New GI Bill questions...

[Jamez]

Just read the pamphlet for the new GI Bill that kicks in Aug 09. See if you read this like I do...

The housing allowance is not payable to those pursuing training at half time or less or to individuals enrolled in distance learning.

So if they mean "half time" as in 6 units, you don't get it. BUT if you take 9 units and receive 3/4 time right now like I do (full time 12 units plus a full time job i don't think so!) I should be having a great year, right?

[Futurecollector]

I think you are talking about for college right? if so i know for fact they will pay for all of school, and books and then if full time i think you may get a stipend but i dont rember anyone getting housing paid for that was on the GI bill. I hope this helps a smidge.

[daves100]

New GI Bill

they will pay for all of school, and books and then if your full time

You will get a stipend equal to an E5 housing allowance in San Diego that will be about 1800.00 a month...

[nick]

I think you are talking about for college right? if so i know for fact they will pay for all of school, and books and then if full time i think you may get a stipend but i dont rember anyone getting housing paid for that was on the GI bill. I hope this helps a smidge.

Depends on the school and how much the school costs, unless that's changed recently.

[hitman13]

the new GI Bill is totally different than the one all of you are thinking of....

[Barriss]

Depends on the school and how much the school costs, unless that's changed recently.

The new GI Bill will pay for your entire tuition up to and including the cost of the most expensive public school in the state.

So in our case, they will pay for all of UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, SDSU, CSUN, etc.

Will they pay for all of Stanford or Pepperdine? No. If you go there you'll get the same amount toward your tuition as a student at one of the most expensive publics (the UC's).

[apbrian112]

dang... that's good for the guys getting out now... i thought i had it pretty good because i got the basic gi bill, plus $150 kicker, plus army college fund kicker (all in all about $2100 a month going 12+ units, though i rarely did less than 18).

[PonchoTA]

At least you guys GET the GI Bill.

[MrLogan]

At least you guys GET the GI Bill.

You're not? How come?

[PonchoTA]

Came in in 1981, VEAP era. Put in $1800, get $5600 out. That's it. However, because the program was such a POS, our "advisor" in boot camp suggested not signing up for it because the next iteration of college help package was going to be so much better.

It turns out he was right. However, the window to sign up for VEAP closed, THEN the message came out about signing up for MGIB in 1985 IIRC. Those that were in VEAP could then transfer all of the money in the VEAP account directly into the MGIB account with no loss. If you didn't have a VEAP account with at least $1 in it, you were SOL.

A few years later, they gave us the "opportunity" to buy into the MGIB program, but only for about a month or so, and it required the full payment of $1200, no monthly payments. Hell, I was a junior E5 with a non-working B!#@& of a wife and 2 kids by then. I didn't know what $1200 even looked like, much less have it to spare.

There are thousands of us in this boat, and no chance of compensation whatsoever on the horizon. I ended up getting my degree anyway, but incurred $40,000 in student loans doing it.

20 years in the Navy and no education benefits.