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(EMAILWIRE.COM, July 31, 2009 ) Fort Lauderdale, FL July 31, 2009
The New Financial Aid Program: How does it Affect Military Education Benefits?
THIRD in a three-part series:
Officials in the U.S. Department of Education have announced plans to revise, repeal, and redesign many aspects of the current student federal financial aid program. In previous articles, Degree.com explored the effect of the newly enacted legislation on the federal student loan program and on the federal education grants program. This article will discuss the changes that will affect military personnel and their dependents with regard to military education benefits. Major changes include:
• Public Colleges and universities are expected to offer in-state tuition rates to military persons and to dependents of active duty personnel. Provided that the service person has been on active duty for more than 30 days, public institutions cannot charge out-of-state tuition rates to military service personnel or to their dependents. Furthermore, as long as that individual remains enrolled without interruption at that institution, he or she will be charged in-state tuition rates, even if the military person is moved to another duty station in another state.
• The Yellow Ribbon Program will become effective August 1, 2009. This program, also known as the Post 9/11 GI Bill, allows qualified service persons or their dependents to receive college funds towards a degree program. Institutions that participate in the program will offer funds to qualified service persons or military dependents, and the Department of Veterans Affairs will match these funds. These monies can be used toward degree tuition, books, fees, and housing.
• Veteran Education benefits will be excluded from financial aid calculations beginning July 1, 2009. Colleges and universities will calculate a student’s financial need and determine the financial aid package available to a student without considering his or her veteran education benefits. This will maximize the amount of financial aid for which an affected individual is eligible.
• Students whose military parents died during military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001, will be eligible for the maximum Pell Grant award. Students who would be eligible to receive a Pell Grant award and had a parent die under these circumstances will receive the maximum possible award for their Pell Grant as long as they are eligible to receive this grant.
These new programs and laws are designed to maximize the amount of college tuition assistance to military personnel and to their families. For more information about the Yellow Ribbon Program or changes in the Pell Grant award, visit www.degree.com, or contact the Department of Veteran Affairs or the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
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