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GI Bill Information: Ask the Expert BlogPosts Tagged ‘applying for benefits’
February 24th, 2011
by Ron Kness
by Ron Kness
Hello, I’m trying to check on the status of my GI Bill. Back in December, I received an email saying that it was being processed and nothing else since then. My school began on Jan 19th and I am in need of information and also information on my book stipend. Thanks! – Kendra
Unfortunately Kendra, it can take up to 10 weeks to process your GI Bill application. Depending on when you submitted your application in December, you should be getting close to that point of seeing your book stipend soon. That will come as one payment and your Post 9/11 GI Bill housing allowance will come as a separate payment. Once you get your first housing allowance, then it should come monthly around the same time each month, however, the payment you get is for the previous month as the VA is always a month behind in paying. Your school will get their money for your tuition and eligible fees directly from the VA.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much you or I can do to speed up the wheels of motion at the VA. It is a giant machine that grinds along slowly.
February 18th, 2011
by Ron Kness
by Ron Kness
I ETS’d with an honorable discharge and am in the middle of processing my GI Bill to start school. I transitioned into the National Guard. If I get discharged from the NG for APFT failure, will it affect my Army GI Bill? – CH
No CH, it won’t affect your GI Bill eligibility. Your prior term of service ending with an honorable discharge secured your benefits and however your National Guard term of service comes out it has no affect on your eligibility on those benefits you earned while on active duty.
If you just transitioned into the Guard, and you had no problem passing the APFT on active duty, what changed? The Guard is a great organization and I think you would find it has many advantages. Just because a bad Guard discharge would not affect your GI Bill eligibility, you obviously joined the Guard for a reason.
Why don’t you join a gym and work on the three APFT events so you can pass the physical fitness test. You make it sound like you are beat before you even start.
From my experience in the Guard, they will give you every opportunity they can to pass the test. It is up to you to make the best use of those opportunities.
February 17th, 2011
by Ron Kness
by Ron Kness
I retired from the Air Force in 2008 after serving 22 years active duty. I have never used my G.I. Bill and am sad to say I have no clue how it works. Can I use it at an accredited cosmetology school? Thank you for your help. – Jenny
Right now Jenny, you could use your Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) to attend a VA-approved cosmetology school, but not the Post 9/11 GI Bill. The New GI Bill does not cover non-degree courses unless they are taught at a degree-producing school. Most cosmetology courses are taught either at vocational schools or private schools. Right now, the MGIB would pay you $1,421 per month for up to 36 months to go to school. Out of that amount, you would have to pay your tuition, fees, books, supplies and other education-related expenses.
Starting in the fall, the Post 9/11 GI Bill is supposed to pay for non-degree courses such as yours. If so, you could switch to the Post 9/11 GI Bill and it would pay your tuition and fees directly to your school and you would get a monthly housing allowance and a book stipend.
Financially, it would be a better deal for you, however, I would just as soon have you wait for awhile to see exactly what it will pay for and what it won’t. More details of the change will be forthcoming in the coming months.
You could always start school now using the MGIB and then switch later. To start using your GI Bill, go to the VONAPP website and submit VA Form 22-1990. You will need the Certificate of Eligibility you get back to enroll in school as a GI Bill student.
February 17th, 2011
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
I am a current student at the online school the American Military University working on my Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice. I’m a little more than halfway finished with my degree and I currently have 3 months left on the old GI Bill. I went into my local VA office in Austin, Texas and asked two advisers about the new Post 9/11 GI Bill. I was told to wait until my old GI Bill benefits run out and then apply for the new Post 9/11 GI Bill. Now, since I was incorrectly informed on how the switch process works, I only have 3 months on the old GI Bill instead of a year on the Post 9/11 GI Bill. I’m writing to request some leniency and understanding in helping me overturn this decision to not grant me a year on the Post 9/11 GI Bill. I would not be requesting this if I truly didn’t need it. I have been trying for over a year now to get a response. I have served my time in the Navy as a Navy SEAL and would appreciate the opportunity to continue my education under the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Thank you, Chance
Hi Chance, I feel like I am missing something here. What you were told at your local VA office was correct–if you are eligible for both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you can use all 36 months of your Montgomery GI Bill and then apply for 12 months of Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. Even if you had applied before using all of your MGIB up, they should have transferred you to the Post 9/11 GI Bill and you would have 3 months of Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits instead of 3 months of MGIB benefits.
So you ending up with the 3 months of MGIB benefits that you started with is a bit of a mystery to me. It almost sounds to me like the VA doesn’t think you’re eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. This is not an official VA Web site, but my recommendation would be that if you feel that you’re eligible for Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, then you should do just as you would have done in the Navy and work your way up the chain of command. It might even require a call to your local Congressperson, but make sure you are eligible for the benefits or you are just going to keep getting denied.
February 8th, 2011
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
I recently dropped out of a university because I was confused about how the GI Bill works; when I was in it a Master Sergeant had said that when I had gotten back to my station and turned in my paperwork, I would have to wait 30-45 days to receive my GI Bill money and I’ve gotten back in October of last year and now it’s January and I still haven’t received anything yet. And so I asked one of my sergeants and he said I had to obtain it online, but I have no clue on how to get it so now I’m stuck. And I was told that I was supposed to be getting some monthly payment for housing, but I’m confused about that too, what do I have to do to get my Montgomery GI Bill for college? Ronald
Hi Ronald, It sounds like you’re still on active duty so the first thing you should do is request a meeting with your battalion education officer to get some assistance and direction. Most service members on active duty use Tuition Assistance to get started on their college degree and save as much of their GI Bill benefits for after they leave the military as possible.
When you do get ready to use your Montgomery GI Bill benefits you should pick a school and touch base with one of the VA Certifying Officials at the school for guidance. In person is best, but if you are going to school online and the school is a distance away, a phone conversation or email also works.
The school and the program need to be approved for GI Bill use. Your education officer and the VA Certifying Official at the school can help you ensure that the program meets all the necessary requirements. All you have to do at that point is go online to VONAPP and apply for your benefits.
The Montgomery GI Bill does not have a housing allowance and you do not qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill housing allowance while on active duty. If at all possible, I recommend that you use your Tuition Assistance benefits before tapping your GI Bill benefits.
If you need any other help, please write in and I’ll do my best to get you moving in the right direction.
January 31st, 2011
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
I was active duty Army for 3 years and received an Honorable Discharge. I then re-enlisted, but was separated with an Other Than Honorable Discharge. To my understanding, I am eligible for the GI Bill, but never used it. I am giving some serious thought to returning to school to further my education, but am worried that my time has run out to use my benefits. My question is this…Does the date that I am eligible to use them (the 10 years) start from the date I received my Honorable Discharge or from the date I was discharged during my second enlistment? Heather
Hi Heather, That’s a good question and I’m glad you’re looking into using your Montgomery GI Bill benefits. Your time period for using your benefits started when you left active duty for the last time which would have been after your second enlistment.
If you plan to use your benefits, it would probably be a good idea to get the ball rolling as a lot of people in your situation have their application for benefits denied when they first apply. By your situation I mean those who earned their benefits and received an Honorable Discharge and then were separated with an OTH discharge during a subsequent enlistment. In most cases the benefits are approved when the veteran appeals the decision, but it sounds like you may be pushing your 10 year time limit even with the second enlistment so it wouldn’t hurt to apply as soon as possible.
It sounds like your initial enlistment might have ended around 2001 so don’t forget if you were on active duty for at least 90 days after 10 September 2001, you could be eligible for Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits that have a 15 year time period for use.
January 18th, 2011
by Ron Kness
by Ron Kness
Hello, My name is William Coe. I entered the Army in 1986 in Washington State and left in 1991 (Honorable) now living in Wisconsin. I have been informed by some of my fellow veterans here in Wisconsin that their children are eligible to attend state colleges for free. My question is if my children are eligible (they were born in Wisconsin) and if not, is there any program they would be able to take advantage of here? Thank you. — William
The first rule for the Wisconsin Tuition Remission Program William is you, as the veteran, had to be a resident of Wisconsin when you entered active duty. Being you entered from Washington, you children will not be able to use this GI Bill program from the state of Wisconsin to go to school.
The second rule is the child recipient has to reside in Wisconsin and go to a state-supported Wisconsin school. It sounds you’re your children qualify on this level, but your residency at the time you entered the service presents the problem. Your veteran friends must have been Wisconsin residents when they entered the service for their children to qualify.
Right now I know of no program they would be able to take advantage of beside the programs available to all students, such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Sending in this application gives your children a good idea of how much student aid they would qualify for. Then they could apply for Pell Grants and Stafford Loans, along with a whole host of scholarships. Also don’t overlook the Work/Study programs and scholarships many of the colleges offer.
January 10th, 2011
by Ron Kness
by Ron Kness
I have used my GI Bill (Chapter 30) benefits in the past for online classes. Now I am interested in finishing quickly by testing out of my remaining classes with Excelsior Exams. Will my benefits cover Excelsior exams and DANTES/CLEPS? – Chantel
Hi Chantel. Yes under the National Testing Program, you can take any of the DANTES tests, which include the Excelsior exams, and use your Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) to reimburse you meaning you first have to pay for them out of your pocket. Keep in mind that only the actual cost of the each test is covered and the VA will not pay for any optional costs outside of the actual test cost. The actual test cost can include the following:
- test registration fees
- specialized test fees
- associated administrative fees.
Types of fees the VA will not pay include:
- evaluative pre-test fees
- fees to receive scores quicker than normal
- fees for optional items not required to take an approved test.
The only requirement to you using your MGIB to get reimbursed for National Tests is that you have a Chapter 30 (or Chapter 32, Section 903 or Chapter 35) valid GI Bill application on file and still have unused benefits.
January 6th, 2011
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
Hi, I was honorably discharged from the Navy in 2004 and attended school with my Montgomery GI Bill until July of 2005. I stopped going to school for the next 5 years until now. My new school is asking me to call my old school and have them fax my Certificate of Eligibility to them, so I called them and they said that back in 2005 they didn’t have Certificates of Eligibility. So my question is do I have to apply for a new Certificate? I already filled out form 22-1995. Is there an easier way? Thanks, Wayne
Hi Wayne, I suggest you go to VONAPP and apply for a new Certificate of Eligibility. It will be updated and should help your new school determine how much in benefits you have remaining. From your dates of service it sounds like you are also eligible for Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits so you might want to do a GI Bill comparison to figure out which GI Bill provides you with the most benefits for your new educational program.
If it turns out that the Post 9/11 GI Bill provides you with more benefits than the Montgomery GI Bill that you have used in the past, you might want to make the switch when you go to the VONAPP website. Keep in mind though that if you are eligible for the benefits of both programs, you can use your 36 months of Montgomery GI Bill benefits and then apply for 12 months of Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits for a total of 48 months of benefits.
December 28th, 2010
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
Just got out of the Army and I’m scheduled to go to class on the 24th of January. I haven’t applied for my Post 9/11 GI Bill yet. Should I wait until it is approved or can I go to class and have my expenses reimbursed once approved? How long does it take to get approved? What should I do if I don’t have money to spend? Confused
Hi Confused, As long as you’re absolutely sure that your school and program are approved for Post 9/11 GI Bill use and that you are eligible for the benefits, I don’t see any reason why you can’t start classes.
You need to immediately apply for your benefits online at VONAPP and then contact the VA Certifying Official at the school to let them know what’s going on. You are going to receive a Certificate of Eligibility from the VA after you apply for your benefits and the school is going to need a copy of it, but they can get started on their paperwork before it arrives.
From the time the school submits their paperwork it can take 8 to 10 weeks before they begin receiving their tuition payments, but as long as the school knows what’s going on they are normally willing to work with veterans as they know the money will be arriving.
If you are planning on receiving the Post 9/11 GI Bill housing allowance, that may take a little longer and it’s paid in arrears so you might want to start thinking about ways you can come up with a little extra money until them. Perhaps a part time job at the school or in the local community might help out.
If there is any possibility that the school or program is not approved for the Post 9/11 GI Bill or that you are not eligible for benefits, I suggest you don’t start classes until you know for sure as you will end up being responsible for the costs.
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