Can I Get the Post 9/11 GI Bill Housing Stipend If My Wife Is Still Active?
Q: I’m a medically retired marine looking to go to a trade school in Florida, called Tulsa welding school with my Post 9/11 GI Bill. My wife is active duty and receiving BAH. Can we both receive BAH although she is still active and I’ll be under the GI Bill?
A: The Tulsa Welding School in Tulsa, FL is a VA-approved school, however, with that said, you have to be careful of VA-approvals and here is why. A school that has VA approval may not be approved for all types of the GI Bill or may not be approved for all the programs they teach. Tulsa has the following welding programs approved:
- Master Welder
- Structural Welding.
However, if either welding program does not result in at least an associate’s degree, the program would be approved for the Montgomery GI Bill, but not for the Post 9/11 GI Bill (yet). The Post 9/11 can only be used for programs resulting in the awarding of a degree or in the case of non-degree program, taught at a school also awarding degrees.
However, if you are thinking about attending this school in the fall, the Post 9/11 GI Bill will start paying for non-degree courses much like the Montgomery GI Bill does right now. This change was a result of the passage of the GI Bill 2.0 legislation.
This is a perfect example of what I was talking about. Right now, the Montgomery GI Bill is approved for use at this school, but not the Post 9/11 GI Bill. If you look the school up on the Weam’s school search, it just shows the school is VA-approved.
As far as your wife receiving BAH and you getting the housing stipend, yes, you each can get your individual benefit as long as the Post 9/11 GI Bill you are using is yours (and it sounds like it is) and not transferred benefits from your wife’s GI Bill. If it is transferred benefits then no, you would not get the housing stipend as long as she is still serving.
-
-
-
-
Stumble!
