3:2 Caution In The Wind, Post 9/11 GI Bill

The Post 9/11 GI Bill is a wonderful fund overshadowing its predecessor, the Montgomery GI Bill. Amazingly enough, the 9/11 GIB can be transferred to spouses and/or children so that they may utilize it for higher education. At its full potential of 100%, the recipients education is fully funded, a Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and book stipend is also supplied. BAH in the Northern Virginia area for instance is in excess of $1450+ and the book stipend is $1000 per year. If the recipient can truly be dedicated to schooling, a Bachelors Degree is well within reach in the 36-month time limit.

There is a catch though that many families are either unaware of or have been steered in the wrong direction. After speaking with fellow students who are receiving the 9/11 GIB as spouses or children, and accomplishing a bit of research on their behalf, there is a disconnect with the College Veterans Affairs (VA) Field Offices and the Regional VA Offices. The Field Offices have been informing “everyone” that they are eligible for the BAH and Book Stipend, when in fact some are not. Regardless if the student/recipient should be well aware of the VA policies and regulations regarding BAH/Book Stipend, it should be the responsibility of all VA Offices and its agents to also be aware of their own policies and regulations.

Some recipients, even after informing the field office that they are not eligible for the BAH and Book Stipend because their spouse is active-duty, have been told, “yes, you are eligible and you’ll receive the monies.” What about the few that are not aware of the policy concerning active-duty personnel with a transfer of the Post 9/11 GI Bill to spouse or child? What kind of situation does this put everyone in? Here are two cases:

Spouse “A” 1) Was well aware of the rules and regulations concerning BAH and Book Stipend, regardless of what the VA agents told him/her. 2) Field office was not aware of the rules and regulations, and/or neither offices was aware and the monies were sent to Spouse “A.” 3) Spouse “A” and Active Duty Spouse talks about this and decides to put the $1500 per month in BAH and $100 per month in Book Stipend in a savings account. 4) Five months later, Spouse “A” receives a letter stating “there was an overpayment” and your BAH and Book Stipend have been cancelled because it has come to our attention that your spouse is Active-Duty. 5) The total amount owed is $8000. 6) They are prepared.

Spouse “B” 1) Was not aware of the policies/regulations concerning BAH and Book Stipend—VA Agent not aware as well. 2) Spouse “A” is excited to receive some additional income, pays off bills and so forth with the additional income. 3) Five months later, Spouse “B” receives a letter stating “there was an overpayment” and your BAH and Book Stipend have been cancelled because it has come to our attention that your spouse is Active-Duty. 4) The total amount owed is $8000, yet the money was utilized for other issues and this family Active Duty person is an E-4. 6) Now, for the next two or three years, this family will be paying the VA the money back and has added another bill to their already strapped finances.

Who’s to blame here? I believe it is a shared accountability with the majority of the accountability on the VA. The VA is notorious for either “short changing” and/or overpayment. Yes, the families that are eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill should and need to be fully aware of your rights and policies/regulations regarding the Bill. On the other hand, when the VA informs the recipients that, “you are getting the additional monies regardless,” who is really at fault?

So, “Caution In the Wind” to all of you recipients of the 9/11 GIB and have active-duty spouses—Read the fine print, contact your regional offices, and/or begin filing your grievances/appeal. As a recipient of the Post 9/11 GI Bill, I recommend to all that if you haven't participated in the program, transferred it to a family member, do so. It is by far a great program that should be taken advantage of--you've earned it! The link for the 9/11 GIB is in the first paragraph.