Post-9/11 GI Bill - A Mixed Bag

By Terry Howell

I have been writing for some time now about the good, bad, and the ugly of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill. If you have been reading this blog long, you know there is more to celebrate about this program than there is to lament. But, over the last few months I have focused quite a bit on the program's short comings. Today we'll take a look at both ends of the spectrum - where the program misses the mark and where it's right on target.

I recently wrote about the affects semantics are having on California veteran’s and their tuition coverage under the new GI Bill. This story was also covered in the SF Chronicle. The Chronicle’s article, GI Bill's Wording Costs State's Student Vets, personalizes the issue and tells how three individuals are being affected by this snafu over the words “tuition and fees.”

The article quotes veteran Darren Matt telling how the limitations will keep him from using the new education benefits, "So I still get nothing. There's a huge group of people who are going to be excluded from this,” said Matt, who is seeking an MBA. "I can't imagine that was the intent of the bill."

The article ends with a quote by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Ca., "I'm hoping that we don't have to go through the whole legislative fix," he said. "This is no more than a bureaucratic snafu." Thompson is currently working on legislation to fix the issue.

- True.

Get more than $49,000 a year for school. Request info about GI Bill approved programs from military and veteran-friendly schools and start earning your degree today.

On the other end of the spectrum is a story about how the new Post-9/11 GI Bill is opening doors for veterans who would like to earn an Ivy League degree. Prestigious schools like Columbia University, Cornell University, and Dartmouth College are all volunteering to participate in a Post-9/11 GI Bill program known as the Yellow Ribbon Program.

In simplified terms, the YRP waives all or part of a veteran's tuition costs that exceed the in-state tuition rate, giving veterans the chance to attend more expensive private schools and not incur out-of-pocket expenses or student loan debt.

While on the whole, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is a great benefit to most veterans, there are several examples of how the Post-9/11 opens doors for some while keeping them closed for others.

Veterans who feel this bill should be improved need to contact their elected officials and let them know how they feel.

Read the full articles mentioned above:

• GI Bill's Wording Costs State's Student Vets – SF Chronicle
• New GI Bill Puts Ivy League Degree Within Reach – Military.com

Switching to the Post-9/11 GI Bill? Not So Fast!

Yet Another Reason to Take Your Time

By Terry Howell

Over the last few months I have been encouraging our readers to weigh their GI Bill options carefully before choosing to switch from the Montgomery GI Bill to the new Post-9/11 GI Bill. Now there is yet another reason you may want to hold off on making the switch – the chance to get 12 more months of education benefits if you use up your MGIB first.

The Department of Veterans Affairs recently posted the following on their GI Bill website:

For individuals eligible for MGIB-AD
Normally, your months of entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill will be equal to the number of months of entitlement you have remaining under the MGIB-AD. However, if you use all of your MGIB-AD benefits, then you may be entitled to a maximum of 12 additional months of benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. [Giving you a total of 48 months of education benefits]

Many veterans don’t realize this means they may actually be better off to use up their MGIB before applying for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Here is an example:

Active duty veterans that are qualified for both the MGIB and Post-9/11 and have used some (lets say 26 months) of their MGIB may be able to extend their education benefit by 12 months - but - only if they first exhaust all of their remaining MGIB benefit  before electing to receive Post-9/11 benefits.

However, if veterans switch to the Post-911 GI Bill before using all 36 months of the MGIB, they will only get the equivalent of the remaining months of their MGIB credited to their Post-9/11 account and will not be eligible to extend the benefit to 48 months.

Jack Mordente, director of Veterans Affairs at Southern Connecticut State University offers another scenario:

"I have a veteran who has 6 months of GI Bill and 4 semesters to graduate. He can use the 6 months to exhaust his Chapter 30 [MGIB]. With our 9 month academic year he will be paid 3 months over his 36 months. He then transfers to Chapter 33 [Post-9/11 GI Bill] and gets 9 more months and finishes his degree."

Get more than $49,000 a year for school. Request info about GI Bill approved programs from military and veteran-friendly schools and start earning your degree today.

On May 11th the VA encouraged anyone considering enrolling in the new GI Bill "to get educated about it first" because it is an irrevocable decision.

The five questions suggested:

1. which benefits pay more?
2. what tier of benefits am I eligible for under new bill?
3. what type of training do I want to pursue?
4. how long do I expect to take to use the benefit?
5. do I plan to attend school less that fulltime?

Jack suggests you add two more questions to the VA's five:

1. How many months do you have left on your current GI Bill?
2. How many semesters do you have left to graduate?

You may find that it is best to wait until you have used your 36 months of MGIB before applying for the new Post-9/11 GI Bill.

No matter what you decide, talk to a VA representative to make sure you are eligible for extending your benefits another 12 months. You can reach the VA at 1-888-GIBILL-1.

4 Reasons to Choose Your GI Bill Carefully

By Terry Howell

Several readers have asked "what's the big deal about choosing the Post-9/11 GI Bill over the Montgomery GI Bill." In fact, one reader asked, “I don't understand this. How can another program be better for me if I want to attend college? Isn't the reason for the new Post-9/11 GI Bill to pay for any state tuition of my choice?”

Many veterans think this is a no-brainer, but there are several factors that can severely limit your GI Bill education benefits. And, since you cannot change your mind once you make the switch, choosing carefully is your best option.

As a friend of mine likes to say, "the devil's in the details." Well, here are some of those details - reasons to choose carefully:

1. Payment rates are set for undergraduate tuition rates – this could mean that veterans who wish to attend grad school will need to pay the difference out-of-pocket.
   
   
2. The housing stipend is not available for students taking all their courses through non-traditional classes – online and other distant learning students won’t receive payment for cost of living. In addition, veterans talking courses on a half-time rate and active duty servicemembers are also excluded from the housing stipend.
   
   
3. The Post-9/11 GI Bill is set at the in-state undergraduate tuition rate which varies from state-to-state. In some states the tuition rate may severely limit a student's education options. For example, the tuition rate for California is $0 and Massachusetts is only $71. That won’t go very far in a private college or master's degree program.
   
   
4. The new Post-9/11 GI Bill does not cover trade schools or on the job training and apprenticeship programs like the Montgomery GI Bill.

I am not the only one warning servicemembers and veterans about making an uneducated decision about their education benefits. Department of Veterans Affairs officials are also encouraging anyone considering enrolling in the Post-9/11 GI Bill program to learn the facts and make sure the Post-9/11 GI Bill is the right fit for them.

The VA recommends getting answers to the following before changing programs:

1) Which benefit will pay more?
2) What tier of benefit am I eligible for under the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
3) What type of training do I want to pursue? 
4) How long do I expect to take to use the benefit?
5) Do I plan to attend school less than full-time?

The Bottom Line 
If you plan to attend classroom based courses at a state operated college on a more than half-time basis - or - you intend to transfer your benefits to a family member, then the Post 9/11 GI Bill most likely fits your needs perfectly. Otherwise, take your time - don't be in a rush.

Learn more about comparing the GI Bill programs.

If you have questions about your personal eligibility or need more assistance, please call the VA at 1-888-GIBILL-1 or visit the VA's GI Bill website at www.GIBILL.VA.gov.

Don't Be in a Rush!!!

The application process began May 1 for the New Post-9/11 GI Bill. Some news resources are making it sound as if the New GI Bill starts today. IT DOESN"T. What starts today is the VA application process. But, what is most important to know is that there is no rush. You need to carefully weigh the benefits of the Montgomery GI Bill against the benefits of the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

In an Armed Forces Press Service article Keith Wilson (Director of Education Service for the Veterans Benefits Administration) stated:

“The important thing to remember is that this is one of several programs we administer, all of which have different eligibility criteria,” Wilson said. “The program that is best for the individual veteran is not always going to be the Post-9/11 GI Bill.”

Among questions Wilson encourages people to consider when making the decision are:

-- Which benefit will pay more? This needs to factor in, not just what VA pays, but also the impact on any other educational assistance the person receives. For example, if the student attends school in one of the many states that offers veterans free tuition or receives another form of state or campus aid, will switching to the Post-9/11 benefit change that?

-- What tier of benefit are they eligible for under the Post-9/11 GI Bill? The program includes three payments: tuition and fees, a living allowance, and a book and supply stipend. But current active-duty members can’t receive the living allowance.

-- What type of training do they want to pursue? Not all training covered by the Montgomery GI Bill, for example, is covered by the Post-9/11 bill. The new benefit, for example, doesn’t cover technical school training.

-- How long do you expect to take to use the benefit? The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays out benefits for 15 years, five years longer than the Montgomery GI Bill benefit.

-- Do you plan to attend school less than full-time? It will affect whether you receive the housing allowance under the Post-9/11 benefit.

-- Do you plan to transfer your unused benefits to an immediate family member? Only the Post-9/11 benefit offers that option.

“There are a series of things, both monetary and non-monetary, that individuals need to consider,” Wilson said.

Wilson encourages anyone eyeing the new Post-9/11 program to read up about it on the VA Web site. Those who need additional assistance can click on a link on the site to e-mail VA officials with a question, or can talk with a VA benefits counselor by calling 1-888-GI-BILL-1 toll-free, he said.

“We’re emphasizing education so people understand the full range of our educational programs,” Wilson said. “We really want to be sure we tailor the best program to the individual.”

So - Word the wise, take your time, because making a choice now locks you in to either GI Bill version. Your choice now may severely limit your options later.

Here are some links you may find helpful:

• Official VA GI Bill Website
• Post 9/11 GI Bill FAQ

• Guide to Comparing the Two GI Bills

You can also call teh VA directly at 1-888-GIBILL-1 to speak to a representative who can help you determine your best option.