Washington, D.C. –May 28, 2009 –  Congressman Doyle today encouraged local veterans to see if they are eligible for new education benefits approved by Congress last year.

“A good way to observe Memorial Day this year is to make sure all of our returning military personnel know about the opportunities the Federal Government provides in recognition of their service to our country,” Congressman Doyle observed.  “Veterans can now begin applying for education benefits approved by Congress with my support last year, and I encourage them to do so.” 

The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act (Public Law 110-252), often referred to as the Post-9/11 GI Bill or the GI Bill for the 21st Century, provides up to 100 percent of the cost of an in-state four-year college education for up to 2 million veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, including tuition assistance, a housing allowance, and a stipend for books and supplies.  In addition, eligible veterans have the option to transfer these benefits to family members under certain circumstances. 

Veterans are eligible for benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill if they completed at least 90 days of active duty service on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged. It also covers individuals honorably discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days of service. The benefits are correlated on a sliding scale to years served. To receive full benefits, a veteran must have served on active duty for three years.

Although the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits can be used at either public or private institutions, it generally only covers tuition and fees up to the maximum amount charged by a public institution in the veteran’s home state – but the bill includes the Yellow Ribbon Program to help veterans to afford the higher cost of a private education. The Yellow Ribbon Program allows schools to enter into an agreement with the VA to fund tuition costs above the highest in-state tuition rate. The VA will match each additional dollar that a school contributes toward an eligible student's tuition costs, up to 50 percent of the difference between the tuition and fees covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the total cost of tuition and fees, provided the veteran is eligible to receive the maximum benefit rate (having served three years on active duty, or having been discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days).

For further information, veterans call call 1-888-GI-BILL1 (1-888-442-4551) to speak with a Veterans Administration Benefits Counselor.  More information can also be found on-line at http://www.gibill.va.gov/.  Veterans living in Pennsylvania’s 14th Congressional District can call Al Smith, whose job on Congressman Doyle’s staff is to help veterans get the benefits they’ve earned.  He can be reached at 412-241-6055.

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