
How many months of GI Bill benefits do you get?
Fact #4. A "month" of benefits doesn't always mean a month. The GI Bill benefit provides 36 months of education benefits. The term "months" can often be confusing. The "36 months" of benefits does not mean you have only 36 months to use it, nor does it mean you must use it all in one 36 month period.
How does the GI Bill work?
Since 1944, the GI Bill has helped qualifying Veterans and their family members get money to cover all or some of the costs for school or training. Learn more about GI Bill benefits below—and how to apply for them. If you applied for and were awarded Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits, your GI Bill Statement...
How long does it take to get a GI Bill certificate?
Step Two: Wait for VA to process your application and notify you of its decision concerning your eligibility for education benefits. You should receive Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in approximately 30 days depending on the VA's backlog. Step Three: Once you receive your COE, give it your school's GI Bill certifying official.
Can I get an advance payment on my GI Bill?
This depends on which GI Bill program you’re using. If you’re using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you can’t get an advance payment. If you’re using a GI Bill program other than the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may be able to get an advance payment. You’ll need to meet all of the requirements listed below.

How long does it take to get GI benefits?
The current time for processing a GI Bill Application can be over 6 weeks. This means it could take over a month to start receiving your benefits. If you apply well before you plan to start school you can reduce the wait time by months.
How long does it take to get approved for VA education benefits?
It takes about 6-10 weeks for the VA to process your application and mail you a Certificate of Eligibility.
How do I know if my GI Bill was approved?
You'll need to request a new Certificate of Eligibility letter to check your GI Bill benefit status. To request a COE, please call the Education Call Center at 888-442-4551.
How long does it take for GI Bill BAH to kick in?
Once your application is approved- whether it's for first time benefits, re-enrollment, or enrollment verification- you can expect your check within 2 weeks (taking into account mailing time), or if you are enrolled in direct deposit, then just within a week.
What day does GI Bill payment get deposited?
When will I get my first GI Bill payment? If you signed up for direct deposit when you applied for education benefits, we'll deposit your payment into your bank account 7 to 10 business days after you verify your school enrollment. This is the fastest way to receive your payment.
What is full time for 8 week GI Bill?
Full time students are taking 12 credits per term. 3/4 time students are taking 9 credits per term; the calculator uses . 8 to determine the amount due.
How long does it take to get Post-9/11 GI Bill money?
GI Bill Payment Dates: The Basics If you are re-enrolling, the VA takes around a week to process your documents. Your Post 9/11 and Forever GI Bill payments are made at the start of the new month and cover the time period you were in school for the month which just ended.
Can I use my GI Bill if I owe money?
If the debt is not completely paid, we will transfer the remaining amount of the debt to the new benefit program and the payments under the new benefit program will be reduced until the debt is paid in full.
How much is the GI Bill worth?
The Montgomery GI Bill is an education benefit worth over $77K. This amount is based on the 2021-2022 monthly full-time student payment rate of $2,150.00 multiplied by the 36-month limit.
What does the GI Bill pay monthly?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill also pays a Monthly Housing Allowance based on the ZIP code of the location of the school or campus you are attending the majority of your classes. This stipend currently averages $1,801 a month, but can exceed $2,700 depending on where you go to school.
Do you get BAH twice a month?
They get paid twice a month; on the 1st and on the 15th. If the 1st or 15th land on a weekend, they get paid the Friday before.
Is the GI Bill retroactive?
Will I receive a retroactive payment under the Post-9/11 GI Bill for classes I am taking before August 1, 2009? No. The Post-9/11 GI Bill only covers classes taken or training pursued on or after August 1, 2009.
Am I eligible for VA education benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
You may be eligible for benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill if you’ve served on active duty for at least 90 days, whether continuous (all at onc...
Am I eligible for VA education benefits through the Montgomery GI Bill?
You may be eligible for benefits through one of our Montgomery GI Bill programs. Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) You can get benefits thro...
How many total months of VA education benefits can I get?
You may be able to get a maximum of 48 months of VA education benefits—not including Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) benefits. But many app...
Can I get VA education benefits through other programs?
You may be able to get help paying for school tuition, testing fees, and advanced licensing and certifications through other VA educational assista...
Can I get educational and career counseling through VA?
You may be able to get free educational and career counseling through the Personalized Career Planning and Guidance program (Chapter 36) if you mee...
Are there any related benefits I may also be able to get?
If you have a service-connected disability that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, you may be eligible for Veteran Readiness...
What should I do if I received an other than honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharge?
If you’ve received one of these discharge statuses, you may not be eligible for VA benefits. There are 2 ways you can try to qualify: Find out how...
Can my spouse or dependent children get VA education benefits?
In some cases, the dependent or surviving spouse and children of a Veteran can get educational assistance through a GI Bill program. Learn more abo...
Benefit rates and ways you can use your benefits
Learn more about education benefit rates for tuition and books for qualifying Veterans and their family members.
Other GI Bill programs you may qualify for
If you served at least 2 years on active duty, find out if you qualify for benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty program.
More GI Bill benefits and information
Find out if your school participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which can help pay tuition costs that the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn’t cover.
How long can you use the GI Bill?
Here's how it works for Active Duty members: You can begin using your benefit after 2 years of service, however before you choose to use the GI Bill you should know that it is usually not a good idea to use it while on active duty, because VA administers the GI Bill differently for active duty and veterans.
How does the Post 9/11 GI Bill work?
Here's how it works if you are a Veteran and have an Honorable Discharge: The Post-9/11 GI Bill will pay: your full tuition to the school if you are attending a public school as a state resident, an annual maximum amount (regulated by law, and updated every August 1) to the school, if you are attending a private school.
What is a month of benefits?
What is a "month of benefits?". It is complicated, but here is the general idea: if you attend school at the full time rate for an entire month you use a month of benefits. But, say you attend classes only from the 15 - 30 of a month...then you use 1/2 month of benefits. The same thing goes if you are attending classes at less than full time.
Can I use my GI bill on active duty?
Considering this, it only makes sense to use your GI Bill on active duty if your tuition costs are very high or you use your “ GI Bill Top-up ” benefit.
Does the GI bill include student loans?
Not in the traditional sense. In most cases the school financial aid department does not consider the GI Bill financial aid because it is normally paid directly to you, not the school. This also means that you are eligible for student loans, scholarships, and Pell Grants along with the GI Bill.
Can I use my GI bill for school?
YES! Unfortunately, many people believe that once you apply for benefits you have to remain enrolled in school to get the full benefit. Thankfully that's not true, you can use the GI Bill for any period of time, take time off and reapply to use it again at a later date.
How long can you transfer GI Bill benefits to spouse?
Also, if you haven’t used all of your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, you may be able to transfer up to 36 months of benefits to your spouse or a dependent child. Learn more about transferring benefits.
What are the benefits of VA education?
VA education benefits can help you pay your tuition, pick out a school, choose a career, and more. If you’re an active-duty service member or Veteran, a member of the National Guard or Reserves, or a qualified survivor or dependent, find out if you can get VA education benefits through the GI Bill and other educational assistance programs.
Eligibility for a percentage of benefits based on how long you served on active duty
If you served on active duty for less than 36 months, you’re not eligible for the full Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit. Find out what percentage of the full benefit you’re eligible for based on the amount of time you served on active duty:
VA benefits
Education and training Apply for and manage your GI Bill and other education benefits to help pay for college and training programs.
How long can you receive federal unemployment benefits?
You can receive up to 36 months of benefits, including: Tuition and fees. If you qualify for the maximum benefit, we’ll cover the full cost of public, in-state tuition and fees. We cap the rates for private and foreign schools, and update those rates each year.
What is MHA in GI Bill?
Previously, GI Bill beneficiaries were paid Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) based on the main or branch campus of the school they were enrolled. If a student attended classes at more than one location, they were paid the rate that was most advantageous.
How much is the state of Florida tuition if you served 3 years?
So if your school charges $22,000 for in-state tuition and fees, you would receive $8,800 if you had 90 days of active service and the full $22,000 if you had 3 years of active service. Note that this will change August 1, 2020.
How long did you serve in the military after 9/11?
You: Served at least 90 days on active duty (either all at once or with breaks in service) on or after September 11, 2001, or. Received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged after any amount of service, or.
When did the Reserve Educational Assistance Program end?
Note: If you’re a member of the Reserves who lost education benefits when the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) ended in November 2015, you may qualify to receive restored benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Can I transfer my GI Bill to my spouse?
If you’re a qualified service member, you can transfer all 36 months or a portion of your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to a spouse or child.
Is the GI Bill trademarked?
Get more information. Compare benefits by school. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The absence of the registration symbol ® does not constitute a waiver of VA’s trademark rights in that phrase.
How many months of education is GI Bill?
The GI Bill benefit provides 36 months of education benefits. The term "months" can often be confusing. The "36 months " of benefits does not mean you have only 36 months to use it, nor does it mean you must use it all in one 36 month period. There are two ways the term month is used.
How long is Montgomery GI Bill?
For the Montgomery GI Bill: If you are a veteran you are basically charged one month of entitlement for each month of full-time training you take. If you are on active duty and you go to school full-time for four months, but your tuition is only $1,000, you will still be charged for four months of your 36 month entitlement.
How does the Post-9/11 GI bill work?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays according to several factors, the main factors being number of months served on active duty and the number of credit pursued. If you are attending a public school, the Post-9/11 GI Bill can pay your full tuition directly to the school. You will receive a monthly housing allowance and up to $1,000 a year for books ...
Can I stop using the GI bill?
Fact #3 - You Can Stop And Start Using The GI Bill As Needed. Unfortunately, many people believe that once you apply for benefits you have to remain enrolled in school to get the full benefit. Thankfully that's not true; you can use the GI Bill for any period of time.
Can I use my GI bill to get a masters degree?
If you use your benefits wisely, your GI Bill benefits can help you finish your associates, work on your bachelor's, and later, complete your master's degree.
Is the GI Bill considered financial aid?
The GI Bill is not considered Financial Aid in the traditional sense. College and University financial aid departments do not consider the GI Bill financial aid because it is normally paid directly to you, not the school. Most schools will require you to sign a promissory note or apply for student loans to pay them upfront.
Do I have to pay GI bill upfront?
Most schools will require you to sign a promissory note or apply for student loans to pay them upfront. You will then be required to pay these loans - hopefully with your GI Bill payments. This also means that you are eligible for student loans, scholarships, and Pell Grants along with the GI Bill.
What does it mean to apply for the GI Bill after 9/11?
When applying for the Post-9/11 GI Bill you need to be aware that choosing the Post-9/11 means permanently forfeiting any future claims to the older programs.
How to get a VA certificate of eligibility?
Step One: Go to the VA's VETS.GOV website and follow instructions and prompts.. Step Two: Wait for VA to process your application and notify you of its decision concerning your eligibility for education benefits. You should receive Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in approximately 30 days depending on the VA's backlog.
