New GI Bill Forum

[ArmyVet07]

Just reading through some FAQs, I didn't realize that it didn't count your "entry level and skill training" as time in service for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. So will this take off a year of my service since I went to recruit training (3 months), marine combat training (1 month), and air command electronics course (which took 4 months, but I was there for 7). This will knock me from the 60% to 40% benefit. Oh well, it is money I didn't have before, since I don't qualify for the old GI bill.

edit: I am now confused. I'm searching for more information but it doesn't say anywhere else the thing about entry level training not counting and stuff like that. To people that have their claims all processed and stuff, is there any point where someone actually explains to you your benefits and you get to ask questions?

edit2: Sort of answering my own question here. From the actual text of the bill:

" Entry level and skill training means—

(1) Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training for members of the Army;

(2) Recruit Training (Boot Camp) and Skill Training (“A” School) for members of the Navy;

(3) Basic Military Training and Technical Training for members of the Air Force;

(4) Recruit Training and Marine Corps Training (School of Infantry Training) for members of the Marine Corps; and

(5) Basic Training for members of the Coast Guard."

edit again!!: The more I read about this program the more confused I get Also, this makes some states REALLY unattractive to go to school in and makes some states stand head and shoulders above the rest.

Not counting time in training is only an issue for those who served less than 24 months. The info below is from the VA:

--LinkRemoved--

Who is eligible for benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
Individuals who serve at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001 are eligible.
To be eligible for 100% of the benefit, an individual must have served an aggregate of 36 months of
active duty service, or have been discharged for a service-connected disability after 30 days of
continuous service. NOTE: Active-duty service time required by graduates of a Service Academy or
ROTC does not count toward the three years necessary to qualify for full benefits.
For those who served fewer than 36 months, the percentage of benefit ranges from 40% to 90%:
- 90% - 30 total months (including service on active duty in entry level and skill training)
- 80% - 24 total months (including service on active duty in entry level and skill training)
- 70% - 18 total months (excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training)
- 60% - 12 total months (excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training)
- 50% - 6 total months (excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training)
- 40% - 90 or more days (excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training).
For example, an individual with five months of qualifying service could receive 40% of the tuition
benefit, 40% of the monthly housing allowance, and a maximum of $400 books and supplies stipend.
Veterans must have an honorable discharge or other qualifying discharge (e.g. hardship, condition
interfering with duty, etc.) to be eligible.

[03121202698008]

Still no money, and the semester's almost over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, was there some reason it was delayed? Have you at least been getting BAH?

[the lantern]

Just reading through some FAQs, I didn't realize that it didn't count your "entry level and skill training" as time in service for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. So will this take off a year of my service since I went to recruit training (3 months), marine combat training (1 month), and air command electronics course (which took 4 months, but I was there for 7). This will knock me from the 60% to 40% benefit. Oh well, it is money I didn't have before, since I don't qualify for the old GI bill.

edit: I am now confused. I'm searching for more information but it doesn't say anywhere else the thing about entry level training not counting and stuff like that. To people that have their claims all processed and stuff, is there any point where someone actually explains to you your benefits and you get to ask questions?

edit2: Sort of answering my own question here. From the actual text of the bill:

" Entry level and skill training means—

(1) Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training for members of the Army;

(2) Recruit Training (Boot Camp) and Skill Training (“A” School) for members of the Navy;

(3) Basic Military Training and Technical Training for members of the Air Force;

(4) Recruit Training and Marine Corps Training (School of Infantry Training) for members of the Marine Corps; and

(5) Basic Training for members of the Coast Guard."

edit again!!: The more I read about this program the more confused I get Also, this makes some states REALLY unattractive to go to school in and makes some states stand head and shoulders above the rest.

Not counting time in training is only an issue for those who served less than 24 months. The info below is from the VA:

--LinkRemoved--

Who is eligible for benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
Individuals who serve at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001 are eligible.
To be eligible for 100% of the benefit, an individual must have served an aggregate of 36 months of
active duty service, or have been discharged for a service-connected disability after 30 days of
continuous service. NOTE: Active-duty service time required by graduates of a Service Academy or
ROTC does not count toward the three years necessary to qualify for full benefits.
For those who served fewer than 36 months, the percentage of benefit ranges from 40% to 90%:
- 90% - 30 total months (including service on active duty in entry level and skill training)
- 80% - 24 total months (including service on active duty in entry level and skill training)
- 70% - 18 total months (excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training)
- 60% - 12 total months (excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training)
- 50% - 6 total months (excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training)
- 40% - 90 or more days (excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training).
For example, an individual with five months of qualifying service could receive 40% of the tuition
benefit, 40% of the monthly housing allowance, and a maximum of $400 books and supplies stipend.
Veterans must have an honorable discharge or other qualifying discharge (e.g. hardship, condition
interfering with duty, etc.) to be eligible.

Yeah, in my case, I only had 14 months active duty. Long story, but I got an honorable discharge to accept a ROTC scholarship. I then disenrolled from the ROTC program after the third year. The Secretary of the Navy's office granted my request to pay back the scholarship instead of continuing. I submitted my application about a month and a half ago just because I want to see how much I qualify for, but I haven't heard anything back yet. The VA says the average processing time is 56 days though, so I guess I'll just keep waiting before I start calling and stuff.

[Boyk1182]

Still no money, and the semester's almost over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, was there some reason it was delayed? Have you at least been getting BAH?

Nothing at all yet... the BAH is what I need more than anything, too...
I applied as early as possible too, shit..........

[the lantern]

Ugh... anyone else still waiting to hear back from the VA? The website says the average claim process time is 56 days, but I haven't heard anything in over 75...

[Boyk1182]

Ugh... anyone else still waiting to hear back from the VA? The website says the average claim process time is 56 days, but I haven't heard anything in over 75...

Finally got paid, but they had a typo on my bank account number, gotta wait now for the funds to get returned and sent to the right account... if that ever happens, and its almost $7,000 they sent to the wrong account!!

...but the school did get paid finally.

[ArmyVet07]

I was looking at the BAH rates for E-5 with dependents (which is the living allowance we get) for a few locations and noticed it is normally a bit higher than the COL the school assumes in its budget (which is used to calculate financial aid). New York City might be an extreme example, but Columbia puts living costs at $2202 per month ( http://www.law.columbia.edu/current_stu ... st_billing ) while NYC's 2010 BAH rate for E-5 with dependents is $2751 ( --LinkRemoved-- ). Do we just pocket the difference, or what happens?

[mugwump]

I was looking at the BAH rates for E-5 with dependents (which is the living allowance we get) for a few locations and noticed it is normally a bit higher than the COL the school assumes in its budget (which is used to calculate financial aid). New York City might be an extreme example, but Columbia put living costs at $2202 per month ( http://www.law.columbia.edu/current_stu ... st_billing ) while NYC's 2010 BAH rate for E-5 with dependents is $2751 ( --LinkRemoved-- ). Do we just pocket the difference, or what happens?

You pocket the difference.

[Rotor]

I was looking at the BAH rates for E-5 with dependents (which is the living allowance we get) for a few locations and noticed it is normally a bit higher than the COL the school assumes in its budget (which is used to calculate financial aid). New York City might be an extreme example, but Columbia puts living costs at $2202 per month ( http://www.law.columbia.edu/current_stu ... st_billing ) while NYC's 2010 BAH rate for E-5 with dependents is $2751 ( --LinkRemoved-- ). Do we just pocket the difference, or what happens?

The difference probably comes from the underlying expectation of each calculation. C probably looks at studios or small 1BR. IIRC, E5 with dep rates a 2BR apartment.

But yes, as ^ confirmed, you get what the VA says. What you do with it is up to you.

[Boyk1182]

Got 7k today backpaid for this whole semester, 2k on the way in a few days..
...and 10k went to tuition this year

I guess it'll be about 30k per year from this thing (where I live at least), pretty sweet!

[bahama]

I was looking at the BAH rates for E-5 with dependents (which is the living allowance we get) for a few locations and noticed it is normally a bit higher than the COL the school assumes in its budget (which is used to calculate financial aid). New York City might be an extreme example, but Columbia puts living costs at $2202 per month ( http://www.law.columbia.edu/current_stu ... st_billing ) while NYC's 2010 BAH rate for E-5 with dependents is $2751 ( --LinkRemoved-- ). Do we just pocket the difference, or what happens?

The difference probably comes from the underlying expectation of each calculation. C probably looks at studios or small 1BR. IIRC, E5 with dep rates a 2BR apartment.

But yes, as ^ confirmed, you get what the VA says. What you do with it is up to you.

Dumb question here. I heard that the school can't count your VA benefits against you in terms of cost of attendance. So if you wanted to (not sure why you would do this) you could borrow the $ for cost of living up to the student budget and then get the BAH amount from the VA on top of it. Anyone know if this is how it works in practice? Anyone seen the amount of loans or grants they are eligible for reduced because of getting GI Bill benefits?

[Boyk1182]

I was looking at the BAH rates for E-5 with dependents (which is the living allowance we get) for a few locations and noticed it is normally a bit higher than the COL the school assumes in its budget (which is used to calculate financial aid). New York City might be an extreme example, but Columbia puts living costs at $2202 per month ( http://www.law.columbia.edu/current_stu ... st_billing ) while NYC's 2010 BAH rate for E-5 with dependents is $2751 ( --LinkRemoved-- ). Do we just pocket the difference, or what happens?

The difference probably comes from the underlying expectation of each calculation. C probably looks at studios or small 1BR. IIRC, E5 with dep rates a 2BR apartment.

But yes, as ^ confirmed, you get what the VA says. What you do with it is up to you.

Dumb question here. I heard that the school can't count your VA benefits against you in terms of cost of attendance. So if you wanted to (not sure why you would do this) you could borrow the $ for cost of living up to the student budget and then get the BAH amount from the VA on top of it. Anyone know if this is how it works in practice? Anyone seen the amount of loans or grants they are eligible for reduced because of getting GI Bill benefits?

I'm sure you could with a GradPlus loan... I don't see how they would even know you had benefits coming in from the VA for BAH. I just did the math and borrowed what I needed, I'm sure I could have taken more though.

[nukelaloosh]

I think this has already been discussed in theory. I am interested to see what happens in practice.

If you attend school in a state where the reimbursement from the VA covers your tuition bill, but your school has given you a scholarship--what is happens to that money?

Does it get deducted from the top of the tuition bill reducing the VA's repayment? Does the vet get the remainder?

Anyone have first-hand experience?

[CyLaw]

I think this has already been discussed in theory. I am interested to see what happens in practice.

If you attend school in a state where the reimbursement from the VA covers your tuition bill, but your school has given you a scholarship--what is happens to that money?

Does it get deducted from the top of the tuition bill reducing the VA's repayment? Does the vet get the remainder?

Anyone have first-hand experience?

No first hand experience, but have researched this before and read up on the VA policies and some of the FAQs they had with school officials.

In this situation it is completely up to the school's policy's. The VA will pay for any tuition actually charged (up to the amounts dictated by the rates for each state).

So if the scholarship results in a reduction of tuition charges, the VA will only pay based on the reduced charges. Example tuition is $10,000 normally and a $5,000 scholarship reduces the charges to $5,000. Student is only charged $5,000 dollars, so VA bases GI Bill on this.

If the scholarship does not result in the charges themselves being reduced and instead the school pays the tuition to itself. Example tuition is $10,000 normally and the school pays $5,000 as a scholarship. Student is still charged $10,000, so VA bases GI Bill on this.

So what happens to the $5,000 in this last example. Well, the school will do one of the following depending on policy.

1) The school will reduce merit aid based on external funding, so that the scholarship is reduced so that it only pays what is left after external funding is applied.

2) The school ignores external funding and pays the full scholarship amount to your bill. This may result in a credit on your student bill and will be refunded based on the school's refund policies.

So it depends on the school. Complicating things further is the new law that VA benefits are not the be counted as assets for Student Financial Aid calculation. What this means is based on the school. It means for everyone that they will not reduce federal loans eligibility based on VA benefit. But merit aid is separate as their are additional rules that the school can place on the merit aid (including option 1 above).

This is a long of saying you have to call each school and ask.

[nukelaloosh]

I think this has already been discussed in theory. I am interested to see what happens in practice.

If you attend school in a state where the reimbursement from the VA covers your tuition bill, but your school has given you a scholarship--what is happens to that money?

Does it get deducted from the top of the tuition bill reducing the VA's repayment? Does the vet get the remainder?

Anyone have first-hand experience?

No first hand experience, but have researched this before and read up on the VA policies and some of the FAQs they had with school officials.

In this situation it is completely up to the school's policy's. The VA will pay for any tuition actually charged (up to the amounts dictated by the rates for each state).

So if the scholarship results in a reduction of tuition charges, the VA will only pay based on the reduced charges. Example tuition is $10,000 normally and a $5,000 scholarship reduces the charges to $5,000. Student is only charged $5,000 dollars, so VA bases GI Bill on this.

If the scholarship does not result in the charges themselves being reduced and instead the school pays the tuition to itself. Example tuition is $10,000 normally and the school pays $5,000 as a scholarship. Student is still charged $10,000, so VA bases GI Bill on this.

So what happens to the $5,000 in this last example. Well, the school will do one of the following depending on policy.

1) The school will reduce merit aid based on external funding, so that the scholarship is reduced so that it only pays what is left after external funding is applied.

2) The school ignores external funding and pays the full scholarship amount to your bill. This may result in a credit on your student bill and will be refunded based on the school's refund policies.

So it depends on the school. Complicating things further is the new law that VA benefits are not the be counted as assets for Student Financial Aid calculation. What this means is based on the school. It means for everyone that they will not reduce federal loans eligibility based on VA benefit. But merit aid is separate as their are additional rules that the school can place on the merit aid (including option 1 above).

This is a long of saying you have to call each school and ask.

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I am mainly interested because, depending on the state and school, a relatively low merit-based scholarship could actually result in a better overall deal--depending on the accounting practices described above.

Looks like I'll be calling the finaid office.

[the lantern]

Finally heard back, and I'm approved. So happy to know that I will be receiving a little aid

[the lantern]

Nice I finally got mine. It will be interesting to see how this works out. I already got my loans for this quarter, so I don't know what will go on. Either way, it is nice to finally have the lettter in my hands. Thanks for the help everyone.

[TonyDigital]

Looking for help...this chart that is supposed to help us calculate how much tuition assistance we'll get from the new Post-9/11 GI Bill by state: http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/C ... d_fees.htm

I'm looking at going to a school in Louisiana or TX and checked the rate for "Max charge per credit hour" for both states. LA's is $430 per credit hour. Calculating 24 credit hours for full time undergrad student, that comes to just over 10k per year, which makes sense.

TX on the other hand shows $1471 per credit hour. $1471 x 24 = $35,304. That can't be what they give GI Bill recipients in TX...can it? Am I looking at this wrong?

Also, what's the initial step I need to take to transfer from the MGIB to the Post-9/11 GI Bill?

I apologize if this information is in the thread somewhere, it's just this thread has grown huge and thought a new posting would be ok. Thanks for any help anyone can provide!

[CyLaw]

Looking for help...this chart that is supposed to help us calculate how much tuition assistance we'll get from the new Post-9/11 GI Bill by state: http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/C ... d_fees.htm

I'm looking at going to a school in Louisiana or TX and checked the rate for "Max charge per credit hour" for both states. LA's is $430 per credit hour. Calculating 24 credit hours for full time undergrad student, that comes to just over 10k per year, which makes sense.

TX on the other hand shows $1471 per credit hour. $1471 x 24 = $35,304. That can't be what they give GI Bill recipients in TX...can it? Am I looking at this wrong?

Yes, that is the maximum they will pay per credit hour for tuition in Texas. The cost is determine by the most expensive undergrad program at a state public school. For Texas this is the UT@Austin Pharmacy Program which has a tuition rate in that amount. You still only get up to the tuition you are actually charged so if your tuition in Texas is only $800 per credit hour, that is all you get. But you can receive up to 1471 per credit hour in Texas.

Also, what's the initial step I need to take to transfer from the MGIB to the Post-9/11 GI Bill?

How much do you have left of Chapter 30? The reason I ask is if you convert your remaining Chapter 30, then you get that many months of Chapter 33 (So if you have 6 months left of Chapter 30, you get 6 months of Chapter 33). However if you used up ALL your remaining Chapter 30, then you get additional benefit for Chapter 33 calculated as follows (48 months - Number of Months Used in VA GI Bill Programs). So if you used 36 months of Chapter 30 and have none left then you get 12 months of Chapter 33. This only works if you have apply for Chapter 33 AFTER you used all your Chapter 30 benefit. I have verfied this repeatedly with the VA, but I suggest you do the same and verify it with a phone call to them.

To answer your question though, you just fill out the same request for benefit form at the VA's website and it will ask you if you are currently under Chapter 30 and want to convert your remaining balance.

[CyLaw]

Reposting for the new people.

Man-o-man. I'm applying this cycle and I've got a decent shot at Harvard. I've got 9--or maybe 12?--months of benefits left. Right now I'm asking myself if I can get into Harvard, if they'll be offering the program again, etc., because I stand to gain quite a bit more from a free year at Harvard than a free year at UCSD.

Decisions decisions.

I think that you can get an additional 12 months of CH 33 benefits if you exhaust your old CH 30 time first. Not sure if that will impact your decision, but it's definitely worth thinking about.

TITCR, talked with the VA the other day about this, and they confirmed that if you exhaust you Chapter 30 benefits, then apply for Chapter 33, you get 48 months - (How many months you ACTUALLY used you chapter 30 benefits), up to a maximum of 12 extra months.

So, assume your spring semester is 4 months long, and you have 2 months left of your Chapter 30 benefits. If you convert to Chapter 33 then you get 4 months of Chapter 33 (The 2 months you are entitled, then the additional 2 months they are required to give you by law to ride out the semester). If you hold off on applying for Chapter 33 and use Ch. 30 instead, you get 4 months of chapter 30 for the spring semester. Then you can later get 48 - 38 = 10 months of Ch. 33. (38 months is 36 months you were entitled Ch 30 + 2 extra months under the termination policy stated previously).

Note if you elect to convert to chapter 33, this is irrevocable. Sadly, I did not know these facts before I converted my last 3.5 months of 30 to 33.

[TonyDigital]

CyLaw...thanks for all the info! So with the TX tuition rates as they are, a person could go to UH w/ out-of-state tuition costs of 28k per year for basically free. Exciting news.

Then my excitement faded a bit hehe... I have 16 months of Chapt 30 benefits left...according to the information you provided, it seems like the best course of action is to use up my Chapt 30 benefits then request the additional 12 months of Chapt 33 benefits.

I was under the impression that I could convert the remainding 16 months of my Chapt 30 plus get an additional 12 months of Chapt 33. But all things considered, i can't complain...it's still a great deal for me.

And regarding the form I fill out requesting VA benefits...I wouldn't be able to do that until I actually select a school and try to process my VA request. I was thinking I should transfer my GI Bill now but looks like I should be glad I didn't, considering I might be leaving money on the table if I converted it now.

[the lantern]

All of a sudden my bank account got $2600 added to it from the US Treasury. I haven't heard anything at all from the VA, but I have filed my papers with my university and I was expecting payment anytime. I haven't filed my taxes or anything, so I would assume that this has to be it, but I was just curious if it is supposed to come from the US Treasury. I got one $500 payment (50% benefit for $1000 book stipend) and one payment of like $2100 (which is more like 100% of the tuition it cost me...) so I am really confused. Perhaps they lumped together a BAH payment with the tuition (1500 + 600 would probably be 50% benefit each, makes sense)? I'll email my VA rep at my school, but she isn't very helpful so I was just wondering if your guys' payments also came from the US Treasury. Thank you.


Also, how hard is it going to be to switch from one school to another. I'm using about 6 months of benefits for my last semester at my school, then planning on using it for law school at a different school. Is there going to be a problem? Anyone have any experience?

[Cole S. Law]

All of a sudden my bank account got $2600 added to it from the US Treasury. I haven't heard anything at all from the VA, but I have filed my papers with my university and I was expecting payment anytime. I haven't filed my taxes or anything, so I would assume that this has to be it, but I was just curious if it is supposed to come from the US Treasury. I got one $500 payment (50% benefit for $1000 book stipend) and one payment of like $2100 (which is more like 100% of the tuition it cost me...) so I am really confused. Perhaps they lumped together a BAH payment with the tuition (1500 + 600 would probably be 50% benefit each, makes sense)? I'll email my VA rep at my school, but she isn't very helpful so I was just wondering if your guys' payments also came from the US Treasury. Thank you.


Also, how hard is it going to be to switch from one school to another. I'm using about 6 months of benefits for my last semester at my school, then planning on using it for law school at a different school. Is there going to be a problem? Anyone have any experience?

This is one very confusing aspect of the program. You don't get any kind of itemized statement. They just throw boatloads of cash into your account and your school's account. You have to make guesses as to what it's for or if it was the full amount you were owed.

[Rotor]

All of a sudden my bank account got $2600 added to it from the US Treasury. I haven't heard anything at all from the VA, but I have filed my papers with my university and I was expecting payment anytime. I haven't filed my taxes or anything, so I would assume that this has to be it, but I was just curious if it is supposed to come from the US Treasury. I got one $500 payment (50% benefit for $1000 book stipend) and one payment of like $2100 (which is more like 100% of the tuition it cost me...) so I am really confused. Perhaps they lumped together a BAH payment with the tuition (1500 + 600 would probably be 50% benefit each, makes sense)? I'll email my VA rep at my school, but she isn't very helpful so I was just wondering if your guys' payments also came from the US Treasury. Thank you.


Also, how hard is it going to be to switch from one school to another. I'm using about 6 months of benefits for my last semester at my school, then planning on using it for law school at a different school. Is there going to be a problem? Anyone have any experience?

Lantern, yes the payments come posted from US Treasury ("Deposit - US TREASURY 220 VA ED CH33" according to my online account). I also got two deposits: one is definitely the book stipend and the other, I'm guessing, is my BAH deposit. Only problem is, it's more than double what I was expecting for the 1/30/10 payment. (should have just been ~ 1,300 for the pro-rated month). Initially, I thought they may have changed from an EOM payment to BOM and combined both Jan and Feb into one-- but the deposit wasn't enough to be that scenario.

[Edit: Also going back to your question about whether they lumped tuition with BAH: Under post 9/11 GI Bill, tuition goes straight to the school. You won't ever see it. I also know it wasn't tuition in my case because it would have to be about 3x higer than it was to be a mistaken tuition/fees payment)]

Not sure what's going on. If we're not owed it, I'm sure they'll come after it eventually. I've just moved what I think is the over-payment to savings. So when they short me in a future month to recoup, I'll have the money available. (I also got overpaid 1st sem since I was still ACDU and got the books. I called and told them, and that's what they told me to do. They don't ask for a cash repayment. They just withhold future benefits until the overage is settled.) Anyone else?

Sorry can't help you with your transferring question. Though I'm sure you won't be the only one in that situation.

[FeuerFrei]

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