Receiving education benefits made easier

  • Published
  • By by Airman Crystal Charriere
  • 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Changes to the 9/11 G.I. Bill were signed into law Jan. 4 to make it easier for members to receive education benefits.

Three revisions to the bill include changes to the housing allowance, a national cap on tuition and fee reimbursement, and how college fund payments will be made. Many of the alterations will not take effect until August.

The most significant modification is the amount of money students will receive for housing allowance. The percentage of time a student attends school will now be rounded to the nearest tenth. For example, if a student goes to school 75 percent of the time, he or she will receive 80 percent of the housing allowance rate, said Master Sgt. Marites Ramoneda-Thomas, the 419th Fighter Wing's Chief of Education and Training.

"That's probably the biggest change," Sergeant Ramoneda-Thomas said. "It will affect a lot of our reservists who are going to school part-time."

Tuition and fee reimbursement will have a national cap of $17,500 for students attending private institutions or foreign schools, Sergeant Ramoneda-Thomas said. Repayment will also be available for exams for admission to institutions, such as the SAT.

College funds will be paid in monthly payments rather than one lump sum at the beginning of the term.

For more information about the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill or other education programs and benefits, visit www.gibill.va.gov/post-911/post-911-gi-bill-summary.