2011 changes to GI Bill

[BLUEHAWK]

Changes coming to the Post-9/11 GI-Bill

Posted 1/5/2011 Updated 1/5/2011

1/5/2011 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 was recently signed into law.

Effective August 1, 2009, but not payable until October 1, 2011

-- Certain National Guard members mobilized on Title 32 orders on, or after, September 11, 2001 are now eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and any qualifying Title 32 mobilization may be used to increase your percentage of eligibility

Effective August 1, 2011

-- The Post-9/11 GI Bill will pay all public school tuition and fees; this includes graduate training, out-of-state tuition differential, etc.
-- For students attending private institutions of higher learning or foreign schools, the tuition and fee reimbursement will be capped at the lesser of net out-of-pocket cost or $17,500 annually. However the Yellow Ribbon Program still exists
-- College fund payments will be paid on a monthly basis instead of a lump sum at the beginning of the term. Those training at one-half time or less will be eligible for college fund payments
-- Reimbursement will be available for multiple licensing and certification tests
-- Reimbursement will be available for fees paid to take national examinations used for admission to an institution of higher learning, such as the SAT
-- Vocational Rehabilitation participants will be able to elect the higher housing allowance offered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill if otherwise eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill
-- Break or interval pay will no longer be payable under any Department of Veterans Affairs education benefit program unless under an executive order of the president or due to an emergency situation such as a natural disaster or strike. Entitlement that previously would have been used for break pay will be available for use during a future enrollment. This means that if a semester ends Dec.15, housing allowance is paid for the first 15 days of December only. Benefits will begin again when a new semester begins. Benefits will be paid for the remaining days of that month and term.
-- Students using other VA education programs are included in this change. Monthly benefits will be prorated in the same manner.

Effective October 1, 2011

-- For those training at greater than one-half time, housing allowance will be prorated according to the training time those are enrolled in. For example, if a person's full housing allowance is $1000, and that person is attending three-quarters time, housing allowance would be $750.
-- Housing allowance will be payable to students enrolled solely in distance learning. The housing allowance will be one-half the national average basic allowance for housing for an E-5 with dependents. The rate would be $673.50 for 2011)
-- Non-college degree programs, on-the-job training and flight-training programs will be covered under the Post-9/11 GI Bill
-- The book stipend will be payable to active-duty members

(Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)