Chapt. 33 (G.I. Bill of Rights)
Encyclopedia
In July 2008 the Post-9/11 GI Bill was signed into law
, creating a new robust education benefits program rivaling the WWII Era
GI Bill of Rights. The new Post 9/11 GI Bill, which goes into effect on August 1, 2009, will provide education benefits for servicemembers who have served on active duty
for 90 or more days since Sept. 10, 2001. These benefits are tiered based on the number of days served on active duty, creating a benefit package that gives current and previously activated National Guard and Reserve members the same benefits as active duty servicemembers.
The Department of Veterans Affairs
is currently accepting applications for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Once the VA has received your application they will determine your eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and issue you a Certificate of Eligibility. You can apply using the VA Form 22-1990. The form includes the instructions needed to begin the process. Post-9/11 benefits are not available to cover training
or education
programs completed before July 31, 2009.
s attending education and training programs taken at an accredited college
or university
. The new benefits include up to 100% tuition and fees (paid directly to the school), a monthly living/housing stipend
, up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies, and much more.
These new Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit payments are tiered based on the amount creditable active-duty service you have since Sept. 10, 2001.
passed the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2010. The new law, often referred to as GI Bill 2.0, expands eligibility to include members of the National Guard who served on Title 32 or in the full-time Active Guard and Reserve (AGR).
The new law also includes a new (reduced) housing stipend for online (distance) learners
enables active-duty servicemembers and their GI Bill eligible spouses to receive the annual $1,000 book stipend, adds several vocational, certification and OJT
options, and removes the state-by-state tuition caps for veterans enrolled at public (state-operated) colleges and universities.
In addition, the new GI Bill 2.0 includes new tuition and fees coverage caps for veterans attending private universities
- $17,500 a year, prorates the housing stipend based on the student's rate of pursuit, and eliminates the "interval pay" which allowed veteran
s to continue to receive payments during scheduled school breaks (i.e. winter and spring breaks).
The bulk of these changes go into effect August and October 2011.
& fees payment directly to the school. This payment is not to exceed the highest undergraduate tuition & fees rates at a state operated college or university (Institution of Higher Learning). This payment rate is based on the state in which the school is located - not your state of residence.
Members on active duty receive the full tuition payment - it is not limited by the state maximum payment rate.
To qualify to receive the Yellow Ribbon benefits you must meet the following criteria:
you may receive a monthly housing allowance (living stipend) based on the ZIP code
of the location of the school you are attending - not your home ZIP code. This stipend currently averages $1,200 a month, but can run as high as $2,700.
This stipend is based on the DoD's Basic Allowance for Housing
(BAH) for an E-5 with dependents. This stipend does not require students to live on campus.
NOTE: Servicemembers currently on active duty and veterans (and eligible family members) taking courses on a half-time or less basis and/or taking 100% of their classes at a distance (online etc.)* do not qualify for the monthly housing stipend.
NOTE: Servicemembers currently on active duty are not eligible for the Book Stipend. However, beginning Oct. 1, 2011 Active-duty servicemembers and their eligible spouses will be eligible for the annual book stipend
benefit payment of $500.00 to help cover the cost of relocating from a rural location to attend school.
To qualify you must:
- or -
of up to $2,000 for a certification or licencing exam, work-study programs, and $100 a month for tutorial assistance.
Benefit Update: Beginning Aug. 1, 2011, VA will lift the single exam restriction, allowing eligible veterans and servicemembers to take multiple exams.
(DoD) is authorized to allow individuals who, on or after August 1, 2009, have served at least 6 years in the Armed Forces
and who agree to serve at least another 4 years in the Armed Forces to transfer unused entitlement to their Spouse. Once the member has reached their 10 year anniversary they may choose to transfer the benefit to any dependent(s) (spouse, children). The Department of Defense may, by regulation, impose additional eligibility requirements and limit the number of months transferable to not less than 18 months.
However, some periods of active duty service are excluded. Periods of service under the following do not count toward qualification for the Post 9/11 GI Bill:
Selected reserve service used to establish eligibility under the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB chapter 30), MGIB for Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR Chapter 1606), or the Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP chapter 1607).
Further Details From the VA:
At a minimum, you must have served at least 30 days of continuous active duty service after September 10, 2001 and be discharged due to a service-connected disability, or served an aggregate of 90 days of active duty service after September 10, 2001, and:
Be honorably discharged from Armed Forces; or
Be released from Armed Forces with service characterized as honorable and placed on the retired list, temporary disability retired list, or transferred to the Fleet Reserve or the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve; or
Be released from the Armed Forces with service characterized as honorable for further service in a reserve component; or
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, creating a new robust education benefits program rivaling the WWII Era
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
GI Bill of Rights. The new Post 9/11 GI Bill, which goes into effect on August 1, 2009, will provide education benefits for servicemembers who have served on active duty
Active duty
Active duty refers to a full-time occupation as part of a military force, as opposed to reserve duty.-Pakistan:The Pakistan Armed Forces are one of the largest active service forces in the world with almost 610,000 full time personnel due to the complex and volatile nature of Pakistan's...
for 90 or more days since Sept. 10, 2001. These benefits are tiered based on the number of days served on active duty, creating a benefit package that gives current and previously activated National Guard and Reserve members the same benefits as active duty servicemembers.
The Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of Veterans Affairs may refer to:*Department of Veterans' Affairs, Australia*United States Department of Veterans Affairs*Veterans Affairs Canada*Ministry of Patriots' and Veterans' Affairs...
is currently accepting applications for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Once the VA has received your application they will determine your eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and issue you a Certificate of Eligibility. You can apply using the VA Form 22-1990. The form includes the instructions needed to begin the process. Post-9/11 benefits are not available to cover training
Training
The term training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at institutes of...
or education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
programs completed before July 31, 2009.
The New Post-9/11 GI Bill
The New Post-9/11 GI Bill offers a new set of benefits for servicemembers and veteranVeteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
s attending education and training programs taken at an accredited college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
or university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
. The new benefits include up to 100% tuition and fees (paid directly to the school), a monthly living/housing stipend
Stipend
A stipend is a form of salary, such as for an internship or apprenticeship. It is often distinct from a wage or a salary because it does not necessarily represent payment for work performed, instead it represents a payment that enables somebody to be exempt partly or wholly from waged or salaried...
, up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies, and much more.
These new Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit payments are tiered based on the amount creditable active-duty service you have since Sept. 10, 2001.
Pending Changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill
New for 2011 - In December 2010 CongressUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
passed the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2010. The new law, often referred to as GI Bill 2.0, expands eligibility to include members of the National Guard who served on Title 32 or in the full-time Active Guard and Reserve (AGR).
The new law also includes a new (reduced) housing stipend for online (distance) learners
Distance education
Distance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom...
enables active-duty servicemembers and their GI Bill eligible spouses to receive the annual $1,000 book stipend, adds several vocational, certification and OJT
OJT
OJT is a three letter acronym for "On-the-Job Training", which is a form of training taking place in a normal working situation.See Training....
options, and removes the state-by-state tuition caps for veterans enrolled at public (state-operated) colleges and universities.
In addition, the new GI Bill 2.0 includes new tuition and fees coverage caps for veterans attending private universities
Private university
Private universities are universities not operated by governments, although many receive public subsidies, especially in the form of tax breaks and public student loans and grants. Depending on their location, private universities may be subject to government regulation. Private universities are...
- $17,500 a year, prorates the housing stipend based on the student's rate of pursuit, and eliminates the "interval pay" which allowed veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
s to continue to receive payments during scheduled school breaks (i.e. winter and spring breaks).
The bulk of these changes go into effect August and October 2011.
Tuition and Fees
If you are eligible, VA will pay your tuitionTuition
Tuition payments, known primarily as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in British English, Canadian English, Australian English, New Zealand English and Indian English, refers to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education.Tuition payments are charged by...
& fees payment directly to the school. This payment is not to exceed the highest undergraduate tuition & fees rates at a state operated college or university (Institution of Higher Learning). This payment rate is based on the state in which the school is located - not your state of residence.
Members on active duty receive the full tuition payment - it is not limited by the state maximum payment rate.
Yellow Ribbon Program
The new GI Bill also includes a provision to help students avoid some or all of the out-of-pocket tuition and fees associated with education programs that may exceed the Post 9/11 GI Bill tuition benefit. The YRP is not automatic, schools must enter into an agreement with the VA to share the expense.To qualify to receive the Yellow Ribbon benefits you must meet the following criteria:
- Served an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001, of at least 36 months;
- Were honorably discharged from active duty for a service connected disabilityDisabilityA disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
and have served a minimum of 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001;
- Are a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on a veteran's service under the eligibility criteria listed above.
Monthly Living Stipend
As an eligible veteran or member of the National Guard or Selected ReserveSelected Reserve
Selected Reserve is a term that describes both the members of a U.S. military Ready Reserve unit that are enrolled in the Ready Reserve program and the reserve unit that they are attached to...
you may receive a monthly housing allowance (living stipend) based on the ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
of the location of the school you are attending - not your home ZIP code. This stipend currently averages $1,200 a month, but can run as high as $2,700.
This stipend is based on the DoD's Basic Allowance for Housing
Basic Allowance for Housing
Basic Allowance for Housing is a United States military entitlement given to many military members. It was previously called Basic allowance for quarters .-How It Works:...
(BAH) for an E-5 with dependents. This stipend does not require students to live on campus.
NOTE: Servicemembers currently on active duty and veterans (and eligible family members) taking courses on a half-time or less basis and/or taking 100% of their classes at a distance (online etc.)* do not qualify for the monthly housing stipend.
- Beginning October 1, 2011 Students attending 100% of their courses online will be eligible for a stipend equal to half of the stipend they would get for being enrolled in campus based courses.
Book and Supply Stipend
You may receive an annual book stipend of up to $1,000 if you are a veteran or member of the Guard or Selected Reserve. This stipend will be paid at the beginning of each term. It is paid proportionately based on the number of credits taken by each student at $41 per credit hour.NOTE: Servicemembers currently on active duty are not eligible for the Book Stipend. However, beginning Oct. 1, 2011 Active-duty servicemembers and their eligible spouses will be eligible for the annual book stipend
One-Time Relocation Allowance
You may also receive a one-time rural relocationRelocation
"Relocation is the process of assigning load addresses to various parts of [a] program and adjusting the code and data in the program to reflect the assigned addresses."...
benefit payment of $500.00 to help cover the cost of relocating from a rural location to attend school.
To qualify you must:
- Be an otherwise eligible veteran.
- Reside in a county with 6 persons or less per square mile (as determined by the most recent decennial censusCensusA census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
) and: - Either physically relocate at least 500 miles (804.7 km) to attend an educational institution
- or -
- Travel by air to physically attend an educational institution if no other land-based transportation exists.
Certification Exams, Work Study, and Tutorial Assistance
Eligible veterans also qualify for a one-time reimbursementReimbursement
Reimbursement is the act of compensating someone for an expense . Often, a person is reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses when the person incurs those expenses through employment or in an account of carrying out the duties for another party or member....
of up to $2,000 for a certification or licencing exam, work-study programs, and $100 a month for tutorial assistance.
Benefit Update: Beginning Aug. 1, 2011, VA will lift the single exam restriction, allowing eligible veterans and servicemembers to take multiple exams.
Benefit Transferability
The Department of DefenseUnited States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
(DoD) is authorized to allow individuals who, on or after August 1, 2009, have served at least 6 years in the Armed Forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
and who agree to serve at least another 4 years in the Armed Forces to transfer unused entitlement to their Spouse. Once the member has reached their 10 year anniversary they may choose to transfer the benefit to any dependent(s) (spouse, children). The Department of Defense may, by regulation, impose additional eligibility requirements and limit the number of months transferable to not less than 18 months.
Eligibility Criteria for Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits
You are eligible if you served a minimum of 90 days on active duty after September 10, 2001. This covers active duty served as a member of the Armed Forces or as a result of a call or order to active duty from a reserve component (National Guard and Reserve) under certain sections of title 10.However, some periods of active duty service are excluded. Periods of service under the following do not count toward qualification for the Post 9/11 GI Bill:
- Active Guard Reserve (AGR) (Title 32);
- ROTC under 10 U.S.C. 2107(b);
- Service academy contract period;
- Service terminated due to defective enlistment agreement;
- Service used for loan repayment; and
Selected reserve service used to establish eligibility under the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB chapter 30), MGIB for Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR Chapter 1606), or the Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP chapter 1607).
Further Details From the VA:
At a minimum, you must have served at least 30 days of continuous active duty service after September 10, 2001 and be discharged due to a service-connected disability, or served an aggregate of 90 days of active duty service after September 10, 2001, and:
Be honorably discharged from Armed Forces; or
Be released from Armed Forces with service characterized as honorable and placed on the retired list, temporary disability retired list, or transferred to the Fleet Reserve or the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve; or
Be released from the Armed Forces with service characterized as honorable for further service in a reserve component; or
- Be discharged or released from Armed Forces for:
- EPTS (Existed Prior to Service)
- HDSP (Hardship) or
- CIWD (Condition Interfered with Duty); or
- Continue to be on active duty.
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefit Tiers
All Post 9/11 GI Bill benefit payments are based on the amount of creditable active-duty service each veteran has since Sept. 10, 2001. If you are an active-duty, National Guard, Selected Reserve member, or veterans who has served on active-duty for 90 or more days since Sept. 10, 2001 the following perentage of benefits apply based on your Post-9/11 Active-duty service:- 100% - Requires at least 36 cumulative months (Includes Entry Level or Skills Training time)
- 100% - Requires at least 30 continuous days on active duty and discharged due to service-connected disability (Includes Entry Level or Skills Training time)
- 90% Requires at least 30 cumulative months (Includes Entry Level or Skills Training time)
- 80% - Requires at least 24 cumulative months (Cannot include Entry Level or Skills Training time)
- 70% - Requires at least 18 cumulative months (Cannot include Entry Level or Skills Training time)
- 60% - Requires at least 12 cumulative months (Cannot include Entry Level or Skills Training time)
- 50% - Requires at least 6 cumulative months (Cannot include Entry Level or Skills Training time)
- 40% - Requires 90 aggregate days (Cannot include Entry Level or Skills Training time)