Veterans Benefits GI Bill

For families that are relying on the family transferability option with the Post 9/11 GI Bill, the authorization of short term extensions will cease come the end of the year. This means that the only way to qualify for family transferability is to serve six or more years and also agree to serve four more years.

This is unsettling for several military members and stirs up a debate. On one hand, the benefits are part of the earnings of serving the military and should be available to the spouse and children of someone that’s been in the military for 10+ years, regardless of if they’re retired. On the other hand, the military needs some form of military retention so that recruitment demands are not as high, and the Post 9/11 GI Bill’s family transferability is one way to do it. The previous Montgomery GI Bill did not even allow family transferability.

The Post 9/11 GI Bill has lead to a stressful year for many military personnel, to say the least. Now’s the time for a break! In spirit of this Holiday’s favorite toy, the Veterans Benefits GI Bill invites veterans, reserve and active duty to answer the following question:

What would you do with a Zhu Zhu Pet at your military base?

Being discharged from the military (except in the case of an honorable discharge) means that the ex-military personnel is denied veterans benefits of any form, including the Post 9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill. It’s important than any active duty or reserve member be familiar with these terms, as well as those looking to join the military to serve their country and receive military benefits (documented as one of the highest incentives for military recruitment.)

Military-friendly colleges participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program extend beyond the universities and colleges that focus on traditional subjects. For example, there are military-friendly chiropractic schools that participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students that attend chiropractic schools won’t find the standard array of college degrees; instead, chiropractic schools focus exclusively on preparing students for a health care career in chiropractics, a nationally and globally growing occupation that held a mean salary of over $100k in 2007.

Chiropractic school prepares military students for a rewarding health care position that focuses on a philosophy and technique based on: wellness for the community; the ability to heal the body; and career success.

Are you the spouse of a military member looking for an alternative to the family transferability option for the Post 9/11 GI Bill? The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts, or MyCAA, is available to the spouses of members of the military. This $6,000 financial aid program is often referred to as “Spouse Tuition Assistance” and is available through Military One Source at 1-800-342-9647.

Eligibility

Spouses of military members that are recognized under: Department of Defense active duty; and federally activated members of the National Guard and the Reserve Components; qualify for MyCAA. Spouses of Guard and Reserve members only qualify for MyCAA from the date of the Alert of Warning Order for Military Recall or Mobilization until 180 days following De-Mobilization.

The Department of Defense uses Defense Elibility and Enrollment Reporting Systems (DEERS) to determine the spouse’s eligibility. It is the responsibility of the service member to ensure that all information provided to DEERS is correct. MyCAA does not correct the information contained in DEERS. The spouse will not be considered eligible for the financial aid benefit until after passing their DEERS screen.

Military spouses must be recognized as marital partners by state law or court order. Spouses who are also members of the military waive the rights of eligibility because they can utilize GI Bill benefits instead. Coast Guard spouses, unfortunately, do not qualify; this is found under Public Law 110-417 Sec 582.

Spouses of the military members killed in action (KIA), taken as prisoners of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA) are also eligible, along with spouses of military members that are injured, ill, or wounded.

Once a military personnel transitions from active duty to veteran, they have ten years to take advantage of their Montgomery GI Bill benefits. Ten years might seem like a long time, but over 40% of the Montgomery GI Bill benefits available were not used due to the fact that military personnel either (1) never intended to go to school or, (2) had no idea that their benefits would expire. More than one military benefits forum/comments section tells the story of a veteran that waited to use their benefits until graduate school, only to find out they were no longer available.

Does the same hold true for the Post 9/11 GI Bill? According to the Q&A and the V.A.’s website, the answer is thankfully no! Military members that qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill have 15 years until the benefits expire, a 150% increase to the Montgomery GI Bill’s time of forfeit.