A Comprehensive Guide to the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill

The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides a substantial educational advantage to veterans who served after September 11, 2001. In addition to paying for your room and board for up to 36 months and providing you with a book and supply stipend, we will also cover all of your other educational expenses. Guaranteeing veterans’ access to higher education and housing, the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act was passed by Congress after World War II and became the basis for the GI Bill. The current GI Bill was signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2008 and went into effect the following year. It has been updated numerous times to help veterans of war and peace.

Can anyone use the GI Bill?

Anyone who has served on active duty for at least 90 days since September 10, 2001, regardless of whether they are still serving or have been honorably released, is eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Your percentage of total benefits is determined by the number of years of active duty you completed.

The Veterans Administration uses the following scale to evaluate applications for benefits at present:

• One hundred percent: discharged after at least 30 days (or 36 months) of active duty due to a service-connected disability
• Almost ninety percent: 30 months min, up to 36 months.
• An 80% likelihood exists that the Duration: is greater than 24 months and less than 30
• In the vicinity of 70 percent: With a maximum of 24 months, a minimum of 18 months is required.
• 60percent: Longer than 12 months but shorter than 18
• In terms of 50 percent: Six to twelve months is the bare minimum.
• About 40 percent: Within a period of 90 days and no longer than 6 months
• Loss of all value: under 90 days

Nonetheless, there is no need to memorize this data, as a new provision of the Forever GI Bill will take effect in August 2020, changing the specifics. Between 90 days and six months, half of all incentives will be distributed. Sixty percent of the whole benefits package will be available to those who have served for between six and eighteen months.

The Marine Gunnery John David Fry Scholarship Program provides GI Bill benefits to the children and spouses of service members killed in action on or after September 11, 2001. Full eligibility for these benefits is guaranteed for minor children and a surviving spouse who has not remarried during the past 15 years.

The steps necessary to apply for a GI Bill

Applying for GI Bill benefits can be done either online or at a local VA regional office.

It’s simple to submit an application, especially online. Your military service, academic history, and the preferred educational institution must all be detailed here. Have your account number and Social Security number handy. (The money for your tuition and fees goes straight to the schools, but your housing and book stipends go to you.)

If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the appropriate certifying official at your institution. This person typically works in the registrar’s office or the office of student financial aid and can assist you in completing the application.

Validation of Benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs Certificate

Once your application has been processed, the VA will mail you a certificate of eligibility outlining the precise benefits you are entitled to. The chosen institution will require these documents from you upon enrollment.

When a student has a financial obligation to a school but is unable to pay it because of extenuating circumstances, the school cannot apply late penalties or make other restrictions unless the student can provide a certificate of eligibility.

Bear in mind that it could take the VA some time to get your certificate of eligibility.

To what extent does the GI Bill cover higher education costs?

The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial aid for education, including reimbursement for tuition and fees, housing, and a book and supply stipend.

Public university students can get their entire in-state tuition and fees covered by the GI Bill, while students at private or for-profit universities could not qualify. The national average for these kinds of schools’ spending caps in 2019-2020 is $24,476.79. In most years, this figure increases by a modest margin.

If the GI Bill won’t pay all of your college costs, research whether or not your school participates in the Yellow Ribbon program. With this agreement, universities and the VA collaborate to lessen or eliminate the student’s financial responsibility for the GI Bill’s unmet costs of attendance. Veterans and their surviving families are the only ones eligible for the program at the moment, but active-duty service personnel will be able to join soon.

The Ivy League is just one group of schools that has joined this movement.

I’m still in the military; should I use the GI Bill?

To the extent that you are willing to put in the necessary time and effort, sure. It’s possible, but are you sure you want to?

In addition to the housing allowance you receive from the military, you will not receive a monthly housing stipend from the GI Bill while you are on active duty and using your GI Bill benefits to pay for school. Depending on the cost of tuition at your chosen institution, the housing allowance may be more valuable than the tuition waiver. Therefore, the amount of money you receive under the GI Bill will be far lower than what you may receive once you’ve left the military.

Finally, the choice is yours to make.

The GI Bill’s Housing Assistance Program

The amount of money you receive each month for rent is based on your percentage of benefit eligibility and the number of classes you are taking.

Your housing allowance will be established by the VA in accordance with the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates set by the Department of Defense. An E5 with a family at today’s average salary can afford to live comfortably (not your current location). (The amount of money you receive is unrelated to your social standing.)

Housing benefits under the Forever GI Bill are determined by the location of the school where the majority of a student’s classes are held. If you attend a college satellite school hundreds of miles or even several states away from the main campus, your monthly stipend will more closely represent the cost of living.

The VA has saved you time and effort by compiling information on several GI Bill options into a single convenient tool. Enter the name of the school you’re interested in and choose “search,” then select the school from the list to see the monthly stipend amount.

Consider the following, as they are crucial:

If you are a full-time online student, you are eligible for only half of the normal BAH rate. The monthly cost would be $894.50 for the 2019-2020 school year. Some professors suggest taking at least one class on campus to get the benefits of both online and in-person learning without breaking the bank.

Not eligible for this GI Bill benefit are dependents of service members who have transferred their benefits to them or students enrolled in fewer than 12 credits per semester.

When and how to change your school using the GI Bill

Transferring your GI Bill benefits to a new school is quite similar to submitting your initial GI Bill application. Basic information regarding your military service, school history, and desired place of higher study will be requested along with information such as your Social Security number and bank account details.

There is no need to physically visit a VA office; everything may be handled over the phone or online. Maintaining an active eBenefits account is necessary for monitoring your GI Bill benefits and calculating what’s left.

How to Use the G.I. Bill to Support Your Family

If you have finished college and have no intentions to continue your education, you may want to consider passing your GI Bill benefits on to a family member.

To be eligible for a transfer, you must have six years of service under your belt and be willing to serve for another four years once your transfer is granted by the Department of Defense.

In early 2019, the Defense Department proposed capping transfer eligibility at 16 years of service. Yet, in December, Congress effectively killed the idea by including language to that effect in the annual defense authorization bill.

If you have been honored with the Purple Heart for your service, you are exempt from the following and may give your GI Bill benefits to family members at any time.

A dependent child must be under the age of 18 or under the age of 23 for specific programs in order to be eligible for a transfer of GI Bill benefits. The GI Bill only covers dependents who are either over the age of 18 or high school graduates.

You can utilize DMDC milConnect to initiate the transfer of your benefits. If you want to get started, you can do so by completing the “I wish to” form at the site’s header. Follow the instructions after clicking the “Transfer my education benefits” link.

Unconventional Ways of Using the G.I. Bill

In addition to traditional campus-based institutions, the GI Bill can be used in a wide range of alternative educational settings. It’s useful for online or mail-orders courses that put the student at a physical distance from the teacher.

Anyone interested in starting their own business can get help doing so.

Students who need extra help in the classroom might make use of tutoring programs.

In addition to college, your benefits can be used for trade school or even pilot training. Included are not only the ACT and SAT, but also the LSAT and other similar tests.

Since degrees in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) often take longer than the standard four years to complete, the GI Bill provides additional benefits to veterans who choose to study these fields. Under the Forever GI Bill, the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship fund will give out up to $30,000 in scholarships to students studying STEM fields. Veterans and their immediate families are eligible to apply for this fellowship.