What Are My GI BIll Options If I Got Out in 2002?

28 Responses to “What Are My GI BIll Options If I Got Out in 2002?”

1. GIBillExpert_Kness says:

   February 6, 2010 at 5:36 pm

   You’re welcome Louis. I’m glad you enjoy reading it. My mission is providing useful information that service members and veterans alike can use. Hopefully, I can help sort out some of the confusion and misinformation that exists concerning military education assistance programs.
2. TOMMY SPENCER says:

   March 1, 2010 at 6:56 pm

   IN SEPT 2002 I RETIREDFROM THE US ARMY WITH OVER 20YEARS OF SERVICE. I REGRET NEVER ENROLLING INTO THE VEAP PROGRAM OR TRANSFERING INTO THE GI BILL WHEN POSSIBLE. MY QUESTION IS DO I QUALIFY FOR THE POST 911 GI BILL PROGRAM.
3. Ron Kness says:

   March 2, 2010 at 6:52 am

   Yes Tommy, you do qualify. All you need for minimum benefits is 90 days after September 10, 2001. With your 12 months of service after that date, you would qualify at the 60% tier rate.
4. Anita says:

   March 4, 2010 at 3:14 pm

   My husband ETS with 11 years served in 2004 and I in 1998 and like so many, i did not use my MGIB in time. Will my husband be able to transfer 24 months of his GI Bill under the MGIB so I can complete my degree online and then transfer to the Post 911 GI Bill for his education assistance. Also if he transfers to the Post GI Bill will his benefits be extended to 15 years instead on 10?
   Thank you for your assistance.
   Anita
5. Lori Reiter says:

   March 16, 2010 at 8:52 am

   My husband retired in 2006 after 22 years in the US Army. In 2009, he died from a service related injury that he was receiving VA disability for. Are our children eligible for the 9/11 GI Bill or MBIB, though no transfers were made prior to his death? I keep getting mixed answers. I appreciate any help with this issue.
6. Ron Kness says:

   March 17, 2010 at 8:34 am

   First Lori, please accept our condolences for the loss of your husband. You can take comfort in knowing he served his country well.
   Lori, your children aren’t eligible for MGIB or Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, however, they do qualify for up to 45 months of education benefits under the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance Program. The program applies if you have a son or daughter of:

   •A veteran who died or is permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability.
   •A veteran who died from any cause while such service-connected disability was in existence.
   •A service member missing in action or captured in line of duty by a hostile force.
   •A service member forcibly detained by a foreign government or power.

   This should be good news for you and I hope it takes a load off of your mind.
7. Joaquin Zamora says:

   March 22, 2010 at 8:10 pm

   I served from Sept. 1998 to Sept. 2002. Would the Post 9/11 Bill help me more than the MGIB being that I was on active duty almost a full year after 9/11/01? Also, does either bill cover certifications such as personal training or a project manager certificate? If it helps, I am thinking about attending the University of Phoenix either online or on campus. I live in New Mexico but I know that that school is based out of Arizona so would the amounts for tuition be different? Any advice is appreciated.
8. Ron Kness says:

   March 24, 2010 at 6:52 pm

   Actually the MGIB will help you more because it will pay for certifications where the Post 9/11 GI Bill will not. Generally speaking, the Post 9/11 GI bill is good for degree-producing schooling; The MGIB pays for both degree and non-degree schooling including licenses and certifications.

   As far as tuition, if you attend online, the tuition should be the same. If you attend resident (meaning on-campus), then you will probably have to pay out-state tuition. Under the MGIB, you would get a fixed $1,368 per month and have to pay your own tuition and fees.

   If you decide to go for a degree in either field, then for on-campus training, the Post 9/11 GI Bill would pay your school up to the maximum in-state public school tuition/fees, which for AZ is $15,000.39 per term. You would also get a housing allowance of approximately $1,335 (E-5 with dependents for the zip code of Phoenix, AZ) and a book stipend of up to $1,000 per year. You would have to pay the difference between the in-state and out-state tuition yourself.

   If you go the online route, you won’t get the housing allowance.
9. Richard L. says:

   March 30, 2010 at 10:03 am

   Just to add to the previous comment. Chapter 30 is the way to go for 100% online education as of right now. There is a bill trying to be passed called H.R. 950 by Bob Filner [D-CA51] out of California. This bill would amend Chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. Plainly speaking, this would allow Chapter 33 recipients to tap into the housing allowance mentioned above regardless of what type of school you attend. (On-site, online, etc)

   This bill has bi-partisan support and looks like it will pass. It will not take effect until February of 2011 so i would advise to continue to use Chapter 30 until then and switch to Chapter 33. Remember, you can always jump from 30 to 33 but not vise versa.

   Get informed and maximize your benefit. After all, you did earn it.

   Semper Fi
10. Ron Kness says:

    April 4, 2010 at 7:50 pm

    Thanks for the great information Richard. Please keep us posted as to how the vote goes.

    Ron
11. susy says:

    June 2, 2010 at 7:18 pm

    Is there a minimum of credits online I have to take with the MGIB or the 9/11 GI bill?
    I’m a reservist going back to school after being deployed for 18 months .
    I recently got married to an active duty sailor. Do I still get bah from the 9/11 gi bill if
    I am his dependent and get bah thru him?
    Thanks I would appreciate any feedback.
12. Ron Kness says:

    June 3, 2010 at 5:38 am

    Susy, it really doesn’t make a difference if you taking online or on-campus classes as far as how many credits you have to take. With the Montgomery GI Bill, it pays according to your rate of pursuit:
    - Full time $1,368.00;
    - ¾ time $1,026.00;
    - ½ time $684.00;
    - Less than ½ time more than ¼ time $684.00;
    -¼ time or less $342.00.

    On the other hand, with the Post 9/11 GI Bill, your rate of pursuit has to be more than half-time, which is generally considered as 7 credits or more.

    As far as a Post 9/11 GI Bill housing allowance, you will not get it because your are married to an active duty servicemember who is getting paid BAH.

    Ron
13. javon seaborn says:

    June 19, 2010 at 3:15 am

    Hello Ron I served 9 years enlisted 88-97 got out used my GI Bill all but one month I came back in as a chaplain in 2005 on active duty. While I was in seminary I used all but one month of my GI Bill now the question I have been trying to get answered is do I qualfify for the new GI Bill and do I qualfify. Thanks again

    CH Seaborn
14. Ronnal Womack says:

    June 29, 2010 at 8:16 am

    I have a brother who enrolled in the U. S. Army I believe in 1998. He went to basic training for about 45 days. He was released because he broke his wrist during basic training and they sent him home to allow him to get well and told him he could come back at a later time to complete his training or start over again. My brother left knee or right knee started to give him some trouble afterwards and he had to get surgery done on his knee and never returned to military because of his knee condition. Is he entitled to the G. I. Bill or Post GI Bill although he was in military in boot camp less than 90 days. I think he got a honorable dischard or lesser due to him being in less than 90 days.
15. Ron Kness says:

    July 1, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    He probably doesn’t meet the eligibility requirements. Even if he got out on a service-connected disability, it normally takes at least 30 days of qualifying service to qualify and normally training time doesn’t qualify. It doesn’t sound like he was processed as service-connected either.

    Ron
16. Ia says:

    July 13, 2010 at 6:00 pm

    My ex_husband retired in August 2002, serving for 27years. Is it true that he has 10/15 years after service to use the bill(s) or loose it/them. What are my options as an ex-wife to use the remainder of his GI bill. Can he sign it over to me having been married for 26years to him.
17. Ron Kness says:

    July 15, 2010 at 11:21 am

    Yes it is true. With the Montgomery GI Bill, he has 10 years from his date of discharge to use his education benefits or lose them. With the Post 9/11 GI bill, it is 15 years.

    The only GI bill that has transfer benefits is the Post 9/11 GI Bill and if he retired in 2002, he would not have enough time in to exercise the transfer option. He would have needed at least three years of active duty after September 10, 2001.
18. Dane says:

    August 6, 2010 at 4:35 pm

    I got out of the Army Nov 07 after 15+ years of service. I continue to use the rest of my MGIB… I have 6 months of benefits left and I am not sure if I should use it to attend law school in the fall as the MGIB or convert to the post 9/11 version. I have been told that if I exhausted the MGIB I would then be eligible for up to an additional 12 months under the post 9/11 version.

    1. Is it true that in my case if I used up all the MGIB that I could get up to an additional 12 months under the post 9/11?
    2. How do they determine my eligibility and caluculate how much of the up to 12 months I get?

    Also my wife is still active in the AF and has been awarded 10+ months under the post 9/11 but says if she transfers it to me to use that I would not be able to get all the benefits that the program offers (specifically at least the housing), is this true?

    Thank you
19. Ron Kness says:

    August 9, 2010 at 3:19 am

    Hi Dane. Below are your questions and the answers to them in bold text.:

    1. Is it true that in my case if I used up all the MGIB that I could get up to an additional 12 months under the Post 9/11? Yes it is true.

    2. How do they determine my eligibility and calculate how much of the up to 12 months I get? Under the Rule of 48, if you are eligible for two or more GI Bills, the maximum combined months of benefit you can get from all of them is 48 months. If you had used the MGIB and another one already, and then switched to the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you would only get the number of months to get you to 48. If you have only used your 36 months of your MGIB, then you will get the full 12 months.

    Also my wife is still active in the AF and has been awarded 10+ months under the Post 9/11 but says if she transfers it to me to use that I would not be able to get all the benefits that the program offers (specifically at least the housing), is this true? That is true. If one spouse is still on active duty and the other one is going to school under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you would not get the housing allowance or book stipend (because she is drawing a monthly BAH already). I you wait to go to school after she is out, you would get both the housing allowance and book stipend.

    Ron
20. Lisa says:

    September 20, 2010 at 8:16 am

    My husband retired from the Air Force in January 2007 after having served over 20 years. He is eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. My question is can he transfer this to our daughter for her college tuition? I cannot find a difinitive answer about retired USAF personnel transferring benefits of the Post 9/11 GI Bill if retirement occured prior to August 1, 2009.

    Thank you.
21. Ron Kness says:

    September 20, 2010 at 4:26 pm

    He can’t make a transfer yet, but there is some legislation in Congress right now that if passed would allow that. Contact your legislators and ask them to support H.R.3577. That bill will allow veterans, with 20 years or more who retired after December 8., 2001 but before 1 August 2009, the option to make a Post 9/11 GI Bill transfer.

    Ron
22. TOMMY SPENCER says:

    December 15, 2010 at 5:42 pm

    I AM CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AS A GS7 WITHIN THE FEDERAL SEVICE (ARMY) WHAT IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION IN ORDER FOR ME TO START COLLEGE UNDER THE POST 911 PROVISIONS. I SENN THE 60 PERCENT ENTITLEMENT AND WONDER IF I CAN FIND A WAY TO COVER THE 40 PERCENT REMAINER OF TITION COST. I FEEL AT THIS POINT I NEED TO EXSPAND MY HUMAN RESOURCES EDUATION CERTIFICATIONS WITH A FOCUS ON CIVILIAN LAWS AND RULES FOR EMPLOYMENT AT A LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE THAT OFFERS SOME ON LINE COURSE WORK. I AM ALSO INTRESTED IN HOUSING ALLOWANCE IF ELIGIBLE, WHERE DO I BEGAIN.. THANK YOU FOR READING AND YOUR HELP.
23. ERIC KNOX says:

    December 29, 2010 at 6:05 pm

    I got a letter from va office am going to school online under chapter 30 title 32 usc i got out of serves in january 22 2001 i am awared benefits but my 10 years delimiting is up in 01-22-11 is this a letter statement or will i be able to recieve after this date
24. Brian says:

    January 17, 2011 at 6:52 am

    Ron,

    A good friend of mine retired in 2006 after a great career in the USAF. There seems to be a lot of stipulation in the Chap 33 code on eligibility to transfer his benefits to his daughter. I’m just looking for a straight answer for him. Can he transfer his Post 9/11 benefits to his daughter after retiring in 2006? Thanks for any input or help!
25. Ron Kness says:

    January 18, 2011 at 8:57 am

    The straight answer is no – at least no right now. The way Congress wrote the Post 9/11 GI Bill the servicemember has to be on active duty “on or after August 1, 2009″. So all those veterans retiring before that date were left out in the cold, even though thousands fully qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, including the transfer benefit.

    There is a bill in the House of Representatives, H.R. 3577, that is passed would allow 20-year plus veterans retiring between December 9, 2001 and August 1, 2009 the option to transfer benefits. Write your Representatives as ask for their support of this important bill, so a wrong can be righted.

    Ron
26. Ron Kness says:

    January 27, 2011 at 6:16 pm

    Unless you qualify for an extension, your benefits will end on 22 January 2011. Generally extensions are given in three instances:
    - if you were recalled back to active duty;
    - if you were detained by a foreign power;
    - had a long-term debilitation preventing you from attending class.

    If none of these apply, then most likely you would not qualify for an extension.

    Ron
27. Jack says:

    April 7, 2011 at 6:55 am

    I would really appreciate knowing if I qualify. I’m writing as much detail as I can

    I joined the National Guard in 1998 at 17, went to basic (10 weeks), and AIT (21 weeks). I tried for the GI bill in 99, but the paperwork wasn’t processed correctly and I had to drop out of college for bills etc.. I went overseas twice for my two weeks, and I went inactive guard two years early (2002) due to a move across country (no where near a unit) and received an honorable discharge in October 2004.

    Do I qualify for the GI Bill?
28. Ron Kness says:

    April 8, 2011 at 8:37 am

    No you don”t Jack. It doesn’t sound like you had any Title 10 time that was not training time. Training time doesn’t count toward GI Bill eligibility. You might have qualified for the
    Montgomery GI Bill- Selected Reserves while you were in, but that terminated once you were discharged from the Guard.