Military students utilizing the Post 9/11 GI Bill can receive an advanced payment toward education expenses to compensate for late federal funding.
Students actively serving, along with veterans, qualify to receive education funding from the Post 9/11 GI Bill, or Chapter 33.
They can request an advanced payment for up to $3,000 from their nearest Veterans Administration regional office if their education funds for this semester had not been received.
“We’re behind with processing,” Dean Holtzman, public contact officer for the Veterans Administration regional office in Louisville, said.
This comes after the overwhelming response from military students nationwide seeking educational funding from the Post 9/11 GI Bill that went into effect on Aug. 1.
Holtzman said military students can request an advanced payment online at www.gibill.va.gov, which can take between seven to 10 days until a check is received by mail, or students can walk in to their nearest Veterans Administration regional office and walk out with a check in-hand.
The nearest Veterans Administration regional office to IU Southeast is in Louisville, located at 321 West Main St., Suite 390.
“Checks will continue to be dispersed until we are caught up,” Holtzman said.
He said they will be caught up by the end of fall semester.
Advanced payments will be taken from the military students’ future entitlement. No fees or interest will be accrued from the advanced payments.
Holtzman said tuition and fees are not affected by the backup of federal education funding for the new GI Bill.
Tuition and fees get dispersed directly to the school in the beginning of the semester.
The advanced payments will go toward the military student’s annual book and supplies stipend and monthly housing allotment.
“This is the best education program we have,” Jack Howell, records specialist and VA certifying official, said.
Howell said there is a 27.3 percent increase in military students from last spring semester, which he said he attributes to the Post 9/11 GI Bill education benefits.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill says students can receive up to 100 percent of the cost of tuition and fees, an annual book and supplies stipend of $1,000 and a monthly housing allotment while enrolled.
Amounts for housing allotments are based on the school’s location.
Howell said military students attending IU Southeast can receive up to $1,036 toward a monthly housing allotment.
To be qualified for the Post 9/11 GI bill, students must have been on active duty at least 90 days after Sept. 10, 2001. Funding amounts vary per student, and are dependent on the student’s amount of military service and how many credit hours they are taking.
Tuition amounts paid to a student’s college cannot exceed the highest tuition rate at a state college in their state of residence.
If a student drops classes after funding has been paid to them, the student is responsible for paying back the difference.
Students have 15 years from the day of their discharge or separation from the service to use the Post 9/11 GI Bill education benefits.
Before the Post 9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill was offered, which paid only a portion of a student’s tuition and fees, and offered no book stipend or housing allotment.
Jon Smith, Indiana National Guard infantryman and business freshman, said he is utilizing the Post 9/11 GI bill.
“I can say I went to college without debt,” Smith said.
By LEAH TATE
Staff Writer
lmtate@ius.edu