Comments on: Post-9/11 GI Bill: New Military Tuition Assistance

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:03:32 +0000

I recently applied for the post 9/11 GI Bill aka Chapter 33 educational benefits through VONAPP form 1990. On the application, there is an entry box entitled “effective date.” Thinking that “effective date” meant when the application went into effect, I put the current date. In fact, what I was attempting to do was backdate my benefits and receive retroactive payment for a previous semester, fall 2009. I submitted this application in March, hoping to receive the full back pay from the fall semester under chapter 33 benefits, and the full monthly benefits of the spring semester up to that point in time and continuing throughout the semester. However, the effective date actually meant: on which date would I like to retroactively (if applicable) backdate my claim for payment. I wasn’t aware of this technicality, and it cost me upwards of 5-7,000$, as I instead received the very much lower monthly payment of the Montgomery GI Bill for the extent of the previous fall semester, bummer. I was told by the VA Educational HQ in Muskogee, Oklahoma to appeal the decision and it may be possible to correct the date, but it is taking more time than i had hoped for. There is also no way, as told to me by every clerk at the office in Oklahoma, to contact the Appeals HQ (also in Muskogee,OK) and receive an update on my appeal. Do you have any advice for this complex situation, or have you heard any stories of success in similar situations? Thanks.

By: ttopor

ttopor — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:35:43 +0000

Hello,
Regarding the Post 9/11 GI Bill – I would contact your financial advisor, so that they can provide assistance with your loans and payments.
Best of luck,
EducationGrant Editor

By: Own

Own — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 07:51:55 +0000

Hi,
I was wondering if the Post 9/11 living allowance should be coordinated into the financial aid package. In my situation, it is and so my grants were removed and my loans reduced, leaving me to pay the remainder of the tuition up front and out of my own pocket. Is this process correct, because isn’t my living allowance supposed to be for me to use to pay for my living expenses and not used towards school unless I so decide to?

By: ttopor

ttopor — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:41:36 +0000

Hi,
Thanks for reading. EducationGrant.com do not give out financial aid, grants or scholarships personally – we are strictly a website that provides resources and information. You should check the status of your application where you submitted it.
All the best,
EducationGrant Editor

By: cliff evans

cliff evans — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:48:27 +0000

I submited my information a while ago and I was just wondering how long it takes for me to get my benifits? thank You

By: TheEditor

TheEditor — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:39:08 +0000

Hi, Vivian,
I’m not sure if, by “tuition assistance,” you mean other military tuition assistance or tuition assistance from a non-military source. In either case, it’s an excellent question, but I don’t know the answer. I suspect that your GI Bill benefits will cover almost all, if not all, of your education expenses, particularly if you qualify for and choose the post-9/11 Bill program. On the other hand, the information from the GI Bill website advises you to consider “the financial aid you receive from other sources” when figuring out which GI Bill program will serve you better. I think the best answer to your question will come from the school you want to enroll in. School financial aid offices are trained to help students understand and combine all the different financial aid options available to them. Talk to your school financial aid office ASAP, and let them know which kind of “tuition assistance” you may have access to besides the GI Bill benefits. Best wishes, the EducationGrant Editor

By: vivian holman

vivian holman — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:31:07 +0000

Can I use 9/11 GI Bill and tuition assistance?

By: Sandra Proulx

Sandra Proulx — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:23:08 +0000

Cynthia,

Find approved education programs at this site: http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/search_programs.htm. You’ll see that this database of schools and programs is vast, and includes colleges & universities, flight schools, and correspondence schools.

Veterans enrolled as full-time or three-quarter-time students will be paid a housing allowance. If your classes are all online or pursued via distance learning, you can use the tuition benefit under Chapter 33 (the new, post-9/11 GI Bill), but would not qualify for the living allowance. The IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) encourages these veterans to consider using Chapter 30 (the MGIB bill).

To help figure out what the best plan of action is for you, check out the IAVA’s page; they put together a great page that really spells out how these benefits work. Their FAQ page can be found at http://dev.newgibill.org/get_answers.

Best of luck!
Sandra
Community Manager
EducationGrant.com

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:35:40 +0000

Does it matter what college I attend? Does online courses or on campus attendance matter?

By: Sandra Proulx

Sandra Proulx — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:41:43 +0000

Amanda – You can’t get both at the same time, unfortunately. We just posted about this exact dilemma though; it helps you figure out if the new GI bill is best for you, or if you’re better off sticking with the MGIB. Hopefully it answers your questions, but let us know if you have others!

http://www.educationgrant.com/2009/07/27/new-gi-bill-for-college/

Sandra
Community Manager
EducationGrant.com