Are you a Veteran returning to school?

If you are, then there is a NEW GI Bill you may want to consider.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is now accepting and processing applications for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. You should complete and submit the application form which is available on-line at (http://www.gibill.va.gov) – on the menu under ”GI Bill: Apply for Benefits”.

The Department of Veterans Administration (VA) will notify you regarding your eligibility for the program.

The Post -9/11 GI Bill is for individuals who had at least 90 days of service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. In order to be a recipient of the Post- 9/11 AGI Bill Award, you must have received an honorable discharge. The Post-9/11 GI Bill will become effective for those individuals who received training on or after August 1, 2009. The law creates eight separate categories of veterans for purposes of awarding these benefits, defined according to the length of time served on active duty:

1. Individuals who have served for at least 36 months.

2. Individuals who have served for at least 30 days (continuous) on active duty and were then discharged for a service-related disability.

3. Individuals who have served for at least 30 months and but less than 36 months. These students may receive 90 percent of the maximum benefits outlined in the law.

4. Individuals who have served at least 24 months and less than 30 months on or after 9/11. These students may receive 80 percent of the maximum benefits outlined in the law.

5. Individuals who have served at least 18 months and less than 24 months on or after 9/11. These students may receive 70 percent of the maximum benefits outlined in the law.

6. Individuals who have served at least 12 months and less than 18 months on or after 9/11. These students may receive 60 percent of the maximum benefits outlined in the law.

7. Individuals who have served at least six months and less than 12 months on or after 9/11. These students may receive 50 percent of the maximum benefits outlined in the law.

8. Individuals who have served at least 90 days and less than six months on or after 9/11. These students may receive 40 percent of the maximum benefits outlined in the law.

Certain periods do not count, such as active duty as an officer pursuant to certain agreements or as a result of defective enlistment and induction.

The application form requires that the individual currently eligible for benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill –Active Duty (MGIB-AD), Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) or the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) make an irrevocable election from their existing program to the Post -9/11 GI Bill.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill Award will cover the following:

• Tuition & Fees paid directly to the school (It will not exceed the maximum IN-State tuition & fees at a public Institution of Higher Learning).

• A monthly housing allowance based on the Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents at the location of the school. For those attending foreign schools (schools without a main campus in the U.S.) the BAH rate is fixed at $1,300.00 for 2008.

• An Annual Book & Supply (s) Award of $1,000.00 paid proportionately based on enrollment.
  A one-time rural benefit payment for eligible individuals.

For individual(s) eligible for MGIB-AD

An individual(s) months of entitlement Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill will be equal to the number of months of entitlement you have remaining under the MGIB-AD. However, if you use all of your MGIB-AD benefits, then you may be entitled to a maximum of 12 additional months of benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

For individual(s) eligible for MGIB-SR and/or REAP

Individuals who are eligible for more than one benefit may use a maximum combined total of 48 months of benefits.

For example: If you have used 20 months of benefits under REAP, you may be eligible for 28 months of benefits under the Post -9/11 GI Bill.

****Payments for Post -9/11 GI Bill will not be processed until August 1, 2009. ****

Last updated: July 21, 2009

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