Did the GI Bill help you pay for college?

Question

I read that half of veterans do not receive GI Bill benifets, and that it is really difficult to claim them. And that even if you do claim them, the financial aid at colleges is reduced dollar for dollar what GI Bill benifets you recieve. So you don't get a net benifet. Is this true? Did the GI Bill help you pay for school, and did serving in the military help you get a higher education?

Answer 1

The Gi Bill helped me to obtain my associate degree and currently working on my bachelor's. It is not difficult to claim. I received a small grant with my GI Bill that paid for my books. Serving the military really helped me and I enjoyed the experience.

Answer 2

It could. The post 9/11 GI Bill, if you elect to take that over the Montgomery GI Bill, pays a housing allowance as noted in another response. You have to carefully examine your circumstances to determine which would be more beneficial to you (if you’re allowed to choose between the two). I don’t know if the Montgomery GI Bill is still offered, but I know that many people who have been in for awhile have the option of choosing. The Montgomery GI Bill pays a flat monthly rate (while you’re taking classes) that is deposited directly into your bank account to be used for whatever you elect to use it for. The post 9/11 GI Bill pays directly to the school for tuition, and pays the additional housing allowance directly to you, as well as an allowance for books (I believe). Best check with the reps at the school you'll be attending to find out exactly what's available and what would be most beneficial to you.

Answer 3

The GI Bill was never meant to cover the entire cost of a college education. I did use mine for the entire 36 months and it helped immensely with my finances. It does offset some of your monthly income you might lose by going to school instead of working full time. Some people do both, I work part time which I still do in that I am presently enrolled at a State University working on m Masters Degree. I earned my Associates and Bachelors and went one more semester before my benefits expired. If you are in the military now or planning on leaving eithere with retirement or simply ending an enlistment, I URGE you to use your Educational Benefits and go to college. You will not regret it. I returned to school 28 years after I graduated from high school and am still going on over 6 years now.
For more info and to find out your rates with or without dependents, use this website or call the VA.
www.va.gov Follow the links for education. It takes a few weeks to get your first check, but it is worth it. They provide contact points if you have questions you need answered and they answer them usually in a couple of days.
If they are not receiving benefits, they have not applied. Simple as that. No the tuition assistance is not affected by the GI Bill and it is also NON-Taxable. It is as the Navy calls it: an allowance, it is not a Pay that they tax you on. You have to report it, however it is not used specifically for the education, it is to help your finances while you attend for items such as food, shelter if need be, family support etc. Mainly as I said if you work less than full time, it helps supplement your pay check.
I can't say serving helped me get a higher education other than by having the GI Bill to go to school, so in a way Yes it helped.

If you are eligible use it. You have 10 YEARS from the date of your separation to use the benefits and you need to take advantage of it.

Answer 4

It certainly did! I entered the Army in 1958 as a 17 year old high school drop out. After a few months I earned a High School GED. Later, while still in the Army, I started taking college courses, and the Army paid 75% of my tuition. By the time I retired from the Army in 1978, I had earned a Bachelors Degree from the University of Maryland. I used the GI Bill Educational benefits after retirement to attend Texas Christian University, and earned a Masters Degree. I have had great jobs because of my education and am now fully retired and enjoying life because of my military and civilian retirements. I owe the US Army a great deal of gratitute for taking a 17 year old HS drop out and turning him into a successful and happy senior citizen. I don't know what the current GI Bill offers, but you could contact a local college or a military recruiter to find out. Best of Luck to YOU!

Answer 5

The reason some soldiers don't get the GI Bill is because they didn't sign up to get it. For the first 12 months you are in the military, they take $100 a month out of your pay, equaling $1200. You have to put that much into it. If you don't put into it, you don't recieve the benefits. I did and yes, I used alot of it. Don't be fooled by anyone telling you they didn't get the GI bill. Everyone who joins the military is afforded the opportunity to sign up for it.

Answer 6

I used mine. It was a darn good deal. I also used college tuition assistance an student loan. THe GI bill payments were NOT reduced in any way shape or form because or my student loan. Maybe it is some new law but through the 1990's when I used it there were no restrictions.
It was also easy to apply for just took like a month or two before I got the first check in the mail and later direct deposit.

Answer 7

Yes the bill sent me through college, of course that was back in the Vietnam days and what I got was no ways near what they get today, so I don't know how that nets out now, but ours was then wasn't reduced by financial aid. Yep the military helped me get more of an education than anything I learned in school!

Answer 8

Soldiers can choose at their enlistment if they want to get the GI bill or not. its 100.00 a month for 12 months to get 37,000.00 in college benefits AFTER you leave the military. BUT there are many oppurtunities WHILE IN the military to get your degree for the cost of only the Books. By the time my husband retires he will already have his degree, BUT he will go back to college to use his GI bill. You do have to be a full time student and it is a process to get it started, but well worth it.

Answer 9

I used most of my GI Bill. It wasn't hard at all to get the benefits. It's been a while, but I think it was a one or two page form I filled out.

Answer 10

I had no problems filing for my GI benefits, and I was the only American student in my class who graduated debt-free.

Both my sisters are veterans too and used their benefits to help pay for college and graduate school.