Noteboom The Law Firm

Post-9/11 GI Bill Stipends Being Streamlined

January 5, 2011 - The Post-9/11 GI Bill has undergone many changes over the last couple of years. The latest change to the Post-9/11 GI Bill has it being streamlined and pared down in places to make it more advantageous for some of the users. There are two major changes underway and those two changes will have a huge impact on the bill.

The 2 main changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill are:

• Monthly living stipends will no longer be available as of winter semester, 2011; and
• Only veterans enrolled full time will receive 100% stipends.

In addition to these 2 changes, all veteran-students enrolled in private colleges will be given a GI Bill educational benefit limit of $17,500, which will be imposed nationwide and adjusted annually. With the money Congress will save, they will not only be able to make the Post-9/11 GI bill available to more soldiers, they will also be able to make the bill better in other areas.

One of the ways the Post-9/11 GI Bill will be improved is with the classes it will cover. College degrees will no longer be the only acceptable curriculum for which the bill can be used.

Veterans will now be able to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill to pay for:

• On-the-job training;
• Job training;
• Apprenticeships; and
• Vocational and technical schools.

Other fairly significant changes will go into effect as well. National Guard members, Reservists, and Guard members will become eligible for educational benefits. Stipends will become available for online classes and books, for qualifying veterans. These changes will affect about 400,000 veterans across the country and unfortunately for some, come at the cost of giving up other benefits.