Post 9/11 GI Bill Amendment

For those that use it. FYI:

http://military-education.military.com/2010/12/post-911-veterans-education-assistance-improvement-act-of-2010/#idc-cover


Expands current Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility to include National Guard activation for events like title 32, national emergencies, and AGR service. This is retroactive to Aug. 1, 2009, but benefits will not be paid until Oct. 1, 2011.

Removes limitations for non-degree granting programs including certification courses, vocational-technical training, and Apprenticeship and On-the-Job Training programs similar to the Montgomery GI Bill. Effective Oct. 1, 2011

Simplifies the tuition payment rates by eliminating the state-by-state “undergraduate level” cap for tuition and fees. The VA will pay all actual tuition and fees for public (state) institutions for all levels of higher education. Effective Aug. 1, 2011. — Also applies to active duty servicemembers and their families, which goes into effect 60 days after enactment.

Sets an annual tuition and fee cap for all private institutions of $17,500 a year. This translates into $52,500 total for tuition and fees over the life of the benefits (36 months). Yellow Ribbon is still available to cover out-of-pocket tuition and fees expenses. Effective Aug. 1, 2011
Limits the monthly housing stipend by prorating the payment to the rate of pursuit (based on number of course hours taken). For example a half-time student will receive 50 percent of the current BAH. All other locality payment rates still apply. Effective Aug. 1, 2011

Expands eligibility for the monthly housing stipend to all half-time of better “distance learners” at a rate of 50 percent of the national average for BAH (approximately $673) – which will also be prorated to the rate of pursuit (based on the number of course hours taken). Effective 10/1/2011 – not retroactive.

Eliminates housing stipend payments during break periods (spring break, summer semester, winter break, etc.). Effective Aug. 1, 2011.

Expands the annual book stipend eligibility to include active duty and their spouses. Effective Oct. 1, 2011

Enables disabled veterans who are entitled to subsistence under the Voc-Rehab (VR&E) program and Post-9/11 GI Bill to take the P911 Housing Stipend in place of the VR&E subsistence payment. Effective Aug. 1, 2011

Removes the limit of just one test for licensure or certification and expands coverage to include “National Tests” like SAT, GRE, LSAT, and tests for college credit like the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Effective Aug. 1, 2011.

Grants GI Bill eligible care givers an extension on their 10 year deadline for using benefits. Effective Aug. 1, 2011.

Enables eligible NOAA and USPHS members to transfer GI Bill benefits like all other eligible members. Effective Aug.1, 2011

 

"Expands eligibility for the monthly housing stipend to all half-time of better “distance learners” at a rate of 50 percent of the national average for BAH (approximately $673) – which will also be prorated to the rate of pursuit (based on the number of course hours taken). Effective 10/1/2011 – not retroactive"

If I am understanding this correctly then BAH will now be given but for no more than 50% of the national average regardless of the course load as long as it is at least half-time? If that is the case, while definitely an improvement, still leaves a lot to be desired.

 

But put this GI Bill in perspective to the Viet Nam era GI Bill I had. It was so low that I worked full-time while attending school, my GI Bill didn't cover tuition, let alone books and fees, and was a single flat rate for everyone regardless of where you attended school.

Please expand on why it "still leaves a lot to be desired."

 

comparison read http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/113xx/doc11387/1978_10_veterans.pdf

 

It isn't a comparison between what came before it and what is available now. It leaves a lot to be desired because anyone who is even enrolled in one "butt in the seat" course gets the full BAH while from the way it reads now anyone, regardless of the course load, who is attending solely through distance learning will only get 50% of what they would get otherwise. So I could take 15 credits a semester through DL and would have to work harder than someone who is doing "butt in seat" for less credits because I would have to get a job to equal the same money. I don't see why there should be a difference between the two if they are acknowledging it as an option to begin with.

 

I am going to do this for the first time. Start January 2011, I'll take 1 course at Georgetown University (on campus), and 3 courses at Capella University (distance learning). I hope to get full BAH as the VA has stated on their website.

 

Is the 1 course on campus going to apply to your degree program? That is the only issue I have heard otherwise it would be easy to take an undergraduate course per semester at a local college and be done with it.

 

Yes, it does...even though I have enough transferred courses from my previous Master degree for Ph.D curriculum at Capella University. But due to housing allowance, my parent academic institution, Capella University had a written approval courses at Georgetown University.

 

I surprised that the "DL clause" worked out like that. The last time I heard information about it it was supposed to be something like "Student's taking distance learning classes will be entitled to BAH based on the zip code in which they live." I thought the whole problem with giving BAH to distance learners was the fear of students living in low cost of living states, and then going to schools in California/Hawaii. Guess I was wrong.

 

You are right which is why the did what they did. A perfect example is that BAH in a lot of places is only slightly higher than that 50% national average. I think when I was back in NC at the E-5 level with dependents I was only around $750 or so. Either way it is working out to their advantage, not ours.

 

I think that rate was thousand moons ago. :haha:

 

It may have been. In 2006 it was $753 without dependents according to the BAH website. So it would roughly be around $400 less than the with dependent rate today.