Post 911-GI Bill

Paying for College
1

My son’s father transferred his Post-911 GI Bill to him and it includes a housing stipend. Anyone have experience with this military benefit?

2

The Post-911 GI Bill housing allowance is based on the E-5 with dependents Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate for the zip code where the school is located, for resident students (i.e., not distance learning) enrolled at more than half-time. For distance learning students, the housing allowance is one-half the BAH national average. The housing allowance is non-taxable.

Here is a BAH calculator:

http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bahCalc.cfm

3

Please remember it’s only for three years not four. Also committee recommendation recently came out to do away with the housing stipend so a real possibility if losing that in the next few years.

Make sure you google Yellow Ribbon program as some schools will kick in extra.

Since Obama signed the new VA bill into law last year all public colleges who accept any GI bill monies will now offer you instate tuition. Takes effect Fall 2015. If you are already out of the military you can only be out within three years to use this benefit.

Use the calculator below to estimate your benefit at each college.

Oh and ask to speak to your schools VA specialist. Most have one.

4

http://department-of-veterans-affairs.github.io/gi-bill-comparison-tool/

5

It’s 36 months of benefits, which will cover four years of full-time study at 9 months a year.

6

It is for 36 months, My DD still has several months left and graduated last May after four years. Breaks don’t count and months are not counted as full months if not in school the entire month.

Everything I have read says the new law applies to veterans - those out of the service and their dependents for the first three years they are out. Some states/schools may be doing it for active duty, but it is not across the board for active duty - only retirees and those who ETS.

Those currently on active duty get in-state tuition in their states of legal residence, the state in which they are stationed and that in which they live. As long as the student remains a continuous student, that rate is grandfathered in if the military member is stationed somewhere else.