VA answers questions about Post-9/11 GI Bill Published April 8, 2009 By Staff Sgt. Christie Putz 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Since Sept. 11, 2001, U.S. military forces have worked overtime to ensure the nation's safety and security. To return the favor, the government is rolling out one of their most comprehensive educational benefits package for servicemembers since the original Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944. Under the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, which will go into effect Aug. 1, many veterans who served after Sept. 11, will be eligible for full tuition and fees, a new monthly housing stipend and an annual stipend of up to $1,000 for books and supplies. Reservists and National Guard members who have been activated for more than 90 days since Sept. 11, as well as servicemembers who declined to participate in the original Montgomery GI Bill, will have access to the same GI Bill benefits. To help explain some of the major changes, Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs Education and Training Specialist Dan Wellman spoke to several Team Scott audiences during a series of briefings at the Base Theater April 2. "You will be required to make what we call an 'irrevocable decision' on whether or not you want to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill," said Mr. Wellman. Those receiving benefits under the current Montgomery GI Bill can transfer their benefits into the Post-9/11 GI Bill at any time until its expiration, but once the decision is made to transfer, benefits cannot be reverted back to the Montgomery GI Bill, he explained. For many eligible participants, the Post-9/11 GI Bill will offer better benefits than former programs, however, there are several factors that affect suitability: Unlike the Montgomery GI Bill, the Post-9/11 GI Bill can only be used for programs taken at a college or university. Current GI Bill benefits cover undergraduate and graduate college courses, certificate programs, on-the-job training, apprenticeship training, flight training and non-college degree courses. In some locations, the costs of college and housing (which you would receive payment for under the Post-9/11 GI Bill) are less than the payment received under the Montgomery GI Bill. In some states, including Illinois, resident veterans do not have to pay tuition at selected state colleges. Since there are no tuition costs, the Post-9/11 GI Bill may then pay only the housing benefit and the book stipend. Payments under other GI Bill programs, such as the Active-Duty GI Bill, may be higher in these cases. Many of the add-ons to the Montgomery GI Bill are not available for the Post-9/11 bill. For example, those who participated in the $600 buy-up under the Montgomery GI Bill or REAP will not receive that additional benefit under the new bill. According to Mr. Wellman, the Department of Veterans Affairs is expected to begin accepting applications for the Post-9/11 GI Bill May 1. Applications and the most up-to-date information about the program will be available on the GI Bill Web site: www.gibill.va.gov. ELIGIBILITY Servicemembers with at least 90 consecutive days on active duty in the Armed Forces since Sept. 11, 2001 are eligible for benefits. However, to be eligible for the full benefits, you must have three years of active duty service after 9/11 or have been discharged due to a service-connected disability. Officers who graduated from a service academy or received ROTC scholarships also qualify for the new GI Bill benefits. However, ROTC/Service Academy associated obligated active-duty service time does not count toward the three years necessary to qualify for the full benefits. If you are already enrolled in the Montgomery GI Bill and also meet the criteria for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you have the option to transfer your remaining Montgomery GI Bill benefits to the new program, but benefits will not reset themselves. For example, if you have used six months of Montgomery GI Bill benefits, you will only receive the remaining 30 months of benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Any individual who paid the $1,200 buy-in for the Montgomery GI Bill and elects to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill will be refunded a proportional amount if, and after, all entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill is used. Unlike the Montgomery GI Bill, the new GI Bill will allow you to use this benefit for up to 15 years after your last discharge or separation from active duty. TUITION AND FEES COVERAGE The Post-9/11 GI Bill will cover tuition and fees with payments sent directly to the school. The formula for determining the amount of tuition and fees paid will be based on the highest cost of a state-supported bachelor's degree program. Based on 2008 national in-state tuition rates, the anticipated annual tuition payment rate for 2009 will be just over $6,000. In Illinois, the VA is expected to pay $558 per credit hour. An additional $17,530 per term is expected to cover fees applied to all attending students. For students who attend less than full-time (12 credit hours per term), a portion of the payment based on the number of units of study will be received. Preliminary rates for individual state tuition and fees are available on the GI Bill Web site. Housing: Students in at least half-time status will be paid a monthly housing stipend averaging $1,100 per month. The allowance will be equivalent to the E-5 with dependents Basic Allowance for Housing payment, determined using the ZIP code of the school. Amounts per location can be found online at: www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/bah.html Students enrolled exclusively in online training will not receive the housing allowance. Books and Supplies: A maximum of $1,000 per year, distributed per credit hour, will be allotted to the member to cover the costs of books and supplies needed for classes. Students on active duty will not receive the book and supplies stipend. Tutoring: Like the Montgomery GI Bill, the new GI Bill will provide up to $1,200 for tutorial assistance. Certification: An extra $2,000 is available to pay for one license or certification test as approved by the VA. Relocation: Selected students may also receive a one-time rural benefit payment of $500 if they reside in a county with six persons or less per square mile (as determined by the most recent decennial census) and must travel or relocate to attend school. TRANSFERABILITY For the first time, those enrolled in the Post-9/11 GI Bill program will be able to transfer unused educational benefits, to cover the cost of tuition only, to spouses or children. The DoD is authorized to allow individuals who, on or after August 1, 2009, have served at least six years in the Armed Forces and who agree to serve at least another four years in the Armed Forces to transfer unused entitlement to their dependent spouses and children. The ability to transfer benefits is limited to those currently serving in the military with some limited provisions for those retiring over the next few years. At the time of publish, DoD guidance concerning the implementation of the transfer program has not been released. Dependent on DoD Instruction, additional eligibility restrictions may be imposed. YELLOW RIBBON The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays up to the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition. Tuition and fees may exceed that amount for private institutions, graduate schools or for students attending in a non-resident status. The Yellow Ribbon Program allows colleges or universities to enter into agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. Under the program, the institution can waive up to 50 percent of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution. Institutions that voluntarily enter into a Yellow Ribbon Agreement with VA choose the percentage of tuition and fees that will be waived. VA will match that percentage and issue payment directly to the institution. Only individuals entitled to the maximum benefit rate (based on service requirements) may receive this funding. Additionally, the program is not available to active duty personnel. According to the VA, colleges that have expressed interest in participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program will be identified on the GI Bill Web site beginning in late spring or early summer of 2009. Some information courtesy of www.gibill.va.gov.