<p>Just a note to the Texans out there who may have bought this plan before it closed in 2003. There's been a change to the policy you should be aware of concerning cancelling that contract and cashing out. You should have gotten a letter, but info is on the website, Texas</a> Guaranteed Tuition Plan</p>
<p>Also, now that the time has come that we'll be needing it in the next year, I called and asked a lot of questions, and it doesn't work quite like I thought it would. Not a disaster, but there are more rules on transferring the account to a sibling than I realized. The lovely woman with whom I spoke on the phone stressed how if you are planning to transfer to a younger sibling it MUST be done before he/she graduates. In other words, August before he/she starts college is too late and isn't allowed; make the transfer in the spring before graduation. Just a heads-up there.</p>
<p>Another thing I didn't realize: If we use the money at an OOS or in-state private (we bought four years at an in-state public), the cash equivalent still can only be used for tuition and fees, not room or board or books. That means that should ds get a scholarship we need to work with the school to make it cover room and board, or that money in the plan can't be used (unless we cash out and only get the initial investment back).</p>
<p>Anyway, I thought this would be good to post because I'm sure others have plans in other states as well and need to know the exact rules of how the money can be used as the time gets closer.</p>
<p>Glad to see your post. I was hoping for an update on the plan. We no longer live in Texas, but I knew about the “tuition only” fact. </p>
<p>Texas still has some of the most reasonable tuition rates, so most of us will “use it all up and then some.” I haven’t read your update, but what is yearly allowance going to be? We’re on the 4 year public plan, too.</p>
<p>It looks like it’s $230 per hour, but where are they coming up with the 64 hour example? If the average student takes 15 hours per semester, does that mean we can expect $6,900 this year?</p>
<p>I just received the letter. It appears that they are no longer providing refunds if your child receives a scholarship or DIES! In the past, the Death of a Purchaser or Beneficiary allowed for a full refund of payment of earnings. Effective 11/1/2009 that will no longer be the case.</p>
<p>I got my letter today. I don’t think we should have any reason to cancel, but I don’t think it’s fair to change the rules this late in the game. Of course, they may have covered their *$^& with the wording, “Program provisions may be amended by the Board from time to time if the Board determines it is the Program’s best interests.” </p>
<p>That death clause bothers me the most. Oh, your child died? Too bad.</p>
<p>It’s for whatever you bought. In our case, we bought four years as a public uni, or 128 hours total. We can use nine a semester or 18, whatever we want until we use up the 128.</p>
<p>However, once you dip into the fund for even a penny, it’s no longer tranferrable. It must be used by the original student, or you can cash out what’s left of your initial investment.</p>
<p>I don’t remember buying credits. I bought a 4 year public. If that’s 128 hours, that should be fine. If you hadn’t used all the credits by the end of four years, would they pay for a part of the 5th year?</p>
<p>Not positive about that, but I think it’s tied to hours only, not years. I say that because I remember asking about using it for grad school, and she said it wasn’t a problem.</p>
<p>Toledo, we are cashing in our plan for our D right now. According to the little manual they mailed me, “No dollar value is placed on a contract. All contracts are measured by credit hours.” And then, “If you have not used all your credit hours by the time you graduate from college, you can apply them to a graduate or a professional degree before the 10-year automatic termination date.” Then, there is a little chart that shows 4 Years of College totalling 128 hours.</p>
<p>No no, D is at UT and all is good. We do have the original investment plus earnings, since she is at a 4-year TX school. Her tuition and fees are covered.</p>
<p>We are upset because of how the rules are being changed suddenly. Our S (a current junior) will likely have many scholarship opportunities. Under the prior system, that would not be an issue since we could just cash out our investment plus earnings. Now, we would only get the original investment back. </p>
<p>I guess this article sums up the reasons for all of these changes:</p>
<p>What is the “10-year automatic termination date”? When does that kick in? 10 years from when you bought it or from when you start drawing from it?</p>
<p>“Your account will automatically terminate 10 years after the beneficiary is projected to graduate from high school.”</p>
<p>BTW, I’m getting all of this from a book that is available online (according to the book’s cover) at <a href=“http://www.tgtp.org%5B/url%5D”>www.tgtp.org</a>.</p>
<p>Cool! Thanks! I’m just really torn about what to do now. I don’t see either of my kids at a Texas public for their undergrad at this point, but maybe grad school. I hate that if ds1 uses even a penny it’s no longer an option for ds2.</p>
<p>Hmmm…sorry, I don’t know much about transferring funds to siblings. It sounds like every family has their own agenda. I would call the TGTP folks back and confirm that funds can be saved for grad school, though. I don’t know why that doesn’t sounds right to me, but I could be misinterpreting this booklet. </p>
<p>Thanks for explaining, Youdon’tsay. We have 3 children, but only bought this for the middle one, as we were nervous about the plan’s reliability. I would try and use the money ASAP. I think the money will be there, but there could be more restrictions. If a sibling could use it before the intended recipient enters grad school, I’d transfer it. Thinking back to when we bought the plan, it seemed like the payout amount was based on when the intended recipient was set to graduate. Therefore, a younger sibling would get that amount. In other words, the money wouldn’t increase from that point. The one thing I loved about the plan is that it can be used anywhere. I knew we weren’t likely to stay in Texas. I also liked the fact that my daughter could go back to school in Texas and would get in-state rates. (That’s another restriction they could change.) </p>
<p>We were living in Michigan back in the early 80’s, when they came out with a prepaid tuition plan. The same thing happened with their plan and they had to cut it off. I’m surprised these states don’t learn by each others’ mistakes.</p>
<p>Ok so Im Dyslexic and DARS has agreed and approved to pay for all my college expenses my parents are split and my mom is the main person. Her income wasn’t too much so thats good. But in 93 they bought me a Texas Tomorrow Fund and I want to cash it out to buy a foreclosure in Austin Tx. I currently attend a junior college while in High School (Senior) I currently have a 83 GPA at the college which the person at DARS said that was very good for me to be making that type of GPA and still be trying to handle high school classes to! I just have to make a 2.0 or higher to keep getting funds and also I can let them know if I am struggling and they will let me fail once and then game over as long as I just let them know whats happening. I plan to get my first 2 years at the junior college and then move to Austin TX and get a degree in Finance. (Goal is to be a Loan Officer). While a the Junior College I would rent the house out for about $1,000 per month its a really nice house =D! and set it aside and then live in it till I can afford another one and maybe keep it or sell it. Also my younger brother has a fund too so he can’t use both.</p>
<p>I’m not familiar with DARS, but if there’s a chance you could lose the money, you better hang onto that TTF account. You can always use it AFTER you’ve got your college degree.</p>