CSS Profile - Post 9/11 GI Bill question

Paying for College
1

<p>My husband has transferred his Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to me, our son (a junior in college with grad school on the horizon), and our daughter, who is applying for college next year and for whom we are in the process of doing the CSS Profile. There is a question under Student’s Expected Resources that asks if the student will receive veterans’ benefits and, if so, for how many months and in what amount.</p>

<p>We are interested in using the veterans’ benefits when we can maximize their value and, as such, I would really like to see what sort of aid the school offers without them. If school aid plus private scholarships could leave us with an amount to pay out of pocket that would be roughly equal to in-state public tuition plus food and housing (at least for a year, recognizing that many private scholarships that seniors receive are not renewable), then we would prefer to save the GI Bill benefits for future use.</p>

<p>At the same time, if the school doesn’t offer sufficient aid to make this possible, then we would like to be able to use the GI Bill benefits. Does anybody know if we are required to claim the benefits on the Profile in order to be able to use them?</p>

2

<p>I am not sure what you are talking about since I was not asked that. Maybe I was and forgot. Just be honest.</p>

<p>The GI bill is separate from the FAFSA. To my knowledge you don’t even have to claim it. That is between you, the VA, and the college. I was granted a loan with the GI Bill (didn’t accept). Either way, worst case scenario is you use the GI bill and get approved thru FAFSA when it completes. Either way, school gets paid. But no, I don’t think you “have” to claim it.</p>

3

<p>You’re not required to report it but you might want to know how using it will affect whatever aid they do award.</p>

4

<p>Thanks, I called the school yesterday and got basically the same answer, so I think we’re all good.</p>