If the VA is not putting out new enrollment forms for the Fall 2008 semester, how can veterans who did not sign up for the initial GI Bill be able to take advantage of this educational benefit?  Do you know if they are going to back pay veterans who take classes this Fall 2008? My classes start on the Aug 18th. 

-- Nick

Bad news for veterans who never signed up for the GI Bill but hoped to be able to pay for college this fall with the new benefits: The VA says you can't.

Keith Wilson, director of the VA Education Service, said only those individuals already signed up for the current GI bill will get money for school this fall. Troops who never signed up for the education benefits but who qualify under the new "Chapter 33" rules will get their tuition money, but not until August 2009.

"Payment for the new GI bill does not begin by law until Aug. 1, 2009; Therefore, (they) do not qualify to receive VA education benefits until Aug. 1, 2009," he said.

Any transferability clauses won't kick in until then too.

For folks who are in the system already, they'll see a 20 percent increase in benefits and another possible refund next summer (outlined in this post). For the rest, you'll have to pay your own way for another year.