Posted on Nov 3, 2015
Are there any other RP Members who were denied the GI BILL due to VEAP?
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http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/veap.asp
When I entered the service I had no idea I would NOT be eligible for the GI Bill. My father got the GI bill and suggested I join to be able to use it for college too.
Unfortunately, I found out after joining that those who joined any branch of the Military from 1977 to 1985 were NOT eligible for the GI Bill....the government took it away! Instead, the only way we could possible get help for college was through VEAP. This is where we had to contribute our own money and the government doubled it...but you could only contribute up to $2000 per year.
I'm wondering if any one else on RP fell under this group....and I'm wondering if there is something that can be done.
While I was active duty, I went to night school and school on Saturdays and managed to get two Associates degrees. After getting out I used the money I contributed to VEAP and got a BFA....but still I feel like I was jilted out of something i should have been eligible for.
I went through a gazillion phone calls, but got no where. It seems it is what it is....BUT I feel it is totally unfair.
All Military after 1985 were given the GI bill.... How is this right and or fair?
When I entered the service I had no idea I would NOT be eligible for the GI Bill. My father got the GI bill and suggested I join to be able to use it for college too.
Unfortunately, I found out after joining that those who joined any branch of the Military from 1977 to 1985 were NOT eligible for the GI Bill....the government took it away! Instead, the only way we could possible get help for college was through VEAP. This is where we had to contribute our own money and the government doubled it...but you could only contribute up to $2000 per year.
I'm wondering if any one else on RP fell under this group....and I'm wondering if there is something that can be done.
While I was active duty, I went to night school and school on Saturdays and managed to get two Associates degrees. After getting out I used the money I contributed to VEAP and got a BFA....but still I feel like I was jilted out of something i should have been eligible for.
I went through a gazillion phone calls, but got no where. It seems it is what it is....BUT I feel it is totally unfair.
All Military after 1985 were given the GI bill.... How is this right and or fair?
GI Bill
Education
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 43
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Sgt Kelli Mays I served from 1981 -1985 and fall into the same bucket as you as far as GI Bill benefits go. They were essentially non existent. I knew that going in and you should have too. There were forms we all filled out regarding the GI Bill then. If you did not know about the GI Bill and what you had access too you simply were not paying attention. You had to contribute each month to have eligibility and there was a match from the government. I seem to recall about the max you could get was $8,000 (I could be wrong on the number, it has been 35 years). That is called life. You were provided what you signed up for.
What can be done, nothing. You were given what you contracted to get, you were not "jilted". Time to suck it up and move on. On the upside, my son enlisted in the Marine Corps about 5 years ago and has access to the current GI Bill and is saving me a bundle on college tuition.
What can be done, nothing. You were given what you contracted to get, you were not "jilted". Time to suck it up and move on. On the upside, my son enlisted in the Marine Corps about 5 years ago and has access to the current GI Bill and is saving me a bundle on college tuition.
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SMSgt Clyde Hunter
LTC Michael Hrycak - I was in the same boat, 1978-2005, however, when President Obama signed the Post 9/11 Education Act I in 2008 I qualified for 36 months of educational benefits. They are nontransferrable however, unless you select to transfer them while on AD.
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CPO Doug Wells
Kelli- I served from 1980-2004. The system was flawed and they realized it a few years later. I recall having the opportunity to sign up for the GI bill, even if you had not contributed to VEAP, with one stipulation, you had to either be fully vested in VEAP or write an immediate check for your share (approx $2700). There were many of us who either missed the downside of VEAP or thought we would get our education while we were in. I do not know if the opportunity is still there, but since you have used your VEAP funds, I believe that ship has sailed.
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PO2 Nick Burke
CPO Doug Wells - I tried to convert it over. I was denied. Then VEAP was just cancelled. No recourse. I had to file a petition just to get my money back. No 10 years to use.
BTW the max $$$$ was 7500.00 total.
BTW the max $$$$ was 7500.00 total.
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SSgt Bob Williams
SFC Gary Wysocki - And just how did Bill Clinton play a role in the VEAP program in 1987? He was the governor of Arkansas at the time.
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I did no elect to contribute to VEAP because I saw it as the bad deal it was. Fast forward to post 9/11 and lo and behold I was eligible for the latest iteration of the GI Bill. Was it unfair that Congress drafted legislation like this? Yep. Unlike the hordes who live off public assistance to mostly waste it at local community colleges, veterans earn it. Write to or visit your local congress critter, but i think the well may be dry at this point.
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Sounds like you got caught between the transition from VEAP to the MGIB (Montgomery GI Bill). As I understand the intricacies of VEAP, it mandated the 1.) the service member contributed, and 2.) it was a "use it or lose it" proposition --where funds could ONLY be dispersed for education. My wife enlisted in '84 & was, subsequently, solely eligible for VEAP. Upon acceptance of an NROTC scholarship, her VEAP money was locked. She had 8-semesters of tuition covered. However, she took 8 1/2 semesters to graduate. Oddly, her VEAP money could not be applied against school loans. But, it could be recovered as a dispersal so as long as she was a full-time student. So, she took her VEAP money to buy groceries --and paid off the student loans independently.
Those who accepted VEAP benefits are not eligible for the MGIB. Unfortunately, you will not have much luck changing a 30-yr old, expired policy. It was the best thing going... at the time.
Those who accepted VEAP benefits are not eligible for the MGIB. Unfortunately, you will not have much luck changing a 30-yr old, expired policy. It was the best thing going... at the time.
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Sgt Kelli Mays
Capt Mark Strobl Yep...got stuck in the middle. Someone on this post said they were able to convert their VEAP to MGIB...but not till 2000. I was in by 1983 and out by 88...
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SGT Tim Fridley
You could say I lucked out I fell under VEAP but was in the guard after I left active duty the was activated in 2003 for more then 90 days qualified for the MGIB so signed up for that and got my VEAP money back
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2LT Earl Dean
Sgt Kelli Mays - Its not right and when they started this VEAP program there was a ton of us that said no to it but as be! The powers and brass above decided that it was good for the Military. So you get screwed! and no kiss! The only way I have heard anyone getting around it is to get a disability rating and then you may be able to go to school under Chapter 31, Even then they only pay for a BA or BS degree, But then there are other ways of paying for more education! While I was in school and the VA was paying and the GI bill was paying for me, I found out that you can and should apply for grants, The best place for that is http://www.dogpile.com its a search engine. Type in Scholarships and grants and then only fill out and apply for the free ones! I got like $3000 from that. What they don't tell you and you need to check on is if the grant is not used in that semester what happens to the grant money! Most colleges will give it to you! Its your money then!
Dogpile.com makes searching the Web easy, because it has all the best search engines piled into one. Go Fetch!
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