NationStates Jolt Archive

The US Dept. of VA is now accepting applications for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, also known as Chpt 33.

This benefit states that anyone who has served at least 3 years on active duty will get 100% of their tuition paid for (depending on the university you go to), provide a monthly housing stipend which for me will be $2150 a month, and a $1,000 annual book stipend. It also covers fees.

For those with less that 3 years of continuous active duty service you can still get it if you served at least 90 days which gets you 40% of benefits. Active duty for purposes of training do not count.

Regretfully, California gets screwed over in the tuition department but it looks like the fees section may make up for that. The VA is claiming that California doesn't charge state residents tuition. Previously it's tuition in the state was limited to $7,000 but now they won't even give that. Instead they have opted to cover just the mandatory campus fees.

Also you can use this bill to cover both your BA and your Master's and any other Post Grad education. Depending on how much time on the program you have left when you get your BA.
And you can transfer it to people in your family if you don't want to use it for yourself.


What is the opinion of veterans of this new benefit? Do you know any one who will be applying?

The GI Bill after WWII was a big part of the post-war economic boom...and probably one of the most effective government programs ever devised.

If we're going to send our military into harms way, a program like this ought to be second only to veteran medical care.

Its a good thing.

I'm thinking about this. The original GI bill after WW II actually boosted the US economy. I am thinking this Chpt 33 benefit will have the same effect on our current economic doldrums by giving the economy a much needed shot in the arm. Probably do more to fix the situation than any of the other spending programs.
That's how the US economy and real estate industry took off after the end of WW II.

I'm thinking about this. The original GI bill after WW II actually boosted the US economy. I am thinking this Chpt 33 benefit will have the same effect on our current economic doldrums by giving the economy a much needed shot in the arm. Probably do more to fix the situation than any of the other spending programs.
That's how the US economy and real estate industry took off after the end of WW II.

I don't think it will, the economy doesn't want or need educated labor, in fact its even harder to find jobs in those areas. As educated labor I can vouch for this.

what type of educated labor are you?

When I was talking about the bill boosting the economy I meant this way:

It is giving money directly to the schools to cover tuition and or fees. The college uses those fees to continue paying its employees who in turn spend that money. Or they can use to order new construction and other projects.

Now in addition, you get $500 per semester for books and supplies. Not much and won't go far.

But you also get the BAH of an Sgt with dependents. In some areas that is a nice chunck of change. In Fullerton and Whittier that comes to 2150. Now suppose you wanted a one bedroom in Whittier. You could get one for anywhere from 950 to 1400. That leaves a nice chunk of change in your pocket.

People will naturally spend a sizable portion of that change and that will boost the local economy and by extension the state and federal economies as it trickles from the local level on up.

Not to mention that apartment owners will be spending the money they get from veterans using the Post 9/11 bill to pay their rents/mortgages. That, in itself, could cause the credit market to start reopening. If that happens it will be easier for banks to borrow from each other and make it easier to get business loans and home loans.