GI Bill

GI Bill buy a house

Can I Use the GI Bill to Buy a House?

Is it possible to use the GI Bill to buy a house? This is a common question about GI Bill benefits, and the answer confuses some…at first. The short answer is no; you typically cannot use the GI Bill to purchase a home. But why not, and what program can you use to buy a…

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Is the GI Bill Considered Income?

Is the GI Bill considered income? There are multiple reasons to ask this question, including whether or not you should expect to be taxed on the GI Bill and whether or not it can be considered income to apply for a VA home loan or other lines of credit. What the IRS Says About the…

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How to Activate the GI Bill

One of the most common questions about the GI Bill? Many newcomers to the program want to know how to activate the GI Bill; is the benefit automatic? When can you start using it? We answer those questions and more below. How to Activate the GI Bill When you serve the minimum time required on…

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which GI Bill do I have?

Which GI Bill do I Have?

A very common question for some beginning the journey toward higher education is, “What GI Bill do I have?”  If you are a veteran, eligible family, an active duty service member, a Reservist, or National Guard member, you may qualify for one or more VA benefits under the GI Bill. The first step is knowing…

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GI Bill Book Stipend

Is there a GI Bill book stipend for your program? If you are planning to use your GI Bill benefits, you’ll want to know how much of your total school expenses might be covered by those benefits. Books and supplies are an important part of those calculations.  Some may qualify for more than one VA…

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GI Bill After Failing a Class

In cases where you receive the GI Bill and are failing a class, you may wonder if you have to repay the VA for getting a “punitive” grade. Did you know that failing a class is, according to VA.gov, still considered academic progress? According to the Department of Veterans Affairs official site, “If you finished…

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GI Bill status

GI Bill Status: How to Check

Do you need to check the status of your application for the Post-9/11 GI Bill? There are ways to check the status of your application, and how you can do that may depend on your status as an active duty service member, veteran, military spouse or school-age dependent. Getting Started The Department of Veterans Affairs…

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GI Bill income tax

Do I Owe Taxes on the GI Bill?

If you plan to go to college using GI Bill benefits, you might wonder if the GI Bill is taxable. Examining the tax implications of your student financial aid is essential, especially if you hope to claim federal tax credits for your education expenses. The article below is not tax advice; consider this a primer…

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GI Bill Extension: The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

If you are pursuing higher education in an in-demand technical field, you may qualify for an extension of your federal military education benefits thanks to a program called the Edith Nourse Rogers Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) Scholarship. Technically speaking, this isn’t so much an extension of the GI Bill as it is a program…

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When does GI Bill expire

When Does The GI Bill Expire?

One of the most frequently asked questions about the GI Bill is how much time you have to use it. How long until the GI Bill expires? Is it possible to lose your GI Bill benefit? The answer depends greatly on which GI Bill program you are using and when you signed up, as we’ll…

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Post 9/11 GI Bill

Post 9/11 GI Bill Guide For Spouses and Dependents

The Post 9/11 GI Bill is a military education benefit dependents and spouses can have transferred to them by an active duty parent or spouse to use to get a college degree, certification, or license through an approved program. How can spouses and college-age dependents (military-speak for the children of the military member) access this…

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VEAP

Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers an education benefit to veterans called VEAP. the Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program. Qualifying veterans may be eligible for a 2-to-1 matching contribution from the government for education benefits. This program offers money for tuition and certain fees for VA-approved programs. Depending on the amount of the student’s VEAP contributions,…

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STEM scholarship

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

The Edith Nourse Rogers Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) Scholarship is an option for qualifying veterans and dependent family members who are also eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill or the Fry Scholarship. This is a Department of Veterans Affairs education benefit offering up to nine months or $30 thousand in benefits related to…

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Guard and Reserve

National Guard & Reserve Education Benefits

Veteran Education Benefits for the National Guard and Reserve There are two basic ways to serve in uniform; commit to a full-time, active duty service commitment or choose part-time service as a member of the National Guard or Reserve. Those who choose the Guard or Reserve learn their military benefits–especially education benefits–aren’t as generous as…

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GI Bill

Post 9/11 GI Bill Application Guide for Active Duty & Veterans

Active Duty & Veterans’ Post 9/11 GI Bill Application Guide The Post 9/11 GI Bill is one of the most important military benefits you can earn. This guide includes step-by-step instructions on how to fill out the application form and submit it to claim your Post 9.11 GI Bill benefits. This is not a guide…

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Military Education

VA Form 22-5490 Dependents’ Application for VA Education Benefits Step-By-Step Guide

This is a step-by-step guide to filling out VA Form 22-5490, Dependents’ Application for VA Education Benefits. This is the form required for both dependents and spouses to apply for Chapter 35 Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance (DEA) or the Chapter 33 Fry Scholarship. Read More: Survivors and Dependents’ VA Education Benefits Read More: The…

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VA Education benefits

VA Benefits: How to Add or Remove Dependents with VA Form 21-686c

Have you gotten married or experienced other changes in your family since you applied for benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs?  If you are a retired or separated military member who has had a change in marital status, family size, or similar circumstances, you’ll need to update VA records to include information about those…

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Post 9/11 GI Bill

Post 9/11 GI Bill Eligibility Percentages Explained

How does the VA determine whether you are eligible for 100% Post 9/11 GI Bill entitlement or not? This is an important question since those who do not qualify for 100% of the GI Bill may still attend college using this VA education benefit but may need to pay some of the expenses out-of-pocket because…

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VA Education benefits

VA Education Benefits Under The National Call-To-Service Program

Have you performed a period of national service by joining the military under the VA National Call To Service program or NCS? You may qualify for VA education benefits through NCS. This program is intended for those who need an alternative to the Montgomery GI Bill, and is offered under specific qualifying circumstances, as we’ll…

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GI BILL

Cost-of-Living Increases For Montgomery GI Bill, Dependent Education Benefits

If you are attending classes on the Montgomery GI Bill or the VA Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program, you will see an increase in your monthly payments starting in October 2022, thanks to the annual Cost of Living Adjustment or COLA. COLA changes for the Post 9/11 GI Bill are already in effect, those…

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Education Benefits for Veterans

Military education benefits vary for active duty, veterans, spouses, and dependents. If you have retired or separated from military service you have options that may not be open to other applicants, or you may have benefits that active-duty servicemembers also enjoy but not in quite the same way. What do you need to know about…

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