The Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapter 30) assists students who entered active duty for the first time after July 1, 1985, and who agreed to have their pay reduced by $100 for 12 months. Veterans must have received an honorable discharge and active-duty personnel must have served at least two years to be eligible to use their benefits.
Certain veterans and active-duty military personnel who were eligible for educational assistance under the Vietnam Era GI Bill® (Chapter 34) on December 31, 1989, may be eligible for benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill® if they have served on active duty since October 19, 1984, without a break in service and served three continuous years on active duty from June 30, 1985, through June 30, 1988, or served two continuous years on active duty followed by four years in the selected reserves after June 30, 1985. A break in service of 90 days or less during the period October 19, 1984, through June 30, 1985, will not disqualify a person from eligibility for benefits. However, a break in active duty of any length after June 30, 1985, will disqualify a person for Chapter 30. These participants are not required to make contributions to the program. Certain individuals who are voluntarily or involuntarily separated from active duty with an honorable discharge may elect to participate and make a $1,200 contribution to the Montgomery GI Bill® program before separating from active duty. This includes individuals who may have participated in the Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP – Chapter 32).
Individuals are allowed 36 months of full-time entitlement. Participants who have eligibility through the Vietnam Era GI Bill® have 36 months of entitlement or the amount of entitlement they have remaining from Chapter 34, whichever is less. Benefits must be used within 10 years from the date the individual was last discharged from active duty.
The current payment rate for a full time student is $2,210 a month. Because these funds are paid directly to the student, a protective hold is not placed on your account and arrangements to pay your bill must be made prior to the payment deadline to avoid having your classes dropped.
The amount you receive might be higher if you have a buy up or a kicker.
Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31) provides assistance to veterans who have a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent and are in need of vocational rehabilitation. Vocational rehab covers a student’s tuition and fees, books, school supplies and also pays a monthly housing allowance. Because these funds are paid directly to the university, a protective hold is placed on your account once you have been certified so that you will not be dropped from your classes. You must be certified prior to 5 p.m. on the date payments are due for this hold to be put in place. Once your Benefits Enrollment form has been certified you will receive a message through the Veterans Portal notifying you of this (and with your Certification ID #) and that is your way of knowing that a hold is in place. You will continue to receive notifications about paying that you may disregard once you are certified.
Vocational Rehabilitation does not pay the school directly for non-tuition related costs such as: student health insurance (you must decline student health insurance coverage here or you will be responsible for its cost), dorm costs, meal plans or any other costs that you choose to add to your student account. Please be aware that you will be responsible for paying for these costs out of pocket.
Currently, veterans eligible for this program can choose to receive either the Post 9/11 GI Bill® monthly payment amount or the Vocational Rehab Subsistence allowance.
Eligible veterans may be allowed up to 48 months of full-time benefits.
Veterans generally have 12 years from the date they are notified of their entitlement to use their benefits.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. The VA pays tuition and fees directly to the school (the amount covered depends on the student's eligibility rating) and a monthly housing payment directly to the student. The housing payment is based on the zip code of the school the student is enrolled in. It is important to remember this amount is for someone who has a 100% eligibility rating. Lower ratings mean a lower housing allowance. The VA also pays a book stipend of up to $1000 per school year.
Post-9/11 does not pay the school directly for non-tuition related costs such as: dorm costs, meal plans, or any other costs you choose to add to your student account. Please be aware you will be responsible for paying for these costs out of pocket.
Approved training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® includes graduate and undergraduate degrees, and vocational/technical training. All training programs must be offered by an institution of higher learning (IHL) and approved for GI Bill® benefits. Additionally, tutorial assistance, and licensing and certification test reimbursement are approved under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. Check out the VA’s Post 9/11 GI Bill® website for more information.
It is important to notify our office of any changes in your enrollment information as soon as possible, as waiting may create a substantial debt to the VA.
TUITION AND FEES
VA will pay the approved percentage (based on your eligibility) of in-state tuition and fees directly to the university. **This does not include parking permits, meal plans, living on campus and out-of-state tuition charges. Because these funds are paid directly to the university, a protective hold is placed on your account once you have been certified so that you will not be dropped from your classes. You must be certified prior to 5 p.m. on the date payments are due for this hold to be put in place. Once your Benefits Enrollment form has been certified you will receive a message through the Veterans Portal notifying you of this (and with your Certification ID #) and that is your way of knowing that a hold is in place. You will continue to receive notifications about paying that you may disregard once you are certified.
MONTHLY STIPEND
- $1,800.00 per month (if a student is considered 100%).
- An undergraduate student must be in at least 7 credits Fall or Spring semester to receive at least a portion of the Monthly Housing Allowance; graduate students must take at least 5 hours.
- Students must be enrolled in at least one in-person class (students not enrolled in at least one in-person class will only receive 50% of their Monthly Housing Allowance.
BOOK/SUPPLY STIPEND
- $41.67 per credit hour (at the% eligibility rate)
- Up to 24 credit hours per academic year.
Survivors and Dependents Benefits (Chapter 35) provide educational benefits to spouses and children of veterans who either died while in service, died as a result of a service-connected disability, or became totally and permanently disabled as a result of their military service.
Survivors and dependents are allowed 45 months of full-time benefits. Spouses have 10 years from the date of the veteran’s effective date of permanent and total disability rating or the veteran’s death to use the benefit. Dependents’ benefits end on their 26th birthday or eight years from the veteran’s effective date of permanent or total disability rating or the veteran’s death, but not after the dependent’s 31st birthday.
ENROLLMENT STATUS & MONTHLY RATE
Full Time - $1,401.00
3/4 Time - $1,107.00
1/2 Time - $812.00
> 1/2 < 1/4 Time - $812.00**
1/4 Time or Less - $350.25**
Because these funds are paid directly to the student, a protective hold is not placed on your account and arrangements to pay your bill must be made prior to the payment deadline to avoid having your classes dropped.
Montgomery GI Bill® – Selected Reserves (Chapter 1606) benefits are available to reservists who enlist, reenlist, or extend an enlistment in the Selected Reserve for not less than six years on or after July 1, 1985. For officers, the six-year period is in addition to any other obligated period of service. Eligibility for the program requires the reservists to have obtained a high school diploma or equivalent. In addition, the reservist must have completed Initial Active Duty Training (IADT). Finally, a reservist must be participating in training at the time benefits are used.
A reservist is allowed 36 months of full-time benefits.
ENROLLMENT STATUS &MONTHLY RATE
Full Time - $439.00
3/4 Time - $329.00
1/2 Time - $219.00
1/4 Time or Less - $109.75
Because these funds are paid directly to the student, a protective hold is not placed on your account and arrangements to pay your bill must be made prior to the payment deadline to avoid having your classes dropped.