Posted on Apr 28, 2014
How does the Army College Fund work with VA Education Benefits?
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When many of us enlisted into the Army we received an ADDITIONAL education bonus, dependent on many factors and a different number for all. As I'm about to begin using my VA Education Benefits, I'm trying to decide if I want to use my MGIB or the Post 9/11 GI Bill. I am aware 99% of folks qualified for the Post 9/11 GIB elect this choice. But, I still want to make an educated, financially responsible choice. I've exhausted my internet search skills and even called the VA help line in the hopes of receiving a direct answer, all to no avail.
I'm looking for Veterans out there who have this 'kicker' who can maybe shed some light for me, and countless others, who could really use this information.
To put some numbers out there to help explain, when I enlisted, I received a $50K education bonus. How does this work?
I'm looking for Veterans out there who have this 'kicker' who can maybe shed some light for me, and countless others, who could really use this information.
To put some numbers out there to help explain, when I enlisted, I received a $50K education bonus. How does this work?
Posted in these groups: 
GI Bill
GI Bill
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
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You need to compare your benefits. Get out a spreadsheet and list each benefit. The Post 9/11 pays the tuition to the school and the BAH & Book Stiepend to you. The MGIB pays everything to you and you pay the school. If you combine benefits you can get up to 48 months of benefits. Word of caution, if you use a the Post 9/11 first, you sign a statement you will give up your MGIB, which I have seen several veterans regret after they did it because they did not do their homework.
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SFC Rich Carey
http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/comparison_tool.asp Check out this tool
Comparison Tool/Payment Rates - Education and Training
The GI Bill provides education benefits to veterans and their dependents.
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SFC Rich Carey
The problem is to get a straight answer, there are no straight answers. What state will you be attending school? (Makes a difference for Post 9/11) They will only pay the highest state rate, so if that is $220 per semester hour that would be $2640 for tuition (paid to the school)and depending on the BAH rate for the area like $1311. SO you can see that for a semester, 16 weeks Full time the whole period the benefit would be $8384 including book stipend and BAH. Well for the Chap 30 same situation, same area you could see $7980 total benefit. But the other question is, what is your plan? Do you need more than 36 months of benefits (That is 36 academic full time months) IF you take 6 hours instead of 12 hours then your benefits will be prorated. Also you need to see what your state provides. As you can see that is why there are no straight answers.
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To be completely honest with you; you really can't decide what the best choice is until you have decided on a school and course of study. Once you have made that decision, the "VA Certifying Official" at that particular school can review all of your available options with you to ensure you make the right choice for you. In the mean time, just keep doing what your doing and try to learn as much about each of the options as you can. The difference is between the understanding of your options and the actual application of each benefit to the specific school and course of study.
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SFC Rich Carey
By the way, not all VA Certifying Officials are the same or know all options available, just saying...
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Certain branches of service may offer the College Fund. The College Fund money, or "kicker", is an additional amount of money that increases the basic MGIB monthly benefit and is included in the VA payment. It is important to remember that you can not receive the College Fund money without receiving MGIB. It is an add on to the MGIB benefit.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
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