Important changes in post 9/11 gi bill

[Cycoticpenguin]

was looking over gi bill stuff, saw this

    * For Veterans and their transferees - simplifies the tuition and fee rates for those attending a public school and creates a national maximum for those enrolled in a private or foreign school
          o Pays all public school in-state tuition and fees;
          o Private and foreign school costs are capped at $17,500 annually;
          o The Yellow Ribbon Program still exists for out-of-state fees and costs above the cap.
    * For Active Duty Members and their transferees - creates a national rate for those active duty members enrolled in a private or foreign school pursuing a degree
          o Pays all public school in-state tuition and fees;
          o Private and foreign school costs are capped at $17,500 annually
    * Allows VA to pay MGIB (chapter 30) and MGIB-SR (chapter 1606) 'kickers', or college fund payments, on a monthly basis instead of a lump sum at the beginning of the term
    * Prorates housing allowance by the student's rate of pursuit (rounded to the nearest tenth)
          o A student training at a rate of pursuit of 75% would receive 80% of the BAH rate
    * Break or interval pay is no longer payable under any VA education benefit program unless under an Executive Order of the President or due to an emergency, such as a natural disaster or strike.
          o This means that when your semester ends (e.g. December 15th), your housing allowance is paid for the first 15 days of December only and begins again when your next semester begins (e.g. January 10th) and is paid for the remaining days of January.
          o Students using other VA education programs are included in this change. Monthly benefits will be pro-rated in the same manner.
          o Entitlement that previously would have been used for break pay will be available for use during a future enrollment.
    * Allows reimbursement for more than one "license or certification" test (previously only one test was allowed).
          o However, entitlement is now charged
    * Allows reimbursement of fees paid to take national exams used for admission to an institution of higher learning (e.g., SAT, ACT, GMAT, LSAT)
    * Allows those who are eligible for both Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (chapter 31) benefits and Post-9/11 GI Bill (chapter 33) benefits to choose the Post-9/11 GI Bill's monthly housing allowance instead of the chapter 31 subsistence allowance.
    * NOAA and PHS personnel are now eligible to transfer their entitlement to eligible dependents