FAQ
- How do I apply for benefits?
- What benefits does the Post-9/11 GI Bill offer?
- Who is eligible for benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
- Is there a time limit for enrollment in the Post-9/11 GI Bill program?
- Which educational institutions are covered under the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
- Why should I pursue higher education?
- How will my experience in the Armed Forces help me in my pursuit of higher education?
- What are institutions of higher education doing to help service members and veterans ease the transition into civilian life?
- Tuition and fees at the institution of my choice exceed standard Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Am I entitled to additional benefits?
- Can benefits be transferred to dependents under the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
- Can Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits be credited toward student loans?
- Does the Post-9/11 GI Bill render the Montgomery GI Bill obsolete?
- Can I switch back and forth between Montgomery GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit programs?
- I have a service-related disability. Should I use the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Vocational Rehabilitation?
- If my tuition and fees exceed the national cap of $17,500 per academic year, am I entitled to additional benefits?
How do I apply for benefits?
Service members and veterans can enroll for benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Web site: http://www.gibill.va.gov/.
What benefits does the Post-9/11 GI Bill offer?
Depending on each individual’s situation, benefits could include payment of tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance, a stipend for books and supplies, college fund (“kicker”) payments, a rural benefit payment and a Yellow Ribbon benefit. Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits differ from other education assistance program in that each type of payment is issued separately, with some payments made directly to the school and others issued to the individual.
Approved training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill includes graduate and undergraduate degrees, vocational/technical training, on-the-job training, flight training, correspondence training, licensing and national testing programs, and tutorial assistance. All training programs must be approved for GI Bill benefits.
Who is eligible for benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
Individuals who serve at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, are eligible.
To be eligible for 100% of the benefit, an individual must have served an aggregate of 36 months of active-duty service, or have been discharged for a service-connected disability after 30 days of continuous service. Note: Active-duty service time required by graduates of a Service Academy or ROTC does not count toward the three years necessary to qualify for full benefits.
For those who served fewer than 36 months, the percentage of benefit ranges from 40% to 90%:
- 90% - 30 total months (including service on active duty in entry level and skill training)
- 80% - 24 total months (including service on active duty in entry level and skill training)
- 70% - 18 total months (excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training)
- 60% - 12 total months (excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training)
- 50% - 6 total months (excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training)
- 40% - 90 or more days (excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training).
For example, an individual with five months of qualifying service could receive 40% of the tuition benefit, 40% of the monthly housing allowance, and a maximum of $400 books and supplies stipend.
Veterans must have an honorable discharge or other qualifying discharge (e.g., hardship, condition interfering with duty) to be eligible.
Is there a time limit for enrollment in the Post-9/11 GI Bill program?
Yes, eligibility for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits expires 15 years from the latest date of discharge or release from active duty of at least 90 consecutive days.
Which educational institutions are covered under the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill became effective in August 2009. Approved training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill includes graduate and undergraduate degrees, vocational/technical training, on-the-job training, flight training, correspondence training, licensing and national testing programs, and tutorial assistance. All training programs must be approved for GI Bill benefits.
Why should I pursue higher education?
Higher education is an investment that results in a lifetime of dividends. It can open doors of opportunity, both financially and personally, for you and your family.
Specifically, higher education offers the following benefits:
Learn more in the Why Higher Education section.
How will my experience in the Armed Forces help me in my pursuit of higher education?
Service members and veterans have a range of skills and experiences that make them appealing candidates for admission. Among these attributes are leadership, teamwork, respect and integrity. In addition, their experiences and the job functions they performed on active-duty are often transferable to majors and careers. You can explore these transferable skills within Military.com’s interactive database. For information on turning your military training and experience into college credit, review this Transfer Guide.
What are institutions of higher education doing to help service members and veterans ease the transition into civilian life?
The American Council on Education (ACE), with the generous support of the Walmart Foundation, awarded the Success for Veterans Award Grants in 2009 to 20 institutions across the U.S. that operate model programs advancing access to and success in higher education for veterans and their families.
The Success for Veterans Award Grants were designed to expand current programs and services and disseminate promising practices nationwide. Over three years, the work impacted more than 82,300 service members, veterans and their families. You can learn more about the promising practices identified by the grantees, and ACE’s Toolkit for Veteran Friendly Institutions here.
Tuition and fees at the institution of my choice exceed standard Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Am I entitled to additional benefits?
Yes, if tuition and fees exceed Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, then one may take advantage of the Bill’s Yellow Ribbon Program. Schools that enter into the Yellow Ribbon Program agree to fund up to 50 percent of additional costs. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs then matches every dollar the school pays, up to the total amount of tuition and fees.
Can benefits be transferred to dependents under the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
Service members who have served at least six years in the Armed Forces and who agree to an additional four-year commitment (except veterans who are retirement-eligible) can transfer unused benefits to a spouse or other dependent. The Department of Defense must approve all benefit transfers. For more information, please click here.
Can Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits be credited toward student loans?
No, Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits cannot be credited toward student loans.
Does the Post-9/11 GI Bill render the Montgomery GI Bill obsolete?
No. For many eligible participants, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is a better solution than other education benefit programs, such as the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty, Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve and the Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP). However, this decision depends on several factors, including the type of education or training you plan to pursue and the amount of benefits received under each program. The following comparison tools may help you in making your decision.
Can I switch back and forth between Montgomery GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit programs?
No, if you wish to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill and you are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and another GI Bill benefit such as the Montgomery GI Bill you will be required to make an irrevocable choice of which benefit you wish to receive. If you are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and two or more other education benefit you must make an irrevocable choice to give up ONE of the other education benefits, however you will remain eligible to the benefit you did not relinquish. Because you are now eligible for two education benefits, you MAY be able to change which education benefit you draw depending on your eligibility.
If you are not planning to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill now, you do not need to make your election immediately but should wait until closer to the time in which you wish to use benefits.
I have a service-related disability. Should I use the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Vocational Rehabilitation?
If you are eligible for benefits under both the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Vocational Rehabilitation, then you should consult a Vocational Rehabilitation counselor, who can determine which program is most beneficial, given your circumstances.
If my tuition and fees exceed the national cap of $17,500 per academic year, am I entitled to additional benefits?
For those attending a more expensive private school or a public school as a non-resident out-of-state student, a program exists to help to reimburse the difference. This program is called the “Yellow Ribbon Program.” Institutions of Higher Learning may elect to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program to make additional funds available for your education program without an additional charge to your GI Bill entitlement. Institutions that voluntarily enter into a Yellow Ribbon Agreement with VA choose the amount of tuition and fees that will be contributed. VA will match that amount and issue payment directly to the institution.
Only veterans entitled to the maximum benefit rate (based on service requirements) or their designated transferees may receive this funding. Active-duty service members and their spouses are not eligible for this program (child transferees of active duty service members may be eligible if the service member is qualified at the 100% rate). For more information on the Yellow Ribbon programs and to see participating schools, click here.