Financial Aid for Dependents of Veterans Who Retired Pre911

Hoping someone can help me find out some information. DS 16 is starting to investigate all possible FA that he’s
eligible for. My husband retired from
the Air Force in 1998 after serving 22 years. We know that their are benefits for dependents of veterans who
served post 9/11, but are unaware of
any benefits for dependents of vets
who served an retired before then.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

If you live near a military post, have your kid make an appointment with the education center. They also help military dependents and would be the best to help.

I would also join MOAA if you qualify, http://www.moaa.org/ .

From the web site, " Interest-free loans, MOAA’s main educational assistance program, are renewable annually for up to five years of full-time undergraduate study. Assistance is available only to students who have not earned an undergraduate degree."

@ dadoftwingirls Thank you for your info. We will attempt to make an appointment with the education center. Unfortunately, my husband was a NCO , and not a commissioned officer so we are ineligible for membership in MOAA. Again , thanks for the info.

I think that is fine to make an appointment but surely general benefits info should be online.

I don’t think there are any. I retired in 2005 and I have no GI Bill benefits I can pass on.

Thank you @ Erin’s Dad. I know that there’s no GI benefits but sometimes different organizations affiliated with the military have scholarships that dependents are eligible for. I’m just trying to be thorough in my search. If I come across anything that might be available , I will pass it on.

Military One Source may also be helpful.

Look also for VFW and similar veterans’ groups scholarships.

@BrownParent. True, but why not use a free resource to help a family plan for their child’s education.

Example from the Army Garrison - Hawaii,

"Welcome to the Army Continuing Education System (ACES) website, serving U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii. Active duty military, reserve component military, retirees, Department of the Army civilians and their adult family members may receive counseling, information about financial aid and local programs, and enrollment in selected programs.

Tell us what your educational plans are. How can we help you reach your goals?"

Yes you can do that sure, I wasn’t recommending against it. I was hoping that some info could be shared that could benefit more people to hear about. So far I have only seen benefits under the post-9/11 and disabled veterans. I am talking to a couple now who are both vets with a rising Sr and they didn’t think they have any benefits, although one did get their own degree a while ago. They are very busy and will not likely make an appointment and go anywhere because they would only be interested in info if they qualify for specific military benefits, I hope you shouldn’t have to make an appointment to find that out. They already have resources for the rest of the planning.

@Brownparent, The education centers have the latest information on veteran benefits, federal and state. The VA website only discusses federal benefits. The local education office can also help if the parents have questions about in state eligibility. The parents don’t need to go as the student can make the appointment as a military dependent. The senior would need to know how long the parents were in service, and when they got out of the military to help determine what education benefits they are applicable…

I only know this since I mobilized as a reservist this last year and was required to go by the education center.

I don’t know the benefits for dependents for those pre-911.

I hope @carolinamom2boys will come back and tell us if it was helpful and what they discussed.

We are currently in Charleston, SC and if time permits we will stop at the AFB on the way home on Monday. Any info , I will be sure to pass along. Thanks so much for all of your help.

I poked around the Military One Source website and the information was pretty general. There are the post 9/11 gi bill benefits for kids of vets, and some benefits for kids of deceased or disabled vets listed. I recently heard that there is a provision for offering military kids instate tuition across a number of states regardless of residency but was unable to find any source to verify that.

The new law provides in-state tuition to vets and their dependents who have left the service within the last three years. Some states are also offering it to dependents of current military, no matter where stationed, but the law addresses those no longer serving.