The federal Post-9/11 GI Bill that took effect August 1 is being touted by PEF members at the state Division of Veterans Affairs, Bureau of Veterans’ Education.
“This
is a major enhancement to the existing GI Bill benefit,” said Jeffrey Kaye, an
associate at the bureau. “There has been nothing like it. This is the biggest,
single increase in GI Bill money that’s ever come down the pike.”And the good news is spreading fast across the country.
The bureau’s chief and chairman of the Veterans Advisory Committee on Education in Washington D.C., James Bombard, said the federal Veterans Administration (VA) is already swamped with nearly 25,000 applications for benefits.
“We expect to see a 25 percent increase during the next couple of years,” Bombard said.
The enhanced benefits are three-fold. Kaye said the first part is coverage of tuition and fees. In New York, for example, an eligible veteran can take advantage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, also called Chapter 33, and go to any public college without paying a dime out-of-pocket for tuition.
“Every state in the nation was asked by the VA to determine the highest amount of public institution’s tuition that can be charged. We found in New York the figure to be about $23,000,” Kaye said.
If a veteran elects to go to a private school where tuition may be twice that amount, if not more, the veteran has to come up with the balance. But if the university is enrolled in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, then the school essentially splits the balance with the VA. This program allows institutions of higher learning in the U.S. to voluntarily enter an agreement with the VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate.
The second part is $1,000 for books and supplies per year, which is paid directly to the student.
The third part, which Kaye called the “real gem of the bill,” is the housing allowance.
Depending on cost-of-living criteria where the school is located, an eligible veteran can receive anywhere from approximately $800 to $2,800 a month if they attend on a full-time basis.
Another improvement of the bill is an eligible veteran cannot be denied the benefit even if he or she is receiving a full scholarship.
Craig
Farley, supervisor at the bureau, said the bill also boosts the eligibility
requirements. For example, if an individual in the armed forces has served at
least six years and has agreed to serve an additional four years, the benefits
may be transferred to a spouse or children.While the bill provides a lot to those who served our country, it is also complicated. Farley and Bombard said the choice an eligible veteran makes regarding Chapter 33 election is irrevocable.
“We advise all veterans applying for benefits to take it very seriously. Get advice from a credible source before you make a decision,” Bombard said. “Do your research and homework.”
The site to visit for more information is www.gibill.va.gov or call 1-888-442-4551 to speak with a veterans’ benefits counselor.
