I am a veteran who had the GI bill as well as the army college fund. As it stands, the GI bill will be extended to 15 years of eligibility. Will the army college fund also be extended to the 15 year mark as well? Or do I stand to lose it after 10 years.
-- Anthony L. Harris
Bad news for folks who didn’t serve any time after Sept. 11, 2001, and still haven’t used any of those education benefits: Not only are you left out of the living stipend and transferability options, but your GI bill benefits aren’t even extended for those extra five years.
So if you left the military in 2000, you’ll only have until 2010 to use your GI Bill, even though folks retiring today will get a full 15 years to use their new “Chapter 33” benefits. The same goes for Reserve Education Assistance Program participants, Army College Fund participants, and pretty much everything else except the new GI Bill recipients.
Three questions on transferring benefit to a child
Is the entire benefit (including housing, books, tutoring) transferrable to a child or just the tuition?
Once I have 'earned' the tranferrability to a child benefit, do I have to remain on active duty for my child to be able to use it, or like me, does she have 15 years after I leave active duty to access the benefit?
Which would in-state tuition most likely be based upon: the state of residence on my Leave and Earnings Statement or the State where I currently reside [while on active duty]?
Thank you
RE: Three questions
I put the answers to your first two questions up on this thread. It's a question I've been meaning to circle back on.
I hope to have an answer on the states issue later today -- stay tuned.
UPDATE: I've got the other answer posted here.
Transfer
It is cheaper for the DOD to allow the transfer. Pay me 80K or pay my child 40K.
GI Bill & College Fund
I completed my intial 4 years of service in the Army in 2005. When I enlisted I signed my contract for a $40,000 College Fund. I utilized approximately $3,000 of this since I was out but re-enlisted into the Army in 2008. Does my "10 year" window to use this money stop since I came back into the Army? How do I find out how much is left on my College Fund? Can my wife and / or daughter utilized this money?