The Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 was recently signed into law. This page lists changes to the GI Bill made by this law.
Effective August 1, 2009, but not payable until October 1, 2011
Certain National Guard members mobilized on Title 32 orders on-or-after September 11, 2001 are now eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and any qualifying Title 32 mobilization may be used to increase your percentage of eligibility
Effective August 1, 2011
The Post-9/11 GI Bill will now pay all public school tuition and fees; this includes graduate training, etc.
For students attending private institutions of higher learning or foreign schools, the tuition and fee reimbursement is capped at the lesser of net out-of-pocket cost or $17,500 annually - however the Yellow Ribbon Program still exists
College fund payments will now be paid on a monthly basis instead of a lump-sum at the beginning of the term. Those training at ½ time or less are now eligible for college fund payments
Reimbursement is now available for multiple Licensing and Certification Tests
Reimbursement is now available for fees paid to take national examinations used for admission to an institution of higher learning (e.g. SAT, LSAT, ACT, GMAT, etc)
Vocational Rehabilitation participants may now elect the higher housing allowance offered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill if otherwise eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill
Break or interval pay is no longer payable under any VA education benefit program unless under an Executive Order of the President or due to an emergency situation such as a natural disaster or strike. Entitlement which previously would have been used for break pay will be available for use during a future enrollment.
This means that if your semester ends December 15 your housing allowance is paid for the first 15 days of December only. Your benefits will begin again when your new semester begins (e.g. January 15) and you will be paid for the remaining days of that month and term.
Students using other VA education programs are included in this change. Monthly benefits will be prorated in the same manner.
NOAA and PHS personnel are now eligible to transfer their entitlement to eligible dependents
Effective October 1, 2011
If you are training at greater than ½ time your housing allowance is now prorated according to the training time you are enrolled in, i.e. full housing allowance for you is $1000, you are attending ¾ time - your housing allowance would be $750 (¾ of $1000)
Housing allowance is now payable to students enrolled solely in distance learning, the housing allowance is ½ the national average BAH for an E-5 with dependents (the rate would be $673.50 for 2011)
Non-college degree programs, on-the-job training, and flight training programs are now covered under the Post-9/11 GI Bill
The book stipend is now payable to active duty members
The list below highlights changes of particular interest to School Certifying Officials.
Reporting fees paid to schools increases from $7 to $12 per student per year
Requires that reporting fees only be used for the purpose of certification
Programs offered at accredited public and private-not-for-profit schools are deemed already approved for VA Education Benefits
Non-college degree programs, on-the-job training, and flight training programs are now covered (effective October 1, 2011)
Allows the VA to use SAAs for compliance and oversight duties
Allows VA to disapprove courses
Last Updated on Wednesday, 05 January 2011 14:26
About Us
The AVAA is an association of Alabama School Certifying Officials that are here to help each other through the sometimes difficult and confusing job of certifying enrollment of veterans and other VA beneficiaries for education benefits in a manner that will best serve those who have served us. Networking with our peers is often the best way to insure that what we are doing is not only correct but done in the most efficient way.
The AVAA meets one time per year at a state conference where we receive updates from a broad spectrum of speakers. These presentations are provided by Department of Veterans Affairs representatives from Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Montgomery, the Alabama State Approving Agency, National Guard and Reserve Education Service Officers, and various other pertinent agency representatives. We also take that opportunity to provide workshops for new certifying officials and refresher training for those who have been doing the job for a while. These conferences are also your best opportunity to discuss, one on one, all aspects of VA certification with your peers and with the subject matter experts in the field.
With the inception of the new Post 9/11 GI Bill also known as Chapter 33, a new era in benefits processing is opening up. It is important that you keep informed regarding this as well as all other VA education benefits and the AVAA is here to help you do that. Keep watching our Conference Pages to know when and were we will be providing opportunities for further training.
CH 33: Did You Know!- Active duty members are not eligible for the monthly housing stipend or for the book stipend. The amount of educational assistance payable is the lesser of the: (i) Established charges; or (ii) The Top-up amount not covered by military tuition assistance. In the case of active duty members, tuition and fees are not limited by the highest cost at a public IHL in the state where they are attending school.
