Comments on: California and the Post 9/11 GI Bill

By: Edward M.

Edward M. — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:09:57 +0000

I enjoy reading your article. Thank you for share nice information.

By: Jeffrey L.

Jeffrey L. — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:11:55 +0000

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By: Shelby

Shelby — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:25:34 +0000

California is off the chart!

Well, now the fees and max per credit hour are completely removed. Is something currently being worked or what? This is absurd that they would leave veterans hanging…we can pay to bailout companies that never selflessly served the country a day in their existence…but we sacrifice all that we have and we have to fight to attend school in California. Just fix this please. Change the wording, make a decision…lives are riding on these important factors…the American public relies on us to keep them safe in their beds at night and we have a problem getting funding to attend school? Absurd. This is exactly why politics interest me because I hate them…the inefficiency, the private interest, the inability for action, the poor planning and the ‘band-aids’ – so to speak. Please help VETS so that we can finally continue with our dreams of solid educations, especially after our selfless service to our wonderful country. Write your congress, senate, president, colleges, VA, IAVA….get the word out. Thanks a million.

Truly, Shelby, from the Great State of California.

By: justin edelman

justin edelman — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:46:00 +0000

A few months back I called the VA office at my school to figure out how I was going to pay the difference of out of state fees. They told me that there will not be any difference because the established cap (the $6500) would cover the tuition in state or out of state. The ball was set rolling and I am moving to California – well conveniently when I called the school to work out my payments (3 weeks prior to moving) they told me that they were no longer able to pay for my tuition and that I would have to pay in full, the out of state tuition with absolutely no assistance from the post 9/11 GI bill, however I will still receive the E5 BAH which is still more than what the chapter 30 has to offer. Its absolutely absurd that 3 weeks before I make a life changing move I find out that there is a “loophole” which has left many stranded. Luckily I am going to a junior college and will establish residency in a year so the tuition costs are not outrageous. I feel for my fellow vets who have been put in yet another compromising situation, even in the civilian world.

By: j

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 06:12:40 +0000

Anyone else notice that the rates for California on the va web site are pending until August 1st?..

By: Mike Jones

Mike Jones — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:28:24 +0000

have you guys noticed the amount they give per state has fluctuated. Last table had Oregon at 42800 now its down to 22000.??????????North Dakota was 6g now its in the 30s. Those are some big fluctuations.What gives?

RLTW

By: Sean

Sean — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:13:00 +0000

I have 9.5 years served in the military, however I’m 2 months short of the 3 years (after 9/11/09) required by the VA to be eligible for 100% of the post 911 benefit. Instead, I’m qualified at 90%. I live in California and want to go to school here but since 2 weeks ago they changed everything so that vets eligible for 90% only get the housing allowance and not the tuition. I was told if I take online courses they would pay my tuition but not give me the housing allowance. Does any of this make sense? This seems far from the original intent of the post 911 bill, something I was really looking forward to. How can they change it on the fly like that? It’s not an improvement.

By: TH

TH — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:11:41 +0000

I recently separated from the Air Force. I came to California to be close to my girlfriend of four years and go to school. I was counting on Chapter 33 to help me with school. The GI Bills website said it would pay about $6,500 a term for “fees.” My schools website says it charges about $8000 for “fees.” I move here and am told it pays close to nothing for my out of state tuition. Had I known that it will pay hardly anything I would have stayed in Texas to go to school. I’m sure glad the GI Bills website said it would pay for the highest tuition in state……….liars…..

By: JK

JK — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:29:23 +0000

To add to this matter, there is another loophole that will screw many veterans. Due to the California Budget Crisis, California State schools have met their max In-State Tuition applicants for the next year. Unless something is done, the Post 911 Gi Bill will not allow a Veteran to cover all of the expensed to a private or a state school. Basically, you have to use the original GI Bill or fund it yourself.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 05:46:25 +0000

Hi, I’m the guy from the SF Chronicle article quoted by the VA Watchdog. I’ve been in touch with the VA, with my Representatives, the CA Certification Office… hell, I even sent an email describing the situation to Glen Beck. The only people who seem to be helpful have been the fine folks at the IAVA, and the VA isn’t talking to them about this issue.

This “semantic error” is going to cost me $13,600 dollars next year. It will double the amount of outstanding debt that I currently hold. Our lawmakers have in their infinite wisdom referred this to Subcommittee. Which means, we don’t know when or if it will be considered by the House and Senate.

The VA ought to just fix this issue. The legal section cited by the VA does not ask the VA to make any distinction between “fees” and “tuition,” it directs to Secretary to pay “established charges.”

I don’t see what’s so frickin’ hard about it, and I don’t see why they’re not willing to talk about the issue.