HMC-FMF-PJ
07-08-2008, 23:19
For all current and potential future military students out there.
With a brand new law on the books, it is critically important that all students conduct some personal research on their specific educational benefits. There are potentially thousands of dollars of educational benefits at stake. In many ways, especially during the transition period, the new GI Bill program may seem rather complex but the benefits have been greatly increased for many students.
I have seen the new program called a variety of names, including: S22 (as in Senate Bill 22), Chapter 33, GI Bill 2008, VEA, Post 9/11 VEAA, and Post 9/11 GI Bill.
A portion of new program goes into effect immediately. However, in order to give each military branch and the VA time to implement other changes, the new program will be phased in using two stages:
() Stage 1: During the 2008-2009 academic year starting August 1, 2008, the monthly benefit will increase to $1321/month an increase of $220/month from the current benefit.
() Stage 2: Full implementation of the new program benefits starts on August 1, 2009.
The old program simply paid a flat monthly rate. Effective August 1, 2008, the MGIB-AD rate will be $1321 for full-time enrollment, a 20% increase over the 2007 rate. The three major benefits of the new program include up to 100% paid tuition, a monthly housing stipend, and a stipend of up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies. The new benefit and stipends will vary depending on your school and specific residence. The benefit and stipends will be prorated based on the percentage of maximum benefit payable.
In most cases the new program pays higher benefits and includes certain expenses not covered by the old program. However there are some things excluded in the new program that are still covered under the old program. The types of approved training and types of authorized training institutes are not entirely the same in both programs. You really do need to know the basic details of both programs or you just might screw yourself out of thousands of dollars.
The new program also has other benefits like: Tutorial assistance payments, licensing & certification reimbursement, Work-study, one-time relocation payment, and a special “Yellow Ribbon Program”
[] New program payments:
() Tuition payment not to exceed the most expensive in-State public institution of higher education (at in-state resident level)
() Monthly housing stipend mirrors the basic allowance for housing (BAH) amount payable to E-5 with dependents, in the same zip code as the school.
() Materials stipend of up to $1000 a year, paid quarterly, for required books and supplies.
() Relocation stipend is a one time payment of $500 to qualifying individuals relocating from highly rural areas.
[] The amount of tuition and stipends paid under the new program will vary depending on your state of residence, number of units taken, and amount of post Sep. 11, 2001 active-duty service*. Here is a quick reference showing the percentage of total combined benefit eligibility based on the following periods of post 9/11 service:
100% - At least 36 months of active duty service
100% - 30 consecutive days or more with service-connected disability related Discharge.
90% - minimum 30 months
80% - minimum 24 months
70% - minimum 18 months
60% - minimum 12 months
50% - minimum six months
40% - minimum 90 consecutive days
*Some types of active duty orders do not qualify but this primarily involves Reservists and military academy students. Service prior to Sept 11, 2001 does not count. The total active duty service is cumulative; not consecutive. For Reservists, multiple periods of mobilization may be combined to achieve 36 months for 100% benefits.
[] Reservists with expired MGIB-SR educational benefits may have another chance. Effective June 30, 2008, the 14-year expiration of eligibility for members of the Selected Reserve has been rescinded. If you are a member of the Selected Reserve with remaining entitlement under MGIB-SR (Chapter 1606), you will remain eligible until the date you separate from the Selected Reserve. However no retroactive payments will be made for any training conducted between any previous expiration date (delimiting date) and June 30, 2008.
[] Expiration of Benefits: MGIB-AD expires 10 yrs from discharge. The new program expires 15 years from discharge.
[] MGIB Refunds: Many veterans may be entitled to refunds of their $1200 MGIB-AD enrollment fee paid at boot camp. This refund will be included in the last monthly stipend payment when a student exhausts their benefits under the new program (Chapter 33). Individuals who do not exhaust entitlement under chapter 33 will not receive a refund of any contributions paid under the old program (MGIB-AD, Chapter 30).
[] Kicker Refunds: Many participants in the $600 Buy-Up program (aka Kicker, Additional Contribution, College Fund) will not be refunded any of that money and may loose the extra payments under the new program.
[] Eligibility for Multiple Programs: You are generally entitled to 36 months of VA educational benefits. If you are entitled to more than one program you *may be* eligible for a maximum of 48 months of entitlement when using benefits under two or more programs. Some individuals will only be entitled to the number of months they had remaining under their old program up to a maximum of 36 months. Other individuals may be entitled to up to an addition 36 months of educational benefits up to a maximum of 48 months. How and when you transfer programs may increase or decrease your potential maximum educational benefits.
[] Transfer of Benefits: If you are a member of the Armed Forces on August 1, 2009, the Department of Defense may offer you the opportunity to transfer benefits to your spouse or dependent children. However, there are service requirements and certain restrictions apply, plus each branch will develop their own specific rules.
[] The VA typically categorizes students in the following manner:
() Full-time student (12 or more units) 100%
() 3/4-time student (9 - 11 units) 75%
() 1/2-time student (6 - 8 units) 50%
() 1/4 > 1/2 student (4 - 5 units) 50%
() 1/4-time student (3 or less units) 25%
VA Educational Benefits (not all material has been updated to include the new law)
http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/benefits.htm
VA Questions & Answers (not all answers have been updated to include the new law)
https://www.gibill2.va.gov/vba/vba.cfg/php.exe/enduser/std_alp.php?
WAVE (Web Automated Verification of Enrollment)
https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/default.cfm
The Top 20 Post-9/11 GI Bill Frequently Asked Questions (military.com)
http://education.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/20-top-faqs-for-new-gi-bill
Yellow Ribbon Program (new program)
http://www.gibill.va.gov/S22/S22_Yellow_Ribbon.htm
GI Bill 2008
http://www.gibill2008.org/sidebyside.html
VA Education Benefit Payment Rates (old program)
http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/rates.htm
Many veterans may face a difficult choice next year. You will need to carefully weigh your options. You may find that declining the new program and sticking to the old program will best serve your needs. Ultimately the choice is up to you, take your time and be sure to consider all the facts before making your decision.
Each military branch may have slightly different rules they apply to educational benefits and benefits are often different for reserve duty. The Department of Veterans Affairs is the only resource that can answer your personal and specific GI Bill entitlement questions. If you need assistance, please call the toll-free number 888-GI-BILL-1 (888-442-4551) to speak with a Veterans Benefits Counselor.
With a brand new law on the books, it is critically important that all students conduct some personal research on their specific educational benefits. There are potentially thousands of dollars of educational benefits at stake. In many ways, especially during the transition period, the new GI Bill program may seem rather complex but the benefits have been greatly increased for many students.
I have seen the new program called a variety of names, including: S22 (as in Senate Bill 22), Chapter 33, GI Bill 2008, VEA, Post 9/11 VEAA, and Post 9/11 GI Bill.
A portion of new program goes into effect immediately. However, in order to give each military branch and the VA time to implement other changes, the new program will be phased in using two stages:
() Stage 1: During the 2008-2009 academic year starting August 1, 2008, the monthly benefit will increase to $1321/month an increase of $220/month from the current benefit.
() Stage 2: Full implementation of the new program benefits starts on August 1, 2009.
The old program simply paid a flat monthly rate. Effective August 1, 2008, the MGIB-AD rate will be $1321 for full-time enrollment, a 20% increase over the 2007 rate. The three major benefits of the new program include up to 100% paid tuition, a monthly housing stipend, and a stipend of up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies. The new benefit and stipends will vary depending on your school and specific residence. The benefit and stipends will be prorated based on the percentage of maximum benefit payable.
In most cases the new program pays higher benefits and includes certain expenses not covered by the old program. However there are some things excluded in the new program that are still covered under the old program. The types of approved training and types of authorized training institutes are not entirely the same in both programs. You really do need to know the basic details of both programs or you just might screw yourself out of thousands of dollars.
The new program also has other benefits like: Tutorial assistance payments, licensing & certification reimbursement, Work-study, one-time relocation payment, and a special “Yellow Ribbon Program”
[] New program payments:
() Tuition payment not to exceed the most expensive in-State public institution of higher education (at in-state resident level)
() Monthly housing stipend mirrors the basic allowance for housing (BAH) amount payable to E-5 with dependents, in the same zip code as the school.
() Materials stipend of up to $1000 a year, paid quarterly, for required books and supplies.
() Relocation stipend is a one time payment of $500 to qualifying individuals relocating from highly rural areas.
[] The amount of tuition and stipends paid under the new program will vary depending on your state of residence, number of units taken, and amount of post Sep. 11, 2001 active-duty service*. Here is a quick reference showing the percentage of total combined benefit eligibility based on the following periods of post 9/11 service:
100% - At least 36 months of active duty service
100% - 30 consecutive days or more with service-connected disability related Discharge.
90% - minimum 30 months
80% - minimum 24 months
70% - minimum 18 months
60% - minimum 12 months
50% - minimum six months
40% - minimum 90 consecutive days
*Some types of active duty orders do not qualify but this primarily involves Reservists and military academy students. Service prior to Sept 11, 2001 does not count. The total active duty service is cumulative; not consecutive. For Reservists, multiple periods of mobilization may be combined to achieve 36 months for 100% benefits.
[] Reservists with expired MGIB-SR educational benefits may have another chance. Effective June 30, 2008, the 14-year expiration of eligibility for members of the Selected Reserve has been rescinded. If you are a member of the Selected Reserve with remaining entitlement under MGIB-SR (Chapter 1606), you will remain eligible until the date you separate from the Selected Reserve. However no retroactive payments will be made for any training conducted between any previous expiration date (delimiting date) and June 30, 2008.
[] Expiration of Benefits: MGIB-AD expires 10 yrs from discharge. The new program expires 15 years from discharge.
[] MGIB Refunds: Many veterans may be entitled to refunds of their $1200 MGIB-AD enrollment fee paid at boot camp. This refund will be included in the last monthly stipend payment when a student exhausts their benefits under the new program (Chapter 33). Individuals who do not exhaust entitlement under chapter 33 will not receive a refund of any contributions paid under the old program (MGIB-AD, Chapter 30).
[] Kicker Refunds: Many participants in the $600 Buy-Up program (aka Kicker, Additional Contribution, College Fund) will not be refunded any of that money and may loose the extra payments under the new program.
[] Eligibility for Multiple Programs: You are generally entitled to 36 months of VA educational benefits. If you are entitled to more than one program you *may be* eligible for a maximum of 48 months of entitlement when using benefits under two or more programs. Some individuals will only be entitled to the number of months they had remaining under their old program up to a maximum of 36 months. Other individuals may be entitled to up to an addition 36 months of educational benefits up to a maximum of 48 months. How and when you transfer programs may increase or decrease your potential maximum educational benefits.
[] Transfer of Benefits: If you are a member of the Armed Forces on August 1, 2009, the Department of Defense may offer you the opportunity to transfer benefits to your spouse or dependent children. However, there are service requirements and certain restrictions apply, plus each branch will develop their own specific rules.
[] The VA typically categorizes students in the following manner:
() Full-time student (12 or more units) 100%
() 3/4-time student (9 - 11 units) 75%
() 1/2-time student (6 - 8 units) 50%
() 1/4 > 1/2 student (4 - 5 units) 50%
() 1/4-time student (3 or less units) 25%
VA Educational Benefits (not all material has been updated to include the new law)
http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/benefits.htm
VA Questions & Answers (not all answers have been updated to include the new law)
https://www.gibill2.va.gov/vba/vba.cfg/php.exe/enduser/std_alp.php?
WAVE (Web Automated Verification of Enrollment)
https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/default.cfm
The Top 20 Post-9/11 GI Bill Frequently Asked Questions (military.com)
http://education.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/20-top-faqs-for-new-gi-bill
Yellow Ribbon Program (new program)
http://www.gibill.va.gov/S22/S22_Yellow_Ribbon.htm
GI Bill 2008
http://www.gibill2008.org/sidebyside.html
VA Education Benefit Payment Rates (old program)
http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/rates.htm
Many veterans may face a difficult choice next year. You will need to carefully weigh your options. You may find that declining the new program and sticking to the old program will best serve your needs. Ultimately the choice is up to you, take your time and be sure to consider all the facts before making your decision.
Each military branch may have slightly different rules they apply to educational benefits and benefits are often different for reserve duty. The Department of Veterans Affairs is the only resource that can answer your personal and specific GI Bill entitlement questions. If you need assistance, please call the toll-free number 888-GI-BILL-1 (888-442-4551) to speak with a Veterans Benefits Counselor.