New Changes to the Post 9/11 GI Bill..
December 21, 2010 by Da-Chief
Filed under Corpsman.com News, Military Family, Retired Veteran News, Seperated Vets News
These are a few of the changes to the Post 9/11 GI BILL.
You might want to read this as quite a few things are changing.. some good and some bad.. You should be educated..
- Expands current Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility to include National Guard activation for events like title 32, national emergencies, and AGR service. This is retroactive to Aug. 1, 2009, but benefits will not be paid until Oct. 1, 2011.
- Removes limitations for non-degree granting programs including certification courses, vocational-technical training, and Apprenticeship and On-the-Job Training programs similar to the Montgomery GI Bill. Effective Oct. 1, 2011
- Simplifies the tuition payment rates by eliminating the state-by-state “undergraduate level” cap for tuition and fees. The VA will pay all actual tuition and fees for public (state) institutions for all levels of higher education. Effective Aug. 1, 2011. — Also applies to active duty servicemembers and their families, which goes into effect 60 days after enactment.
- Sets an annual tuition and fee cap for all private institutions of $17,500 a year. This translates into $52,500 total for tuition and fees over the life of the benefits (36 months). Yellow Ribbon is still available to cover out-of-pocket tuition and fees expenses. Effective Aug. 1, 2011
- Limits the monthly housing stipend by prorating the payment to the rate of pursuit (based on number of course hours taken). For example a half-time student will receive 50 percent of the current BAH. All other locality payment rates still apply. Effective Aug. 1, 2011
- Expands eligibility for the monthly housing stipend to all half-time of better “distance learners” at a rate of 50 percent of the national average for BAH (approximately $673) – which will also be prorated to the rate of pursuit (based on the number of course hours taken). Effective 10/1/2011 – not retroactive.
- Eliminates housing stipend payments during break periods (spring break, summer semester, winter break, etc.). Effective Aug. 1, 2011.
- Expands the annual book stipend eligibility to include active duty and their spouses. Effective Oct. 1, 2011
- Enables disabled veterans who are entitled to subsistence under theVoc-Rehab (VR&E) program and Post-9/11 GI Bill to take the P911 Housing Stipend in place of the VR&E subsistence payment. Effective Aug. 1, 2011
- Removes the limit of just one test for licensure or certification and expands coverage to include “National Tests” like SAT, GRE, LSAT, and tests for college credit like the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Effective Aug. 1, 2011.
- Grants GI Bill eligible care givers an extension on their 10 year deadline for using benefits. Effective Aug. 1, 2011.
- Enables eligible NOAA and USPHS members to transfer GI Bill benefitslike all other eligible members. Effective Aug.1, 2011
You can read more about it here: Military.com
This not getting BAH during breaks is going to hurt quite a few folks. I don’t know what they were thinking..
That is ridiculous, What am I supposed to do during Breaks? I cant find a job for 2 weeks and get shorted money.
I totally agree Nick.. I don’t know what I am going to do either. At least it doesn’t start until next year August.. Maybe it will be fixed by then.
Why is the distance learning bah not retroactive? So if we chose to start our education and not wait for 9/11 to get it together we just lose out?
Because you’re dealing with law, it is never retroactive. It sucks but it is what it is..
What I dont understand is that for students going to a 4 year university (myself going to Washington State University) that the program only allots for 3 years of studies. That just boggles my mind. Dont even get me started on the “No BAH during breaks” part because that is just beyond insane. As NickPM567 said, what are we supposed to do…get a job for a few weeks at a time? Yeah that will look AWESOME! on a resume.
Contact your Senators and inform them that you will not vote for them if they vote this into law.
You know what they say, whatever the money the politicians can take out of these programs will go directly into their bank accounts.
I’ve been thinking about it, I guess I’ll be saving some financial aid (fafsa) starting this fall to keep us going around Christmas time. That’s the only thing you can do, in an economy that is hard to find full time employment the competition is high, noone will want to hire someone full time for only a month. Fun times the VA makes. By the way, contact your representatives that’s the only way we can combat this.
Though we qualify for 36 months of GI Bill benefits, that turns out to be exactly 4 years of undergraduate study. You don’t go to school every single day of those 4 years, just 9 months out of each year. 9 months every year for 4 years = 36 months.
I doubt it will be “fixed” by then. It’s taken them this long to “fix” the original version.