A new federal court ruling has determined that millions of vets may be eligible for more GI Bill benefits.
If the court decision holds, it would force the VA to provide billions of dollars in education benefits to over 1 million post-9/11 veterans.
Previously the VA would not allow veterans who qualify for both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill to draw benefits from both. That would change under the new ruling.
“We are extremely pleased with the outcome of this case and what it means for our country’s veterans,” stated Timothy L. McHugh, the attorney on the case. “An estimated 1.7 million post-9/11 era veterans could benefit from this ruling, so it is truly an impactful decision for those who have bravely served.”
Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits program, eligible veterans receive 36 months of tuition payouts, housing stipends and other financial assistance.
The Montgomery GI Bill benefits program offers far less money, but still has several thousands of dollars annually to offer veterans for tuition costs if they paid into the program at the start of their military service. It is expected to be completely phased out in the next decade.
Given the choice between the two programs, most veterans would opt for the more financially generous Post-9/11 GI Bill program. But the court decisions now open the door for the possibility of another year of lesser education stipend payouts for veterans who can’t complete their degrees in 36 months.
via Military Times
Following the federal court’s ruling against the VA’s interpretation of the law, the VA could still now try to appeal with the Supreme Court. It is unknown whether the VA will go down that path.
If the VA chooses to not appeal, then starting next semester millions of veterans could be eligible for the extra GI Bill benefits.
The case which has brought this all to light is Rudisill v. McDonough. Jim Rudisill is an Army combat veteran who qualified for both the Montgomery GI Bill and the newer Post-9/11 GI Bill. Rudisill initiated the lawsuit after the VA restricted him to only three years of educational benefits, not allowing him to use the fourth he could have gotten from using both programs.
What about all those bets and people that did 20 or more years and were to late for Vietnam era and retired or got out before the 9/11 bill. A group of veterans left out with nothing. Dessert storm Cold War veterans left with nothing.
Read all of the ways & war times that you are eligible, there are more than when we went looking for something out there , you had to be “ boots on the ground “ to receive disability & still had to be at least 40% . It’s a lot better now , even though I feel I was ripped from what I deserved & my husband passed away at the hands of the VAs overextended Doctors, it will never change totally but anything has to be better, right?
I guess that Vietnam Vets are just out there. I served 26 years and retired in 1989, unfortunately with a family and having to work I was unable to utilize my GI Bill Education Benefits.
my husband a Viet Nam Vet was denied disability for Maleria he contracted while in the military. He was told there were no records from a doctor. He got sick while in VietNam. Saw the medic, in a field hospital, who gave him clorquinquan. He suffered for a while with diahreah and fever. The meds he was given helped him and he returned to the front. Fast forward to 1971: he came down with the maleria again during a flu epdemic, and again in the eighties. We never noted the dates, but was told at the time by his physician that he had a latent maleria. When he gets the flu it triggers maleria. Since then we routinely get the flu vaccine consequently he hasn’t gotten the flu. Now the Va claims he doesn’t suffer from it. No he don’t have the chills or fever but his sweat is yellow and stains all of our linens and he’s consitantly cold. If that’s not suffering what is. They actually had the nerve to suggest that perhaps he got it in the carribean when on vacation! Fact is he wasnt in the Carribbean before 1971 when the symptoms appeared state side!
Sharyn…my name is al…i’m very sorry to hear of your husband’s circumstances…BUT,their is a light @ the end of the tunnel…I too am a viet nam veteran so i’m familiar to this nonsense the v.a. gives…however alot has changed when o’bama was in office for us vet’s. for a few years i’ve tried to get compensation for my problems to no avail in 2008 i managed to get compensated for some problems from the war, make the story short i got compensated all the way to 90 % disability w/in a few years…this can happen to your family..cal (737)241-9823 or online @ brian reese @www.vaclaimsinsider.com… these are veterans helping veterans…best of luck to & yours an i’ll be praying for you…AL…
I was in 1988 to 97. Do I fall into post 9/11 GIbill at all?
No, Only if you served in the military on or after September 11, 2001.
What about Vietnam Vets who did not complete their B.S. degree, but did get his A.S. degree?
I was denied college while working as a customs service/agent. Tried to enroll but my hours would not or even could go to college. I serve 75-95 and I lost my G I bill. Please confirm/advise if I can still use it or etc. and my dependent can he use any support/benefits. I am 100% P&T disabled since 04
I paid into the montgomery GI bill back in 1989 1990 for 12 months then sometime during.my carreer i opted into the post 9/11 GI i have distributed 24 months to my education benefits to my dependents and aboit to use the last 12 months will i be elgible for the extra year of education benefits under the montgomery GI bill? If so how do i apply or is this automatically added into my education benefits? Thank for any assistance you can provide.
What about all of us who deployed between 2001 and 2008 who didn’t get any education benefits!
The people of the United States knows about this but no one will come to our defense no matter that we have given our lives to our country, and in this day and time when we need our country to help us what do they do, just turn there backs on us one again and tell no one that they are doing this to the , veterans who fort for this our country the great USA, and now we heed education benefits that we have made for our selfs and the VA who wants to take away our money ,it is not theirs to take or to not issue the money back to the service members the ones who went to war not the VA or some of the other people who do not serve.
Totally agree with you Andrew. That is totally wrong by the VA. Just 1 more thing. Unfortunately the sorry politicians or VA Secretary should not be doing this kind of EXTORTION! That’s the problem with ALL our politicians! ALL OF THEM do not care about us. Yeah they always put on a dog and pony show that they do care but its all BS in my opinion
CC
USMC
I am an active duty Soldier transitioning in 5 months. I contributed to the Montgomery GI Bill $100/ month for 12 months totaling $1200 in 1990-1991. Sine then I did ‘something’ to convert it to the Post 9/11 GI bill, maybe sometime circa 2007-2011 ish (?). How do I check what I have/ am eligible for? Or, what should I do now to get both, if possible? Most important, what document/ record will I need to use either/ both?
Unfortunately, I think this all sounds like it will take a very dedicated and organized individual to track down and maintain answers and records to use these benefits. Some will do it, it’s our nature/ training. I suspect most will not, and I am not a typical pessimist.
wait for the soldier for life crap you have to sit when you leave, but positive you can not convert that, basically use the gi bill and they will give you another 12 months
I have contacted every Mortgage company that claims to provide easy access for VETS, I have been turned down by all of them. Not because my income is insufficient, or my credit history is really bad, nor any of the other usual reasons that someone is turned down. I was denied financing for a New Home because I already OWN the land free and clear, and I am looking for what I can best afford for my needs, a Manufactured home.
For more than 50 yrs I was lied to by the VA and denied benefits I was entitled to, now they have found a new way to deny me the opportunity to own a home. It is all BULL SHIT.
I here you Brother I own a Manufacture Home and they will not Finance. Because it is a manufactured Home. I was turned down so i will finish paying my 4.5 Percent loan. I have good Credit and I am Disabled.
I just completed an IRRL (pronounced Earl) Interest Rate Reduction Loan through Freedom mortgage. My original loan was with the crooks at Navy Federal. It is a manufactured home and it was tough getting the original loan at 3.75 in 2019. Freedom did a great job for me. They were kinda slow and communication wasn’t the best, at times, but they pushed it through at 2.25%. I paid no closing costs and even got a check for a couple hundred bucks at closing. They sent a notary with closing documents to my home. My mortgage (loan amount) went up about $2500-3000, my payments dropped a couple hundred dollars a month and my payoff date (months left on my mortgage) stayed the same as if I hadn’t refinanced. I am extremely thankful and happy that I found Freedom! Every other lender said they couldn’t do a mobile, after they ran my credit, of course. Even though my credit scores were about 50-75 points higher than when I originally bought the property, Navy Criminal denied my request to refinance and never told me why, even though I always paid my mortgage on time for the 2 years that I had the loan with them. I hope that this helps you and other veterans get their mobile homes refinanced. I almost gave up trying due to all the shady lenders, unneeded hits on my credit and the run around that I got from so many lenders!
Brother King that sounds like HIGHWAY ROBBERY to me! You might want to write, You may want to write your Senator and Congressman but make sure you write them. Dont use electronic communication cause you will get the same BS response from them if you use email. Writing forces their staff to open the letter, read it, and then have to send you a response through Post Office. KEEP FIGHTING BROTHER KING!
CC
USMC
I’m a VET. I used a program that was available, the Rural; Electrification Program. If your land is in a rural area you should be able to qualify for that no downpayment, no MIP program. check it out,
I suggest you look into purchasing a modular home. They are not considered to be a manufactured home. they have all the benefits of a stick built with the with the advantages of a manufactured home. Try Nationwide modular homes.
Try home from Nationwide Modular Homes.