Here are the 2021 and 2022 Post-9/11 GI Bill BAH Rates for students. Post-9/11 and Forever GI Bill benefits include a monthly housing allowance (aka GI Bill basic allowance for housing rate) for eligible veterans and service members.
In 2020, President Donald Trump approved a legislative fix to protect GI Bill benefits due to schools shifting to online classes due to the pandemic.
| Post-9/11 and GI Forever GI Bill (Chapter 33) Payment Rate Exceptions | |
| Aug. 1, 2021-July 31, 2022 | |
| Type of School | MHA Rate |
| Foreign school | $1,900 |
| Schools in U.S. territories | E-5 with dependents overseas housing allowance (OHA) rate for school location |
| Exclusively online training (no classroom instruction) | $871 |
| Attending classes at ½ time or less (fewer than seven credits) | NOT PAYABLE |
| Active-duty trainee (or spouse of service member) | NOT PAYABLE |
Monthly Housing Allowance Calculator
Veterans, dependents, National Guard and Reserves can use the MHA calculator to see their estimated monthly payments. Active-duty service members should use the BAH calculator to see their estimated payments.
MHA rates are for Aug. 1, 2021 through July 31, 2022 school year. Rates will next be increased on Aug. 1, 2022.
Books and Supplies Stipend
The MHA provides an annual stipend for books and supplies. The amount paid is based on $41.67 per credit, up to a maximum of 24 credits, or $1,000.
Rural Benefit
If you live in a low-density rural area (counties with six or fewer people per square mile, as determined by the most recent decennial census), you may qualify for a one-time payment of $500. You must also either move 500 miles or more to attend school or travel by air to attend in person when there is no land-based transportation available.
GI Bill Comparison Tool for MHA/BAH Rates
See the GI Bill comparison tool for actual BAH rates at your school. Do not use the BAH calculator to determine your GI Bill BAH, as the rates do differ.
Monthly Housing Allowance Payments
If you are not a full-time student, your MHA payments will be based on your training time (the number of credits you are taking). For example, if you are taking eight credits and a full course load is 12, your training time is 67%. The MHA payment will be rounded up or down to the nearest 10%. So, in this example, you would receive 70% of the applicable housing allowance.
Here are some important facts for determining eligibility and individual Post-9/11 GI Bill MHA rates.
Monthly Housing Allowance Facts
- MHA is based on the BAH rates for an E-5 with dependents.
- MHA is based on the ZIP code of the school campus where the student attends most of their classes.
- MHA adjustments are effective at the beginning of the academic year, which is set at Aug. 1. While BAH increases are effective Jan. 1, you will not see the increase until your Sept. 1 payment.
- Adjusted MHA rates are not typically adjusted down (decreased). Service members have individual rate protection against any BAH decrease, and the MHA amount will not decrease unless there is a change in school or college or if there is a more than a six-month break in training.
- There are some exceptions to MHA.
- MHA rate terms are commonly interchanged with Post 9/11 BAH rates terms. They are one and the same.
- The MHA rate for online colleges, schools or distance learning programs is $871. For more information on how to determine your online MHA rate and eligibility click here.
- Students attending all courses online will receive half the national MHA average.
- Students cannot receive over the maximum allowable BAH amount.
- BAH is paid each month. The first payment may not arrive for several months so plan accordingly.
- BAH is not paid during winter or summer breaks, but spring break counts. For short breaks that fall within the term (i.e., spring break, Thanksgiving break), payment will be given, but for breaks between terms, payments will not be given.
- MHA is prorated based on the days you attend class. If your term begins in the middle of a month, your payment will be adjusted accordingly.
- Your MHA or BAH rate may be adjusted in certain circumstances, such as when:
- Your program or school changes
- You attend most of your classes at a different location
- You take a break of six months or longer (unless you are on active duty)
- You drop courses or otherwise change how many credit hours you are taking
BAH Versus MHA
BAH is a housing benefit provided by the DoD, whereas MHA is a benefit provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Both use the same BAH rate tables, but how they are calculated and who is eligible are different.
- BAH rate effective date is Jan. 1.
- MHA rate effective date is Aug. 1.
- For BAH, the ZIP code is the primary duty station.
- For MHA, the ZIP code is where the majority of classes are taken.
- BAH is for active-duty service members.
- MHA is for GI Bill students including veterans, spouses and children.
- Active-duty service members cannot receive MHA if they already receive BAH (and vice versa).
- BAH is calculated by pay grade, location and dependent status.
- MHA starts with the equivalent of an E-5 with dependents pay grade, and then applies these factors to prorate benefits:
- Campus, online or hybrid classes or foreign school
- Months of service
- Partial or full-time attendance
