Which program is best for me or my dependent?
- Try out the "Road Map For Success" application here that will help you decide which program meets your needs!
~or~
- Check out VA's "Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment VetSuccess Programs" here, if you are a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 20% or more and are interested in other options for employment, education and independence!
What if I already know which program I want to use?
- If you are ready to start the application process to receive or transfer education benefits, you can get started here!
What if I need to verify my monthly attendance for benefit payment?
- You need to verify your attendance every month before payment is issued if you are attending an Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) or Non-College Degree (NCD) program and are receiving one of the following:
- Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty
- Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve
- Reserve Educational Assistance Program - REAP
- Veterans Retraining Assistance Program - VRAP
How Much Money Will I Get Under The Post-9/11 GI Bill?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill reimburses your tuition & fees to your school and makes housing and other payments directly to you.
Your school will receive a percentage, as determined by your length of active duty service, of the following:
- For resident students at a public Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) all tuition & fee payments are reimbursed.
- For private and foreign IHLs tuition & fee reimbursement is capped at $17,500 per academic year (that amount will change to $18,077.50 August 1, 2012).
- For students whose tuition & fees exceed this maximum amount per academic year who are attending a private IHL in AZ, MI, NH, NY, PA, SC or TX and have been enrolled in the same program since January 4, 2011 schools will be reimbursed either the actual cost of the program or the maximum in-state tuition & fee reimbursement rate for the 2010-2011school year, whichever is greater.
- For reimbursement information for on-the job or apprenticeship programs click here
- For reimbursement information for vocational flight training programs click here
If you are attending a public IHL as a non-resident student or a private IHL that is more expensive than the annual cap you may be eligible for extra payment under the Yellow Ribbon program.
You may also be directly paid:
- A monthly housing allowance (MHA) equal to the basic allowance for housing (BAH) amount payable to an E-5 with dependents, in same zip code as your school. This allowance is paid proportionately based on your enrollment.
- If you are attending school at the 1/2 time or less rate or are on active duty or the spouse of an active duty member receiving "Transferred Benefits" you will not receive any MHA.
- If you are attending school overseas you will receive a MHA of $1,346.88 a month for 2011 which is the average amount for all CONUS locations (that amount will change to $1,368.00 for the 2012 academic year.
- If you are enrolled solely in distance learning you will receive a housing allowance equal to 1/2 the national average.
- A yearly books and supplies stipend of up to $1000 paid proportionately based on enrollment
- A one time payment of $500 may be payable to certain individuals relocating from highly rural areas.
How Much Money Will I Receive if I am using the Montgomery GI BILL?
Educational Assistance Allowance for trainees under the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (Ch. 30 of title 38 U.S.C.). The following basic monthly rates are effective October 1, 2011.
For trainees on active duty, payment is limited to reimbursement of tuition and fees for the training taken. If you participated in the “$600.00 buy-up” rates can be found HERE
The following rates apply to those completing an enlistment of three years or more.
| Institutional Training | |
|---|---|
Training Time
|
Monthly rate
|
Full time
|
$1,473.00
|
¾ time
|
$1,104.75
|
½ time
|
$736.50
|
less than ½ time more than ¼ time
|
$736.50**
|
¼ time or less
|
$368.25 **
|
OJT Rates effective October 1, 2011
| Apprenticeship and On-Job Training | |
|---|---|
Training Period
|
Monthly rate
|
First six months of training
|
$1,104.75
|
Second six months of training
|
$810.15
|
Remaining pursuit of training
|
$515.55
|
Correspondence and Flight - Entitlement charged at the rate of one month for each $1,473.00 paid.
Cooperative - $1,473.00
** Tuition and Fees ONLY. Payment cannot exceed the listed amount.
The following rates apply to those completing an enlistment of less than three years.
| Institutional Training | |
|---|---|
Training Time
|
Monthly rate
|
Full time
|
$1,196.00
|
¾ time
|
$897.00
|
½ time
|
$598.00
|
less than ½ time more than ¼ time
|
$598.00 **
|
¼ time or less
|
$299.00 **
|
| Apprenticeship and On-Job Training | |
|---|---|
Training Period
|
Monthly rate
|
First six months of training
|
$897.00
|
Second six months of training
|
$657.80
|
Remaining pursuit of training
|
$418.60
|
Correspondence and Flight - Entitlement charged at the rate of one month for each $1,196.00 paid.
Cooperative - $1,196.00
** Tuition and Fees ONLY. Payment cannot exceed the listed amount.
Basic Institutional Rates for persons with remaining entitlement under Chapter 34 of Title 38, U.S.C. Chapter 30 Category II rates effective October 1, 2011.
| Institutional Training | ||||
| Training Time |
Monthly rate
| |||
No
Dependents
|
One
Dependent
|
Two
Dependents
|
Each additional dependent
| |
Full time
|
$1,661.00
|
$1,697.00
|
$1,728.00
|
$16.00
|
¾ time
|
$1,246.25
|
$1,272.75
|
$1,296.25
|
$12.00
|
½ time
|
$830.50
|
$848.50
|
$864.00
|
$8.50
|
Less than ½ time; more than ¼ time
|
$830.50**
| |||
| ¼ time or less | $415.25** | |||
Cooperative Course
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Training period | Monthly rate | |||
No
Dependents
|
One
Dependent
|
Two
Dependents
|
Each additional dependent
| |
Oct. 1, 2011 - Sept. 30, 2012
|
$1,661.00
|
$1,697.00
|
$1,728.00
|
$16.00
|
Correspondence - 55% of the approved charges
Flight - 60% of the approved charges
** Tuition and Fees ONLY. Payment cannot exceed the listed amount.
Apprenticeship and On-Job Training
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Training Period |
Monthly rate
| |||
No
Dependents |
One
Dependent |
Two
Dependents |
Each additional dependent
| |
First six months of pursuit of program
|
$1,207.50
|
$1,219.88
|
$1,230.75
|
$5.25
|
Second six months
|
$866.53
|
$875.88
|
$883.58
|
$3.85
|
Third six months
|
$539.35
|
$545.48
|
$550.20
|
$2.45
|
Remaining pursuit of program
|
$527.45
|
$533.23
|
$538.48
|
$2.45
|
How Do I Chose A School? Is it Approved?
- To find a school or program please use this very helpful VA provided tool HERE!
For handouts, information and brochures to print and share, please click HERE!
What Are My Other Options- Click HERE for information on the below?
- Other Programs
- Reserve Educational Assistance (REAP)
- Survivors & Dependents Assistance (DEA)
- Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
- Educational Assistance Test Program
- National Call to Service Program
- Veterans Retraining Assistance Program
To Contact VA or Have Your Questions Answered:
Contact Information
Ask A Question
- You can send us a secure email that will usually be answered within 48 hours or less. You can also search for answers to frequently asked questions and register to be notified of any updates to the information. This contact method is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can also be utilized worldwide.
Click HERE to enter the "Ask A Question" website.
Telephone
1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).
Be advised this line only accepts calls from 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM central time Monday - Friday and you may experience long hold times.
Overseas
If you are overseas you can contact us via telephone during business hours, M - F 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM EDT. Students and School Certifying Officials calling from outside the United States may call the Buffalo Regional Office at 716-857-3196 or 716-857-3197. Once connected, the caller can immediately enter "option 1" to be placed in a special priority queue. This is not a toll-free number but the caller will be routed to the next available Customer Service Representative for priority service. This is for Overseas customers only, all others should call the toll-free number or contact us via the Questions & Answers section of this website.
Information used above was provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs websites
