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Did you miss the 2022 GI Bill Summit? VA Education Service leadership answered your GI Bill benefits questions at the first-ever event.
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Hear VBA Education Service leadership answer education benefits questions submitted by Veterans, Service members, and their families on RallyPoint: https://w...
On April 14, 2022, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Education Service (EDU) leadership hosted its first ever GI Bill® Summit, connecting virtually with GI Bill students and the Veteran community to provide updates on Digital GI Bill modernization efforts and answer GI Bill questions submitted on RallyPoint.
The GI Bill Summit was hosted on VA’s Post-9/11 GI Bill Facebook page and featured:
» Opening remarks from EDU Acting Executive Director Mary Glenn
» Question and Answer session with EDU leadership
» Facebook Live chat interaction, answering education benefits questions on the spot
» Showcases of various VA education programs including VRRAP and VET TEC
» Spotlights of Veterans Claims Examiners and a School Certifying Official
In case you missed it, you can watch the recording of the 2022 GI Bill Summit here:
In addition, VA’s Digital GI Bill team hosted a usability testing session with over 600 School Certifying Officials to test out new functionalities being developed to support the Digital GI Bill modernization effort. These new features are focused on making a better experience for Veterans, Service members, their families, and the school administrators and VA staff who support them.
Over the past few weeks, VA answered more than 250 education benefits questions submitted to the 2022 GI Bill Summit: RallyPoint Q&A. Topics included monthly enrollment verification requirements, Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA), transfer of entitlement, expiring COVID-19 protections of benefits, and more.
On behalf of the VA EDU leadership, we thank you for your engagement and participation in the GI Bill Summit. Your questions and feedback are invaluable as we work to improve your education benefits experience, and we look forward to continuing these types of conversations with you in the future.
If you have any additional questions, please utilize the GI Bill hotline at 888-GIBILL- [login to see] ) between 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Central Time, Monday-Friday. For students outside the U.S., call 00 [login to see] . You can also ask us a question via Ask VA (https://ask.va.gov) or reach out to us through our Post- 9/11 GI Bill Facebook page (https://rly.pt/346jg4T).
The GI Bill Summit was hosted on VA’s Post-9/11 GI Bill Facebook page and featured:
» Opening remarks from EDU Acting Executive Director Mary Glenn
» Question and Answer session with EDU leadership
» Facebook Live chat interaction, answering education benefits questions on the spot
» Showcases of various VA education programs including VRRAP and VET TEC
» Spotlights of Veterans Claims Examiners and a School Certifying Official
In case you missed it, you can watch the recording of the 2022 GI Bill Summit here:
In addition, VA’s Digital GI Bill team hosted a usability testing session with over 600 School Certifying Officials to test out new functionalities being developed to support the Digital GI Bill modernization effort. These new features are focused on making a better experience for Veterans, Service members, their families, and the school administrators and VA staff who support them.
Over the past few weeks, VA answered more than 250 education benefits questions submitted to the 2022 GI Bill Summit: RallyPoint Q&A. Topics included monthly enrollment verification requirements, Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA), transfer of entitlement, expiring COVID-19 protections of benefits, and more.
On behalf of the VA EDU leadership, we thank you for your engagement and participation in the GI Bill Summit. Your questions and feedback are invaluable as we work to improve your education benefits experience, and we look forward to continuing these types of conversations with you in the future.
If you have any additional questions, please utilize the GI Bill hotline at 888-GIBILL- [login to see] ) between 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Central Time, Monday-Friday. For students outside the U.S., call 00 [login to see] . You can also ask us a question via Ask VA (https://ask.va.gov) or reach out to us through our Post- 9/11 GI Bill Facebook page (https://rly.pt/346jg4T).
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
GI Bill
Education
College
Benefits
Responses: 174
Why can I not receive 100% BAH for a semester of schooling if my workload of full-time credit hours doesn't run continuously throughout the semester? If I am studying the same amount as another full-time student then why am I not granted the allowances of a full-time student? This makes maintaining housing difficult and limits class selections I can take.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Your enrollment certification, as submitted by your school, determines whether you are considered a full or part time student, during the time that you are taking classes. By law, Monthly Housing Allowance is authorized for the days you attended class during your scheduled term. VA is not authorized to pay benefits while a student is not attending school or training. We appreciate the feedback and will continue to listen to concerns in order to make Veterans’ experiences better. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/resources/benefits_resources/rates/ch33/ch33rates080121.as
Must schools chose to do remote classes (zoom) and in person classes usually contradicts with work schedule and are bit usually available. Will the VA change the requirement to receive full MHA benefits for remote classes?
Carla Onofri
*Most schools chose to do remote classes (zoom) and in person classes usually contradicts with work schedule and are not* usually available. Will the VA change the requirement to receive full MHA benefits for remote classes?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your question and feedback. Per current legislation, Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) rates run equivalent to an active duty E-5's Basic Housing Allowance rate with dependents, which is determined annually by the Department of Defense to account for things like inflation and cost of living. VA then adjusts the MHA on August 1st of every year to match. Our rates are dependent on the Department of Defense's housing rates. We appreciate your feedback and continue to work with Congress and our GI Bill partners to improve the GI Bill experience for Veterans and their families. Check out VBA EDU leadership discussing this topic at the 2022 GI Bill Summit: https://youtu.be/0E5tw0zd4DY?t=1149
If the 9/11 GI bill is to obtain a degree, what if you just want a certificate in a course that will not yield a degree. Especially when have a degree already AND, you only have approximately 4 or 5 months left of eligibility. Can you apply for a certificate course?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your question! Yes, the GI bill covers more than just tuition for a college degree. You are also able to use your entitlement to cover the costs of certain licenses, tests, and certifications that may be required for your profession. For more specific information regarding approved certifications and tests click here: va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/test-fees/. As well, the VET TEC program requires only one day of entitlement, but unlike traditional GI Bill programs, participation does not count towards use of your entitlement: https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/vettec-high-tech-program/. Through this program you can train for a career in the high technology industry within a matter of months. Check out VBA EDU leadership discussing this topic at the 2022 GI Bill Summit: https://youtu.be/0E5tw0zd4DY?t=816.
Do I have full access to VA Education Benifits? My active service was 07/1971 to 06/1978 including combat service Vietnam War with BLT 3/4 supporting 7th Fleet and Yon Kipper War of 1973 with 32 MAU supporting 6th Fleet. I was Honorable discharged and retired with permanent disability on 06/15/1978. .
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your question. If you’ve separated and have a disability that inhibits your ability to work or prevents you from working, you could qualify for Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits, VR&E, or Chapter 31. This program offers five support-and-services tracks to help you get education, training, or find and keep a job. Learn more on our website: https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/
Suspended Profile
Not a question more of an issue regarding GI bill benefits accrued and the time sensitivity once a soldier retires. I had 18 months' worth of benefits left when I was medically discharged in July of 2021. In January 2022 I decided to return back to school. When I enrolled and received my eligibility letter it showed 18 months, but they would expire in March of 2023. I look at benefits as something we have earned for our service. With society always evolving, I think this policy should be looked at
MSG Alan Purdie
[login to see] - your Post 9/11 GI Bill does not expire in 2023 - call to get this fixed
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your comment. The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act eliminated the 15-year time limit for using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for Veterans who left Active Duty on or after January 1, 2013, as well as qualifying dependents. Further, the Montgomery GI Bill expires in 10 years after separation or retirement. With regard to your particular situation, we encourage you to contact [login to see] to speak with one of our representatives who can review your file information. They can also assist you with filing a claim for an increased evaluation to reassess your claim.
I would love to understand two parts of my GI bill: 1) why it’s not predictive? I should be able to see an LES-like pay statement and understand what exactly I have and will be paid (2) GI Bill pays retroactively at the end of each but my school bills differently, so me and every other GI Bill student are constantly in arrears and often accumulating late fees. Can’t the USG negotiate this with schools, ie mandate housing payments that align w GI Bill payments ?
MSG Alan Purdie
The VA pays a monthly housing allowance - how you spend that is your business not the VA's so VA/USG will not be mandating anything - all VA Education programs are required by law to pay in arrears - this is so students don't take the money and not attend classes. So it is predictive - if you attend classes in January you get paid at the end of that month - if you attend classes in February, you get paid at the end of that month. The law only allows VA to pay based on the dates school is in session - so if you are only in classes for 15 days in January, you only get paid for those 15 days. I do agree with your suggestion of a better system of tracking the monthly payment amounts.
CAPT Thomas Braden
thanks - but every month the payment has been different - wait, truth be told, I think two months in the last ten, the amount has been the same, otherwise its random. Its manageable for me, but I can imagine not-so for younger guy/gals going to school w/ only teh GI bill to rely on.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your question and your feedback. The Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) you receive is based on the Department of Defense's (DoD) Basic Allowance for Housing rates (BAH) rates for an E-5 with dependents. Your MHA is based on your school's campus location, and VA pays MHA for the days you attended class, so if your term starts in the middle of January, the payment you receive in the beginning of February will be pro-rated accordingly. We recommend utilizing the GI Bill Comparison Tool to better determine how your benefits are paid. Furthermore, effective August 1, 2019, schools are not allowed to penalize or prohibit a GI Bill student from attending or participating in courses while awaiting VA payment (for up to 90 days). You can learn more about this here: https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/fgib/transition_act.asp#:~:text=Yes.,to%20charge%20a%20late%20fee. Check out VBA EDU leadership discussing this topic at the 2022 GI Bill Summit: https://youtu.be/0E5tw0zd4DY?t=1149
My name is Iemina Afoa, and have been using the Post 9/11 benefits since retirement in 2004. In 2020, the VA issued me a COE for a degree I was about to begin. After completing three courses, the university let me know that the VA was not paying for the completed courses. As of today, the VA still has not paid the university for my completed courses. I am indebted ($3K) because of this issue. How do I get the VA to pay the university?
PO1 Iemina Afoa
MSG Alan Purdie Why was the COE issued when it was not supposed to? The university admission allowed me to take courses after they evaluated the COE. They and I did not see what you stated obviously. Is every veteran checking their COE when they receive it? I feel that the VA should have never issued the COE for those courses in the first place. Now I am left with the bill because the COE was issued by mistake.
MSG Alan Purdie
PO1 Iemina Afoa - No, the COE was not issued by mistake - the COE is just a vehicle to pass the information to you and the school. Yes, both you and the school should have been reading the information on that COE. When I was a School Certifying Official, I read every COE that my veterans submitted each semester.
PO1 Iemina Afoa
I see this is not a debatable issue. I admit that I did not read the COE even other ones issued before for my Bachelor and a Master degree. I screwed up by assuming that the university admission officials evaluated the COE thoroughly before my last courses. Does the VA, however, pay the tuition anyways?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your question. While we are unable to provide information on this specific case in this forum, we recommend you contact the Education Call Center (ECC) Monday - Friday, 7am to 6pm CT, at [login to see] , for further assistance with your inquiry. We also recommend taking a look at our Debt Management Center website for more information on getting assistance with VA debt repayments: https://www.va.gov/manage-va-debt/
My school had shut down during the pandemic and I had transferred schools. In doing so, I lost progress in my course of study. Is there any way to get an extension of my education benefits in order to cover me through through the courses that were not transferred? I have less than a year until I graduate.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Hi, thank you for your question. If your school closed or VA disapproved it after March. 1, 2021, you may be eligible to receive your MHA (an eligible kicker payments) at your original rate prior to the closure or enrollment change for up to a total of four weeks. However, you must have been a student when it closed and have been a student for at least 120 days. If you transferred more than 12 credits to a new school after your school was closed or disapproved, then you would not be eligible to have your benefits restored.
If you attended a school that was closed or disapproved between Aug. 16, 2017, and Aug. 1, 2021, you would be eligible to have GI Bill benefits restored for the term, quarter, or semester in which you were enrolled when it closed or was disapproved. Again, you would have to be a current student and have not transferred any credits in order to get that semester’s worth of benefits restored.
If you feel you are eligible for restoration of benefits, you can apply online anytime by using our "Education Benefit Entitlement Restoration Request Due to School Closure or Withdrawal" form on our website: https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/fgib/restoration.asp
If you attended a school that was closed or disapproved between Aug. 16, 2017, and Aug. 1, 2021, you would be eligible to have GI Bill benefits restored for the term, quarter, or semester in which you were enrolled when it closed or was disapproved. Again, you would have to be a current student and have not transferred any credits in order to get that semester’s worth of benefits restored.
If you feel you are eligible for restoration of benefits, you can apply online anytime by using our "Education Benefit Entitlement Restoration Request Due to School Closure or Withdrawal" form on our website: https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/fgib/restoration.asp
Less of a question, and more of a suggestion... Soldiers who attain GI Bill benefits, via active duty service, and then transition to the reserves and pursue school full time, suffer an undue "penalty" for this choice of continued service while in school, via the recoupment of GI Bill benefits (BAH funds), while on active duty orders. No other form of employment leads to a loss of some/ all of BAH funds, and it doesn't seem reasonable that working for the Army Reserves, on temporary active duty orders, should lead to that loss either. Some sort of provision needs to be made that allows for, perhaps, orders to active duty work of less than 30 days, would not automatically lead to a reduction in BAH payments. These regular BAH payments are key to soldiers in school, and their financial wellbeing, and regular reductions in payments (and the paper work needed to handle them), lead to an undue burden. I understand the origin of the policy, limiting BAH payments while using GI Bill benefits on active duty, but, when on "active duty' for short durations, this policy seems misguided. Fixing this small issue would greatly simplify the lives of citizen soldiers and reduce the time and efforts spent by them, and VA representatives, in handling the stop/ restart/ ... cycle of benefits. Thank you for your time and consideration. -SSG Hanna, James
MSG Alan Purdie
https://www.congress.gov/116/plaws/publ315/PLAW-116publ315.pdf Section 1009 changed this for those on orders of less than 30 days - effective 1 August 2022
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your feedback. Per federal law, Service members on Active Duty orders are not eligible to receive both Basic Housing Allowance (BAH) and Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) while using GI Bill benefits. We appreciate the feedback and will continue to listen to concerns and respond to ongoing legislative changes to make Veterans experiences better.
Please consider adding back GI benefits due to pandemic considerations
I had to withdraw from a course due to the strain at home and work (I’m a critical care APRN)
I’m now paying out of pocket for the courses I had to drop to support my workplace and family (3 elementary-aged kids sent home for distance learning, deployed spouse, and being responsible for the swift implementation of covid practices across 6 critical care units… it was impossible without dropping. )
Wish I could bet those benefits back. Covid wasn’t an issue when I signed up for those classes. Would love those 4-5 months worth of benefits back
I had to withdraw from a course due to the strain at home and work (I’m a critical care APRN)
I’m now paying out of pocket for the courses I had to drop to support my workplace and family (3 elementary-aged kids sent home for distance learning, deployed spouse, and being responsible for the swift implementation of covid practices across 6 critical care units… it was impossible without dropping. )
Wish I could bet those benefits back. Covid wasn’t an issue when I signed up for those classes. Would love those 4-5 months worth of benefits back
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your feedback. We understand that COVID-19 has had significant impacts on the education journey of GI Bill beneficiaries and VA has worked to preserve GI Bill benefits and continue payment of education benefits and Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) to GI Bill Students who have been negatively impacted due to COVID-19. For more information about your particular circumstance and your options, we recommend calling the Education Call Center, (ECC) Monday - Friday, 7am to 6pm CT, at [login to see] . Please also see our website for more information: https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/COVID19EducationBenefits.asp#:~:text=What%20does%20this%20mean%3F,negatively%20affected%20by%20COVID-19.
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