I retired 1 Aug 2004, so know I'm eligible for 90% tuition.
I've searched and searched, cannot find the answer to this question:
In order to qualify for full BAH, how many credit hours do I need to take in residence?
Also, since I'm eligible for 90%, do I get the full BAH or 90% of it?
Thank you in advance!
Evelyn

Me too at 90 percent coming up short of 10 days to 36 months. The unofficial calculator gives me same results provided i put 7 or above hours or course on its block.

I've been doing some research, and want to make sure I get it right. The college I want to attend considers 12 credits a semester as full time. So, if I take 7 or more credits, that's considered full time and I could get full BAH?
I know the BAH will be 90% too, for me.
Thanks again,
Evelyn

evelynwyatt

you were close in your last post. Yes you would get 90% of the monthly housing allowance for where your school is located (if you take at least one in-residence course) but you would not be charged full time enrollment. Taking 7 hours at a school that says 12 hours is full time, then you would be going to school at the rate of pursuit of 58%. You would be charged 58% of one month of benefits multiplied by the number of months (weeks)you attend school. So for a 16 week semester, here is what it looks like numerically 7 hours divided by 12 hours = .5833 = 58%, you get the full housing allowance multiplied by your benefit level (90%). Now the amount of your 36 months of entitlement that will be subtracted will be (approximately) .58 multiplied by 4 months = 2.32 months or 2 months and 9 days. That would leave you 36 months minus 2 months and 9 days = 33 months and 21 days remaining entitlement.

Got all that? There'll be a test later. Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by evelynwyatt:
I've been doing some research, and want to make sure I get it right. The college I want to attend considers 12 credits a semester as full time. So, if I take 7 or more credits, that's considered full time and I could get full BAH?
I know the BAH will be 90% too, for me.
Thanks again,
Evelyn

To put what kb325 said into laymens terms - you will not be full time for attendance with 7 credit hours - you will be just over 1/2 (58%) but being at the more than 1/2 rate of pursuit qualifies you for 90% of the authorized BAH rate for your school's zip code. The BAH (Housing Allowance) is not prorated based on attendance.

Oh sure Retired, I could have made it simple too. I just like math. lol

Full Time Student
A student is defined as full-time if carrying 12 units or more during
the regular semester or 4 units during the summer session.
Veteran and War Orphan benefits under the G.I. Bill are based
on 12 units for full subsistence; 9 units for three-fourth subsistence;
6 units for half subsistence.

The above came from my school's current catalog...will the VA honor the Summer's 4 hours of credit as Full Time?

So now I'm even more confused...it seems there are three different answers.
I was under the impression that if I took more than 6 credits (so in my case, 3 classes for 9 credits), I would get the full BAH.
I'm retired, not active duty. Retired in Aug 2004, and qualify for 90% tuition.
My college considers 12 credits as full time.
I'm just wondering where I could find this info out.
Tried calling the VA, but don't have time to wait on the phone for 3 hours for someone to answer.
Thank you everyone

7 hours is enough already Evelyn...we are both on the 90 percent but we will get the housing allowance as that's what VA said on their website. 90 percent of the tuition and fees of your state's highest tuition rate, and 90 percent of the housing allowance and books.

http://www.military.com/gi-bill-calculator/

try that...

quote:

Originally posted by gilbert88:
Full Time Student
A student is defined as full-time if carrying 12 units or more during
the regular semester or 4 units during the summer session.
Veteran and War Orphan benefits under the G.I. Bill are based
on 12 units for full subsistence; 9 units for three-fourth subsistence;
6 units for half subsistence.

The above came from my school's current catalog...will the VA honor the Summer's 4 hours of credit as Full Time?

The VA Waves Manuel says 6 credit hours undergraduate courses during an 8 week term/semester is full time for summer - is your school running an 8 week summer term or 4 hour summer term? 3 hours of 4 week term would be full time.

Unless your talking about Graduate courses - different rules apply.

quote:

Originally posted by evelynwyatt:
So now I'm even more confused...it seems there are three different answers.
I was under the impression that if I took more than 6 credits (so in my case, 3 classes for 9 credits), I would get the full BAH.
I'm retired, not active duty. Retired in Aug 2004, and qualify for 90% tuition.
My college considers 12 credits as full time.
I'm just wondering where I could find this info out.
Tried calling the VA, but don't have time to wait on the phone for 3 hours for someone to answer.
Thank you everyone

Your retired, you can spend 3 hours listening to country rock on AM VA Toll-Free Phone Radio, lol.

The rule is being more than 1/2 half time rate of pursuit. For undergraduate 16 week courses that means you must be in pursuit of 7 or more credit hours - for undergraduate 8 week courses you must be in pursuit of 4 or more credit hours.

quote:

Originally posted by kb325:
Oh sure Retired, I could have made it simple too. I just like math. lol

Hey Kb325 - these people ain't college edgamakated yet. rofl.

quote:

Originally posted by RetiredCareerCounsel:

quote:

Originally posted by gilbert88:
Full Time Student
A student is defined as full-time if carrying 12 units or more during
the regular semester or 4 units during the summer session.
Veteran and War Orphan benefits under the G.I. Bill are based
on 12 units for full subsistence; 9 units for three-fourth subsistence;
6 units for half subsistence.

The above came from my school's current catalog...will the VA honor the Summer's 4 hours of credit as Full Time?

The VA Waves Manuel says 6 credit hours undergraduate courses during an 8 week term/semester is full time for summer - is your school running an 8 week summer term or 4 hour summer term? 3 hours of 4 week term would be full time.

Unless your talking about Graduate courses - different rules apply.

Counsel, I took a summer course for 3 credits...it ran from 22 Jun thru 14 Aug 09, that's 8 weeks, if I counted it right.

quote:

Originally posted by RetiredCareerCounsel:

quote:

Originally posted by kb325:
Oh sure Retired, I could have made it simple too. I just like math. lol

Hey Kb325 - these people ain't college edgamakated yet. rofl.

You are soooooo right about that! I haven't been to college in YEARS, and that's why I'm worried about the whole full time thing.
I'm going to start out with 3 classes in residence, and then see how I do. I'm 44 and will probably be the oldest student in class, hopefully I'm not the dumbest!

The school counselor will play a big role on our certification...I will have to come back Monday, early, to be in line so I can get an appointment to see one. Yes, I am going to a community college, that won't be a surprise here in So Cal