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When you ask a service member or veteran why they volunteered for the United States military, many admit to joining the military for the educational benefits, specifically the G.I. Bill. Established in 1944, the VA GI Bill provides qualifying Servicemembers, Veterans, and their family members with financial aid to partially or fully cover the cost of education or trade training. Here, we’ll discuss the GI Bill’s language, coverage, eligibility, and benefits.
GI Bill Eligibility: Who Can Apply?
The GI Bill itself is not one specific Act with a set of singular requirements but many different sub-pieces of legislation with their own requirements.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill
You are eligible for this section of the GI Bill if
- You served on active duty for at least 90 days after September 10, 2001, whether it was continuous or interrupted.
- After September 10, 2001, you served for 30 continuous days before receiving a discharge for a service-connected disability.
- You received the Purple Heart after September 10, 2001.
- You meet all other requirements listed here.
The Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty
You qualify for this portion of the GI Bill if you:
- Served at least two years of active duty, and
- You were honorably discharged, and
- You have a high school diploma, GED, or 12 hours of college credit and
- You did not decline enrollment in the MGiB when you started your active duty.
- You meet all of the requirements for the MGiB listed here.
Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (MGiB-SR)
If you were a member of the Air Force, Navy, Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard reserves, Army, National Guard, Air Force, National Guard, or Army reserves, you qualify for benefits, so long as the following are true:
- You have a six-year obligation in the selected reserve.
- You are on selective reserve for six years, in addition to your initial service obligation.
- Completed initial active duty training.
- You have a high school diploma or GED.
- You are in good standing while serving.
- You meet all of the requirements listed here.
Survivors and Dependents Assistance
If you meet certain eligibility requirements, the dependent and the veteran or military member may be eligible for these MGIB benefits. For the veteran or military member, one of the following descriptors must be accurate:
- The veteran has a service-connected disability that has rendered them permanently and totally disabled.
- The veteran passed away as a result of the disability.
- The veteran died while performing their duty.
- The veteran is missing in action or was captured by an enemy force while performing their duty for longer than ninety days.
- The veteran was forcibly detained or interned by a foreign entity while performing their duty for longer than ninety days.
- The veteran is receiving outpatient treatment at a hospital for a service-connected permanent and total disability.
Learn more about situational eligibility requirements at this link.
What Are the Benefits of the GI Bill?
The VA GI Bill offers a variety of educational benefits for service members, but the extent to which the bill will cover greatly depends on the Servicemember’s or Veteran’s service, length of time of the service, and a variety of other factors. Generally, the VA GI Bill provides coverage for the following benefits, regardless of the circumstances:
- Portion of or all college and university tuition or up to $25K for foreign schools.
- Online and part-time schooling
- Licensing and certification courses
- Vocational and trade training
- Flight school
- Entrepreneurship training
- Housing allowance
- $1K for supplies and books
To determine your level of eligibility and benefits, you can check out the link for percentages of benefits.
Different Types of GI Bill Programs
As mentioned above, the VA GI Bill is not just one bill. Each program has its own subset of qualifications and services. The most common one is the Montgomery G.I. Bill (AD), also referred to as the “Active Duty Montgomery G.I. Bill” and the “Reserve and Guard Montgomery GI Bill.” Both have their own series of qualifications. Later, they added the Post-9/11 bill to honor those who served in response to the terrorist attacks.
Montgomery GI-Bill – Active Duty
You can read more about this portion of the G.I. Bill in this article. You can read about the four categories of the Montgomery G.I. Bill and their respective qualifications here. How much money you received once your education depends on your length of service, the type of education or training program you choose, your category, and how much you’ve paid into the program.
Montgomery GI-Bill – Reserve and Guard
You can read more about the Reserve and Guard Montgomery G.I. Bill in this article. Essentially, these portions of the VA Gov education provide up to 36 months of education and training benefits for those in the selected reserve. However, they may not cover books or other expenses, or they may only cover a portion of tuition. Read more about MGIB-Reserve benefits at this link.
The Post-9/11 BI Bill (Chapter 33)
This newest section of the GI Bill covers service members and their dependents who participated in the War on Terror and covers in-state public tuition educational fees, money for housing if you are in school full time, books and supplies, and moving expenses for those in rural communities with less than 6 people per square mile and moving at least 500 miles away. Read more about it at this link.
How to Apply for the GI Bill
The first item you’ll need is the required documentation, which includes:
- Social Security number
- Bank account direct deposit information
- Military history and education
- Basic information about the school or training facility you want to attend
You can apply online at this link. You can also apply for the Post 9/11 GI Bill by mail by filling out the correct form. You can call 888–442–4551 to request a copy of the application. You can apply at a regional VA office and have a VA employee help you. Once you apply, you can check your status on Access VA. You should have your answer around 30 days to process your VA Gov Education benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Service members called into action as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, some of whom included activation but not necessarily deployment, are the focus of the Post 9/11 GI Bill. The Montgomery Bills cover other areas of service.
Service members called into action as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, some of whom included activation but not necessarily deployment, are the focus of the Post 9/11 GI Bill. The Montgomery Bills cover other areas of service.
You can transfer your MGIB benefits to a dependent or spouse if you are active duty or in the selected reserves, provided you meet all of the other requirements.
You will receive a statement every month showing how much of your benefits you have used and how much you have left for education or training. You can also check this link online.
Yes, benefits include online education.
You must use your benefits within 15 years of discharge from the military. If you did not use them, you can receive a $1200 refund.
While awaiting the approval of benefits, schools cannot penalize or prohibit a G.I. Bill student from attending or participating in courses. However, consult your local VA resource officer if you receive a denial or a delay in benefits.
All versions of the G.I. Bill provide tax-free benefits for education.
Yes, depending on your GI Bill Eligibility, some VA benefits from the G.I. Bill are retroactive.
Early dismissal from the military may result in less than 100% of the benefits paid for education.
There is no restriction to benefits if you also receive a scholarship, but the scholarship might choose to reduce the amount of tuition and payment if you are receiving benefits from the G.I. Bill.
