Understanding The Post 9/11 GI Bill
The Post 9/11 GI Bill is an educational benefit for individuals that served on Active Duty after September 10, 2001. In this article we’re going to answer the following questions:
- What are the Eligibility Requirements?
- How much will you receive?
- How many months of assistance are given and how long are you eligible?
- What education and training can the benefits be used for?
- What are the rules for transferring these benefits to your dependents?
- What is the Yellow Ribbon Program?
By the end of this article, you will understand everything you need to know about the Post 9/11 GI Bill and whether it’s right for you!
What Are The Eligibility Requirements?
To be eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, you must have served on Active Duty for at least 90 days since September 10, 2001. You must have separated from Active Duty with an honorable discharge and the amount of time spent on Active Duty will determine the percentage of total benefits you will receive.
*NOTE – “Children or spouses of service members who died in the line of duty on or after 9/11 may also be eligible to use the GI Bill to further their education through the Marine Gunnery John David Fry Scholarship Program. These benefits are available at the 100-percent level to children between ages 18 and 33 and spouses who have not remarried for 15 years after the service member’s death.” – Military Times
How Much Will You Receive?
The percentage you’ll receive will depend on the following – See Chart Below
| 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% |
With the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you will receive two forms of compensation.
- A Tuition and Fee payment that is paid to your school on your behalf
- A Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)** that is equal to:
- The basic allowance for housing (BAH) payable for the zip code of your school to a military E-5 with dependents for students pursuing resident training
- One-half the BAH national average for students training solely by distance learning
- The national average BAH for students pursuing training at foreign schools
In simple terms, you are essentially going to get paid to go to college. Not only are you receiving a free college education, but you are also going to receive a Monthly Housing Allowance that will be used to pay for housing while attending college. If you have an idea of what college you wish to attend and would like to know how much you’d receive in a Monthly Housing Allowance, you can do so HERE.
Keep in mind that if you find an apartment or somewhere to rent that is cheaper than the full amount of MHA you are receiving the rest is yours to keep. So, keep those expenses low!
How Many Months of Assistance Are You Given And How Long Are You Eligible?
You will receive up to 36 months of entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. You will be eligible for benefits for 15 years from your last period of active duty of at least 90 consecutive days. So what that means is you have the opportunity to save the Post 9/11 GI for up to 15 years after leaving the military.
Why would you wait to use your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits? In many cases, it’s because a Veteran doesn’t feel the need to use them right away. Maybe they already have a job or specific position lined up for when they leave Active Duty or maybe it’s because they are starting their own business. Whatever the case may be, at some point, they may consider using the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits later on down the road. In this case, the Veteran has up to 15 years after leaving to put these benefits to use.
One thing to consider is the various state education benefits that are available to Veterans. Some states may offer free education to Veterans. If your state offers free education, you may consider saving your Post 9/11 GI Benefits for continuing your education down the road.
What Education and Training Can The Benefits Be Used For?
Your Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits can be used at universities, colleges, and trade schools, as well as, on-the-job training, flight schools, and apprenticeships. The Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits can also be used for tutorial assistance, licensing (attorney license, cosmetology license, etc.) and certification tests (SAT, LSAT, etc.) If you would like to see what programs are currently approved, you can do so here. One thing to keep in mind is that if you do have a program that is not currently accepted you can contact your state approving agency to see if it can be approved. The list is available here!
What Are The Rules For Transferring These Benefits To Your Dependants?
If you are on Active Duty or in the Selected Reserve you may be able to transfer your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to your dependants if all of the following are true:
- You’ve completed at least 6 years of service on the date your request is approved, and
- You agree to add 4 more years of service, and
- The person getting benefits has enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).
What benefits do qualified dependants get?
First, a Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) must be submitted. Once approved, your spouse or dependent children can apply for up to 36 months of benefits. These benefits include tuition, housing, books, and supplies.
When can your dependants use the benefits?
Spouses
- May use the benefit right away
- Can use the benefit while you’re on active duty or after you’ve separated from service
- Don’t qualify for the monthly housing allowance while you’re on active duty
- May use the benefit for up to 15 years after your separation from active duty
Children
- May start to use the benefit only after you’ve finished at least 10 years of service
- Can use the benefit while you’re on active duty or after you’ve separated from service
- May not use the benefit until they’ve gotten a high school diploma (or equivalency certificate), or have reached 18 years of age
- Qualify for the monthly housing allowance even when you’re on active duty
- Don’t have to use the benefit within 15 years after your separation from active duty, but can’t use the benefit after they’ve turned 26 years old.
“Your dependents may still qualify even if a child marries or you and your spouse divorce. However, service members and Veterans can revoke (cancel) or change a TOE at any time. If you want to totally revoke transferred benefits for a dependent and you’re still in the service, please turn in another transfer request for the dependent through milConnect. If a dependent’s transfer eligibility (ability to get a TOE) has been totally revoked, you can’t transfer benefits again to that dependent.”
https://www.va.gov/education/transfer-post-9-11-gi-bill-benefits/
If you are interested in transferring your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to your qualified dependents and would like more information on how to properly fill out and submit a Transfer of Entitlement, you can do so here.
What is the Yellow Ribbon Program?
The Post 9/11 GI Bill covers all in-state tuition and fees at all public degree-granting schools. It may not cover all private degree-granting schools and out-of-state tuition. This is where the Yellow Ribbon Program provides assistance. Educational institutions actually enter into an agreement with the VA to fund uncovered charges that aren’t fully covered by the Post 9/11 GI Bill. The VA then matches each dollar of unmet charges that the specific institution agrees to contribute, up to the total cost of the tuition and fees.
The Yellow Ribbon Program allows you the opportunity to attend more expensive schools that aren’t fully covered by the Post 9/11 GI Bill. If you’d like to learn more about the Yellow Ribbon Program, you can do so here.
If you have any further questions or wish to further your research on the Post 9/11 GI Bill you can visit the VA’s website.
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Thanks for stopping by!
Semper Fidelis,
Tony
Sergeant (Marine Corps Veteran)
For The Corps
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