The Montgomery GI Bill is a program that is made to assist Veterans with their educational and vocational funding needs. One of the programs that is an extension of the MGIB program is the Tuition Top up program. It’s a method of maximizing the benefits under the MGIB program, so that when you are separated from the service that you have the maximum amount of money possible available for your education. The Tuition Top up program is one that allows its participants to supplement the tuition and fees that are not normally covered by other forms of military funding. It covers those things that are not covered by tuition assistance. The benefit amount is normally equal to the amount of the course and what is normally paid for by the military for a typical course.
You have to be eligible for federal military tuition assistance to be able to utilize the top up program. Normally if you are eligible for MGIB AD benefits then you will qualify. You have to be on active duty, and have served at least a full two years on active duty when you apply for this program. The benefit amount is generally limited to full MGIB benefit amounts if the military were actually paying for the full course tuition costs. In any case the total amount that you qualify for can’t exceed the full price of the course. The amount of your eventual MGIB benefits may be reduced slightly if you use the top up program. You can figure out the full rate of any top up benefits that you qualify for by dividing the benefits by the full time monthly rate of the claimant. All off the different courses that have been offered after October 2000 are eligible for the military Top up Program. To qualify for the tuition Top Up program a signed copy of the assistance tuition authorization course form has to be given to the VA and provided to the MGIB program. The Top Up program is not authorized for the Selected Reserves but it may be extended to it in the future.
The Top up tuition program is another method of accessing military educational funds. You should always check into any and all financial aid funding available to you if you are seeking to attend school, both military funding and civilian funding. There are often little known grants and loan programs that may benefit you.
