Children can use the benefits until they are 26... this can be very useful for young adults just getting out of school and getting started establishing themselves.
I am so glad they fix it. I am a father with one child which started college and retiring 31 Aug 09. I just got back from Afgan and need to focus on finding a job and not worry about my son college. Not only for me, but for all active and retire parents that need this for there children. At first I only have the VEAP program and never upgrade to GIBill back in 1985. I never new about it. So when I try to switch the doors was close. Thank god for a 2nd change. Also thanks for the Tuition Assistance the ARMY gave me and many soldiers to take course while in the ARMY. It helped me to get my Degree and now I grad in Aug 09.
The ability to transfer the GI Bill benefits is outstanding, but as currently written, it does not do enough.
There are many of the military members who entered active duty during the VEAP era and never signed up for VEAP or the Montgomery GI Bill. Many of these servicemembers, myself included, earn our college degrees while still on active duty.
If the transferability of these benefits are not added for servicemembers who served during this era and have already retired, then the benefits will go to waste.
With the rules outlined so far, I will either enter into another MBA program or press on with a Doctoral Degree. However, I would much prefer to use these benefits to put my graduating son through college.
It should have been inclusive for ALL of us who have retired with education benefits still available and falling under the criteria for the "new" GI Bill. I retired in '07 and it seems like those of us during that 20 year time period prior to that, were always getting short changed, be it by drawdowns, enlistment bonuses due to too much of a drawdown and numerous deployments to the desert. I didnt want much when I retired, only was hoping to transfer my education benefits to my son. I think its a small price to pay on the governments behalf, for what my family had to endure while I was gone for so long.
I think I should be allowed to transfer my Montgomery GI bill to my spouse or kids even though I retired with 20 years of service a year ago. I paid for it, let me use it the way I want to. Who cares who uses it. I still qualify for the new GI bill. When are "THEY" going to get their heads our of their asses!!!!
I don't think that this is too fair for those who took out the GI Bill prior to 911. My children sure could use it, my husband participated and money was taken out of his check for it, so why can't he donate it to his children? Once more, it seems as though once you've served, you're forgotten!
What if I was forced out via the medical board a few months before that magic Aug date? I had all intentions to stay in and retire past Aug of 2009 but the AF and medical board told me otherwise and I was forced out in late Jan of 2009 after 22 years of service.
I just retired five months ago with 20 plus years and according to the new rules I don't qualified for the GI Bill tranfer. This is very unfair, all retiree should qualified for the GI Bill tranfer, I strongly believe 20 years plus is enought.
The monthly living stipend, set to match local Basic Allowance for Housing rate, won't be paid if the member is on active duty. If the member has left active duty, the spouse will be paid the living allowance. Children get the allowance whenever they use GI Bill benefits.
My question is... if my active duty husband transfers benefits to our daughter, will she get the living allowance or not? This reads like she will, however a few weeks ago I called VA and they said she would receive it just as if it were my husband receiving it and since he's active duty, no living allowance....
I think it is time for change and the change should be how those who served get treated. I would like to see the President do the right thing and fix this issue for all the right honorable reasons. I agree, we paid for the benefits and now we should have the choice to give those benefits to a family member who had to sacrifice along side those that serviced. The First Lady is all for helping the military families, so this would surely be one of those times she could make a difference as well.
Originally posted by DFC3: It should have been inclusive for ALL of us who have retired with education benefits still available and falling under the criteria for the "new" GI Bill. I retired in '07 and it seems like those of us during that 20 year time period prior to that, were always getting short changed, be it by drawdowns, enlistment bonuses due to too much of a drawdown and numerous deployments to the desert. I didnt want much when I retired, only was hoping to transfer my education benefits to my son. I think its a small price to pay on the governments behalf, for what my family had to endure while I was gone for so long.
I totally agree on all retirees to recieve this benefit. I never had a desire to go to college in my 30 year career as a Marine, but I have a daughter that I would love to help out with her college and her desire to get a degree.
I haven't seen any reason to believe anything that I've heard so far about the new GI Bill. They will continue to make changes up to 1 Aug 09, so I think it is still too early to count your eggs. I will wait until that date to do anything.
By waiting until later to do something might be too late. Voicing our opinion now will give the lawmakers ideas and see what they have left out. Remember...the squeaky wheel gets the grease!!!
It's called the "Post 9/11" GI Bill, but those who actually serve "Post 9/1/2009" get greater benefits (transferability) than those of us who served Post-9/11/2001 and later retired.
typical VA... we need only to worry about our future veterans... current veterans will be left fending for themselves. I still have 8 years to use my benefits, which my wife could use more than I. But, because I have already retired... we are not eligible.
I just currenty got out of the Navy and got a good job to avoid being kicked out due to high year tenure. There is no way I would be able to go to school full time so that I could recieve the bah benefits. I just want to make sure as of right now is there any way my spouse could use my GI bill and go to school full time and recieve the bah benefits. She is currently having a hard time finding a job and if I were able to transfer the benefits over to her would justify her going to school and not looking for a job if the extra income was coming into the household and would allow her a edge when looking for a job after graduation.
