Although payments will not begin before Aug. 1, the Department of Veterans Affairs began accepting applications for the Post-9/11 GI Bill on May 1. The application form is available online at www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-22-1990-ARE.pdf. The Post-9/11 bill offers a broad array of educational benefits, including a provision enabling enrollees to transfer their benefits to immediate family members.

The form requires, however, that individuals eligible for another education benefit make an irrevocable transfer from their existing program to the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Typically, individuals who are eligible for more than one benefit can use a combined total of 48 months of entitlement. Therefore, for those individuals eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) program and who have entitlement remaining under the MGIB, the number of eligible months of Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement will be equal to the number of months remaining under MGIB.

However, those who exhaust all of their MGIB entitlement may be entitled to a maximum of 12 additional months of entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

The VA reminds veterans that the Post-9/11 GI Bill is one of several programs it administers, all of which have different eligibility criteria. Of the three GI Bill programs currently available, the program that is best for the individual veteran may not be the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Items for eligible participants to consider when making the selection include: Which benefit will pay you more; what tier of benefits are you eligible for under the Post-9/11 GI Bill; what type of training do you want to pursue; how long do you expect to use the benefit; do you plan to attend school less than full time; and do you plan to transfer your unused benefits to an immediate family member? The answers to these and other concerns will ensure a wise selection.

For a full explanation of all the new GI Bill factors before making the switch, go online to military-education.military.com/2009/04/new-gi-bill-application-start-date-annonced.html. Also, the Department of Defense offers a Web site devoted to this topic at www.defenselink.mil/home/features/2009/0409_gibill/. Finally, a Pentagon official explains transferability rules for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=54127.

Help with health forms

Dan Evangelista, of the Rhode Island Division of Veterans Affairs, and representatives of the Providence VA Medical Center and the VFW will be available Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at VFW Keegan-Dinagen Post 1023, 84 Grove St., Pascoag, to help veterans file their VA Healthcare application form 1010EZ.

The service is free and appointments are not necessary. All veterans, especially those from Burrillville and Glocester, are encouraged to apply. Veterans should bring their military discharge form DD-214, which will be helpful in completing the application.

For more information, call Evangelista at (401) 474-4764, or e-mail him at Devangelista@dhs.ri.gov.

Also, a VA benefits service representative will be available to assist veterans in filing VA health-care forms Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Providence VA Medical Center, on Chalkstone Avenue. Come to Room 1010E in the primary-care clinic Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and to Room 120 on Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. No appointment is necessary for this free service. For more information, call Tom Antonaccio at (401) 457-3369.

•American Legion

East Greenwich Post 15, at 1016 Main St., will meet Monday at 7 p.m. Scituate Post 19 will meet Friday at 7 p.m. at the North Scituate Community House.

•Fleet Reserve Association

Blackstone Valley Branch 132 will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in VFW Post 306, 171 Fountain St., Pawtucket, to install officers.

•Bristol Veterans Council

The council will meet Monday at 7 p.m. in Almeida VFW Post 237, 850 Hope St.

•Marine Corps League

Higgins Detachment meets Monday at 7 p.m. at the Mainstay Best Western hotel, 151 Admiral Kalbfus Rd., Newport. Kent County Detachment will meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. in VFW Post 449, Providence St., West Warwick.

•VFW Auxiliary

Chapter 17 Post will meet Tuesday evening at 7:30 at the Crompton Veterans Organization, 37 Hepburn St., West Warwick.

•NUSC/NUWC retirees will meet Wednesday at noon at McGovern’s restaurant, 310 Shove St., Fall River.

•The United Veterans Council of Rhode Island

The council will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. in the second-floor conference room at 1 Capitol Hill, Providence.

•Vietnam Veterans of America

Chapter 325 will meet Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at The Neighborhood Guild, 325 Columbia St., Peace Dale.

•The Retired Enlisted Association

Chapter 79 will meet Saturday at 10 a.m. at VFW Post 5390, 134 Shove St., Tiverton.

Send meeting notices and veterans news items to George W. Reilly at VeteransColumn@verizon.net or write to The Veterans’ Journal Column at The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, R.I. 02902.