Noteboom The Law Firm

Surprise Improvements for Post-9/11 GI Bill Passed

December 15, 2010 - It's been a long time in the works, and almost nobody expected it to happen this year, but the Senate approved a collection of improvements for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. It is unlikely the House will take up this bill before the end of the year, however.

The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 (S 3447) has been heavily pushed by Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The changes the bill will make, if passed, are fairly significant. In addition to allowing the Post-9/11 GI Bill being able to be used for technical and vocational classes, the bill allows for new stipends. Active-duty soldiers and their wives are now allowed $1,000 every year to be used for books. Additionally, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 provides living stipends for those veteran-students taking distance learning classes. For National Guard and Reserve soldiers, the bill will increase the duties eligible for educational benefits.     

Probably the biggest improvement in the Post-9/11 GI Bill is changing the formula used to determine tuition reimbursement for those veteran-students attending private institutions and graduate classes. The GI Bill currently establishes a maximum amount of reimbursement. That maximum is based on the highest tuition rates for in-state public universities or colleges. S 3447 would create a nationwide maximum cap of $20,000 for tuition and fees. The Yellow Ribbon program, in which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) makes matching contributions for tuition above $17,500, remains in effect.

The new bill also creates cost-cutting procedures such as pro-rating living stipends for veteran-students taking classes less than half-time. There will be increases in the overall cost of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, but those estimates did not prevent the passage of the Act.