Post 9/11 GI Bill offers big money for education Published June 10, 2013 By SrA. Charles Hutchinson IV 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- The Post-9/11 GI Bill is one of the best benefits available to today's veterans. The bill provides some financial support for education and housing for 36 months to veterans with at least 90 days of total service after Sept. 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. Some of the benefits of the Post-9/11 GI Bill include: · A monthly housing allowance (Equivalent to E-5 BAH plus one family member) · Paid tuition · An annual books and supplies stipend · A one-time rural benefit payment · The ability to transfer benefits to spouse or children (but you must transfer benefits before the child turns 23 years old). Approved education under the Post-9/11 GI Bill includes graduate and undergraduate degrees, vocational/technical training, on-the-job training, flight training, correspondence training, licensing and national testing programs, entrepreneurship training, and tutorial assistance. All training programs must be approved for GI Bill benefits. Members may take online courses, but must take at least one course in a physical classroom and must take at least seven credit hours toward a declared major. Tuition and fees for approved programs are paid directly to the educational institution for all public school in-state students. For those attending private or foreign schools, tuition and fees are capped at the national maximum rate (veterans attending a private institution in Ariz., Mich., N.H., N.Y., Pa., S.C. or Texas may be eligible for a higher tuition reimbursement rate). Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are transferable to family members if the military member chooses to do so, but there are limitations and restrictions. A family member must be enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System and be eligible for benefits at the time of transfer to receive transferred educational benefits. Eligible family members include: · The individual's spouse. · One or more of the individual's children. · Any combination of spouse and child. An eligible service member may transfer up to the total months of unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. But if you're transferring benefits to children, the transfer must occur before the child's 23rd birthday. Individuals discharged under any conditions other than honorable are not eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. For additional information visit www.gibill.va.gov or contact the base education and training office at 557-3440.