Several key players in the world of veterans education recently testified before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs on the current and future state of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The following is the first of several entries on this hearing.
Senators heard testimonies from representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs, DoD, The American Legion, the National Association of Veteran Program Administrators (NAVPA), Nation Association of State Approving Agencies, and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). Each representative offered their assessment of implementation process, limitations, and problems which have occurred since the Post-9/11 went into effect last August.
Keith Wilson, the VA’s Director of Education Service, testified that the VA had made an extensive effort to get the word out about the new GI Bill program. However, the Committee heard a different story from the other panelists. When asked by the committee chairman, Sen. Akaka (HI), if given the opportunity to change one single thing, what it would be? The general consensus was to improve VA outreach. It appears that the VA view of outreach differs significantly from the panel members.
While the VA made huge strides to get the word out through posters, social networking and ad campaigns, in the eyes of those who administrate the programs, the VA failed to provide consistent, reliable, concise training and information on the policies and procedures required to get the benefits to the veterans.
The problem is not limited to external communication issues. Faith DeLauriers of NAVPA testified that school certifying officials are getting conflicting information from the VA. The American Legion and IAVA representatives also pointed to examples of veterans not getting the same answer twice.
Of course none of this comes as a surprise to student veterans, after more than a year of preparation, the remaining confusion surrounding the Post-9/11 GI Bill is amazing. If veterans are fortunate enough to get through to speak to a live representative, they often find that the information conflicts with what they have read or heard.
But there was good news to come from the hearings. Sen. Akaka, announced his plans to present legislation to the Senate to improve the benefits and address the issues presented by the panel. Committee Ranking Member, Sen. Richard Burr (NC), stated he was happy to be working with Sen. Akaka on the draft bill. Some issues Akaka’s bill is likely to address are:
- State-to-State Payment Inequities
- Combining Tuition and Fees
- Living Stipend for Online Students
- Include expanded Vocational Training Programs
- Improved Training for Staff and Schools
Senate hearing on Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Stay tuned we will focus on other aspects of the hearing in the coming days.
Terry Howell
I agree with Phillip Sparacino. MIlitary personnel are federal employees as well. They make more of a sacrifice than the other federal employees do, yet get substandard medical care and mishandled in the compensation department.
When a military retiree is found to be disabled, they penalize him by taking away that part of his retirement (to wehich the military member worked hard and earned) pay, and then give him his disability pay from another source. Had this member not put in the time to retire, he would have only received the disability amount, which in this case would not be connected to retirement pay.
This amounts to a form of discrimination towards the retiree.
My husband received a partial disability for ten years after retirement. In turn lost that same amount in retirement pay. So, tell me where was the compensation for his service connected disability? In the very small amount of income taxes that would have come out of that portion? In my eyes, that is NOT compensation.
Anna,
I am disable by the military line of duty service-connected. With the military its how your husband is disable. If his disability is in the line of duty service-connected and here it how they get you. In order for your hushand to be tax exempt is that his disability must be combat related injuries. For example if there was a indirect fire and he was running to take cover. From that and trip broke his back due to that action. This injury would be combat related since he was taking cover from emeny fire. However, if he was playing basketball while in active duty and since it happen during this time it will still be service connected but would not be tax exempt. My disability is service connected but combat related this is the one that makes it tax exempt. I hope this help. I know its not fair still
James, I understand what you are saying, I retired after 20 years of naval service. I was getting 50% of my retired basic pay and when I filed for my disability from the VA they rated me at 40%. So they took 40% of my retirement pay and game it back to me as disability tax exempt. This was BS in my opinion. I thought I would get my full retirement pay plus the 40%. It turned out that they were literally stealing from Peter to pay Paul as I understood it. I thought this sucks, what can I do? My VA case manager said the only way I could get 100% of my retired pay and VA disability compensation was to refile my claims on the conditions and have the VA raise it.. It took me 5 years of going to appointments and refiling my claims but I got to 100%. Now I get my full retirement pay (which is taxable) and a disability check. But you have to be really f-ed up physically and mentally to get to 100%
I agree.
You can thank all your Congressmen and Senators for that.
They took away free medical and dental care and other benifits for all military retirees so they can have free medical and dental for themselves and their families. They make 20 times my salary and the write off their medical care, travel, etc. on a chit. It cost the tax payers, not them.
What frustrates me is the general lack of knowledge on the part of certifiers. I am 50% disabled, but because it wasn't rated through the navy, and instead the VA I didn't get the full benifit which I was told I would get consistently until the day I got my first check. I would have made different choices if I would have been told the proper information from the beginning, and am forced to get school loans in order to survive and continue to go to school, and therfore recieve the bah.
Why aren't you using Chapter 31, VA voc rehab. 100% of your schooling and books would be paid for. Plus, a subsistance allowance to help with cost of living. Furthermore, most VRE offices will fund for a computer at the start to get you going. At a 50% SC rating, you should be eligible.
This news clip deals with the GI Bill but how great it would be if Sen. Richard Burr were also to add to his other discussions the unfair practice of taking a portion of a disabled vet's pay and making it tax exempt rather than separate payment for a disability. That is the way it is for federal workers, why not the military?
If you are receiving disability pay due to service-connected which is the results of combat related injuries. It is tax exempt for IRS. However, if you have a disability service-connected and not combat related then its not tax exempt. I am receiving military disability service-connected combat related and it is tax exempt. Orginially they tried to tax it so I had to send them copies showing that my injury was combat related so DFAS ended up paying back what they took out.
When I retired I was at 40% therefore whatever I was given by the VA was subtracted from my retirement. Since the VA money is tax exempt I was basically getting $75.00. for 40% disability. I later file for an increase and was raised to 50% concurrent receipt. This too is not full disability until 2014. So basically William you are saying that you got yours so the system worked. I agree with the original poster Phillip. If a postal worker can retire and receive full retirement and military disability why shouldn't a military retiree receive same?
You got a GI Bill Wow! I was in four years active duty, with an honorable including two years active reserve with an honorable. All they offered in my time was VEP. Not only did honorable vets in my time get left out on ANY GI Bill I can't even get recognized as a VET working for the federal government as a civilian. What a rip off! (3/79-5/81-reserve)(5/81-5/85-active)
I totally agree with this. This is no compensation at all. I am disabled and so is my husband. I get the disability until I am qualified at age 62 to get my reserve retirement, so I'm lucky for now to get all my disability pay, but when I start getting my retirement pay, I'll no longer get my disability as well. I should get both. The federal govt and I both signed a contract in which I upheld my part for 20 years, why aren't they keeping their part and paying us our full retirement and our disability (compensation) at the same time? Tax exempting our disable percentage from a full retirement is not even putting change in our pocket, what a message it is sending to us veterans. So unbelievably disappointing.
Sorry, this is in reply to veterans having to only get a tax exempt from their retirement pay who are also disabled and should get two paychecks, one for their full retirement and one for their disability.
Regarding GI Bill, I serve for 9/11 and because of such chaos with veterans not getting the right info and getting surprise messages to payback what was given them, I'm sitting here waiting. The sad part is the administration that is in charge of taking care of our benefits and getting us the right information, are STILL GETTING PAID for screwing up! They're not even doing their job right and get paid, wow! All the more I feel quite right about serving our country with enduring sacrifices knowing I did do it RIGHT! God bless those who serve and those are truly trying to make things RIGHT for us.
Phillip,
Why do you say that making service connected disability tax exempt, like federal employees? Service connected indicates that the disability is due to a Military service connected incident. Comparing a Service member injured defending the Constitution to a federal employee is apples and oranges. No one should question tax free disability payments. The person that is being paid this payment, more often then not payed for it in blood, and oh by the way paid the taxes while they were on active duty that is now paying for their payment.
Retired Navy,
32 years Supporting and Defending, and also collecting disbility.
Hi Lynn,
I work in an Education Office and hear this alot. If you weren't in on 1Aug09 and didn't transfer at least one month after that date, but before retirement, you're right, it can't be transferred. This isn't any different than any other bonus, incentive, loan repayment or anything else that there has to be an established an effective date. Everytime this happens someone just misses out by a little. Same with laws we live with everyday in the civilian world. Sometimes we benefit and other times we lose out.
What about making strides to improve payment times and making it so there is a direct line of communication to the debt department (not a busy signal)? What about making payments on the 1st and 15th so people can plan their budgets? What about clarifying statements on the VA website about BAH, Tuition and Fees? What about the VA deducting $750 a month for taking an advance payment without notifying the veteran's? What about an online resource for veteran's to look at upcoming payments like myPay?
Joe, it's cruel to say but I'm releived to hear that someone else is suffering the same exact issues that I face daily with my VA benefits. You honestly mention some (if not most) of the issues that younger and older vets have with utilizing there benefits. I really hope that improvements are made, and hopefully soon.
Just starting to try and use mine under 9/11 bill. I started in 1970 and got out and used my benefits up in 76. Now after almost 4 years of Deployments I am going back to school again I think Joe should be not on the panel but running the country!!!
Joe. I couldn't have said it better! I agree with all of your concerns as I have the same along with the State Auditor having gone to my school and decertifying my online classes (even tho I had one on campus). Now I regularly get letters of indebtedness from the VA for varying amounts. Getting through to debt management is impossible. I, unlike you, was notified and filled out the paperwork to pay my advance in 12 payments of $250.. I received a letter that it was approved, but they are now taking $750 per mo to pay the advance. The other problem finally got corrected (to some degree) after the school scrambled to try to learn why they were not in compliance for the online certification for the VA and fix the problem. The VA needs to publish instructions or training manuals and have valid e-mail addresses where the schools can communicate and do what is right for the vet! Also, having a link online where you can see what's going on with your account would solve many issues!
I so agree with Joe's points. Why not implement these small measures that will help everyone? Sgt. USMC
I live in a different time zone than the debt department… I've been calling when I can for weeks and only today got a live operator… who was rude. I lost 750 dollars last month to this, with NO warning whatsoever. Every time I got through it was either a busy- or lunch break… or i was magically disconnected. I had to kiss this guy's rear and be OH SO NICE just to get him to be civil to me by the end of the call. I'd like to have somewhere to track what they're paying me- when they're going to do it, and what for- how hard would it be to send out a 'paystub' of sorts, or have an online access point for that? I don't ask for special treatment- I just want to be kept informed. It isn't right that we should be mistreated for their mistakes. I'm not in the military anymore, I served my country- and all I ask is some common courtesy. I'm disgusted by this.
Joe said it- he's hit all my concerns right on the nose.
i,am 59 years old i feld short by 6 mos. to pass my ed. benifit,s to my children i have all these ed. benifit that i will never use i serve 3 deployment,s since 2002 and retired in feb 2009 what was congress thinking
My husband retired in may 2009 and he can't pass his benefits to our children. He served 23 years, what were they thinking? I don't think the powers that be understand why this would do to help families. My husband doesn' t need his benefits for himself but it would be helpful to our kids.
Disappointed
I agree, my husband retired after 30 years Dec 08, knew this benefit was coming, but as with most things, can't pass on to kids or spouses. I agree with Dawn, how disappointing.
I am in the same category….deployed and maxed out on time after 37 years…retiring in JAN 2009 and hoping to pass on my benefits to my daughter in college only to be slapped in the face by an August 2009 implementation date that left us out cold. Where is the justice in this Congress?
Kevin,
I had 9 Combat deployments in my 22 years and I retired due to disability in Sept 2008. I also can not transfer the benefit. I agree that this should be fixed for members that have put in over 20 years to allow the children to use the benefit.
Come on Ron. Lets be honest here. Theu give you 10 years to use it. Not much more I can say about that.
I have to agree with Anna and Phillip. My husband is in the same situation, he has a partial disability and the only thing he really gets a small amount off his taxes for the disability portion of retirement pay. I have another beef on top of this. My husband retired after 20 years in the USAF and is eligible for the 9-11 GI Bill program, but because of our retirement date, he is not able to transfer it to our daughter who is in college or me. Most of our friends are still active duty, but are preparing for retirement and have been able to transfer their 9-11 bill to their children or spouse. They all served during the same time, they all did the same work. The only difference has been retirement dates.
Have your children join the military to get benifits, like the rest of us.
Being a Military spouse or Militsry brat should not get you the same benifits as someone who is or has actually served.
We are facing the same frustrating situation. My husband just put in his retirement papers and went to transfer his education benefits to our daughter. Turns out that those of us who are this close to retirement are required to stay an additional 1-2 years in order to qualify to give our benefits to our children. How is that even fair?? We had to decline passing on the benefits because we feel it's more important our daughter have her parents home for at least her senior year in high school, something we have never been able to guarantee our children before. I just brakes my heart as we were so excited to finally get something amazing to pass on to our kids after all our years of dual military life. We planned to give our benefits to our children but must stay longer to do so. Staying longer will guarantee our being deployed away from them for the 9th time. It's just not worth it when we consider all they have sacrificed by our being gone so much. It is truly discouraging and for some reason I am just not surprised, it defiantly seemed too good to be true and it was.
Lynn I agree, my husband served 28 yeras in the service retiring in 2005, he is eligible for this bill, but unable to transfer to our daughter who is now in her freshman year of colleg. Are they saying to us that his service don't count. This is very disappointing to me. Someone or our VA representative need to look into this for our prior service members who did the same work, but just because of a date, their money is held up. No FAIR.
help veterans thats going to school who have served and got a general discharge that payed for the gi bill cause really where does the money go that we all paid
Into the same pot in the sky as all the ones who never used it at all but still paid into it as well.
What do you mean James youhave 10 years to use the benefits?
is it just me or does the Army have an insidious habit of booting combat veterans for the most minuscule stuff? I went to the war in Iraq on March 19 2003, and came back to watch all the veterans in my unit systematically get chaptered over stuff that before would have barely qualified for an article 15. Not saying it didn't qualify, just would have normally gotten smoked or a counseling statement instead. I survived this trend of chapters, and redeployed and reenlisted in 2005 only to come back and get a general under honorable, for offenses that would have normally warranted nothing more then an article 15. Keep in mind that while I did screw up, I was decorated veteran with an exceptional service record and was coming up on my second army good conduct medal. While going through the chapter process JAG informed me that I still qualified for my GI Bill . I got out only to find that due to the post 9/11 GI Bill that was actually not the case. At least I was given a General Under Honorable conditions because of my service record, and so many Iraq veterans I know were given the same treatment, for even smaller offenses. I do not think it fair that we get excluded, when general under honorable did not exclude you in the pre-9/11 Bill. I also do not think it very fair that any soldier since before Nam get excluded from many of the Bills passed in order to help younger soldiers. If its good for us, then why can't it be good for them? They served their country in the ultimate form of service, the military. The only organization in the U.S. where an American citizen literally becomes government property, and is usually treated with little more respect than a stray dog, from the government they serve, and from the very citizens for whom they serve as a protector of the freedoms they waste. Keep in mind soldiers still in service DO NOT have the freedoms, that free americans do.
Has anyone heard about extending benefits for title 32 duty done alongside soldiers on title 10 orders?
No way.. title 32 always gets the short end of stick. They think that somehow AD under Title 32 is a get over. The e4 flipping burgers in the mess hall at some training post contributed less to the war effort than I did but he is getting the benefit and I am not. I even pulled security in an airport for several weeks. It a big crock of BS.
I’m sorry, I’d really like to know where some people are getting there info. There’s a msg towards the top that claims that the post 9/11 GI bill allows people to pocket change. Actually if you were dealing with the new gi bill you would know that is not the case… in fact the money goes directly to the schools now and if you are active duty you get no extra. especially if you were given the gi bill by your active duty spouse who does not want to go to school! there’s no pocket change! you want to gripe. complain about how good the reserves have it! they get e-5 BAH while using the gi bill! plus, i don’t know if it still is this way, but the reservist used to get the money directly sent to them for tuition, bah, and living expenses while attending school. This happened to my husband during his 3 year reserve contract in between his 9 other years worth of active duty. Starting to think we should’ve stayed reserves! So what if there were so many benefits 10 or 20 years ago! That’s why they make changes! to make it better for future service members… or at least attempt to… this country is waaaaaaaay too pampered. I Love America the country, but way too many of it’s people are selfish and whiney. no offense to those who have legitimate issues, just the ones who could work harder and get somewhere but are too lazy to do so… not everyone can be a rich movie star people! the rest of us have to work our butts off.
Wrong Bill. I did not sign up for one weekend a month. I signed up for the Active Guard Reserve program. I wore the uniform every day. I got paid on the 1st and 15th. I did 4 years in the Regular Army 82d Abn Div. Then I did 17years of active duty under title 32. I receive a pension check every month just like the guy who retired from the regular army. I had to pass the APFT twice a year, I had to qualify with my weapon every year, I had to attend NCOES at Ft Benning. I deployed to the first Gulf War and went to Bosnia. I supported the GWOT just as much as some people in uniform or more that are getting this benefit and I am not.
It is pretty obivious from your post, that you have no idea what James and I are talking about. AGR people never get the extra benefits that AD and even part-time Guardsmen get. We are deined from any kind of reenlistment bonuses, no GI BIlls, and numerous other programs that have been offered over the years.
My 8 years of service serving on submarines during the "cold war" from 1979-1987 don't count for squat for educational benefits. During that period the only thing offered was VEAP – you put in $2700 and the govt added $5400 for a grand total of $8100. We are the forgotten vets………… geo
I agree. I maxed out my VEAP and it still did not come close to covering my educational costs.
This is the most ignorant statement I have heard. Apparranty you really don't know what was going on before you came into the military. You sound like a whiner who wants everyone to beleive you have it so hard.
If anyone should man up it should be you! You should also learn to keep your opinions to yourself until you do some real research so you can know what you are talking about. Your statement sounds like barracks gossip.
All disability is non taxable, atleast i hope because i havent filed it for the last 5yrs. I just wish va disability and state disability worked hand and hand. Im 70 percent about to be 100, cant get a job because i fail the physical. I have scars on my face, neck and shoulder and my left eye is messed up. Ive been denied state disability 4 times, each time i go in the office a young female is awarded money for birthing bastard children. More than just the gi bill needs addressing. Va outreach amounts to someone waving as they pass you while you're stranded onside a road. Even if i passed a physical i go to atleast 5 appointments a month, yet they wont hire me to work there? I wish i could go back 10 years and tell uncle sam to go fuck himself. Semper Fi to all who served
I attend a 2 1/2 yr tech school… currently under Chapter 33, get my BAH, and am under the Yellow Ribbon program. The $1000 a year for books is the only item that doesn't cut it for me, but the rest of the money being thrown my way more than makes up for it. While those around me in class are in debt 30k + at this point, I am debt free and have money in the bank. This however seems to be the problem. While I lucked out, I am sorry to hear others aren't getting the same treatment.
I'm a pilot. i have been searching for aviation schools for the last 5 years after separating from the Navy. And I already have my private pilot certificate.
Do they discriminate against pilots? VA only covers 60% of flight training. 20K to 25K dollars is alot of money to try and come up with on your own if you don't come from a rich family. That is what the education benefits are supposed to be for right? Getting a career?
Embry-Riddle participates in the Yellow-Ribbon program. You get 15,000/semester on top of tuition and BAH to cover flight costs. Contact the VA Rep at Embry-Riddle (Daytona, Prescott and Worldwide all participate). I start flight school in August at Prescott.
I've been affraid of contacting Embry Riddle becuse I saw their admission requirements. They looked worse (higher) than ASU (Arizona State University) from where I've been denied twice! Mainly since they don't accept SMART transcripts and I never had time to take that many college courses while on active duty. It interfered with the watch schedule too much.
But I guess at this point I may as well ask Embry Riddle anyways if I can get in. Several other colleges I contacted this week say their only 60% covered for flight training.
And the only problem with Spartan college in Tulsa, OK was their tuition fees "which may not be paid by financial aide" including VA benefits. Other than that, they could accept ASVAB testsing as enrollment requirements. 4,000 dollar flight-tuition. 1,000 dollar for tuition into anything else was what they told me. I have barely enough money for application fees and VA won't even pay those!
I have been studying aviation for more than 25 years. I'm 31 years. I should have just been able to go through military flight training and it would be done with already! Or at least challenge a few courses right now to make the VA coverage go up to 100%. All I need is flight time though and they only accept money, not knowledge.
And at my local airport, aircraft rental fees are not 160 dollars/hr for a C172, it's only 100 dollars. Why does VA only accept the more expensive schools!?
With the 40% I would have to come up with for any FAA part 141 school, I could pay on my own, the rest of the commercial and instrument certifications at most FAA part 61 schools, and there would be no travel expenses (fuel to drive there)!
Prescott would be my Embry Riddle campus as well.
And I have been tryniog to come up with that money, but it seems that everyone around who's hiring are low-paying cheapskates. While trying to help feed my family and pay rent, my education benefits will have expired.
And not everyone can take out a loan, or know someone rich enough to be the co-signer.
So what are these benefits good for to a pilot who has been studying aviation all their lives? 31 years old and only getting older.
The new GI bill is designed for the 22 year old male that does his four years and gets out. The program neglects the vet who has to work 40+ hours a week, take a couple classes online as well as attend a regular classroom setting or two, and take care of his wife and children. My MOS in the corps doesn't translate to a civilian job so I have to be retrained in a totally new field.
Ron, the Post 9/11 GI wasn't about us vets, it was about one political party making the nation pay more deeply for going to war. The previous GI bill paid for itself by taking elective contributions, but this one has no logical payment mechanism. The fact that it requires that you serve 3 years following a specified date, just proves how out of sync the individuals that designed it are with the vets who will benefit.
Post 9/11 GI Bill Facts
-proposed on Jan. 5, 2007 by Jim Webb, former Secretary of the Navy under Reagan
-Passed in the House of Representatives 416-12 on June 19th, 2008
-Passed in the Senate 92-6 on June 28th, 2008
-Signed into law by President George W. Bush on June 30th, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-9/11_Veterans_E…
I do have one question and I was hoping Jack might be able to help me with it: How is it that the VA was managing to receive a maximum of $1800 total from each service member, and 4 years later make more than $70,000 available to those pursuing higher education?….An interest rate of almost 4 thousand percent would be required for the old GI Bill to have been paying for itself.
The GI Bill pays for itself by people signing up for it, and then not taking advantage of it within the 10 year limitation, and giving it up.
You guys signed up for the military, and the GI Bill, with specific regulations regarding the use of your benefit. You accepted that. You wasted that. You need to accept that.
Why complain when you received everything that you were promised? When you signed up, they said, "This is what you will receive." And I bet you said something along the lines of, "Well, alright." You had the opportunity to go to school straight out of the military. Just because you didn't want to use the opportunity, doesn't mean you didn't have the opportunity.
I retired last year and I am using the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Like everyone else, I did not receive the funds until October. The University did not give me any problems and the VA representatives were great. I did not take an emergency loan because I knew the consequences.
Ch. 30 is still better than Post 9/11 @ 60% benefit.
When I went to the briefing , we were told to expect a letter in January. As far as getting benefits during the summer, it has always been that way. You have to attend school.
Thing that annoys me most about the post 9/11 GI bill is that you cannot use it for flight training. What if your career goal is to be a commercial pilot? I guess you're outta luck, eh?
I'm a 21 year vet, served during the post vietnam pre 9/11 years. Served when it wasn't popular serve.The thanks we got was to watch Original GI bill get taken away from us and given Veap as its replacement. Then to watch the GI bill come back modified and given only to the younger vets. We helled an army and country together with equipment significantly less serviceable and capable as the equipment of today. The thanks we get is maybe a free meal on veterans day.
I fell in the same boat as so many other vets. My time has elapsed. Instead I pursued a degree on my own and still fell short. It would be nice if the government would consider giving us the 1200 we paid into the system if anything this would put all vets on a equal playing field for payments on the issue of the gi bill….
Thanks, Bill
Did 12 in the Military and moved over to the DOD as a Fed, lost my job as a Fed under federal disability retirement because of medical disability during active duty which the tricare local hospital I was sent to didn't have the equipment to test for but the VA did and found upon leaving. Now I've been waiting 5 years under a DRO notice of disagreement for the VA to decide whether I get compensation for it or not. Meanwhile I have to see a VA physician 3 times a week for it yet can't file for IU because I am not 70% but no one will hire me because of the time off needed for hospital visits and having problems with the post 911 bill because of class requirements.
Been attending school for 6 months now and still keep getting turned down for Education benefits. Was in Iraq twice and can't get the government to help with my education. Guess soe things NEVER change.
This is all well and good, but how does that trickle down to the veteran. Much of the difficulties with the Post 9/11 GI Bill are wrapped up in the VA itself and the State Approving Agencies, these are the people who approve the programs for GI Bill payments.
Senator John Ensign (R-NV) is introducing two bills, S.1784 and S.1785 in an effort to remove some of the Red Tape caused by the law and the huge bureaucracy of the VA and allow veterans to pursue their educational goals unhampered just like any other non-veteran student is able to do.
Please contact your Senators and urge them to become either co0-sponsors of these two bills, or at least to vote for their passage into law.
Denis,
Check out UNLV in Nevada for flight training. They accept SMART transcripts.
SO anyone know that if you exhaust your pre 9/11 GI bill you get the 1200 dollars back that you put in and then get 12 months under the post 9/11 GI bill?
No matter how much they say they did to get the word out about the Post 9-11 GI Bill it fell far short. I retired in October 2009 and prior to that, in the retirement briefing, all that was said was that all the rules weren't out yet but you had 15 years to use the benefits and could transfer eligibility to dependents. With 2 in college that was good news to me. What they didn't know at the time was that you had to have them all set up before retirement. On the surface Post 9-11 GI Bill looks great but they made the rules so onerous so it would be difficult to use the benefit. Strange way of thanking us for our service.
Davd ,
I, also, retired in Oct 09. I have to agree with you about not being told in the retirement briefing that you had to set up the transfer eligibility before your retirement date. Fortunately for me, while on on terminal leave, I shipmate sent me the message via email. I was about to delete it, thinking I already knew all the facts. I had 3 days left prior to my actual fleet reserve date and made some calls and told what I needed to do to transfer benifits to my son. So, thank goodness I was sent the email and did not delete it before reading it. Back to the point, they did not put all the information out there! Best of luck to you!
Wow…..I hear a lot of complaining about this and that. I'm a retired disable vet as well. I served in the USAF for 20 years in a combat related career field and now I work a full time job and go to school under the Voc Rehab and I qualify for the post 9-11 GI bill. Like a lot of the comments I read I did not properly plan for my 3 children to attend college but that not the VA's fault it mine!! So stop complaining about your benefits not being transferable if you happen to fall outside of the window. Remember that benefits are designed for the service member…that's why family members are called dependents.
I also hear those complaining about employment. Jobs are out there but what sacrifices are you willing to make to get one. I went through the same frustrations until I finally took a contract job overseas for a year stacked my money and eventually got into civil service which also took some sacrifice causing me to be separated from my family but I did what I had to do.
The bottom line is that it was your responsibility to prepare for you and your families future….not the VA or any other government entity. I understand the system may be broke in some areas but why are we always concentrating on the negative and not making the most of the positives. If 9-11 don't work for you look into many of the other programs that are out there to assist vets and their families. For example many states have programs that allow veterans children to attend state schools for free or at a reduced tuition……California is one. Do your research and if one door is closed another will open!
Great job. I like what you said and I totally agree with you. I retireed in 03 and worked plenty of odd jobs untill a goverment contractors job came open and I took it, hoping it turn to civil service soon, but I also started night classes in order to take advantage of the 9/11 GI bill. I look at it as a part time job that pays okay but also the educational advantage as well. Don't blame the VA because you didn't plan properly.
i served 12 years in the reserves until an injury forced me out i was mobed twice and deployed once i had over 2 years of active duty time but i am being told only 9 month will count for the GI BILL they keep saying that the guard and reserve are equals with the active duty but we still get the short end of the benefits. Most old unit just returned form what is most of their third deployment. and are already eying another. why do they only hold the guard and reserve as equals when it is in the army's benefit
I am a veteran I served 5 years active duty after 911. I got out of the military to be with my kids. I am a single mother. I work at least 40 hours a week but it still doesn't seem to make my financial situation any better. I receive help from the county that I live in for my daycare, but if I want to use my Post 911 GI Bill I will loose all assistance with daycare. I have went through the Department of Public Welfare for PA, talked to my senators and have even called the Pentagon and VA. An active duty E5 with dependents where I live makes an average of 48,000 a Yr but they are also eligible for the same type of assistance that I receive for my daycare. But I would still be making less then the active duty E5 and I would not be eligible because the BAH stipend would be counted against my income but is not counted against an active duty person. How is this possible? Any suggestions as to who to talk to? Where to go for help? I don't think any entitlements that Veterans get from the VA should be included in income for any type of assistance programs especially if active duty personell don't have them counted.
Your BAH stipend is tax free and doesnot count as taxable income. As far as help goes for you and your kids, I strongly suggest you go to your local American Legion Post and join (its 35$ a year in dues) and they will help you in many ways you would not believe.
What about repayment of federal student loans. I incurred $14,000 of extra loans using the regular GI Bill. I now have my Bachelor's Degree and am not going back for my MBA. What can't I use the post 9/11 bill (which I am eligible at 90%) to pay off my remaining loans?
I retired in 2005. I have my full benefit from the GI Bill. I am also 80% service connected disabled and receive a check for that from the VA every month. Can I transfer my benefit to my kids or my wife?
Would like to see the 9/11 eligibility expanded to Title 32 AGR Soldiers that work day to day doing the same tasks that Title 10 CONUS Soldiers perform, with much less assests and less FTUS.
I retired out of the Army Res. with over 21 years of service can't receive any education benefits. Soldiers like me aren't considered as vets.I'm still under contract until the age of 60 and can be still deployed in a national emergency.
The VA and its nonworkings needs a serious look. The VA says its not accountable to the courts about benifits, its actions shows its not accountable to the Veteran,get on the ball Congress.
I retireed 7 years ago and recieve my disabality along with my pension every month. I know the way that the VA handles this process is wrong, but it is the one we all have to live with. I also statred school the March and recieved my first BAH partial payment on time. I only get 80% of the benifet because of timing of my retirement and I understand it. My point is the VA is not perfect and I have seen them in action helping everyone they can. Lets not jump the VA, lets jump our elected officials, who bye the way work for us, to get off their collective butts and get the job done and give all of us that which we all have earned. If they can take care of themselves then why can't they take care of us?
Once you receive benefits you keep them till the day you die or our government goes under. Every time the military gets a raise so do you. Depending on which type of 100% your on, after you die your wife keeps getting your disability.
Dude, the VA has more money in unclaimed benifets then you can fathom. Do the math, you don't even realize the magnatude of what the VA has to offer. Many, many programs are not even being used and they have Billions of dollars sitting there collecting interest. Use the VA as an oppertunity to make your life better instead of using it as a crouch.
That happened to me as well. Not fair.
First off, why is there a 48 month limit from when you start using the GI Bill. Some people may need to get a job in the middle of their education to pay for life's circumstances and need to go to school part time without the BAH. The BAH isn't enough for everybody. I am not necessarily demanding more money, a young college kid with roomates could probably live off of the monthly amount as long as you actually pay them. I used the post 9/11 bill and in between semesters from fall to winter my classes ended around Dec 20 and started back up around Jan 18th. I received about half of the BAH for Dec and none for Jan. Rent and bills still occur these months and it is not easy to just go out and find a temp job for a couple of weeks over the holidays. Then even the second semester they were delayed by over a month in paying me. Tall about managing a budget when you don't know how much you are going to get paid or when.
I agree with you Ron I am in the same boat. I did not get to use my GI Bill it ran out by the time I was able to decide what field I wanted to study in and I had a rotating shift schedule on my job that made it hard to go to school and the availibility of online classes was not that good during that time. So I too am unemployed and not able to pay for school because the government which I served said I only get 10 years to use it. I also did not recieve the $ 1200.00 back that was deducted out of my check to pay for that.
Ok there are alot of people here that aparently have bum information on the Post 911 GI Bill so I'll try to help you out. If you have previously already used the old GI Bill you can still sign up for the Post 911. I was never in this situation so I cant guarantee what level of benifits you get. I personally never paid into the GI Bill, but you didnt have to for post 911. I signed a statement defering the original GI Bill that I didnt qualify for anyways as I hadn't paid into it ….. in favor of the 911. Basically if you want it you have to defer the remainder of your original GI Bill in favor of the 911 bill or use the original up, then apply for the post 911 essentially getting both. According to everything I've read this is possible but the VA determines the payment percentage so i doubt you get a full 100% on the 911 in this senario so talk to a counselor and get the facts straight before you sign anything.
So the moral of the story is you have to set things up in advance and be prepared with a decent savings to cover yourself if you plan to go to school. You can get paid your monthly stipend during regular school breaks like summer, but the VA will take away from the educational portion of your alotment so it's better to go full time untill you meet your educational goal. Different schools have different full time requirements, and they change for each semmester. for instance during this summer I am only taking 2 classes but they give me enough credit hours to qualify for the monthly stipend one is 5 credits the second 3. Basically the only way to ensure you future is take the bull by the horns I feel for all the Nam Vets that are confused on what the situation is all I can say is go to the VA websight and figure out what percentage you qualify for fill out the post 911 form only when your sure you dont want to use the rest of the original bill…. good luck.
The reps at your school will screw up every day and twice on tuesday. Make shure you make no less then 3 visits every semmester. Once to verify your registered classes and twice after once to see if a defferal for VA payments was put on your classes and that the VA paid, and again a week before the first day of class to ensure you didnt get dropped because they screwed the pooch on that. If your a vet you can sign up for classes ahead of everyone else go to the VA rep on your campus and find out when the first day for the next semester is available so you always get the scheduel you want.
I agree with everyone of the comments posted. I am a 15 year vet that got medically and honorably discharged with no retirement pay! The GI Bill's are not perfect and neither is the American Congress. I know most if not all of us are hurting in some way or another but we must remember to be thankful for what we do have. Yes the VA has issues and yes the American Government and its elected Officials are not doing enough to help us but look to God because He alone is our source. This may upset some of you but it's the truth that enables us to understand and find peace. Do your research and try and find alternative methods to fund your education until they get the GI Bill up to speed. Don't be afraid to seek public assitance or help, we worked long and hard and deserve it. I pray that God would move for each and everyone of your needs and concerns.
I feel most of everyone's pain here as well. Being offered an advance of $3000 sounded pretty good to me to take care of some school expeneces, especially since they (the VA) are the one's who offered it in the 1st place, prior to the actual benefits taking effect. However, why can't the VA collect that money like other financial institutes do when the student graduates? Like starting 6 months after graduation. Why be offered something, then have to give it all back at once or have huge sums of your BAH taken out of your benefits right away?
I am utilizing the Post 9/11 and was greatly dissapointed to learn that I needed to attend campus courses to be eligible for the Living Stipend. Most importantly the University that I attend only provides the degree program in Healthcare Adminstration online. As a result I had to change my degree plan in order to receive my benefits that I earned after 8 years of service. Will there be a retroactive deal made for those that share the similiar situation that I have and want to change back to a online degree plan?
Did they ever consider the retiree's and there dependents not able to take advantage of this?
If VA would lay off all the employees that are hired to deny veteran benefits it would have suffieient funds to pay our benefits.I lost GI Bill when I made one change to my education program,was denied tinitus/hearing loss,dental
coverage and now must pay a co pay since VA includes my wife's Soc.Sec. when looking at my income. Get on the paper merry-go-round by writing
to Congress and the VA.
I had requested for my Montgomery GI Bill be converted to the Post 9/11 GI Bill back in August 2009. To date, I have not receive status of that request. I called and called…the 1-800 for assistance, and all I could get is an answering machine saying, "due to the volume of callers…blah, blah, blah….. call again next time….
I am a Navy retiree (20+ years on active duty).
Ron, I am in same boat- got out in 95. What really pisses me off is that they chose this mod instead of the g.i. bill for life that made it to the senate floor in 07
that was very rude and disrespectful.
I agree with you Ramon. Things were not that easy and you really had to do more with less. When we were sent to the desert we didn't have the luxury of McDonalds, swimming pools and such.
Tyri Sampson and those who think like him need to recognize all the benefits that they have these days and yet they have to improvise less to get their jobs done. We did more than our share and what was asked of us to do what needed to be done for the sake of our great nation. We deserve to be treated as real veterans who truly made an impact and who made it better for those who are serving today.
Marc, I was thinking the same thing, where did Rick get this false information from?
Ron, I'd have to agree that there should be one program tied to service and not several. One set of benefits and one set of rules. I was under the Vietnam era GI bill and used all of it that I could (BS degree). But, I was not allowed, later to enroll in any of the other programs because I had a degree. Even though they were the ones you paid into. Now, they GIVE me the full package; just one caviat. I'm 55 and don't need further educational advantages from the government. So, though I've earned it, I really can't use it. My job pays more now than I could get by leaving it, adding to my education and then trying to reenter the job market. So, the government saves a bundle on "giving" me an educational program.
Sara – I am afraid you have part of it wrong. Only the Tuition goes to the school. You are right active duty and there spouse get only tuition and no stipends. But Reserve get the same deal as an active duty veteran depending on the number of months served on active duty (Tuition to school Stipend paid directly to them). They do NOT get the tuition sent to them under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. If you used to get that it must have been under the MGIB-SR.
Come on Ron. Lets be honest here. Theu give you 10 years to use it. Not much more I can say about that.
What do you mean James youhave 10 years to use the benefits?
Doug, we are a dying breed. I was AF from 1967 to 1988. Viet Nam Vet also. When I retired, I couldn't afford to go to college. I had a family to support. I worked two jobs most of the time, just to get by. The retirement check is ok, but not enough to survive. I am going back to college now, just for me. No wife or kids, just me. FASA is going to cost me a fortune. $8200 alone last year. I won't live long enough to pay it back. So the only way I can even is to die before I get a FASA loan repaid. Viet Nam vets are a nobody. If you don't believe it ask one.
There are other benefits where the VA will help someone with technical training, or furthering education. The issue I've seen with ex-troops is they expect someone to come knock on their door and explain them. If you're unemployed there is no reason not to make an appointment at the VA to speak with someone.
There is also a rather new division called the Vet Center. My local chapter in Manchester NH has been a great help to vets from Nam to today! Check out your local chapter and give them a visit.
A lot of people need help, sometimes you just gotta ask for it and be persistant! I will agree that more current vets do get better benefits, however, that's no reason to give up if you desire to go back to school.
Good Luck all!!!
I fell in the same boat as so many other vets. My time has elapsed. Instead I pursued a degree on my own and still fell short. It would be nice if the government would consider giving us the 1200 we paid into the system if anything this would put all vets on a equal playing field for payments on the issue of the gi bill….
Thanks, Bill
he is saying because of his type of discharge (general under honorable) he can no longer use the gi bill due to the post 9/11 requirements. Currently James your only chance is too submit a DD 293 and request that your discharge be upgraded, wait 6 months for a reply most likely stating we'll get back to you, and prayer.
Most of those before 9/11 and after vietnam never seen combat.
the gi bill should not have a time limit! not every service member that gets out can go straight to college. some have famlies and have to go straight back into the work force as a civilian. you have bills to pay,food on the table,and a roof over your head. i served my time in the mid 90s. i can no longer use my gi bill because my time has ran out. the 10 year window. i just can't quit my job, i have a family and have to provide for them. i also looked into the hazel wood act. they said it does not cover me if i wanted to go to the police academy. once again i stuck out on futhering my education. did i strick out? i think everyone who served honorably and got a HONORABLE DISCHARGE should be able to use their benifits when able. we should not have a time limit on futhering our education. with out a higher education its hard to get a secure job. if the gi bill is updated i think we should be able to use some of the new benifits. CAN WE GET THAT EDUCATION WITH OUT TIME LIMITS. WE JUST WANT AN EDUCATION. WE GAVE SOME FOR OUR COUNTRY AND SOME GAVE ALL FOR ALL FOR OUR COUNTRY! ONE LAST THING. SEMPER FI!!!!!!! USMC ONCE A MARINE ALWAYS A MARINE!!!!!!
A big problem I have with this program is this if anyone has a solution a couple of rounds on me. I have 29yrs in which means I retire next year. I tried to give my wife 12months of my eligibility but because I can't give them the necessary payback they dissapproved my request.. How assinine is that.. anyone know what I can do to fix this. Tks JB
I agree with Andre, but the problem I have is that I heard and read that you had to take 6 or more credit hours to get the full BAH. Now I recently talked to my VA Rep and he is telling me that you have to take 8 or more credit hours. So something, somewhere changed from the original program already. I served 34 years and I have been screwed more than once by the Government so I am getting rather used to it. I was approved for the Montgomery Bill by HRC; paid $1800.00 into the program, paid my tuition out of pocket (~ $10,000) to finish a B.S. degree; submitted my claim to the VA and then was denied. The illustrious government forgot they drafted me during Viet Nam, and used the Viet Nam GI Bill. I am still fighting to get my $1800 back and maybe have it narrowed down to writing the Army Board of Corrections since everyone passed the buck, from the Army to HRC to DFAS and back again.
This is a continuation to the above; so if anyone at Military.com reads this a "letter" count would be nice as my comment was too long! I am eligible for the Post 9-11 at 100%; and I recommend to anyone that is not enrolled to get enrolled before they decide to jack the Veterans around again. Who do I trust the least? Our Government ! I am going to reply as a guest as I have enough issues with Uncle Sam. Taking Care of Our Veterans is apparently not a high priority. I will agree though that the post 9-11 Bill is the best bill they ever had till they started to ammend it. I do not blame those Veterans that are attending Private schools, and now will get short changed for tuition; to be disgruntled.
Another addition; I guess I am too long winded!
Maybe they should Grandfather them like the BAH which I hear will be Grandfathered if you were enrolled full time in 2010. And I am not sure, but are they saying they are now going to use the average BAH for the country? So if you live where the cost of living is high you get screwed and where you live where the cost of living is low you make out better; how is that fair across the board? Sort of like Congress saying there will be no cost of living allowance for those Veterans that are on Social Security this year, but from what I understand they voted in a raise in pay for themselves. Was that just for the h.ll of it ?; since the cost of living did not go up ?