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Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) General Info with HR3218 'Forever GI Bill' Changes

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Who is eligible for benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill ®?

  • Individuals who serve at least 90 days of aggregate qualifying active duty service after September 10, 2001.
  • Veterans must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill ®.

To be eligible for 100% of the benefit, an individual must have served an aggregate of 36 months of active duty service, or have been discharged for a service-connected disability after 30 days of continuous service.

For those who served fewer than 36 months, the percentage of benefit ranges from 50% to 90%:

  • 50% - 90 or more days 70% - 18 total months 90% - 30 total months
  • 60% - 6 total months 80% - 24 total months 100% - 36 total months

For example, an individual with five months of qualifying service could receive 50% of the tuition benefit, 50% of the monthly housing allowance (if eligible), and a maximum of $500 books and supplies stipend per year.

What entitlements do students receive 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.

Tuition & Fees

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 $24,476.79 per academic year.

If you are attending a public IHL as a non-resident student or a private IHL that is more expensive than the $24,476.79 cap you may be eligible for extra payment under the Yellow Ribbon program.

Monthly Living Stipend

A monthly housing allowance (MHA) equal to the basic allowance for housing (BAH) amount
payable to an E-5 with dependents (based on zip code of campus where attending). This allowance is paid proportionately based on your enrollment. MHA rates will be adjusted for new BAH rates on 1 August instead of 1 January.

  • If you are attending school at the 1/2 time or less rate, or if you are on active duty or the spouse of an active duty member (with transferred entitlements), you will not receive any MHA. Payments are prorated for days not on active duty.
  • If you are attending school overseas you will receive a MHA of the average BAH amount for all CONUS locations.
  • If you are enrolled solely in distance learning you will receive a housing allowance equal to 1/2 the national average.

MHA is also prorated based on length of service. For your school’s current rates, check http://inquiry.vba.va.gov/weamspub/.

Books and Supplies Stipend

Up to $1000/year payment issued directly to the student. This benefit is paid proportionately at $41.67 per credit hour, not to exceed 24 credit hours per academic year, and is prorated based on length of service. A lump sum payment is paid with the first housing stipend each academic year.

What is the period of eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill ®?

Service members whose last day of Active Duty is on or after 1 January 2013 no longer have a delimiting date. For all others the period of eligibility for the Post 9/11 GI Bill ® ends 15-years from the date of the last discharge or release from active duty of at least:

  • 90 consecutive days;
  • 30 days but less than 90 days if released for a service-connected disability;
  • 15 years from the date of discharge for the last period of service used to meet the minimum service requirements of 90 aggregate days of service.

For more information go to: http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill or contact 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).

Post-9/11 GI Bill ® (Chapter 33): “Transferability” (Add Dependents as Beneficiaries)

Who is eligible to “transfer” Post-9/11 GI Bill ® benefits to qualified dependents?

Individuals who are currently serving in the Armed Forces (on or after 1 August 2009), have completed at least six years of service, and agree to serve up to four more years (must not have an Adverse Action Flag). Extension must be made to add the amount of time to current ETS to equal four years from the date of election for transferability.

Service members can transfer up to 36 months of remaining entitlements to their spouse and/or children. Can add, revoke or modify transferability benefits while serving in the Armed Forces.

Retirees or separated service members cannot add new beneficiaries; they can only revoke or modify existing transferred benefits. Service members can re-transfer Post-9/11 benefits if the original dependent dies, even after the service member separates. Dependents can re-transfer Post-9/11 benefits if the transferor dies and they have remaining months.

Spouses:

  • Can use benefits after service member has served at least six years in the armed forces
  • Can use benefits up to member’s eligibility period unless member specifies earlier date
  • Can use benefits if divorced after the transfer (unless revoked by Service member)

Children:

  • Can transfer to unmarried child under age of 18, or if in college, under the age of 23
  • May use benefits after transferor has served 10-years in the Armed Forces
  • Will receive full veteran benefits even if transferor is on active duty (housing and books)
  • May use benefits from age of 18 until age of 26 regardless of transferor’s eligibility period
  • May continue to receive benefits after marriage

Procedures to Transfer benefits (must be done in sequence):

  • Confirm that your family member is enrolled in DEERS as a qualified dependent
  • Log into the DOD TEB website to complete your transfer request: You can access TEB through milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil (Sign In, click on "Transfer my education benefits").
  • Confirm that your current Expiration Term of Service (ETS) date meets the required service obligation – extend contract if necessary – allow processing time for extension. If your ETS is not updated in the personnel system after 70 days your request will be denied and you will need to request TEB again.
  • A Service Representative will approve, reject, or set your request to a pending status. If a Statement of Understanding (SOU) form is required by your service, they will contact you with instructions.
  • To track the status of your request, you will need to return to the DOD TEB website to check the "Status" in the Sponsor information section. It is important to follow up and ensure this section states "Approved."
  • Once your transfer request is approved, your data is sent to the Dept of Veterans Affairs (DVA).
  • To use the benefit complete VA Form 22-1990e (only when benefit is needed) with the DVA online at www.vets.gov/education/apply/.
  • DVA will process the dependent’s application and provide a Certificate of Eligibility to the dependent
  • Dependent brings the Certificate of Eligibility to the Veterans Affairs Certifying Official at the school they attend to begin processing for payment of benefit.

TEB must be initiated for each dependent before you retire or separate. For more information, visit milConnect.