Just curious how many of you guy are able to get the pell grant on top of the GI Bill. I wasnt sure if we could "stack" the two, but I read some stuff on this site and thru a GI Bill benefit PDF that says we are eligable. If so, (without getting too personal, I hope) How much can someone expect if the GI Bill is their sole income? TIA

for me, I was actually "disqualified" because I have too much assets. I have been turned down 2 times regardless that I am a veteran. I'll try to once again apply and see if they turn me down again. It might be based on income, I'm only making 14k a year (plus the gi bill) and I have a savings account.

the gi bill pays a little over a thousand a month, but the new one will be going through soon, hopefully, which will be more.

you can get the pell grant and gi bill together but it depends on your income and the pell does take into consideration that you get money from your gi bill. cuz they calculate what you should have to spend out of pocket by judging your income.

This may sound like a stupid question, but is the pell grant the same thing as tuition assistance? I've been googling it all day and cant find a clear answer.

The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain postbaccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education. Students may use their grants at any one of approximately 5,400 parti****ting postsecondary institutions. Grant amounts are dependent on: the student's expected family contribution (EFC) (see below); the cost of attendance (as determined by the institution); the student's enrollment status (full-time or part-time); and whether the student attends for a full academic year or less. Students may not receive Federal Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time. Financial need is determined by the U.S. Department of Education using a standard formula, established by Congress, to evaluate the financial information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to determine the family EFC. The fundamental elements in this standard formula are the student's income (and assets if the student is independent), the parents' income and assets (if the student is dependent), the family's household size, and the number of family members (excluding parents) attending postsecondary institutions. The EFC is the sum of: (1) a percentage of net income (remaining income after subtracting allowances for basic living expenses and taxes) and (2) a percentage of net assets (assets remaining after subtracting an asset protection allowance). Different assessment rates and allowances are used for dependent students, independent students without dependents, and independent students with dependents. After filing a FAFSA, the student receives a Student Aid Report (SAR), or the institution receives an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR), which notifies the student if he or she is eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and provides the student's EFC.

http://www.ed.gov/programs/fpg/index.html

I get both the GI bill and tuition assistance. Last year I only made 2,500.00 dollars. It sucked because I didnt qualify for the stimulus check. But I get over 4000 for the year for school and my community college school tuition is only about 2000 dollars. So I get a refund of 1000 for both semesters. Apply for FASFA.

Remember that you can still get the Pell Grant even if you are receiving aid from the GI Bill, as long as you can satisfy your school's << Mod Note - Link removed per Terms of Service >> Your financial aid office will be able to elaborate a bit on how being in the military affects your eligibility for the Pell Grant.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RetiredCareerCounsel,

No - Pell Grants are based on income - they are Federal Grants and it is totally financial need based program. The Financial Aid office doesn't set up the rules for Pell Grants and they do not care if your military or not.

Why are you responding to a 20 month old post??

Do not place Unathorized web links in your post that are not approved by Military.Com. Repeated violations can/will get your account suspended.

Thank you for the responce BLACKJUNE. It was very helpful to me even though it was a response to a post from 20 months ago. Thank you for taking the time out to do so.

Wow RetardedCareerCounselor you are just quite rude. I appreciate blackjunes input as well. And it does matter if your in the military receiving federal tuition assistance, GI Bill, and Pell Grant because you cannot double dip. The school is required to pay back the Pell Grant with funds from either tuition assistance or GI Bill if you have all three. So talking to your financial aid office was a rather smart suggestion. They could help answer your questions.

Links are restricted by the sites owners. We merely enforce the rules. If you violate the rules on conduct, you will not be here long.

RCC works as a School Certifying Officer dealing with the VA and Financial assistance. I believe that he is right, you can receive the VA Bill and Pell grants. This does not fall under the double dipping rules. You can not receive any Tuition Assistance as a federal employee or member of the military and the GI Bill.

1. What are your qualifications to make statements like the one I replied to? If someone comes on this forum with bad info., I'm going to let them know and I'm not known for having tact.

2. You have violated two rules, so you are really closed to having your account here suspended. No Hotlinks and no insulting the members.

3. I work at a large University as a VA Education Certifying Official serving over 900 students using the 8 different GI Bill Program. Down the hall from my office is the Financial Aid Office which take cares of the Financial Aid for over 6000 students. My boss has worked as a VA Educ. Certifying Offical at this University for 24 years. I'm on the phone with the Dept of VA Education Office almost daily making sure that my students get the best service possible.

4. I know for a fact that students on Active Duty can use Tuition Assistance and Pell Grants for the same classes/semester. I know for a fact that students can use the GI Bill and Pell Grants for the same classes/semester. The only time someone would be double dipping is if they tried to use both Tuition Assistance and GI Bill for the same classes. How do I know this? I know the federal laws governing GI Bill, Tuition Assistance and Pell Grants.

5. Guess what? We ask each student who is on Active Duty if they are using Tuition Assistance for any of their classes. Our business office also tracks who is using Tuition Assistance and who is using GI Bill. If they receive a payment from both, they will refund one of the payments back to either DoD or VA after contacting the student. Double Dipping will not happen at our school.

6. Every school gets audited by the Dept of Education, Dept of Veterans Affairs, and several other federal and state agencies. So we have to know and enforce the rules.

So again I ask, What are your qualifications to make the statements you have in the above two posts?

Forgot to add, We direct and encourage every student applying for any of the GI Bill Programs, active duty, veteran, or dependent to go apply for Financial Aid in the form of Pell Grants, scholarships, or anything else they may qualify for.

I noticed that numbers that started this is in the National Guard according to his profile. So so he knows, he can use tuition assistance through the Guard and still get his GI Bill as long as he is going to school (at the start of the semester/quarter) at the rate of one half time or better. VA does allow this.

RCC,
I'm on the Post 911 GIB, and I have a wife and child. I applied for FA and received the Pell Grant. However, I ran into a problem last semester where the Illinois Veterans Grant paid my tuition but not fees, and the GIB didn't pay anything because I had the IVG. So I canceled the IVG and had the GIB pay in full (because it's more $$) Now I'm in the same boat, the Pell Grant paid for this semester and I'm wondering if I can have the GIB pay the balance then get the Pell for living expenses? Also if I'm still eligible to receive IGV, or can I only get one. If so how should I go about it, my Fanatical Aid Office is not overly helpful with this, and my family needs $$.. I'm wondering if college is worth it!!

1. I did a "google" search for Illinois Veterans Grant and found this web page: http://www.veterans.illinois.gov/benefits.htm which explains in great detail how the IVG and Post 9/11 GI Bill work, why IVG only paid part of your fees and has a comparison chart to advise Illinois Veterans on which program to use. Please read it as it will answer most of your questions.

2. Pell Grants fall under the laws for the Department of Education - which is why you can apply for these funds while using any of the GI Bill Program - I do not know if you can use Pell Grants and IVG for the same semester. You can contact the Illinois State Veterans Office and they will be happy to assist you.

3. From what I read, you should choose between IVG and Post 9/11 GI Bill (which ever will pay you the most) but you can not use both for the same classes.

4. Yes you can use Post 9/11 GI Bill and Pell Grants. Your school will apply the Pell Grant funds against your tuition/fees (and if it is more than your tuition/fees, give you that part of the money) and once the Post 9/11 GI Bill
pays the school, they will release the rest of your Pell Grant to you.

5. From what I read at the web site above, once you have used up your 36 months of entitlements under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you can then receive up to 36 months under the IVG.

RCC,
Thanks for the help, I talked to my school again today. I got the run around a bit, but found out what I wanted to know. Basically, the Pell paid my account, but 10 days before next semester the MGIB will pay the amount. So this semester's bill is $4,457, the Pell paid $2,775 (what I qualified for) to last semester which carried over to my current bill. Then the Pell paid another $2,775 towards next semester to I'm positive $1,092. Now I was thinking that the MGIB wouldn't pay due to me not owing any money, but I was told that 10 days prior to the semester starting the MGIB would pay $4,457 no matter what so then I'll get a check from the school for the $5,549. Fingers crossed. I know you don't need the specifics but you were helpful to my situation and maybe me explaining this could be helpful to someone else!! Also yeah I found out about the IGV, they don't pay the full bill, just the tuition and "some" fees. But like you said that will be good for once the MGIB runs out, like going for masters, or taking extra classes not covered by MGIB. It's just an extra bonus to be used separate from MGIB.

Been reading along under this topic and find it most interesting. Whereas I am not military, I initiated the search on this topic because of someone I know who is ex-military. He is currently enrolled in a "school" taking 2 classes per semester. He receives the GIB, which is MORE than adequate, since he lives with his mother for free, PLUS he receives the PELL Grant. This person spends this money boozing it up and decking out his car with new paint and fancy electronics. I find this grossly appalling and a disgusting waste of money that could be used by someone with a family who actually needs it for it's intended purpose. This is the perfect example of abusing the system, and all at the tax payers expense!! Just my two cents on the matter.

If you are not military or a veteran, then you have no right to complain. He has earned the GI Bill for his service.

I was under the Illinois Veteran's Grant and also used VA benefits at the same time (chapter 32) which was nontaxable money to me...I earned both...and used both...and anyone doing the same is okie dokie with me.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave_M:
If you are not military or a veteran, then you have no right to complain. He has earned the GI Bill for his service.

Excuse me Sir... please do not disrespect me by telling me what "rights" I have and how to feel about how my tax dollars and federal monies are being spent. I am completely aware of the fact that he "earned" the GI Bill for serving our country. Quite obviously the GI Bill must be earned, HOWEVER, and we all know this... the Pell Grant is NOT earned. Additionally, the GI Bill is intended to provide help while furthering your education, I don't believe that it was intended to be used as party money. I am quite certain that monies from the Pell Grant are not intended as such either. Hence, my "rightful" concern over it's misuse. And yes, Sir, thanks to all the brave soldiers who fight for my freedom, it is my "right" to "complain" about this if I so choose. I completely support the US Armed Forces. However, taking something intended for one thing (such as the Pell Grant) and using it for your own pleasure and enjoyment is only slightly short of stealing.