I recall reading that the new GI Bill, once enacted in 2009, would be retroactive for the 2008-09 academic year. It seemed to indicate that one could be reimbursed for the applicable tuition costs etc. after initially paying the costs yourself. The Stars & Stripes article (European edition) did not mention this aspect of the proposed bill. Is this true or not?  If true, what should we do to ensure we maximize our benefits (e.g. file something now, save all bills paid, etc.)?

-- Col. Edward Fish

I served for over 3 years active duty after 9/11. Since then, I have been attending university full time for 3 years, with one more year to go. How will this affect me?

-- Joe

Does the new bill’s transfer benefit have a retroactive clause?  My youngest son just graduated a four year state school.

-- Jim

The new veterans education benefits are scheduled to be in full effect by August 2009. That's good news for troops leaving the service in the next year and looking at college, but confusing for many already taking classes.

For the Fall 2008 semesters (and Spring 2009) the old GI bill benefits will stay in effect, but will get an immediate 20 percent increase. So while students won't get the new living stipend and new book allowance, they will see more money to cover their tuition bills.

The increase is meant to mirror the full benefit that will be available in August 2009, and officials have promised that if the extra 20 percent doesn't cover this year's tuition bills that they will retroactively pay the difference by next summer. But until those numbers are calculated, they can't say for sure who'll get money back and who will have received the correct amount.

But there is no provision for retroactive payments before Fall 2008 -- the new benefits are all looking at tuition bills in the future, not before the bill was signed on June 30.

For veterans going to class this fall, all of the changes shouldn't mean any new paperwork or enrollment forms, just a higher reimbursement check.