Are you a veteran with 90 days of service? Are you looking to expand your education by returning to college? Have you heard about the new Post-9/11 GI bill? This is the measure, passed on August 1, 2009, that is going to help you do just that. Veterans have served and continue to serve their country and their country has responded, passing the greatest increase in veteran benefits since the first GI bill passed after World War II. Veteran education is now encouraged, with further financial assistance for the more expensive of schools, a monthly stipend for housing, and the bounty of the potential to transfer benefits to members of the veteran’s family. One hundred percent of the benefit is present after 36 months of active duty. Learning the ins and outs of this new GI Bill education benefit is what the team has done and we are here to help you obtain the most for your educational needs.

Eligibility: Military members who served on active duty on or after September 10, 2009 for at least 90 aggregate days are eligible for 40% of the benefit (the minimum amount), and those who served 36 cumulative months will receive 100% of the benefit (the maximum amount). All others are somewhere in between, with one notable exception. Veterans who served at least 30 continuous days on active duty, and who were discharged due to a service-connected disability, receive 100% of the benefit.

Coverage Terms: Providing money for tuition and fees, the Post-9/11 GI Bill caps at the highest in-state tuition rate, for the state in which the school is located. For books and supplies, there is an annual stipend allotted that has a limit of up to $1,000. If you need more information about veterans benefits, look on the internet.

Important Provisions: Rural students who relocate to attend school may be eligible for a $500 one-time relocation allowance. Additionally, the Yellow Ribbon Program (YRP) may be available for veterans who wish to attend a school that has a higher tuition than that allowed as the highest in-state rate. This special funding has some provisions also, in that the college must participate in YRP and the veteran must submit an application for this special benefit.

Housing Stipend (Monthly): For eligibility, the veteran needs to have a study schedule of more than a half-time basis, with some level of in-residence study. This would exclude one hundred percent online school attendance as this has been deemed not eligible. Those who quality will obtain this stipend based on the zip code of the school location, in concordance with the E-5 with dependents BAH rate. There is an abundance of information about GI bill education on the web.

Benefits Transferability: Those military members who continue to serve their country should be pleased to learn that the Department of Defense (via the Post-9/11 GI Bill) has authorized the transfer of benefits to dependents under certain conditions. If a veteran has served at least six years in the Armed Forces as of on or after August 1, 2009, and is willing to commit to another four years of service, a spouse can have transferred to them the unused entitlement. Other dependents (the spouse and/or children) are eligible for transfer of benefits after the serving member has experienced their 10 years anniversary.

Knowing how to take advantage of the exciting and innovative opportunities presented with the Post-9/11 GI Bill education may just determine how you proceed with your education with the help of military dependent scholarships. Our Finance Center will aid you in person or over the phone in learning how a Military scholarship can help.

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