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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).
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Responses: 174
CPL Rhett Millsaps
I was wondering if I could receive any benefits today, I had passed on my total disability benefits to my step daughter years ago, and she used it to become a teacher, getting her masters.
A wonderful benefit and I appreciate it very much, just asking if there is any turther benefit I could get to take some courses. Thank you for your answer.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
>1 y
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/. If don’t qualify for VA education benefits or have transferred yours to dependents, you may qualify for the Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program which offers education and training for high-demand jobs to Veterans who are unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.va.gov/education/other-va-education-benefits/veteran-rapid-retraining-assistance/. You can also check out our VRRAP spotlight during the 2022 GI Bill Summit: https://youtu.be/0E5tw0zd4DY?t=677.
SP5 Juan Rodriguez
i'm a vietnan and persian gulf veteran and i wou;d ;ike to ask if i can take on line study.thank you
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
>1 y
Thank you for your question! To find out if you are eligible for GI Bill benefits and to apply, please visit our website https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/. We also encourage you to take a look at the GI Bill Comparison Tool, at https://www.va.gov/education/gi-bill-comparison-tool/, to learn about and compare your GI Bill benefits at approved schools and programs. If you find out you are not eligible for GI Bill benefits, you may still be eligible to apply for Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP), which offers education and training for high-demand jobs to Veterans who are unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more here: https://www.va.gov/education/other-va-education-benefits/veteran-rapid-retraining-assistance/. Check out our VRRAP spotlight during the 2022 GI Bill Summit: https://youtu.be/0E5tw0zd4DY?t=677.
Sheri Dover
Vet Tec, VRRAP, and VR&E all allow students to take any trade school courses online, but CH 33 does not. These courses have been taught successfully during the Covid lockdown. Will VA start allowing non-college degree schools, especially programmer bootcamps, to offer distance courses?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
>1 y
You can use Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for a non-college degree. More information on benefits payable can be found here: https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/non-college-degree-programs/ We recommend using the GI Bill Comparison Tool to identify approved schools by visiting: https://www.va.gov/education/gi-bill-comparison-tool/. 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/
PO1 James Cocroft
I would like to know, why a veteran that is attending school at 1/2 is not eligible for MHA/BAH? I would also like to know why people that had time remaining on the Post 9/11 GI Bill were not grandfathered in for the Forever GI BILL?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
>1 y
Thank you for the questions. By law, Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is paid in full to students enrolled in-resident programs, whereas students enrolled in remote or online learning programs receive 50% of the national average.

Regarding your second question, the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act was drafted and passed by Congress to eliminate 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. VA will continue to listen to concerns to make Veterans’ experiences better. Check out VBA EDU leadership discussing this topic at the 2022 GI Bill Summit: https://youtu.be/0E5tw0zd4DY?t=1149
SPC Ernesto Parolis
I am using my post 9/11 Gi bill in getting my bachelors right now. I had some credits from active duty transferred to my college, so at the end of the degree, I will still have 10 months of GI bill left. I am planning to use it for an MBA in a public university, but 10 months of benefits are not going to be enough for the full program. So, my questions are: Is it any way to extend my GI bill so I can finish my MBA with no or little out-of-pocket cost? If that is the case, how can I extend it? If not, what other options do I have? Can the Yellow Ribbon program cover the rest of my costs?
Thank you very much.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
>1 y
Thank you for your question. Once your benefits are exhausted, VA is unable to extend them. The Yellow Ribbon program does not provide any benefits once your GI Bill runs out. Rather it helps to supplement what GI Bill doesn’t cover. You can find out more here: https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/yellow-ribbon-program/. For more ways to fund your education after you GI Bill benefits run our Part Two of the Building Your Future with the GI Bill® series provides suggestions for other ways to pay for school: https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/docs/gibguideseries/chooseyoureducationbenefits.pdf. Depending on your field of study, you may qualify for a scholarship through VA: https://va-ams-info.intelliworxit.com/. Additionally, some state’s provide educational assistance to Veterans and their families. Your state’s Veterans affairs will be able to provide that information. Please visit State Departments of Veterans Affairs Office Locations - About VA to learn more.
SPC Ugensky Jean
Why do I got denied Voc. Rehab. just because I wanted to use my full GI Bill benefit and I did not want to settle down with a BS in Administrative studies? I wanted to get a master’s degree instead, to have better job satisfaction in the future, but I was told not to continue my education and I had to pay the last semester out of my pocket and student loan. Please someone help me. It’s not fair. Other veterans with my similar situation got approved. Why can’t it be me?



Respectfully,

Ugensky Jean MPS.
[login to see] [login to see] leave me a voicemail or a text if I don’t respond.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
>1 y
Thank you for your question. 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. To learn more about eligibility for Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), formerly called Vocational Rehabilitation, please visit our website: https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/vocational-rehabilitation/eligibility/.
SGT Josh Beers
Why are the education benefits not for life of service member. Post 9/11 education benefits are far superior to my time (Montgomery GI Bill). I would like the opportunity to use them towards a second career.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
>1 y
The delimiting dates for Veterans depending on date of separation is a legislative mandate. While we realize that this is not optimal for all, VA is committed to listening to your feedback and continues to work with Congress to build a GI Bill process that works for you and your dependents. VA is committed to listening to your feedback and implementing legislation to improve the Veteran experience.
PO3 Ash J
I'm a semester away from graduating with my Masters, but I only have two months left of my GI Bill. What options do I have because I'm merely feet away from the finish line.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
>1 y
Thank you for your question. If you start a new semester with at least one day of GI Bill benefits, and then exhaust your benefits mid-semester, as long as your benefits are not expired and you have not hit the maximum 48 months of benefits yet, VA will continue your education benefits and housing allowance payments through the end of that semester.
PO3 Ash J
I'm a semester away from attaining my Masters, but I only have two months left on my GI Bill. What options do I have because I'm just a few feet away from the finish line.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
>1 y
Thank you for your question. If you start a new semester with at least one day of GI Bill benefits, and then exhaust your benefits mid-semester, as long as your benefits are not expired and you have not hit the maximum 48 months of benefits yet, VA will continue your education benefits and housing allowance payments through the end of that semester.
PO1 James Cocroft
Why students that are 1/2 time do not receive BAH/MAH? Also, why didn't they grandfather people that had time left for the Post 9/11 GI Bill into the Forever GI Bill policy?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
>1 y
Thank you for the questions. By law, Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is paid in full to students enrolled in-resident programs, whereas students enrolled in remote or online learning programs receive 50% of the national average. Regarding your second question, the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act was drafted and passed by Congress to eliminate 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. VA will continue to listen to concerns to make Veterans’ experiences better. Check out VBA EDU leadership discussing this topic at the 2022 GI Bill Summit: https://youtu.be/0E5tw0zd4DY?t=1149

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