GI Bills
The Department of Veteran Affairs offers several different types of education opportunities, each with their own eligibility requirements and benefit amounts.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Veterans have a lifetime limit of 48 months of education benefits. The only exception to this is if the VA determines the Veteran needs additional months to complete their rehabilitation program under Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31) OR The Veteran started using Chapter 31 FIRST and then used another education benefit.
Those who started using their GI BIll before Chapter 31 CAN have their GI Bill usage considered as Chapter 31 via retroactive induction.
Click HERE for details.
If you have 2 or more qualifying periods of Active Duty BEFORE August 1, 2011 (MUST have break in service - NOT just a reenlistment), you may qualify for up to 48 months of entitlement. You must be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and either the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) or the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR).
Even if you gave up your right to use MGIB-AD or MGIB-SR benefits in the past (“relinquishing” your benefits), you can qualify to use some of that entitlement!
Benefits are NOT PAID when you are not using the benefit… meaning if you are not taking summer/winter courses you will NOT get benefits during those months! So be prepared!
Chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) - Active Duty)
Benefits are generally payable for 10 years following your release from honorable active service.
IMPORTANT UPDATE:
On April 16, 2024 the Supreme Court of the United States decided that if you served at least two periods (CAN include a reenlistment without a break in service) of service-one that qualifies for the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) and another that qualifies for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (PGIB)-you may be able to receive additional GI Bill benefits.
For additional information click HERE.
Eligibility
You may be an eligible if you have an honorable discharge; AND you have a high school diploma or GED or in some cases 12 hours of college credit; AND you meet the requirements of 1 of the categories below:
CATEGORY I
Entered Active Duty after June 30, 1985, and did NOT decline participation in the program.
Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for first 12 months.
Continuously served for 3 years or 2 years, if that is what you first enlisted for or if you entered the Selected Reserve within a year of leaving Active Duty and served 4 years (the 2 by 4 program).
CATEGORY II
Entered Active Duty before January 1, 1977.
Served at least 1 day between October 19, 1984 and June 30, 1985, and stayed on Active Duty through June 30, 1988, (or through June 30, 1987 if you entered the Selected Reserve within 1 year of leaving Active Duty and served 4 years).
On December 31, 1989, you had entitlement left from Vietnam-era GI Bill.
CATEGORY III
Not eligible for MGIB under Category I or II.
Served on Active Duty on September 30, 1990 AND separated involuntarily after February 2, 1991, OR involuntarily separated on or after November 30, 1993, OR voluntarily separated under either the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) or Special Separation Benefit (SSB) program.
Before separation, you had military pay reduced by $1,200.
CATEGORY IV
Served on Active Duty on October 9, 1996 AND you had money remaining in a VEAP account on that date AND you elected MGIB by October 9, 1997, OR you entered full-time National Guard duty under title 32, U.S.C, between July 1, 1985, and November 28, 1989, AND you elected MGIB during the period October 9, 1996 - July 8, 1997.
Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for 12 months or made a $1,200 lump-sum contribution.
Benefits
36 months of a Monthly stipend.
May be used for college degree and certificate programs, technical or vocational courses, flight training, apprenticeships or on-the-job training, high-tech training, licensing and certification tests, entrepreneurship training, certain entrance examinations, and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
$600 Buy-Up Program
Servicemembers may contribute up to an additional $600 to the GI Bill to receive increased monthly benefits. For an additional $600 contribution, you may receive up to $5,400 in additional GI Bill benefits.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
The additional contribution(s) MUST have been made while on Active Duty.
The Buy-Up Program is NOT refunded if the Veteran transfers over to the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
Kicker AKA Branch College Fund
Veterans who joined an MOS that was listed as having a critical shortage of personnel may have gotten a kicker that increased their benefit.
The maximum is an additional $950 a month, which was based upon the length of your initial contract.
The Veteran will be paid their kicker amount as a pro-rated lump sum (for however long the semester is and their percentage of degree of pursuit) at the start of the semester.
Chapter 32 (Veteran Education Assistance Program - VEAP)
You have 10 years from your release from Active Duty to use VEAP benefits. If the entitlement is not used after the 10-year period, your portion remaining in the fund should be automatically refunded.
If this does not happen, the Veteran may submit VA Form 22-5281 and mail it to their nearest VA Regional Office.
Eligibility
You must meet the following requirements to qualify:
Entered service for the first time between January 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985;
Opened a contribution account before April 1, 1987;
Voluntarily contributed from $25 to $2,700; and
Completed your first period of service and were discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable.
If you are currently on Active Duty and wish to receive VEAP benefits, you must have at least 3 months of contributions available.
Benefits
36 months depending on the number of monthly contributions.
You may use these benefits for degree, certificate, correspondence, apprenticeship/on-the-job training programs, and vocational flight training programs.
Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits to those who have served on Active Duty after September 10, 2001. It can be used for Institutions of Higher Learning, training, licensing and certification reimbursement, and more. Visit the Post-9/11 GI Bill website to see additional training you may be eligible for. If you are attending at least one class in a classroom you may be entitled to receive a housing allowance equal to the military BAH for an E-5 with dependents at the location of the school where the majority of the classes are being taken.
Whether you want to apply your GI Bill benefits to college classes or an on-the-job training program, the GI Bill Comparison Tool will help you make the most of them
IMPORTANT UPDATE:
On April 16, 2024 the Supreme Court of the United States decided that if you served at least two periods (CAN include a reenlistment without a break in service) of service-one that qualifies for the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) and another that qualifies for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (PGIB)-you may be able to receive additional GI Bill benefits.
For additional information click HERE.
Eligibility
Have an honorable period of Active Duty service on or after September 10, 2001.
Certain members of the Reserves who lost education benefits when REAP was sunset in November 2015 may also be eligible to receive restored benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Veterans have 15 years to use this benefit if discharged before January 1, 2013.
If discharged after January 1, 2013, there is NO time limit!
Benefits
For approved programs, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits.
Full tuition and mandatory fees are paid directly to the school for all public higher learning institutions.
For those attending private or foreign schools, tuition and fees are capped at the National maximum rate.
If you're attending a private higher learning institution you may be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program and entitled to additional education-related costs not covered by VA.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Public colleges/universities MUST charge Veterans AND dependents in-state tuition by Law so long as you are using the Post 9/11 benefit and are not on Active Duty!
You MUST however still follow the institution’s residency requirements which will likely include living in their state.
The requirement of living in the state for X time MUST BE WAIVED!
Rate of pursuit (how many credits you take a term) DOES prorate your length of benefit!
If your rate of pursuit is say 50% for a 4 month term then only use 2 months of your 36 month total benefit is used NOT 4!
Taking over a full load of credits does NOT draw your benefits more than if you were just at full time!
If the benefit runs out during a semester (even if the Veteran only has a single day!) the VA will pay full tuition and the Veteran's MHA till the end of the semester!
Depending on factors such as length of service will determine the amount of benefit(s) you can receive from the VA:
| Active Duty Service/Special Circumstance | Percentage of Maximum Benefit Payable |
|---|---|
| At least 36 months. | 100% |
| Received a Purple Heart. | 100% |
| At least 30 continuous days on Active Duty AND Discharged due to a service-connected disability. | 100% |
| At least 30 months, but less than 36 months. | 90% |
| At least 24 months, but less than 30 months. | 80% |
| At least 18 months, but less than 24 months. | 70% |
| At least 6 months, but less than 18 months. | 60% |
| At least 90 days, but less than 6 months. | 50% |
Enrollment Verification
In order to get paid your MHA you must verify your attendance to the VA. This can be done one of three ways:
Text Message (US phone numbers ONLY)
Opt-In:
Before your semester starts you should receive a text message asking if you would like to submit verification via text. Simply reply back with "Yes".
Verify:
On the last day of the month you will receive a text asking if you are still enrolled. Provide a response and you are set!
2. Email
Opt-In:
If you have opted out of the text message option you will automatically be set up for email verification.
Verify:
On the last day of the month you will get an email asking for you to verify your enrollment. Select the option in the email that applies to you.
3. Call the Education Call Center (ECC)
Opt-In:
Not applicable - you just do it.
Verify:
Call 1-888-442-4551 or 001-918-781-5678 if you are international.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Failure to verify for 2 months in a row WILL result in your MHA being suspended! To restart payments you will need to call the ECC.
Book & Supply Stipend
You may also receive a books and supplies stipend up to $1,000 each year (the amount is prorated if you are less than full time).
Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)
Monthly housing allowance (often mistakenly called BAH) is calculated based on the zip code of the campus where the student physically attends the majority of classes, rather than the location of the institution of higher learning where the student is enrolled. This applies to the first enrollment in an educational program on or after August 1, 2018.
To figure out how much you stand to get a month click HERE.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
In order to get MHA you MUST be enrolled OVER HALF TIME! Those who are enrolled half time or less will NOT GET ANY MHA!
Those enrolled over half time but less than full time will have their MHA prorated.
MHA is prorated on a 30 day calendar. No matter how many days are actually in the month. So if that course started on February 21, you would be paid 9/30 the normal MHA amount for the month of February.
People who have courses that start/stop on different dates may have their amount of MHA reduced, if they fall below full time status.
Round-Out Rule: If during your last semester, your remaining credits to graduate is less than what you need to be considered full time. You CAN take non-required courses to fill up your schedule to achieve full time without penalty.
If you do NOT fill up on courses then your MHA will be REDUCED appropriately!
Rural Benefit
A one time payment of $500 may be payable to certain Veterans relocating from highly rural areas (county with 6 persons or less per square mile (as determined by the most recent decennial census)) and either:
Physically relocate at least 500 miles to attend an educational institution; or
Travel by air to physically attend an educational institution if no other land-based transportation exists.
Kicker AKA Branch College Fund
Veterans who joined an MOS that was listed as having a critical shortage of personnel may have gotten a kicker that increased their benefit.
The maximum is an additional $950 a month. Which was based upon the length of your initial contract.
The Veteran will be paid their kicker amount every month. If the Veteran's rate of pursuit is less than full time their kicker amount will be reduced. If the month is less than a full month the kicker will be prorated as well.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
If the Veteran does not receive MHA they will NOT get their kicker!
Chapter 1606 (Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve)
MGIB-SR program provides education and training benefits to eligible members of the Selected Reserve, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard or Air National Guard. Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components and the VA makes the payments.
Benefits
May be used for college degree and certificate programs, co-op training, technical or vocational courses, flight training, apprenticeships or on-the-job training, high-tech training, licensing and certification tests, entrepreneurship training, certain entrance examinations, and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
Up to 36 months of education benefits.
Kicker AKA Branch College Fund
Veterans who joined an MOS that was listed as having a critical shortage of personnel may have gotten a kicker that increased their benefit.
The maximum is an additional $350 a month, which was based upon the length of your initial contract.
The Veteran will be paid their kicker amount as a pro-rated lump sum (for however long the semester is and their percentage of degree of pursuit) at the start of the semester.
Eligibility
To qualify, you must meet the following requirements:
Have a 6-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve signed after June 30, 1985. If you are an officer, you must have agreed to serve 6 years in addition to your original obligation. For some types of training it is necessary to have a 6-year commitment that begins after September 30, 1990.
Complete your initial Active Duty for Training (IADT). Meet the requirement to receive a high school diploma or equivalency certificate before completing IADT. You may not use 12 hours toward a college degree to meet this requirement.
Remain in good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit. You will also retain MGIB-SR eligibility if you were discharged from Selected Reserve service due to a disability that was not caused by misconduct. Your eligibility period may be extended if you are ordered to active duty.
Your eligibility for this program normally ends the day you leave the Selected Reserve.
An exception exists if you are mobilized or recalled to Active Duty from your reserve status in which case your eligibility may be extended for the amount of time you are mobilized PLUS 4 months. For example, if you are mobilized for 12 months, your eligibility period is extended for 16 months; 12 months of Active Duty PLUS 4 months. Even if you leave the Reserves after mobilization, you may have additional eligibility under the MGIB-SR.
If your unit was deactivated during the period beginning October 1, 2007, through September 30, 2014, or you were involuntarily separated for reasons other than misconduct, you will retain your original period of eligibility, which is 14 years from the date of your first 6-year obligation with the Selected Reserves.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, if you exhaust all 36 months you will get the money back in your final MHA payment. If you are NOT receiving MHA in your final month then you will NOT get this money back automatically!
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No, so long as the Veteran did not fail due to failure to attend the course (the professor annotated that the Veteran failed purely due to non-attendance). This is not to be confused with failure due to poor performance that may have been due to non/poor attendance.
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Maybe, if the course(s) you drop do not put you below full time you will not create any debt.
If the course(s) you drop put you below full time you may create a debt.
UNLESS this is the first time dropping 6 credits (that puts you below full time). This is known as the 6 credit hour exclusion
If you are going beyond this exclusion, you may still not owe a debt if you were/are experiencing Mitigating circumstances.
Otherwise, yes. You will owe a debt.
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If you were a member of the Armed Forces on August 1, 2009 and eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Department of Defense (DoD) offers you the opportunity to transfer benefits to your spouse or dependents.
For any deaths occurring on or after August 1, 2009:
If the dependent you transferred benefits to dies, the Veteran/Servicemember may transfer any remaining unused benefits to a different eligible dependent.
If a dependent has received transferred entitlement and the Veteran/Servicemember dies, the dependent may transfer his or her unused benefits to a different eligible dependent of the Veteran/Servicemember.
Commissioned officers of the Public Health Service (PHS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are eligible for the transferability option effective August 1, 2011. While in the Armed Forces, transferors use the Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) website to designate, modify, and revoke a Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) request. After leaving the Armed Forces, transferors may provide a future effective date for use of TOE, modify the number of months transferred, or revoke entitlement transferred by submitting a written request to VA.
NOTE:
After separating from the Armed Forces individuals cannot designate new dependents to receive transferred entitlement or amend the effective date of the initial transfer of entitlement to an earlier date.
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No, you can only use one program at a time.