Post 9/11 GI Bill

• The Post-9/11 GI Bill gives financial help for education and housing to those with at least 90 days active service in the military before or after Sept. 11, 2001. Those with a service-connected disability and discharged after 30 days are also qualified for the bill. To be qualified, a veteran must have received an honorable discharge. In 2011, the Post-9/11 GI Bill continues to evolve with some changes waiting to be implemented.
  
  

Benefits

• You can use the Post-9/11 GI Bill in pursuit of an undergraduate degree, a graduate degree, vocational training and technical training. Your training must occur in an institution of higher learning and must be approved for GI benefits. The GI Bill covers tuition, provided that it does not exceed the state maximum for a public institution of higher learning. In the case where the tuition fees exceed the maximum, you will have to pay for the excess amount. The GI Bill also provides a housing allowance for those with dependents. Effective Aug. 1, 2009, but not redeemable until Oct. 1, 2011, the GI Bill includes members of the National Guard who perform active service. Effective Oct. 1, 2011, you can take non-college degree programs, on-the-job training, apprenticeship training, flight training and correspondence training and the GI Bill will cover expenses within stated limits. Housing allowances will be paid to those enrolled only in distance learning, although the allowance is only 50 percent of normal.
  
  

REAP

• The Reserve Educational Assistance Program, or REAP, was created in 2005 to give educational support to Reservists ordered or called into active service in case of war or natural disaster. This program allows certain reservists activated on or after Sept. 11, 2001, for at least 90 days eligible either for educational benefits or increased benefits. Members of selected Reserve, inactive National Guard or individual ready Reserve may opt to contribute up to $600 to receive increased benefits in the $600 buy-up program.
  
  

VEAP

• The Veterans Education Assistance Program is available if a person allowed contributions to be made from their military pay. For every dollar you contribute to VEAP, the federal government matches your contribution with $2. You can use VEAP contributions for apprentice or on-the-job training programs, a certificate, correspondence or degree and vocational flight training. If after 10 years of discharge, you have a remaining balance in your VEAP account, the contributions remaining will be refunded automatically. You are eligible to participate if you served between Jan. 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985, and created a contribution before April 1, 1987.