<p>Greetings everyone,</p>
<p>Long story short, I saved my GI Bill until I transferred to a 4 year university and utilized my GI BIll for exactly 2 years, more specifically, 4 semesters(fall/spring only) at 16 credits each. </p>
<p>However, my most recent letter from the VA indicates that I only have 19 months and some odd days of benefit remaining on my GI Bill. Is there some weird calculation by the VA that I'm not aware of or is this something I can dispute?</p>
<p>GI Bill educational benefits are caluculated on a monthly basis, which is 36 months or less depending on what your time (in months) of service is. The maximum amount of months for the benefit is 36 months (which equates to 4 years of school @ 9 month school years, which excludes Summers), but less that 24 or 18 months will be different.</p>
<p>For example, I served for 48 motnths and therefore receive 36 months of benefit. Say I went to school for 1 whole academic year (9 months) that my GI Bill paid for, then I would be at 36 - 9, which leaves me at 27. If I went to school for 1 more year (2 total), then I would be at 27 - 9, which leaves me at 18 . . . pretty much the situation you describe (GI Bill coverage for 2 academic years leaves you at 19 and some change months left). You are actually on pace to have a month or two of benefit left over if you were in school for 2 more years - and even more if you complete school before then.</p>
<p>Those that are rated below 100% will typically still have 36 months of benefit, but the tuition coverage and other payments from the benefit will be cut down according to what percentage the eligible beneficiary is entitled to (this percentage can be found on your Certificate of Eligibility you received when originally applying to use your benefit through the VA VONAPP F22-1990 if the applicant is the service member). For example, at 70% a service member/veteran can expect to receive 36 months of benefit, but at a reduced coverage of $17,500 in tuition per year * 70% and housing allowance and books stipend @ * 70%.</p>
<p>In this case it seems like the VA is correct and you haven’t been swindled out of your benefit.</p>
<p>EDIT: Your overall months of benefit can also be affected if you have utilized the Montgomery GI Bill.</p>