Changes have been made, more coming to post-9/11 GI Bill

  • Published
  • Submitted by the Education and Training Center staff
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Changes have been made to the Post 9/11 GI Bill and more are on the horizon. These are just a few of the highlights to the Post 9/11 GI Bill 2.0.

Into effect March 5:
· Limits active-duty members and their transferee spouses to the cost of tuition and fees prorated based on the eligibility tiers (40-100 percent).

Into effect Aug. 1:
· For active-duty, veterans and their transferees-Pays all tuition and fees for public schools REGARDLESS of education level.
· Private and foreign school costs are capped at $17,500 per academic year.
· Students training at more than half-time will receive a prorated housing stipend.

Beginning Oct. 1:
· Active-duty service members and their eligible spouses qualify for the $1,000 annual book stipend.
· Students attending 100 percent of their classes online qualify for half of the national average housing stipend for full-time ($673.50 for 2011).
· Students seeking vocational, technical, certificate, on-the-job-training and apprenticeship programs will be able to use the Post 9/11 GI Bill and receive $83 per month for books and supplies.
· Non-college degree programs: Pays actual net-cost for in-state tuition and fees at public NDC institutions.
· Flight Programs: Pays the actual net-costs for in-state tuition and fees assessed by the school or $10,000, whichever is less.
· Benefit may be used multiple times for licensure/certification tests and college exams. Once equaling $1,667, one month of benefit will be used.

Members who have the Montgomery GI Bill and are separating or retiring soon do not have to switch to the Post 9/11 GI Bill before they separate or retire. If a member has the MGIB, they have both bills unless they received an Other-than-Honorable discharge.

Members may chose to use all 36 months of the MGIB then request to receive an additional 12 months of Post 9/11 giving them a total of 48 months of educational benefit or they may use some of the MGIB, then switch to the Post 9/11 receiving a total of 36 months between the two Bills. Every active-duty member who has the MGIB has 10 years after their date of separation to use all 36 months of the MGIB and 15 years after their DOS to use the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

The only time a member needs to switch to the Post 9/11 GI Bill is if they are transferring their benefit to their dependents. They then incur an additional service commitment with the exception of those who had an approved retirement date through June 30, or those who were eligible to retire (served 20 years) on or before Aug. 1, 2009. All others will incur a service commitment to transfer the Post 9/11 to their dependents.

Therefore, if the member is separating or retiring soon and not transferring the Post 9/11 to their dependents, there is no rush to make a decision of which Bill to apply for.

Please do not turn down your MGIB benefit without carefully considering the various options you have, given that your decision is irrevocable. For more information, attend the Post 9/11 GI Bill briefing held every Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Education Center or call the Veterans Administration directly at 1-888-442-4551.