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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 won't the VA education program extend our benefits prior to 2013? I was not ready to use my benefit until later in life amd now I'm forced to leave money on the table working on a second Masters wanting to apply the remaining benefits towards a PHD.
MSG Alan Purdie
Congress not VA set that 1 January 2013 start date for the "forever" Gi Bill
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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.
Once post 9/11 benefits run out is there any other way to receive assistance for college?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your question. If you are about to exhaust your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, there are various education programs available to continue receiving education benefits. If you are pursuing an undergraduate degree in a STEM field, you may be eligible to use the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship. Learn more here: https://www.va.gov/education/other-va-education-benefits/stem-scholarship/. To learn more about other scholarship programs VA offers, visit our website: https://va-ams-info.intelliworxit.com . As well, Part Two of the Building Your Future with GI Bill guide series provides more information on how to fund your education: https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/docs/gibguideseries/chooseyoureducationbenefits.pdf.
GI Bill Modernization– Any thoughts on updating the GI Bill to provide additional transfer benefits to those retired Veterans who were not able to meet the minimal time in service requirements and not able to transfer their educational benefits to their children? Many Veterans with 20 plus years of service were not able to transfer their educational benefits because they did not have the minimal time remaining in the service due to mandatory retirement. It is as if family timing issues are disadvantaging the service member; in these many cases the incentive for requiring additional time served does not make sense since these service members already have had a full military career. Would encourage the DoD/VA to provide those retired Veterans the ability to transfer GI Bill educational benefits to their dependents.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your feedback. With regard to transfer of benefits: To provide some background, the Post-9/11 GI Bill was originally created in part as a tool to retain members in the military after 9/11. In 2009, the law was changed to allow Service members to transfer their benefits to dependents in exchange for four years of additional service. Under current legislation, a Service member must transfer one month’s worth of entitlement before separating or retiring in order for their child or spouse to be eligible to use their GI Bill benefits. At this time there is not a provision to allow Veterans to transfer benefits after leaving the active duty. However, we know this is an important topic and many people have asked similar questions. VA is listening to your feedback and we are consistently looking at legislation and working with Congress and other GI Bill partners to provide a GI Bill process that works for you and your family. Visit https://www.va.gov/education/transfer-post-9-11-gi-bill-benefits/ to learn more.
I used my GI Bill long ago! It made my time in the Marines all the more worth while (I would have joined even without it)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your service. We are glad to hear you were able to take advantage of your GI Bill benefits!
If I have 2 months left on my GI bill will my tuition be covered if my classes exceed 2 months?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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.
Thanks for taking our questions! I have 2: 1) can a service connected disabled veteran extend eligibility for GI bill benefits due to medical conditions (if so, for how long, under what conditions, etc.) and 2) under DEA how long do spouses have eligibility to use benefits?
MSG Alan Purdie
If you’re the spouse of a Veteran or service member
Your benefits start on the date we conclude that you qualify or on the date of the Veteran’s death, and last for 10 years.
If we rated the Veteran as permanently and totally disabled, with an effective date that’s 3 years after discharge, you’ll qualify for benefits for 20 years from that effective date. This new policy began on October 10, 2008. We won’t pay benefits for training you started before this date.
If the service member died on active duty, your benefits end 20 years from the date of death.
You can get DIC payments from us and use DEA benefits. -- This is from VA.Gov
Your benefits start on the date we conclude that you qualify or on the date of the Veteran’s death, and last for 10 years.
If we rated the Veteran as permanently and totally disabled, with an effective date that’s 3 years after discharge, you’ll qualify for benefits for 20 years from that effective date. This new policy began on October 10, 2008. We won’t pay benefits for training you started before this date.
If the service member died on active duty, your benefits end 20 years from the date of death.
You can get DIC payments from us and use DEA benefits. -- This is from VA.Gov
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your question. You may be eligible to qualify for a GI Bill extension if you have an illness or disability that prevented you from attending school. Please visit our website to request an extension of GI Bill benefits: https://www.va.gov/resources/getting-a-gi-bill-extension//
Under DEA, spouses and surviving spouses generally have 10 years to use this benefit. The 10 years begins on the date the VA establishes DEA eligibility. Spouses and surviving spouses remain eligible for 20 years if VA rates the Veteran permanently and totally disabled with an effective date of three years from discharge. Surviving spouses of Service members who died while on active duty also have 20 years from the date of the Service member’s death to use the benefit. Learn more here: https://www.va.gov/education/survivor-dependent-benefits/dependents-education-assistance/
Under DEA, spouses and surviving spouses generally have 10 years to use this benefit. The 10 years begins on the date the VA establishes DEA eligibility. Spouses and surviving spouses remain eligible for 20 years if VA rates the Veteran permanently and totally disabled with an effective date of three years from discharge. Surviving spouses of Service members who died while on active duty also have 20 years from the date of the Service member’s death to use the benefit. Learn more here: https://www.va.gov/education/survivor-dependent-benefits/dependents-education-assistance/
I served 1988-1998 and exited with my Montgomery GI Bill. I went on partial disability in 1998 and by 2006, i went on short-term disability followed by long-term disability in 2008. I was never able to take advantage of my GI Bill due to a troubled 7 year career after ther military caused by PTSD. Am i simply out of luck from my cash investment made into the Montgomery GI Bill? Can i pass on those benefits to my kids/grandkids, get reimbursed the $1300 investment, or do i just count it as a loss of my sacrificed Airman Basic pay?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your question. Montgomery GI Bill benefits expire after 10 years. If you don’t use your benefits in this time frame, you may be able to get a refund for part or all your payments into this program. Visit VA’s website, or call the GI Bill hotline at [login to see] to learn more: https://www.va.gov/resources/montgomery-gi-bill-refunds. If you feel your medical circumstances prevented you from being able to use your benefits within the law and to learn more information about the qualifications for an extension, please visit our webpage at: https://www.va.gov/resources/getting-a-gi-bill-extension. If you are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, your dependents may qualify for education benefits under the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA). Learn more here: https://www.va.gov/education/survivor-dependent-benefits/dependents-education-assistance/
I have two questions:
1. I would also like to know why attending online is any different than attending in person? I believe that online really helps those of us that have disabilities that may limit us from sitting in a classroom for hours at a time, or driving a distance to attend classes. Some disabilities have no certainty of when they may occur; some maybe constant, some may come on without notice, and others may be aggravated due to certain activities, etc. Taking online classes affords the veteran the opportunity to still receive their education, but at times that they are able to concentrate/focus on doing well in the classes. Also, it's costing the veteran to go online because we still have to pay for internet, electricity, have to have a computer, and at times an extra monitors, etc. How is attending in person any better/different, and what makes it different?
2. Why does the VA base the amount of funds received, off of the number of days you attended in a month. Whether you go 10 days or 30 days in that month, it's not due to the veteran, it's due to the semester, so why does the veteran have to suffer with the changing amounts that we receive. The bills do not stop whether I attend for the 10 days or the 30. It's confusing to even know just how much the monthly pay is. If we've paid into, and earned this benefit, then we should get the same across the board whether it's half the month, or the full month, and whether it's online, or in person. The VA seems to always want to find a way around not paying veterans properly, or giving them what they deserve, have earned, and are entitled to, and that's very sad for those of us who have served honorably, but are not valued, or compensated accordingly.
1. I would also like to know why attending online is any different than attending in person? I believe that online really helps those of us that have disabilities that may limit us from sitting in a classroom for hours at a time, or driving a distance to attend classes. Some disabilities have no certainty of when they may occur; some maybe constant, some may come on without notice, and others may be aggravated due to certain activities, etc. Taking online classes affords the veteran the opportunity to still receive their education, but at times that they are able to concentrate/focus on doing well in the classes. Also, it's costing the veteran to go online because we still have to pay for internet, electricity, have to have a computer, and at times an extra monitors, etc. How is attending in person any better/different, and what makes it different?
2. Why does the VA base the amount of funds received, off of the number of days you attended in a month. Whether you go 10 days or 30 days in that month, it's not due to the veteran, it's due to the semester, so why does the veteran have to suffer with the changing amounts that we receive. The bills do not stop whether I attend for the 10 days or the 30. It's confusing to even know just how much the monthly pay is. If we've paid into, and earned this benefit, then we should get the same across the board whether it's half the month, or the full month, and whether it's online, or in person. The VA seems to always want to find a way around not paying veterans properly, or giving them what they deserve, have earned, and are entitled to, and that's very sad for those of us who have served honorably, but are not valued, or compensated accordingly.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
MHA 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. While VA is not aware of any possible changes to this law, 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. We appreciate the feedback and will continue to listen to concerns to make Veterans’ experiences better. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/resources/benefits_resources/rates/ch33/ch33rates080121.as. Check out VBA EDU leadership discussing this topic at the 2022 GI Bill Summit: https://youtu.be/0E5tw0zd4DY?t=1149
I was just curious if there were any thoughts on adjusting BAH to deal with the rate of inflation in recent years
SSgt (Join to see)
Precisely my concern. In Fort Worth, Texas students rates were reduced in the Fall of 2021 right as rent is up by 30 - 40 % and only going higher.
We received the below letter at the beginning of the semester.
"Monthly housing allowance rate correction per the VA:
-Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) and the Fry Scholarship students that have used their VA education benefits before 8/1/2021 will continue to receive the old rate of $1821/month for the monthly housing allowance.
-Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) and the Fry Scholarship students that are using their VA education benefits for the first time on or after 8/1/2021 will receive the new rate $1653/month for the monthly housing allowance.”
We received the below letter at the beginning of the semester.
"Monthly housing allowance rate correction per the VA:
-Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) and the Fry Scholarship students that have used their VA education benefits before 8/1/2021 will continue to receive the old rate of $1821/month for the monthly housing allowance.
-Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) and the Fry Scholarship students that are using their VA education benefits for the first time on or after 8/1/2021 will receive the new rate $1653/month for the monthly housing allowance.”
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
We understand that cost of living can rise with inflation. Monthly Housing Allowance rates run equivalent to the Basic Housing Allowance rate for an Active Duty E-5 with dependents, which is determined annually by the Department of Defense (DoD), to account for exactly that. Annually, on January 1, the DoD updates its Basic Housing Allowance rates. VA then adjusts the Monthly Housing Allowance annually on August 1 to match. Our rates are dependent on the DoD’s housing rates, and we don’t have control over how those change year to year. You can use the GI Bill Comparison Tool to get an estimate of your benefits, which can be accessed here: https://www.va.gov/education/gi-bill-comparison-tool/. Check out VBA EDU leadership discussing this topic at the 2022 GI Bill Summit: https://youtu.be/0E5tw0zd4DY?t=1149. Thank you for your feedback, VA is listening and are continuously looking for ways to improve the Veteran experience.
Is there a way to extend the time to use my educational benefits beyond 10/15 years?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your question. To learn more about if you qualify for an extension, please visit our webpage at: https://www.va.gov/resources/getting-a-gi-bill-extension/. Depending on your program of study, you may qualify for the Edith Nourse Roger STEM scholarship which provides up to 9 months or $30,000 of additional benefits to eligible Veterans and Fry Scholars. Learn more here: https://www.va.gov/education/other-va-education-benefits/stem-scholarship/
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