Post 911 GI Bill
Your service in the military gives you several options to pay for your college education. You may even be eligible for education funding through the Post 9/11 GI Bill. The Post 9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of financial support for education and housing to individuals who served on or after Sept. 11, 2001. One of the benefits of the Post 9/11 GI Bill is that the financial support is payable for up to 15 years following your release from active duty.
Are You Eligible for Education Benefits through the Post 9/11 GI Bill?
Some veterans qualify for both the Post 9/11 GI Bill, also known as Chapter 33, and the Montgomery GI Bill.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill is for active duty military members who served on or after Sept. 11, 2001 for at least 90 days, or for 30 days and received a disability discharge. You qualify based on your length of service on or after Sept. 11, 2001. So, you qualify for 40 percent of the funds if you served at least 90 days. You qualify for 100 percent of the funds if you served three years. Keep in mind, if you qualify for less than 100 percent of funds, you’ll be responsible for the tuition not covered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
What Do You Receive?
As of August 1, 2011, with the Post 9/11 GI Bill, the GI Bill amount you receive will cover all in- state tuition and fees at degree-granting public schools. If you attend a public school out of state, you will receive the cost of in- state tuition. If you attend a private or for- profit, degree-granting school, online and/ or on campus, or a foreign school, you could receive a total of $17,500 per year. As of Oct. 1, 2011, you can also use the Post 9/11 GI Bill to pay your tuition for non-degree programs, such as vocational or certificate programs. The Post 9/11 GI Bill pays the actual cost for in-state tuition at the school or $17,500, whichever is less.
As of Oct. 1, 2011, whether you are an Active Duty military member or not on Active Duty, you can receive a books and supplies stipend.
What If There Are Remaining Costs?
As of Aug. 1, 2011, the Yellow Ribbon Program is available to help pay remaining costs that could exist if your out- of- state tuition exceeds the amount of public in- state tuition at your school. If you attend a private or for- profit school, online and/ or on campus, or a foreign school, you could use the Yellow Ribbon Program to cover any excess tuition and fees that exceed the $17,500 per year cap. An educational institution that is part of the Yellow Ribbon Program agrees to pay a portion of the difference and the VA matches that portion and issues payment directly to the institution.
Post 911 GI Bill Housing Funding
As of Oct. 1, 2011, a housing allowance is available for students who are enrolled in a distance learning or online program as well as a local campus program. But, these students can’t be Active Duty military members.
Keep in mind break or interval housing pay is no longer payable under any VA education benefit program. So, your housing allowance is paid for the first 15 days of the month when your semester ends and only begins again when your next semester begins. You will receive a prorated housing allowance based on your rate of pursuit, so the amount you receive depends on what portion of a full-time course load you take.
Post 9/11 GI Bill Test Fee Reimbursement
You can now receive reimbursement for more than one license or certification test; however, entitlement is charged. And fees paid to take national exams for college admission such as SAT, GMAT and LSAT are also reimbursable.
How to Apply for the Post 911 GI Bill
Start by collecting your paperwork (VA Form 22-1990, Application for Education Benefits, if you have never used the GI Bill before or VA 22-1995 if you have). Then, compare the programs of the schools you might be interested in and make sure the program you pick is approved for VA funding. Work with the school’s VA office to confirm your enrollment and make sure your paperwork is correct.