Does the Post 9/11 GI Bill Still Pay Break Pay?
Q: Does the GI Bill still pay out BAH benefits during the time that school is out for break, i.e. summer/winter breaks?
A: For right now it does. Post 9/11 GI Bill break, or interval pay, is automatic unless you tell the VA you don’t want it. At first look, that looks like a stupid question. Why would someone not want break pay; it’s free money isn’t it?
The answer is no, because break pay uses up GI Bill entitlement and all you really get for it is the housing allowance. Otherwise, that same entitlement would pay the housing allowance, tuition and fees and the book stipend, if you used it during a term instead of between terms. So, in my humble opinion, it is not a good use of entitlement, but some students would rather have the steady income instead of longevity of benefits.
Just so you know, break pay will no longer be an option as the GI Bill 2.0 will end break pay starting in August 2011. Students will have to make other financial arrangements to replace that source of money, but they their entitlements will last longer.
-
-
-
-
Stumble!
