Does anyone have experience with the Hazelwood Act Benefit and GI Bill Benefit as it relates to children?

More specifically my question is do you have to exhaust the GI Bill Benefit before you can utilize the Hazelwood Benefit? I have gifted my GI Bill to my children (divided among 3) and I am just curious how that works.

Will I have to let my first child use my entire GI Bill before the Hazelwood Benefit will kick in or only the 1/3rd I have gifted her?

The website was not very clear about the ability to use the Hazelwood benefit if there was eligible federal benefit remaining but I could have missed it.

Anyone have experience navigating the process? The good news is I have a few years to figure it out...

I don't have experience but I believe to transfer Hazelwood you must have a DD214 and have exhausted your GI bill.

Used to be that GI Bill had to be exhausted before Hazelwood would apply. TAMU veterans services should be able to provide up to date information.

I, too, was thinking I could pass it on to my sons, however, based on attempts to change it in the last legislative session, I ezpxwxt that the program will likely undergo significant changes in the next session in 2017. See this article for details about proposed changes that failed (this past session).

https://www.gijobs.com/texas-resists-watering-down-veterans-education-benefits/

So does never having contributed towards the GI Bill (pre 9/11) and therefore not GI Bill eligible = having exhausted GI Bill benefits? Curious because I meet every other criteria for Hazlewood currently for my children to be able to utilize my credits.

Farmer: You have to exhaust Federal benefits before using Hazelwood. If you don't qualify for GI Bill then it's a nonissue.

Contact your VA or TAMU veteran services but you must use all your federal benifits first. But I'm pretty sure if you transferred your 9/11 to your kids, those don't have to be used before you can take advantage of the Hazelwood benefits since they are no longer your federal benefits. Also look into the Yellow Ribbon Program if you still have GI Bill benifits.

Interesting. I have two kids and just got the older one started on her freshman year at A&M using the GI Bill. The younger one is two years back and my thinking had been that I would use Hazelwood for her. I spoke with the TAMU Veteran services folks and thought I understood that this would be possible. Perhaps it is that all GI Bill benefits must be transferred to the older one (even though not all used) before the younger one could start on Hazelwood.

Hazelwood benefits can be transferred to your children via Hazelwood legacy.

While there is talk that Hazelwood legacy will be done away with in the future, it is still active currently.

In order to qualify for Hazelwood legacy, your home of record on your DD 214 must show Texas (could change based on court case) , and you must have exhausted all your G.I. benefits. (Montgomery G.I. Bill or post-9/11)

Benefits include 150 hours of tuition waivers. Basically it means Texas A&M, or any public institution, cannot charge you tuition for up to 150 attempted credit hours. However, the student is still responsible for fees and other costs.

My ex-husband transferred his GI Bill to our daughter, who currently uses it at A&M, and his step-daughter goes to another university using his Hazelwood Benefit. The step-daughter was using the Hazelwood benefits for a couple of years before my daughter used the GI Bill benefits. Maybe because he transferred all of the GI Bill, it was considered "used"?

The folks at the Veteran Services office at TAMU have always been very helpful to us.

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So does never having contributed towards the GI Bill (pre 9/11) and therefore not GI Bill eligible = having exhausted GI Bill benefits? Curious because I meet every other criteria for Hazlewood currently for my children to be able to utilize my credits.

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Ask the VA to check your GI Bill benefits. They will send you a letter stating you have no additional GI benefits. You can then show this when asked for Hazelwood purposes.

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So does never having contributed towards the GI Bill (pre 9/11) and therefore not GI Bill eligible = having exhausted GI Bill benefits? Curious because I meet every other criteria for Hazlewood currently for my children to be able to utilize my credits.

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Ask the VA to check your GI Bill benefits. They will send you a letter stating you have no additional GI benefits. You can then show this when asked for Hazelwood purposes.

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Thanks for the tip. Any idea where within the VA one would obtain such a letter? Thanks again.

https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/vonapp

It's a bit of a process to be honest. You have to set up a profile and then go through the website process. After completing that, it will take a few weeks to get a response. I knew I didn't have any additional GI benefits to use, but I did this to have the letter handy so I can show which ever university that I had exhausted my GI benefits.

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https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/vonapp

It's a bit of a process to be honest. You have to set up a profile and then go through the website process. After completing that, it will take a few weeks to get a response. I knew I didn't have any additional GI benefits to use, but I did this to have the letter handy so I can show which ever university that I had exhausted my GI benefits.

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Thanks!

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Hazelwood benefits can be transferred to your children via Hazelwood legacy.

While there is talk that Hazelwood legacy will be done away with in the future, it is still active currently.

In order to qualify for Hazelwood legacy, your home of record on your DD 214 must show Texas (could change based on court case) , and you must have exhausted all your G.I. benefits. (Montgomery G.I. Bill or post-9/11)

Benefits include 150 hours of tuition waivers. Basically it means Texas A&M, or any public institution, cannot charge you tuition for up to 150 attempted credit hours. However, the student is still responsible for fees and other costs.

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To add to this I learned the hard way that your Hazelwood benefits cannot be used on an online course in a Texas school if you do not currently live in the state. I signed up for a graduate course and was unpleasantly surprised to learn this fact. I believe it's a recent change.

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While there is talk that Hazelwood legacy will be done away with in the future, it is still active currently.

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It's not talk. Brian Birdwell's bill passed the Texas Senate last year. Luckily it died in conference. The Texas House just wanted to tweak some of the Texas residency requirements. Birdwell's bill would have reduced the benefit from 150 semester hours to just 60 and raised the requirement from 180 days active duty service to 6 years.

We need to get out the word to burn up the phone lines to our representatives and senators in the Texas legislature. I emailed my representative and senator, and will do it again next year.

I have a friend that is counting on the Hazlewood to get his son through college. Hopefully it is still there in four years when his kid goes off to college.

This infuriates me. Trump is right when he says we treat illegal aliens better than our vets. Texas hasn't gotten as bad as the rest of the country, but apparently, thanks to Sen Birdwell and the clowns that supported his bill, we are heading that way too.

Not to get all political, but we aren't giving illegal immigrants a free education which you can defer to your children. Honestly, I do no know how I feel about being able to pass your benefits down to your children. On one hand, I don't see how your service somehow gives those benefits to anyone else, for any reason. If they want benefits, they too can serve their country. On the flip side, many parents pay for their child's education so what is the difference between giving it to the person or their child. Eh, I rather some tweaks be made so we don't lose the entire program. If most vets can get an education without going into substantial debt, its a good program. And one Texas should fund instead of just force public universities to eat, IMHO.

How do illegal immigrants have and their children have anything to do with giving benefits to people that entered service from the state of Texas? Little confused here.

I personally think this Act is something that makes Texas special. Our state recognizes the sacrifice and commitment people make in the service and this is a gesture that recognizes that and supports that.

I used Chapter 35 DEA (Dependents Educational Assistance- which is part of GI Bill) AND Hazelwood at the same time. For me, one didn't affect the other.

I am a dependent of the veteran. I am not the veteran.

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How do illegal immigrants have and their children have anything to do with giving benefits to people that entered service from the state of Texas? Little confused here.

I personally think this Act is something that makes Texas special. Our state recognizes the sacrifice and commitment people make in the service and this is a gesture that recognizes that and supports that.

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Crazy said we treat illegals better than veterans here in Texas. I was just disagreeing with that and commenting on how we should keep Hazelwood possible for veterans.

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Hazelwood benefits can be transferred to your children via Hazelwood legacy.

While there is talk that Hazelwood legacy will be done away with in the future, it is still active currently.

In order to qualify for Hazelwood legacy, your home of record on your DD 214 must show Texas (could change based on court case) , and you must have exhausted all your G.I. benefits. (Montgomery G.I. Bill or post-9/11)

Benefits include 150 hours of tuition waivers. Basically it means Texas A&M, or any public institution, cannot charge you tuition for up to 150 attempted credit hours. However, the student is still responsible for fees and other costs.

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What's the difference in regular Hazelwood and Hazelwood Legacy? Is the latter just the ability the transfer it to your kids? That would suck... I've been banking on being able to pass HW down to my kids, but that won't be for at least another 19+ years.

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Not to get all political, but we aren't giving illegal immigrants a free education which you can defer to your children.

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We are subsidizing the children of illegal aliens, who should not even be in this country in the first place, with in-state tuition.

Now these same politicians want to cut the college benefits of veterans (who have fought, died and bled for this country) and their kids.

What twisted mind could possibly be okay with that?

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How do illegal immigrants have and their children have anything to do with giving benefits to people that entered service from the state of Texas? Little confused here.

I personally think this Act is something that makes Texas special. Our state recognizes the sacrifice and commitment people make in the service and this is a gesture that recognizes that and supports that.

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Because the savings from cutting the benefits of Hazlewood Act would essentially being going to subsidize the children of illegal aliens via giving them in-state tuition rates.

You're right. The Hazlewood does make Texas special. At least for now.

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Hazelwood benefits can be transferred to your children via Hazelwood legacy.

While there is talk that Hazelwood legacy will be done away with in the future, it is still active currently.

In order to qualify for Hazelwood legacy, your home of record on your DD 214 must show Texas (could change based on court case) , and you must have exhausted all your G.I. benefits. (Montgomery G.I. Bill or post-9/11)

Benefits include 150 hours of tuition waivers. Basically it means Texas A&M, or any public institution, cannot charge you tuition for up to 150 attempted credit hours. However, the student is still responsible for fees and other costs.

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What's the difference in regular Hazelwood and Hazelwood Legacy? Is the latter just the ability the transfer it to your kids? That would suck... I've been banking on being able to pass HW down to my kids, but that won't be for at least another 19+ years.

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That would suck. And if Texas vets don't start raising hell, the 150 hours will be reduced to 60.

Saw this article that said Governor Abbot opposes any changes to the Hazlewood Act (second to last paragraph).

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/texas-senate-votes-to-end-hazlewood-negotiations/nmRfG/

I believe if you have more than 1 kid, you can use the Hazelwood on the first child if you left them no GI Bill benefit.

For example, you left Child 1 with none and Child 2 with all the GI Bill, then you could use the Hazelwood on Child 1.

Anyone heard different?

...contact the veterans affairs office at TAMU. They can help you with paperwork and specific scenarios...

Pavilion 2nd floor
College Station, TX
77843-1252

(979) 845-8075
veterans@tamu.edu

They were very helpful for me with two of my children that used the benefits that i gifted to them...and fees were covered as well.

I have recently navigated these waters. My oldest son, who finishing his freshman year, is currently using my Hazelwood. However, that wasn't the original plan. A few years ago, I had transferred 50% of my post-911 benefits to him and 50% to his little brother. After visiting with the nice folks at the Veterans Services last summer, we decided to change the allotment so that the younger one had all of the post-911 benefits. Once this was complete, the VA confirmed (via direct communication with TAMU Veterans Services) that my oldest son did not have any VA benefits and thus was eligible for Hazelwood. Once that was done, his application sailed through.

So, no, the VA benefits (Montgomery GI or post-911) do not have to be completely exhausted for a child to use Hazelwood. However, if they are not exhausted, these benefits do need to be transferred to a different person (spouse/different child) before Hazelwood can kick in.

Also, you need to be mindful of the residency requirement for Hazelwood. That is, the parent (the transferrer) who originally earned the Hazelwood benefits must either reside in Texas while the child uses the benefits or be on active duty with a home of record = Texas.

One final note, I cannot stress how very nice, helpful, and knowledgeable the staff at Vet Services are. If you haven't contacted them yet, you should. They have a reputation of being the best at what they do and it is well deserved.

Tnelle, thank you for the insight. A question for you. I'm active duty with home of record in Texas. I thought I understood from veteran's services that I had to be out of the military and living in Texas to use Hazelwood for a child. I much prefer your view, but are you certain.

I should clarify that my situation is a little different that most. I'm currently serving on active duty (HR= Texas) but I have DD214 as a result of an interservice transfer. I'm current living in the DC area, in case anyone is wondering.

As far as I can tell, a DD214 is a must. According to the Texas Veterans Commission (link below), it is acceptable if you were honorably discharged (i.e., as evidence of a DD214) but have rejoined the military and are out of state per military orders.

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Do both the "Legacy" child of a Veteran using Hazlewood Act benefits and the Veteran have to be Texas residents at the time of the "Legacy" child uses the benefit?

Yes. The legacy child must be classified by their institution as a resident of Texas for the term for which they apply for the Hazlewood Act exemption; the Veteran must also be a Texas resident during the same term of enrollment as legacy child. There is an exception if the Veteran has been recalled to active duty out of the state, or has rejoined the military and is out of the state pursuant to military orders.

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per Texas Veterans Commission Website (link)

This is so difficult for me. My daughter will be attending next fall, why wouldn't I use the 9/11 first so I can get BAH? If anything, I use 9/11 and get BAH, and invest the bah or something? ?

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This is so difficult for me. My daughter will be attending next fall, why wouldn't I use the 9/11 first so I can get BAH? If anything, I use 9/11 and get BAH, and invest the bah or something? ?

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I cannot speak to your situation; however, for us it made sense to use Hazelwood first for the following reasons:

(1) It was clear that my older son was going to attend college at A&M. That was his first and only choice. My younger son, at that the time, wasn't sure where he wanted to go. So, giving all the post-911 benefits to my younger son would allow him to have the maximum flexibility in school choice (to include consideration of schools outside of Texas).

(2) Last summer, there was a lot of talk about making cuts to the Hazelwood act, so it made sense for us to jump on it now before any changes were made.

(3) Given that our younger son was not interested in attending college in Texas, we suspected that he would likely choose a college on the east coast (i.e., near where he lives now). In most cases, the expenses are greater there than at A&M ...and post-911 would generally pay out more there too.

(4) Even if, by the grace of God, my younger son were to change is mind and attend A&M, it was likely that the expenses would either be the same or higher than they are now (as I don't see any signs of costs decreasing). So, post-911 would likely pay out more for my younger son (assuming BAH rates do not decrease, of course).

So, for us, using Hazelwood was the better fit/gamble when considering all the "knowns" and "unknowns".

Update (good news) on a recent appeal regarding the Hazelwood tuition exemption.

https://www.texastribune.org/2016/06/23/court-rules-against-out-state-vet-texas-tuition-ca/