Congress Seeks to Eliminate GI Bill Time Limit
Congress Seeks to Eliminate GI Bill Time Limit
Congress is seeking to remove the arbitrary time limit and make sure our veterans have access to their education benefits for life.
Veterans who want to take advantage of the Montgomery GI Bill but have found their eligibility has expired may soon get a second chance with new legislation introduced on Capitol Hill last week.
In an effort to extend the time veterans have to take advantage of their GI Bill benefits, Washington Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell introduced the GI Bill for Life Act that would eliminate the 10-year time limit placed on GI Bill benefits.
The GI Bill for active duty servicemembers and veterans is a "pay to play" benefit that requires each servicemember to make a $1,200 non-refundable contribution up front. In return for the contribution they can use their entitlement-up to $1,075 per month for 36 months-to help pay for education, apprenticeship, and job training.
The catch is the GI Bill automatically expires 10 years after the veteran leaves active duty service. It's this "use it or loose it" aspect of the GI Bill that has left many veterans feeling misled and cheated.
According to the Department of Veteran Affairs reports, nearly 30 percent of eligible veterans are unable to use any of their education benefits and most eligible veterans are only able to access a portion of their GI Bill before the 10-year limit is reached.
"GI Bill benefits should not come with an expiration date," Cantwell said in a May 1 press release announcing the bill. "When our servicemembers leave the military, family obligations, work commitments and economic difficulties often get in the way."
Many veterans postpone going to school due to several factors including, employment constraints, family obligations, illness and disabilities associated with military service. In many cases 10 years have pass and they simply lose their benefits.
"We need to remove this arbitrary time limit and make sure our veterans can get valuable skills training when the time is right for them," Cantwell added. "Veterans should have access to their education benefits for life."
On the other side of Capitol Hill, House Armed Services Committee member and fellow Washington lawmaker Rep. Rick Larsen (D), will soon introduce identical legislation in the House.
"Times have changed, and we owe it to our veterans to keep up," Larsen said a press release. "In today's changing economy, veterans should be able to get the education they need when they need it."
The Montgomery GI Bill includes active duty as well as reserve component programs: The Montgomery GI Bill for Selected Reserve and the Reserve Education Assistance Program. Unlike the GI Bill for active duty, the Reserve GI Bill does not require a $1,200 contribution, but it does require a service commitment of six or more years.
In addition, enrollees in the reserve program receive up to $309 per month for 36 months in education benefits, and the Reserve GI Bill expires after 14 years - or when the individual leaves the service. In other words, veteran reservists who are out of the service aren't eligible to receive any GI Bill benefits.
The so-called "Cantwell/Larsen Montgomery GI Bill for Life Act of 2007" - S. 1261 - which is cosponsored by Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), would repeal both the 10 year and 14 year deadlines. It doesn't address the reserve component programs' expiration upon leaving the service, however.
With a renewed focus on veterans' issues on Capitol Hill and large influx of war veterans, advocates feel that such legislation has a better momentum this year.
"This legislation will allow veterans that have earned their GI Bill entitlements to use those entitlements to keep up with changes due to technology over the course of their lifetime, thus keeping them more employable," veteran and former Washington VFW commander Frosty Hulsey said in the Cantwell release. "This bill is a long time overdue. It makes sense and is the right thing to do."
Editor's note: There is no guarantee this legislation will pass. If you are eligible for the GI Bill be sure to use it before time runs out! The Military.com School Finder can help you find the school that fits your needs.
Congress is seeking to remove the arbitrary time limit and make sure our veterans have access to their education benefits for life.
Veterans who want to take advantage of the Montgomery GI Bill but have found their eligibility has expired may soon get a second chance with new legislation introduced on Capitol Hill last week.
In an effort to extend the time veterans have to take advantage of their GI Bill benefits, Washington Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell introduced the GI Bill for Life Act that would eliminate the 10-year time limit placed on GI Bill benefits.
The GI Bill for active duty servicemembers and veterans is a "pay to play" benefit that requires each servicemember to make a $1,200 non-refundable contribution up front. In return for the contribution they can use their entitlement-up to $1,075 per month for 36 months-to help pay for education, apprenticeship, and job training.
The catch is the GI Bill automatically expires 10 years after the veteran leaves active duty service. It's this "use it or loose it" aspect of the GI Bill that has left many veterans feeling misled and cheated.
According to the Department of Veteran Affairs reports, nearly 30 percent of eligible veterans are unable to use any of their education benefits and most eligible veterans are only able to access a portion of their GI Bill before the 10-year limit is reached.
"GI Bill benefits should not come with an expiration date," Cantwell said in a May 1 press release announcing the bill. "When our servicemembers leave the military, family obligations, work commitments and economic difficulties often get in the way."
Many veterans postpone going to school due to several factors including, employment constraints, family obligations, illness and disabilities associated with military service. In many cases 10 years have pass and they simply lose their benefits.
"We need to remove this arbitrary time limit and make sure our veterans can get valuable skills training when the time is right for them," Cantwell added. "Veterans should have access to their education benefits for life."
On the other side of Capitol Hill, House Armed Services Committee member and fellow Washington lawmaker Rep. Rick Larsen (D), will soon introduce identical legislation in the House.
"Times have changed, and we owe it to our veterans to keep up," Larsen said a press release. "In today's changing economy, veterans should be able to get the education they need when they need it."
The Montgomery GI Bill includes active duty as well as reserve component programs: The Montgomery GI Bill for Selected Reserve and the Reserve Education Assistance Program. Unlike the GI Bill for active duty, the Reserve GI Bill does not require a $1,200 contribution, but it does require a service commitment of six or more years.
In addition, enrollees in the reserve program receive up to $309 per month for 36 months in education benefits, and the Reserve GI Bill expires after 14 years - or when the individual leaves the service. In other words, veteran reservists who are out of the service aren't eligible to receive any GI Bill benefits.
The so-called "Cantwell/Larsen Montgomery GI Bill for Life Act of 2007" - S. 1261 - which is cosponsored by Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), would repeal both the 10 year and 14 year deadlines. It doesn't address the reserve component programs' expiration upon leaving the service, however.
With a renewed focus on veterans' issues on Capitol Hill and large influx of war veterans, advocates feel that such legislation has a better momentum this year.
"This legislation will allow veterans that have earned their GI Bill entitlements to use those entitlements to keep up with changes due to technology over the course of their lifetime, thus keeping them more employable," veteran and former Washington VFW commander Frosty Hulsey said in the Cantwell release. "This bill is a long time overdue. It makes sense and is the right thing to do."
Editor's note: There is no guarantee this legislation will pass. If you are eligible for the GI Bill be sure to use it before time runs out! The Military.com School Finder can help you find the school that fits your needs.
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bravo. 0 -
Wow! If this thing goes through I'm headed to CO to gunsmith school. 0 -
In my opinion this is long overdue. 0 -
Hopefully, soon we can pass them to our dependents [^]. 0 -
I have always thought of the GI Bill educational benefits as a big scam. It is constructed to make it so hard to get the benefits it is easier to just go out and earn the money needed to go to school. If this bill gets passed it would be a step in the right direction but only a partial solution. 0 -
quote:chollagardens
Member
USA
929 Posts
Posted - 06/22/2007 : 10:23:20 PM Show Profile Email Poster Reply with Quote
I have always thought of the GI Bill educational benefits as a big scam. It is constructed to make it so hard to get the benefits it is easier to just go out and earn the money needed to go to school. If this bill gets passed it would be a step in the right direction but only a partial solution.
Chollagardens- It sounds like you have had difficulty with the process. You are not alone. I would like to offer to help you get it going if you would like to start going to college part time or full time. Although I may not know your state laws inside and out, I do know the G.I. Bill inside and out, and I have gotten many vets headed in the right direction with the G.I. Bill, and I have helped many wind up with degrees. This includes myself and my overpriced degree that is hanging on my wall. Once you start going to school, (even if it's part time or at night), most the guys I get going agree the hardest part is just getting started. Email me and I will help you get going with YOUR benefits. That goes for anyone on gunbroker.
I'm serious, I can be alot of help if you want it.0 -
The G.I. bill sucks. Back in 1967 i was going to school on the G.I. bill. The school went broke because the government was so slow in paying. 0 -
Dave W. said..."I'm serious, I can be alot of help if you want it."
I appriciate the offer but it is way too late. After I was discharged from the Army I finished high school and two years of college. If I remember correctly, at the beginning, I used four months of GI bill. I had to work like a dog to get paid and it took four months. Rent came every month and the water and electric bill were also due every month. I got hungry three times a day. I went to work and went to night classes and gave up on the GI bill. Now at 58 years I still take a class here and there on my own dime. Thirty eight years ago the GI educational benefits I earned would have been helpful. Now I don't need the money nor have a great deal of time to use it.0 -
The GI bill has been nothing but good for me.
My only regret is I wasted too much time switching majors.
My GI bill runs out next semester, I'll graduate the semester after that0 -
Did you say life Wow! I got out of the Army 5/25/59 /do you think????? If so I'll go to California Northern for my J.D. LLB if they will pay me $1,075 monthly and borrow the rest of the $4,000 monthly it cost for 48 months of instruction. 0 -
Makes me SICK.
I broke my back for this country and I can't get the VA, Tricare, or a military hospital to screw my back together. You know why?
""WE have new policy of not flying/referring disabled veterans from Guam to Hawaii/Japan for needed surgery"....because there are no surgery's done on Guam.
I ain't Guamanian you frekin racists.....I'll get you Congress freaks....I got into Civil Service. You're going to have to pay me a VA Disability Check, a Military Disability Check, AND a Civil Service Disability Check...and a Social Security disability check if I get any worse. How's that for cost savings measures?
Frekin free college for life...WTH?...oh yeah....they got savings from ignoring the white guys that moved to the US Soil known as Guam....new policy....about 24 months old now.
Screw me out of surgery....I'll get that 4th Disability check and run off to the Phillipines for surgery and live there.
AHGHHHHHHHH Stupid frekin tards in Congress. I hate all of you and hope you die you worthless scum.0 -
quote:Originally posted by ObiWan
Makes me SICK.
I broke my back for this country and I can't get the VA, Tricare, or a military hospital to screw my back together. You know why?
""WE have new policy of not flying/referring disabled veterans from Guam to Hawaii/Japan for needed surgery"....because there are no surgery's done on Guam.
I ain't Guamanian you frekin racists.....I'll get you Congress freaks....I got into Civil Service. You're going to have to pay me a VA Disability Check, a Military Disability Check, AND a Civil Service Disability Check...and a Social Security disability check if I get any worse. How's that for cost savings measures?
Frekin free college for life...WTH?...oh yeah....they got savings from ignoring the white guys that moved to the US Soil known as Guam....new policy....about 24 months old now.
Screw me out of surgery....I'll get that 4th Disability check and run off to the Phillipines for surgery and live there.
AHGHHHHHHHH Stupid frekin tards in Congress. I hate all of you and hope you die you worthless scum.
You obviously need more than the GI Bill time limit, I hope you get it. God bless!0 -
quote:chollagardens
Member
USA
932 Posts
Posted - 06/23/2007 : 05:48:53 AM Show Profile Email Poster Reply with Quote
Dave W. said..."I'm serious, I can be alot of help if you want it."
I appriciate the offer but it is way too late. After I was discharged from the Army I finished high school and two years of college. If I remember correctly, at the beginning, I used four months of GI bill. I had to work like a dog to get paid and it took four months. Rent came every month and the water and electric bill were also due every month. I got hungry three times a day. I went to work and went to night classes and gave up on the GI bill. Now at 58 years I still take a class here and there on my own dime. Thirty eight years ago the GI educational benefits I earned would have been helpful. Now I don't need the money nor have a great deal of time to use it.
Now the main issue is getting registered six to eight weeks in advance. If you can do that and then make the school hold up their end for the first sememster, after that all you need to do is get online once a month or make one phone call a month and your money gets direct deposited into your account. (Or check if you like).0 -
Obiwan
My former business partner a 60's vet has a condo in Thailand, and he pays $300 USD to fly to the Phillipines for treatment for his back and is pleased with the treatment.0
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