The Post 9/11 GI Bill

As many of you know, President Bush has signed the Post-9/11 GI Bill into law. Attached to this email, you will find a copy of the VA's FAQ regarding the new program.

Importantly, the Post 9/11 GI Bill will only cover approved education related expenses incurred after 31 July 2009. This program is not retroactive. If you have already used some or all of your MGIB benefits, you're out of luck. Any unused benefits can be transfered to the new program. Moreover, it appears that if you choose to use your MGIB benefits for the 2008 - 2009 academic year, you will NOT be compensated at the new rates for that period. You should consider the following information before you decide to use your benefits under the old MGIB:

1. The current E-5 BAH rate for New York City is 2244.00 per month. For a 9 month academic year, this portion of the benefit is approximately $20,196.00.

2. Under the new program, your tuition benefits are capped at the tuition for the most expensive public undergraduate program within the state in which you attend. To the best of my knowledge, the most expensive school in NY is SUNY College of Technology - Alfred, meaning the tuition cap will be $9,678.00.

3. In cases where these benefits do not fully cover the cost of an education, the the Post 9/11 GI Bill contains a provision that provides additional benefits to vets who attend private universities that have elected to participate in a public - private fund matching program. Essentially, the federal government will match the contributions that private universities make to help cover the remaining cost of tuition and fees.

Clearly, using your MGIB benefits for the 2008-2009 academic year represents a significant opportunity cost. However, you may still want to check out the following link for a comparison between the MGIB and the Post 9/11 GI Bill to further inform your decision:

http://education.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/new-gi-bill-overview

If you have any further questions, please feel free to email me at ata2107@columbia.edu

Best,

Aaron T. Alfson
U.S. Military Veterans of Columbia University
Director of Legislative Affairs
SVA Representative