Chapter 33: The Post 9/11 'New' GI Bill

Are you waiting for your VA Education Benefits?

We have provided a summary of benefits for the Post 9/11 GI Bill.  This information has been taken directly from the GI Bill web-site.  For a more detailed description and for most recent updates, please visit their web-site: www.gibill.va.gov

Section I: The Post 9/11 GI Bill vs. Current GI Bill Programs

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a new education benefit program for individuals who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. No payments can be made under this program for training pursued before September 11, 2001. Table 1 shows how long a veteran must have served after September 11, 2001 to receive the
percentage of benefits specified.

Table 1: Required Time Served and Benefits Payable to Service Members

Individuals serving an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001 of:	Percentage of Maximum Benefit Payable
At least 36 months	100
At least 30 continuous days and discharged due to service - connected disability	100
At least 30 months < 36 months	90
At least 24 months < 30 months	80
At least 18 months < 24 months	70
At least 12 months < 18 months	60
At least 6 months < 12 months	50
At least 90 days < 6 months	40

The Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are payable for training pursued on or after August 1, 2009.

Service members are eligible for benefits for 15 years from the last period of active duty of at least 90 consecutive days. If the service member was released for a service-connected disability after at least 30 days of continuous service, that veteran will also be eligible for benefits for 15 years.

If students qualify for any other program through the GI Bill (GI Bill (Chapter 30) GI Bill - Selected Reserve, or the Reserve Educational Assistance Program) and meet requirements for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, on August 1, 2009, they may make an irrevocable election to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Service members are eligible to receive benefits for up to 36 total months (including months used under other MGI Bill programs prior to the irrevocable election to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill).

Students should monitor the GI Bill website at www.gibill.va.gov for updated information and application submission dates.

NOTE: Once students elect to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, they will no longer be eligible to receive benefits from other MGI Bill programs.

Table 2: Differences between the Montgomery GI Bill and the New GI Bill

	Montgomery GI Bill Chapter 30	Post 9/11 GI Bill: Chapter 33
Payment Rate for Full-Time Student	Annually set - Nationwide - monthly payment rate. Increased to $1,321 in 2008-2009. Paid to the student each month	A payment indexed to full in-state tuition for public schools. A lump sum paid directly to the school each term. The national average for in-state tuition in 2008 is $6,185.
Duration of Program	36 month entitlement	36 month entitlement
Additional Expense Payments	No additional payments for expenses	Living Expenses - stipend based on local BAH for E-5 with dependents
Eligibility Requirements	Those who entered service to the military after June 30, 1985	Active - duty service since September 11, 2001
Veteran Education Assistance Program (VEAP) - era Eligibility	No - Except those who elected to convert in the past	Yes - Those who meet the eligibility criteria.
Benefit Expiration	10 years after separation or discharge	15 years from your last period of active duty of at least 90 days
Transfer Benefits to Families	LImited - Currently limited to Army for Critical MOS only	Yes - but this is limited to those in the military. The details are still being worked out.
Enrollment Fee	Yes - $1,200	NONE

Section II: Eligibility Requirements under the Post-9/11 GI Bill

Student-Veterans may be eligible if they served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty after September 10, 2001, and are still on active duty or were honorably:

• Discharged from the active duty 
• Released from active duty and placed on the retired list or temporary disability retired list
• Released from active duty and transferred to the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve
• Released from the active duty for further service in a reserve component of the Armed Forces.
• Released from active duty for a service-connected disability and served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001.

Section III: Payable Benefits under the Post-9/11GI Bill

Based on the student's length of active duty service (refer to Table 1), students are entitled to a percentage of the following:

Payable to the School:

Cost of tuition and fees, not to exceed the most expensive in-state undergraduate tuition at a public institution of higher education.

Payable to the Student:

• Monthly housing allowance equal to the basic allowance for housing payable to a military E-5 with dependents, in the same zip code as your school. The housing allowance is not payable to those pursuing training at half time or less or to individuals enrolled in distance learning.
• Yearly books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000 per year
• A one-time payment of $500 paid to certain individuals relocating from highly rural areas
• Up to $2,000 for the reimbursement of one licensing or certification test

Transferring Benefits to Dependents:

Service members should contact the Service Retention Officer at their unit, or visit www.gibill.va.gov for benefit transfer information and required paperwork.