Veterans: 5 Ways to Maximize Your GI Bill Benefits
- Save your benefits for your most expensive tuition bill. There’s no need to use your benefits immediately. ...
- Take at least one class per semester in person. If you take solely online classes, you’ll likely get a smaller housing allowance than you would otherwise.
- Earn as many credits as you can per semester. You’re entitled to use your GI Bill benefits to pursue your education full-time for a specific time frame.
- Beware of misleading schools. Aiming to harness GI Bill dollars for revenue, some for-profit colleges “aggressively recruit student veterans,” says Derek Fronabarger, director of policy at Student Veterans of ...
- Submit the FAFSA. On top of your GI Bill benefits, you’ll likely be eligible for additional federal, state and privately funded financial aid.
What are the benefits of the GI Bill?
GI Bill benefits help you pay for college, graduate school, and training programs. 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 do I contact GI Bill?
- Army Active-Duty Officer (Email)
- Army Active-Duty Enlisted (Email)
- Army National Guard (Email)
- Army Reserve (Enlisted and Officer) (Email)
- Navy Active-Duty Personnel 866-827-5672 or DSN 882-5672
- Navy Reserve (Email) or 800-621-8853, Fax: 757-444-7597/7598
- Marine Corps Active-Duty Officer (Email)
- Marine Corps Active-Duty Enlisted (Email)
What are the educational benefits of GI Bill?
- College
- Business Technical or Vocational Courses
- Correspondence Courses
- Apprenticeship/Job Training
- Flight Training
- Licensing & Testing Programs
Who is eligible for GI Bill?
GI Bill: Vietnam Veterans & the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Any veteran or servicemember who served at least 90 days of active duty service after September 10, 2001 will qualify for this new education benefit. Those veterans who did not opt into the Montgomery GI Bill and/or participated in the VEAP program will still be eligible for this benefit.
Can you get a second GI Bill?
Answer: Yes, like the MGIB you are generally entitled to 36 months of educational assistance. If you are entitled to more than one GI Bill program you may be eligible for a maximum of 48 months of entitlement when using benefits under two or more GI Bill programs.
How do I get more than 36 months GI Bill?
In some cases, you can use the 36 hours of eligibility from the MGIB and then transfer over to the Post-9/11 Bill program, so that you can receive an additional 12 months of supported schooling. Keep in mind that any veteran may only use any combination of the GI Bills for up to 48 academic months total.
What do I do when my GI Bill runs out?
Here are some tips:Load up on classes each term. ... Use both the MGIB and Post-9/11. ... Test out of classes. ... Use tuition assistance. ... Understand how long your benefits are good for. ... Seek out other scholarships, financial aid, and veterans educational benefits. ... Get a MGIB Refund.More items...•
How do you get 100 GI Bill?
You're eligible for 100% of the full benefit if you meet at least one of these requirements:You served on active duty and were awarded a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, or.You served on active duty for at least 30 continuous days and were discharged because of a service-connected disability, or.More items...•
Is there a way to extend GI Bill?
You may qualify for a GI Bill extension if one of these is true: You served a later period of active duty of 90 consecutive days or more (meaning that after you applied for GI Bill benefits, you served 90 days or more without a break in service), or.
How do I get 48 months GI Bill benefits?
To use the full 48 months under the current rules, a veteran must fully exhaust their 36 months of MGIB-AD entitlement first and then switch to the Post 9/11 GI Bill to get an additional 12 months of entitlement.
How many times can you use the GI Bill?
Fact #1 - You May Have No Time Limit On Using Your GI Bill 1, 2013 you have no time limit on using your GI Bill. Those discharged prior to that and using the Montgomery GI Bill have 10 years from their discharge date to use all their GI Bill or they lose it.
Who qualifies for the Forever GI Bill?
Servicemembers and honorably discharged Veterans who were awarded a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001 will be entitled to Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits at the 100-percent benefit level for up to 36 months. This was effective on August 1, 2018.
How many years does the GI Bill cover?
How many months of assistance can I receive and how long am I eligible? Generally, you may receive up to 36 months of entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. You will be eligible for benefits for 15 years from your last period of active duty of at least 90 consecutive days.
Can I get full BAH for online classes?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill BAH rate (aka the Monthly Housing Allowance) is $917 per month for full-time students enrolled in an online college, school, or distance-learning program until July 31, 2022.
What is 60% of the GI Bill?
You may be eligible for the 60%benefit level if: You have aggregate service of at least six months but less than eighteen months of qualifying active-duty service (excluding initial entry and skill training). Those previously eligible at the 50% benefit level now qualify for the 60% benefit level.
What is forever GI Bill benefits?
The Forever GI bill provides 30 million dollars in funding to upgrade technology at the Veterans Benefits Administration. This funding will let them complete their rules-based processing system for claims, and the department will provide training requirements to school certifying officers that process the paperwork.
Am I eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) benefits?
You may be eligible for education benefits if you meet at least one of these requirements. At least one of these must be true: You served at least...
What if I qualify for other VA education benefits too?
You can use only 1 education benefit for a period of service. You’ll have to choose which education benefit you’d like to use. Once you make this c...
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...
What benefits can I get through the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)?
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 pri...
Do these benefits expire?
This depends on when you were discharged from active duty. If your service ended before January 1, 2013, your Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) benef...
How do I get these benefits?
You’ll need to apply. Apply for education benefits The benefit amount depends on which school you go to, how much active-duty service you’ve had s...
How do I know how much of my Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are left?
If you already applied for and were awarded Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits, your GI Bill Statement of Benefits will show you how much of your...
Can my family members or I get any additional benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)?
You may qualify for these additional benefits: If you need more money to cover higher private-school or out-of-state tuition, you can apply for the...
How can I use my Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) benefits?
You can use your GI Bill benefits in many ways to advance your education and training. Work toward a degree: Undergraduate and graduate degrees Tui...
What time do you call VA for GI Bill?
You can’t make changes to your application, but if you have questions about VA education benefits, please call 888-442-4551, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET. If we’ve asked you for documents, please upload them through the GI Bill website. Go to the GI Bill website.
How to contact VA claims office?
Call 888-442-4551, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET, to request that we send the application to you. Fill it out and mail it to the VA regional claims processing office that’s in the same location as your school. See a list of regional claims processing offices.
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 to maximize GI Bill benefits?
There are many other ways to maximize GI Bill benefits not previously mentioned in this guide. Use these additional resources to help get the most bang for your GI Bill buck: 1 DANTES 2 Military Transcripts 3 Grants and Scholarships 4 Federal work-study program 5 FAFSA
What is GI Bill?
The GI Bill® is an education benefit managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and made available to military members and veterans. While most of the GI Bills are aimed toward currently serving members and veterans, the Post-9/11 GI Bill can also be used by spouses and dependent children under certain situations, which will be discussed later in this guide.GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA). More information about educational benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
How long can you serve on the GI Bill?
Generally, the transfer request must be made while the military member is still serving, has served for at least six years and agrees to serve an additional four years.
When will the tier percentage increase for the US Army?
For time between six months, but less than 18 months, the tier percentage increases from 50 percent to 60 percent.This change for new Selected Reservist enlistees is effective on August 1, 2020 and on average will result in an increase of $2,300 more per year paid in tuition for each eligible individual.
Can a VA school accept GI Bill students?
Several years ago, the VA changed the rules schools must follow if they want to accept GI Bill students. If a veteran has been out of the military for less than three years, the school must accept him as a resident student and charge resident tuition rates regardless of the student’s resident status in that state.
Is the GI Bill retroactive?
For current members, it is retroactive back to September 11, 2001. From the beginning of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, only the veteran could revoke and reallocate unused transferred benefits.
Who manages the GI Bill?
Your Guide to Getting the Most from Your Earned Educational Benefits. The GI Bill® is an education benefit managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and made available to military members and veterans. While most of the GI Bills are aimed toward currently serving members and veterans, the Post-9/11 GI Bill can also be used by spouses ...
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 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.
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.
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 can vets maximize their GI Bill benefits?
Vets can maximize their GI Bill benefits by picking the right class schedule and school and filling out the FAFSA. Teddy Nykiel, Cecilia Clark Sep 4, 2020. Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us.
How long does a GI bill last?
There’s no need to use your benefits immediately. If you were discharged from active duty before January 1, 2013, your GI Bill is redeemable for up to 15 years. If you were discharged after January 1, 2013, your GI Bill has no expiration. The GI Bill covers 36 months ...
Does GI Bill cover tuition?
After your benefits run out, you have to cover tuition out-of-pocket or through other types of financial aid. So it pays to take as many credits as you’re allowed and can handle per semester while your GI Bill is covering your tuition, says Timothy Greer, associate professor at the College for Financial Planning.
Does the GI bill expire?
If you were discharged after January 1, 2013, your GI Bill has no expiration. The GI Bill covers 36 months of schooling, which is how much you'll need for a bachelors degree program if you take a full-time course load. If you need more time to complete your education – like if you want a graduate degree, too – it may be advantageous to start ...
Do for profit schools have higher tuition?
For-profit schools tend to have higher tuitions and lower graduation rates compared with in-state public schools, according to Department of Education data. Use the VA’s GI Bill comparison tool to research schools before you enroll, including their graduation rates.
Is the GI bill a debt free college?
If you’re a veteran, the GI Bill can be your ticket to a debt-free college education. That’s huge, given about 65% of 2018 graduates who left school with a bachelor’s degree also carried student loan debt, with an average of $29,200 per borrower, according to the Institute for College Access & Success. Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may be ...
Can I recoup my GI bill?
Generally, you can’t recoup your GI Bill benefits once you use them, though there are exceptions for some school closures. 5. Submit the FAFSA. On top of your GI Bill benefits, you’ll likely be eligible for additional federal, state and privately funded financial aid.
What time does the GI Bill tool work?
This tool is available Sunday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET. If none of the above situations applies to you, and you think your Statement of Benefits should be here, please call the GI Bill Hotline at 888-442-4551.
Can I get a GI bill statement online?
You: Note: At this time, the GI Bill benefit statement isn't available online to family members and dependents. 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.
What is the GI bill?
The GI Bill is one of the most valuable benefits veterans have available to them when the separate from the military. The GI Bill can go a long way toward helping veterans earn their degree, and with that, the opportunity to increase your income potential.
How long is the GI Bill good for?
GI Bill benefits are typically good for 36 months worth of classes. The MGIB is good for 10 years after separating from the military, and the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn’t expire until you have been out of the service for 15 years.
What states offer education benefits to veterans?
The next option is to look at state benefits. Many states offer education benefits for veterans. For example, Texas has the Hazelwood Act which extends educational benefits at state colleges to veterans who enlisted in the state of Texas. Illinois, and several other states have similar programs.
What is the downside of MGIB?
The downside on loading up on classes with the MGIB is that the monthly benefit is capped for full-time students. Students are required to pay for their classes out of their own pockets, and if their classes are more expensive than their MGIB benefits, they are forced to pay on their own.
How does the post 9/11 GI bill work?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill works differently because payments are sent directly to the school. In this case, students can load up on classes and the courses will be paid for with the Post-9/11 GI Bill. 12 hours is considered a full time course load at most universities.
How long can you use the MGIB?
Instead, you can use the entire MGIB, then get up to one year of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. In a way, it’s a loophole, but it’s one that you can use to your advantage. Test out of classes. Many colleges give students credit for life experience, military experience, or for testing out of courses.
Can veterans buy into the Montgomery GI Bill?
Many veterans bought into the Montgomery GI Bill when they were in the military. If you are also eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on your service dates, you can use this to your advantage. You can use all of your MGIB benefits, then apply to transfer to the Post-9/11 GI Bill.