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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
If the GI Bill provides BAH to support you with housing needs while in school, why is full BAH not provided for those who are still in the same location, still in school, and still in good standing? In other words, here is an example: The semester ends 10 Dec. Classes restart 23 Jan. I am still living at the same location. I'm still enrolled at the same school. I am still making a 4.0. Why is there only partial BAH instead of the full amount for those months? I didn't move anywhere, and this just makes life harder. It would make sense to prorate amounts to full if nothing changes... I still live there.
SSgt (Join to see)
Agreed. We should receive the monthly BAH rate until graduation or disenrollment. The partial BAH puts stress on service members to hold a job and attend school.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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 to make Veterans’ experiences better. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/resources/benefits_resources/rates/ch33/ch33rates080121.as
Why hasn't the VA made an effort to increase BAH in accordance with inflation? The fiscal and monetary policies of the federal government are costing the veterans pursuing education.
SSgt (Join to see)
How do service members request a rate increase for their region, do you have links or points of contact, given inflation and rental costs permanently soaring to a 30 - 40% rise and climbing?
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
Why doesn't the Post 9/11 GI Bill give BAH in-between semesters if you can prove you will still be attending the next semester. Trying to rely on the housing stipend can get frustrating when you lose it for 3-4 months out of the year!
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 improve Veterans’ experiences. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/resources/benefits_resources/rates/ch33/ch33rates080121.as
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your question. VA is committed to listening to your feedback and improving the Veteran experience. 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
Will VA be making amendments to adapt MHA benefits for students forced to continue their programs remotely? I am currently receiving MHA due to the relief bill. Most of my classmates are now pushing for the program to remain remote til the end. What will VA do for students that have committed to a program that may be converted to online only, through no action of their own? Will VA continue to give these students the MHA they deserve and had made their plans to attend school contingent upon?
PO2 (Join to see)
Well I'm sure they can talk to congress easier than I can. My representatives don't respond when I contact them.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
By law, the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) rate for students enrolled in online learning course is 50% of the national average. Since Spring 2020, several COVID-19 relief funds have been passed to help us continue payment of education benefits and MHA to GI Bill Students who have been negatively impacted due to the pandemic. The law that authorized MHA payments for converted courses at the resident rate ended on June 1, 2022. While we don’t expect any further extensions at this time, VA continues to work with Congress 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
Hello,
I graduate from my class in October. But my Gi Benefits expire in July. How can i get my benefits extended?
I graduate from my class in October. But my Gi Benefits expire in July. How can i get my benefits extended?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Once your benefits expire VA is only able to extend benefits under certain circumstances. To find out if you are eligible for a GI Bill extension, please visit our website: https://www.va.gov/resources/getting-a-gi-bill-extension/. Additionally, the Edith Nourse Rogers Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) Scholarship may be able to help you extend your Post-9/11 GI Bill. To find out more about GI Bill Extensions and the STEM Scholarships, visit https://www.va.gov/resources/getting-a-gi-bill-extension/. As well, some states offer education benefits to Veterans and their families. To find out if your state does, contact your state’s Veteran affairs office.
My 15-year mark where the GI Bill expired since my term of service isn't under the "Forever GI Bill" was Feb 15th, 2022. I also exhausted my GI Bill benefit at that same time. However, I was also granted the STEM scholarship which I was planning to use after Feb 15th, but then told I was told I couldn't use it because of the 15-year expiration. There is nothing in the letter of approval for the STEM scholarship that states limitations based on the 15-year mark. Why would I have even been approved in the first place for it if I wouldn't be able to use it? I've since had to quit college because I was told I would be getting something and now not getting it. Can somebody clarify?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your feedback. If you were discharged before January 1, 2013, your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits expire 15 years after you separated from the military. 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. To be eligible for the Rogers STEM Scholarship, you must have 6 months or less of unexpired Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits remaining. You may qualify for a GI Bill extension under certain conditions. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.va.gov/resources/getting-a-gi-bill-extension/. Check out VBA EDU leadership discussing this topic at the 2022 GI Bill Summit: https://youtu.be/0E5tw0zd4DY?t=640. VA is committed to listening to your feedback and reviewing implementing legislation to improve the Veteran experience.
Hello,
I have a question in reference to Public Law 116-128 and Public Law 116-140. In August of 2020, I was enrolled in 3 online and and 1 in person. A few days before the semester started, I was informed that my in-person class changed to online. There were no more in-person classes for me to enroll in due to the last minute change. Therefore, I was forced to be online only. Should I have still been receiving the full MHA rate or just the online rate? This occurred during the COVID pandemic due to lack of instructor availability for the course.
Thank you!
I have a question in reference to Public Law 116-128 and Public Law 116-140. In August of 2020, I was enrolled in 3 online and and 1 in person. A few days before the semester started, I was informed that my in-person class changed to online. There were no more in-person classes for me to enroll in due to the last minute change. Therefore, I was forced to be online only. Should I have still been receiving the full MHA rate or just the online rate? This occurred during the COVID pandemic due to lack of instructor availability for the course.
Thank you!
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you for your question. The law authorized VA to pay GI Bill MHA payments for converted courses at the resident rate from March 1, 2020 until June 1, 2022. You can find further details and answers to frequently asked questions here: https://benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/COVID19EducationBenefits.asp
We recommend reaching out to your School’s Certifying Official for more information. You can also check out VBA EDU leadership discussing this topic at the 2022 GI Bill Summit: https://youtu.be/0E5tw0zd4DY?t=1211
We recommend reaching out to your School’s Certifying Official for more information. You can also check out VBA EDU leadership discussing this topic at the 2022 GI Bill Summit: https://youtu.be/0E5tw0zd4DY?t=1211
Why is the BAH I receive at the beginning and end of the semester half the price when my rent price is fixed each month? It should be based on rent prices, not how many days I attend school.
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 and respond to ongoing legislative changes to make Veterans’ experiences better. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/resources/benefits_resources/rates/ch33/ch33rates080121.as
I'm currently attending an MBA program and will have 18 credits left to graduate after I used up my remaining 36 months of eligibility for the Post 9/11 GI Bill for the first half of my degree program. I retired from the Navy in 2008 and signed up for the Montgomery GI Bill upon enlisting back in 1988. I called to speak to a VA representative but they are telling me that I am not eligible for VOC Rehab or any other educational benefit. Is there something in place to extend Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to complete a degree not to exceed a year?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
To qualify for the Veteran Readiness and Employment program, formally known as Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment or Voc Rehab, you must have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% and meet certain of eligibility requirements. Learn more about the program and how to apply here: https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/vocational-rehabilitation/eligibility/. In addition, many states provide educational benefits to eligible Veterans and their families. This may be based on your current residency or where you were located at the time of your enlistment. You can find out about specific benefits and your eligibility by contacting the appropriate state Veteran office. Learn more here: https://www.va.gov/about_va/state-dva-offices.asp
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