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Monday, August 3, 2009

My Post 9/11 GI Bill Story

As you might know, I am in the process of transferring my GI Bill benefits to my two sons. The process is outlined on the VA website. I mailed my initial application to the VA on April 29, 2009 to make sure it reached the western office in Muskogee, OK on 1 May, the first day that the window opened. On June 9th I received my Certificate of Eligibility. I received my VA Form 22-1990E in late July, which was the application for transfer of entitlement. I completed that form, and sent it back with a VA Form 21-686C, the declaration of status of dependents.

About a month earlier I filled out the DoD web-form to transfer my benefit to my two sons. I received confirmation of the transfer about a week later.

I spoke to the Veterans' Affairs officer at my son's college, since his enrollment must be verified by the university before the VA begins making payments. I asked him about the bill I received that requested payment on August 15th. He advised me to delay making the payment until this was accomplished. I am reluctant to do this, however, since I hate missing a due date.

I'll keep posting regarding my progress. I am likely one of the first 15o,000 or so to get enrolled in the program, so I feel like a trailblazer.

More soon!

5 comments:

Rebecca said...

Hi!

Any updates for us? My husband is beginning the process to transfer the funds to our daughter.

We've already paid for her tuition and books this semester though.

Thanks :)

Lee said...

Thanks for the comment. No, no additional updates yet, but I'll let you know right away when I hear something.

P.S. The bill is due today for $20,000 so I'm really interested in hearing from them!

MichaelFKelly said...

Lee, would like to get your email and see if you're interested in receiving financial readiness updates and information from USAA.

Unknown said...

I don't know about the school your sons have applied to, but at KU they automatically put anyone using VA-related education benefits on a deferral.

When I turned everything into the registrar's office, they said it would take the VA 6 - 8 weeks before benefits would start paying out. That was two weeks ago.

Peggy said...

We received our transfer approval TODAY! We now submitted the VA 221990 for our daughter. Her school requires the transfer approval confirmation, a copy of her certificate application and form 21-686C (although I spoke with the VA today and they said that form isn't necessary for the Post 9/11 GI Bill (it is only used for MGIB). We keep you posted too. We started in June...