term
September 30th, 2010
by GIBillExpert
by GIBillExpert
My wife is trying to go to nursing school in Vista Ca i have been in for six years and have 2 more left until I can re-up. Can she use my GI bill, and how do we go about her getting it? — Leroy P.
If your six years has been on regular active duty, then you should be in luck. If you are eligible for the new Post 9/11 GI Bill, and have at least 6 years of time in, then you are eligible to transfer some or all of your 36 months of GI Bill benefits to a spouse and/or children.
You should be aware that, in your case, making the transfer will require you to sign an agreement to serve at least 4 years after the transfer is approved. This doesn’t automatically extend your enlistment, or add on to your current enlistment or obligation. Basically, it means that you’ll have to agree to re-up or extend so that you’ll be in the military 4 years from now.
The application process isn’t complicated, but it can take time, especially in the fall when the VA and DoD are processing a lot of applications for benefits. Go to the DoD Transfer of Educational Benefits site, and follow the instructions. Then, wait for a response.
September 29th, 2010
by GIBillExpert
by GIBillExpert
My husband was in the AF for 9 years, he never used his GI bill. Is it possible for him to get them now and does he have to use it for education or can he use it to improve his home? He is 72 now and got an honorable discharge in 1963. Thank you. — Christine B.
I’m afraid that the GI Bill educational benefits expire 10 years after the veteran leaves active duty, meaning that your husband doesn’t have any remaining benefits.
Also, the GI Bill can only be used for education. In order to receive the benefits, you must be in an approved program of study. However, there are many other veterans’ benefits than might be helpful to him. The topic is far to broad to cover without more information, so I recommend your husband speak with a VA benefits counselor to find out what benefits he may be eligible for.
September 29th, 2010
by GIBillExpert
by GIBillExpert
How long does it normally take the VA regional office to contact you after you submit your claim? It’s been six weeks so far and I haven’t heard anything. — LaToya
While the Department of Veterans’ Affairs can, during times when they have to process a high volume of claims, take some time to get to your claim, that doesn’t mean that you should be completely in the dark. When the VA receives your claim, they immediately send you a letter telling you that your claim has been received and will be processed. If you never received that letter, then the claim might have gotten lost, or the VA might have the wrong address for you. You should definitely contact the VA immediately (either via their web-site or their toll-free number at 1-888-442-4551) to make sure that your claim is moving forward; you might have to apply again.
September 29th, 2010
by Ron Kness
by Ron Kness
My husband joined the Army in Texas when he was single and a year after we got married, he got out of the service after serving for 4 years. My husband and my two sons are Texas residents and at this time my husband is using his Hazelwood Act educational benefit. My question is, can my son, who is going to college in 2011, use the remaining credit hours not used by my husband? Thanks. – Sonia
Yes he can Sonia. Here is what the Hazelwood Act website has to say about veterans transferring their unused Hazelwood benefits to a dependent child: “Q: Can eligible veterans transfer unused hours to a child?
A: Yes. An eligible veteran may elect to waive his or her right to any unused hours for which he or she is eligible (up to the maximum 150 semester credit hours). The child designee must be the stepchild, biological, or adopted child of the parent veteran; or claimed as a dependent on a federal income tax return filed for the preceding or current tax year. The child must be a resident of Texas, be 25 years or younger on the first day of the semester or term for which the exemption is claimed, and must be making satisfactory academic progress in a degree, certificate, or continuing education program as determined by the institution.”
So based on the FAQ, he should be able to transfer his unused benefit to your son and your son could use those benefits to attend a Texas school.
September 29th, 2010
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
My little sister is going to college and is a military dependent. Can she get the GI Bill as well as scholarships and what does the Montgomery GI Bill cover? Jackie
Hi Jackie, Your sister would not be eligible for any Montgomery GI Bill benefits as they can’t be transferred to a dependent, but she may be eligible for some Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
If she is the daughter of a parent on active duty or has a spouse on active duty, it’s possible they could transfer some Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to her for her education. If they are eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill and have served in the military at least 6 years, they should be able to transfer their benefits. They are going to have to agree to remain in the military for 4 years after the transfer of benefits is approved.
Your sister will be able to use the benefits immediately if her spouse transfers her the benefits, but if a parent transfers the benefits she is going to have to wait until they have 10 years of military service before she can use the benefits.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill can be used with other financial aid and will assist with her tuition costs. If the benefits come from a parent, she can also be eligible for a housing and book allowance, but if they come from a spouse, she will not be eligible for the allowances while they are on active duty. She will also be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program while using the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits which can provide additional tuition assistance.
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