Post-9/11 GI Bill Guide: Benefits, Eligibility, and Payment Rates

As a U.S. military veteran or active-duty servicemember, including those in the National Guard and Reserves, you’re likely eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Sometimes, it’s also called the “Forever GI Bill.”  The Post-9/11 GI Bill helps veterans and servicemembers by paying for their college tuition, apprenticeships, and other training or educational programs. 

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is one of many variations of educational assistance programs the military offers. There is also the Montgomery GI Bill. Each one has its unique benefits aimed at helping veterans. 

For your sacrifice and service, those benefits are yours to use. How much you could be entitled to is based on a few factors, so let’s get into what you need to know about your eligibility, what you can use your benefits for, the amount you’re allowed to receive, and how to check your status. 

Post-9/11 GI Bill Eligibility

Eligibility for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits is based on any of the four situations below, as long as they occurred on or after September 11, 2001, and you received an honorable discharge:

1. You served at least 90 days on active duty, or 
2. You served for at least 30 consecutive days and suffered a service-connected disability, or 
3. You received a Purple Heart, or
4. You’re a dependent child using benefits transferred by a qualifying veteran or servicemember  

Note: You cannot switch education benefits. If you’re a member of the National Guard or Reserve and you’re the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR), you cannot switch to Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.

Understanding Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefit Pay Charts

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pays benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill slightly differently than the previous GI Bills. It pays out benefits on a tiered system, meaning you get access to benefits based on the time you served. 

To qualify for 100% of payable Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, you must have served at least three years on active duty, received a Purple Heart on or after Sept. 11, 2001, or were discharged after at least 30 days of service due to a service-connected disability. 

If you don’t fall into any of those categories, the chart below will show you the percentage of benefits you can receive.

Time of Service	Percentage (%) of Benefits
910 to 1,094 days (30 to 35 months)	90% of the total benefit
730 to 909 days (24 to 29 months)	80% of total benefit
545 to 729 days (18 to 13 months)	70% of total benefit
180 to 544 days (6 to 17 months)	60% of the total benefit
90 to 179 days (90 days to 5 months)	50% of the total benefit

Keep this chart in mind when reading below about any benefits or stipends you may be eligible to receive. Whatever percentage of benefits you’re qualified for will be the max you can receive. (ex: At 70% of the total benefit, you’d only be eligible for $700 on a program giving paying out $1,000) 

The VA affords a total of 48 months of benefits.

Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits Expiration

If you ended your service before January 1, 2013, access to your benefits will expire after 15 years. Because of the passage of the Forever GI Bill, if you end your service after January 1, 2013, access to your education benefits never expires. 

Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits and Payment Rates

The beauty of the GI Bill is the VA defines education somewhat loosely. That’s very good for you and others eligible for VA education benefits because the range of programs and schooling it pays for is large. While there are various programs, arguably, the most extensive program it funds is the one that pays tuition and fees for colleges and universities. 

The VA updates the amount it will pay for schooling programs each year, and the changes go into effect in August. The impact of the GI Bill benefits changes lives.

“The impact of GI Bill benefits on my ability to attend college was great from a financial perspective,” Treiva Williams, an Army veteran and producer of Paramount Studios, admits. “The GI Bill provided me with financial support that significantly offset the costs associated with higher education.”  

These are the latest 2024-2025 school year rates through the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Tuition and Fees

Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the VA pays the school or training program directly. That’s different than the Montgomery GI Bill, which would pay monthly benefits to an individual.

Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)

Aside from tuition and fees, the Post-9/11 GI Bill also offers a housing allowance each month you enroll in school. The MHA is based on the military’s basic allowance for housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents. A few factors impact how much of an allowance you receive, like the type of schooling you enroll in, the number of credit hours, and your location.  Calculate your MHA and read all the exemptions.

If college isn’t something you plan on doing, you can also receive MHA benefits from the VA if you’re in an apprenticeship or on-the-job training program. The amount you receive depends on the percentage of benefits you’re eligible for and then on the time you spend in the program. 

Percentage (%) of MHA	Time in Training
100% of available MHA	First 6 months of training
80% of available MHA	Second 6 months of training
60% of available MHA	Third 6 months of training
40% of available MHA	Fourth 6 months of training
20% of available MHA	Remainder of training time

A way to read this is, if you’re eligible for $1,000 in MHA, you’d receive the total amount of your MHA during the first six months, but each following six months would drop 20%, meaning the 7-12 months of the program, you’d only receive $800 per month. 

Books Stipend

The VA offers an additional $1,000 for books and supplies each school year. The amount you can receive is based on the percentage of benefits you’re eligible to receive and how many credit hours you take. To the VA, 12 credit hours is a full course load, so if you’re enrolled in eight credit hours, you’ll receive 67% of your benefits.   

The VA also allows for the books and supplies benefit for those in on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs. 

Example

You’re eligible for 80% Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and going to your local state college. You enroll in 9 credit hours each semester. What does the benefit pay look like?

1. Figure out your maximum pay availability. 

$1,000 (total amount eligible to receive from the VA) x .80 (Your 80% eligibility)  = $800

2. Next, take the number of credit hours or workload you’re taking to determine the percentage of benefits you’re eligible to receive based on workload.

The VA classifies 12 credit hours a semester as a full course load. Since 9 credit hours is 75% of 12 hours, your math would look like this:  

$800 (starting amount) x .75 (75%) = $600 

Based on those figures, you would be eligible for $600 for books that school year.

Rural Relocation Benefits

As part of the GI BIll, the VA will pay you a one-time fee of $500 to help with moving costs if you need to relocate from a rural area to where you will attend school. You’ll need to meet a few qualifications to receive this benefit.

1. 1). You live in a county with no more than 6 people per square mile, as the most recent census determined.

If that’s true, then one of the following two issues must also be true:

1. 1). To attend school, you’d have to move at least 500 miles away from your home.
2. 2.) You need to travel by air to physically attend school because you lack options like a train, car, bus, or other means of transportation.

Yellow Ribbon Program

Sometimes, the VA’s education benefits won’t fully cover tuition. In those cases, the Yellow Ribbon Program is another program available for veterans. It’s a program offered by participating colleges to help cover any remaining tuition costs not covered by the VA. 

You’ll need to read about the additional requirements to determine whether you qualify for the program.

Tutorial Assistance (TA) 

In addition to housing and tuition benefits, the VA offers students the opportunity to pay for tutors if they are struggling with coursework. Under its tutorial assistance (TA) program, you could be eligible for $100 monthly, totaling $1,200 each school year. 

Work Study Program

The VA offers veterans enrolled in either college, a degree program, or vocational/trade school a work-study option for additional financial help. The program comes with some requirements and restrictions, but the idea of those restrictions is not to overwhelm participants with work while going to school. 

Prep Courses and Testing Fees

The VA also covers several testing and preparatory class fees. These vary from college entrance exams to college credit courses and even certification classes for particular trade schools. 

The costs of preparatory classes and tests are fully covered; however, a $2,000 cap is set for certain licensing and certification fees. You’ll lose one month of benefits entitlement for every $2,414.18 spent on national test fees. The VA will charge you a month of entitlement for every $2,348.36 paid on prep classes and courses for testing and certifications.

Transferring Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Let’s say you weren’t planning on going to college after joining the military. I mean, the military is a very nice career path, but school may not be what’s best for you. That doesn’t mean those benefits have to go to waste. The VA allows you to transfer those education benefits to family members. It’s one of the best things about the GI Bill, and the military’s adjustments to the program over the past few decades aim to retain members. 

Active-duty service members can transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to spouses or dependents. However, they can only do so after six years of service and agreeing to serve four more years. Several requirements must be met before the benefits are successfully transferred. 

Applying For Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits

If you’re eligible for education benefits, then next thing is applying to receive them. While it may seem like a lot of work or paperwork, it’s worth it. Again, these are benefits you’ve earned, so get the money you’re entitled to receive. 

Personal Documents Needed

To apply for your education benefits, you’ll need the following personal information paperwork:

1. Social Security Number
2. Bank account for direct deposit (if you’re receiving any other military financial benefits from the VA, then that account is the one you must use for VA benefits)
3. Any documentation showing your education and military history (DD-214 Form)
4. Basic information about the school or training program you’ll want to attend

Application process

The easiest way to apply for VA benefits is likely to be online through the VA’s online application portal. You’ll need to either set up an account or use a previously set-up account from the options given on the sign-in screen. 

You can also complete a paper application form, the 22-1990. If you’re a dependent or spouse using transferred GI Bill benefits, you’ll need the 22-1990e form. You can also get those forms by calling the VA at 888-442-4551, and the agency will mail them to you. After completing the form, you’d send it back.  

You can also apply in person by visiting the nearest VA location. You can also work with a trained professional, such as an accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization representative. 

Once the VA has received and reviewed your application, if accepted, it will send you a decision confirmation. Keep that information. Show that to the school or program you enroll at to receive your benefits. If you disagree with the VA’s decision, you can ask for a chance at a decision review.   

Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

Once you’ve completed your application, you must determine if you can get a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). It’s needed for VA education benefits. Just keep in mind that the VA currently suggests you’ll need to wait about 30 days for the application to be processed. 

Final Points

One of, if not the most, important and substantial benefits offered to military members for their service is the Post-9/11 GI Bill. In my opinion, its value is unmatched when it comes to how it can truly change someone and their family’s life.  The value of the benefits is immeasurable, as they can professionally set you up for life. 

Williams attributes part of professional success to the GI Bill benefits, “without the GI Bill, I might have struggled to afford tuition, books, and other expenses while pursuing my degree.” 

Going on to say, “the benefits allowed me to focus more on my studies and worry less about the financial burden of attending college.”

She’s just one of thousands who feel the same. 

The most important factor is if you’re eligible to receive them but don’t want or plan to attend any additional schooling, they can be transferred to your children. An option that so many families, college students, and young recent graduates don’t have access to but wish they did. You can offer that in a way that likely also requires minimum, if any, changes to your military career plans.