Valerie Heffner, a Marine Corps veteran and member of American Legion Post 27 in Arizona, has been director of veterans affairs at Mesa Community College for the past 25 years. She serves on the legislative committee of the National Association of Veterans' Program Administrators and as a member of the executive board for the Western Association of Veteran Program Administrators.
Questions about the GI Bill can be directed to her by e-mail at askvalerie@legion.org for possible publication in American Legion media.
- I was discharged from the Army in 2004. Unfortunately, due to a lot going on in my life, I have not been able to use my Post-9/11 GI Bill Chapter 33 benefits. I have heard about the “Forever GI Bill,” though. What is that?
- I am enrolled in a community college and using my Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Unfortunately, I had a rough time last semester due to an illness, so I received a C in my chemistry class. If I am using my GI Bill benefits, is it possible to repeat the course?
- I am attending a private school and receiving Post-9/11 GI Bill Chapter 33 benefits. Unfortunately, my work schedule has changed and I am not able to attend college in resident. Is it possible to attend online only? And if so, will I receive the same monthly housing allowance since I will be attending the same school?
- I will be using my Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits at a community college during the fall semester. I received a letter from VA telling me I will receive three-quarters housing allowance until Oct. 20, after which I will receive full-time housing allowance. I am confused, as my adviser stated I was enrolled full time. Can you help?
- I am in the Army Reserve and have a 2-year-old daughter. How long do I have to serve in the Selected Reserve to be able to transfer my educational benefits to her?
- I am a full-time student attending college and receiving Chapter 35 benefits. My father is 100 percent disabled. I recently received a letter notifying me that I was awarded the Koss Scholarship. I did not apply for it and am wondering if I will receive a check.
- I qualify for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and am enrolled at a private university, for which there is a yearly tuition cap. Will I still receive my monthly housing allowance?
- I am currently serving in the Army Reserve and qualify for Chapter 1606, Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve. I have heard of a program that may help pay my student loans, the National Call to Service. How do I qualify for this program?
- I am serving in the Army Reserve and have decided to go back to school. Can I receive federal tuition assistance and Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) benefits for the same class?
- I am currently receiving my Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits as a full-time student at a barber college. I have been looking for a part-time job while attending school. I recently heard about the VA Work-Study program. Do I qualify to participate in this program?
- I retired from the Army in December 2008. While I was outprocessing, I was advised by the education counselor to choose Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, since I might be able to transfer them to my dependents. My daughter graduated from high school and is attending a community college. I tried to transfer my education benefits to her, but was told by VA that she did not qualify since I retired before August 2009. Had I known, I would have stayed active for another eight months. Is there any exception to this rule?
- I have been attending a school that is accredited by the Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). I have heard if I attend a school accredited by ACICS, I may not be able to use my Chapter 33 GI Bill benefits. Please let me know if that is true.
- I am currently enrolled in a calculus class. I am not doing well in the class and may receive an F. What happens to my Post-9/11 GI Bill? I have heard if I stay in the class and receive an F, VA will not ask for any money back. Is that true? What happens if I decide to drop the class?
- I was recently discharged from the Coast Guard and have been hired by my local police department. I have heard I may be able to receive my Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits while being employed at the police department. Can you explain how this works?
- I am currently enrolled in college and will be using my Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit, Chapter 33. I have been waiting for four weeks and still have not received a payment. Who do I contact to find out about my Chapter 33 payments?
- I was recently discharged from the Army. I have heard a lot about Chapter 33, Post 9/11 GI Bill, but I am not sure what my next steps are regarding my GI Bill. Is there a program that can help me decide what career path to follow? Should I attend school, OJT (On the Job Training) or a flight school?
- I am an Army veteran and was just discharged in June 2015. I am currently attending a community college and have been using the Montgomery GI Bill benefit. Just recently the tuition went up, putting me in a financial hardship. So I have decided to switch to Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. VA just informed me that I am not eligible to switch my benefits. They claim that if you choose the Montgomery GI Bill you are not allowed to switch your benefits to Post-9/11. Is this true?
- I was discharged two years ago from the U.S. Navy. I have to admit that when I was discharged, I did not understand all my benefits. I just wanted to go home. Is there a website that will help me apply for certain benefits?
- I am an unemployed Army veteran and heard there may be a program to assist me in education. Do you have any information?
- I am a retired Army reservist who transferred my GI Bill benefits to my daughter. I did two years of active-duty time after 9/11, plus a tour in Iraq. I also served on active duty during Vietnam, and after getting out in 1972, I used the GI Bill available at the time. VA told me that I can use only one GI Bill in a lifetime and that I’m entitled to only three months under the new one, completing a maximum entitlement of 48 months. Is VA correct, or is this a decision I can appeal?
- I am in college and am wondering why my check was short between summer and fall term.
- I transferred my Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to my son and daughter. She has been attending college and has two more months of entitlement. My son, however, does not want to attend college. Can I transfer the benefits I gave him to my daughter?
- I am currently on active duty and will be retiring in December. I have a son who is 16 and a daughter who is 14. How do I transfer my benefits to them? And since I am not sure what institution(s) they will attend, is it possible to transfer my benefits af
- Will I be able to receive federal financial aid when I enroll in college?
- I am in school, and have been for a year now. I’m wondering if I could get my GI Bill extended if I am actively enrolled. I currently receive the Montgomery GI Bill, Chapter 30. I have asked, and get conflicting responses.
- When I enlisted in the military, I was promised the Army College Fund. With the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, will I still receive that extra benefit?
- Under the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2010, what are the changes concerning tuition and fees paid to private schools?
- I want to attend a non-degree-granting college. Can I use my GI Bill benefits to cover it?
- I have heard about the Pat Tillman Foundation’s Tillman Military Scholarship. Who is eligible to apply?
- I attended Boston University during the fall term and never received my Chapter 33 Veterans educational payment, so I decided to take the advance payment of $3,000 offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist with my college expenses. Can you t
- I am a Navy veteran and was discharged in November 1989. I reside in the state of Montana, and am wondering what educational benefits I may be entitled to receive when I enroll in college?
- I heard about the Fry Scholarship for children whose parents died on active duty after 9/11. What are the criteria?
- I have a disability and was wondering if my 18-year-old daughter is eligible to receive education benefits.
- I am a U.S. Army veteran residing in the state of Texas. I have heard about the Hazlewood Act and was wondering if you have any details about the program.
- I currently attend a state university. I have been receiving the Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits, and was wondering if they are taxable.
- Will online students using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits be receiving BAH benefits anytime soon?
- I am a 100-percent unemployable veteran who has retired from the Navy. I served on active duty from July 1981 until August 2005, which makes me fully eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. VA turned me down for vocational rehabilitation prior to my rating be
- What determines how much I will receive in Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits?
- If I have already used part or all of my education benefits, am I still eligible to switch to the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
- As discharge nears, what are the proper steps to enroll in college?
- After 20 years of service in the Army, I'm retiring. How do I transfer my GI Bill education benefits to my spouse or children?
- After 20 years with the US Marine Corps, I am going to be discharged in a few months. How do I transfer my benefits to my spouse or children?
- I just left service. How should I prepare to use my GI Bill benefits?
- How am I affected by the GI Bill if I plan to attend an institution that is not a state university or state college?
- How do I use VA education benefits while I am training to become a police officer or another profession with on-the-job training?
- Will latent PTSD qualify me for the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program?
- How do I transfer my educational benefits to my spouse or children?
- I was discharged from the Marines on Jan. 24, 1999. What can I do to extend the 10-year limit on my Montgomery GI Bill benefit?
- I enlisted in 2005 for the Montgomery GI Bill and the Army College Fund. If I elect to switch my benefits to the Post 9/11 GI Bill, do I lose Army College Fund benefits?
- Is it possible to receive financial aid while I am using my GI Bill benefits?
- I am a 53-year old construction worker, who has been laid off from work. I want to go back to school. Where do I start?
- What is contained in the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act?