Chapter 33: The Post 9/11 “NEW” GI BILL
Below is a summary of information taken directly from the GI Bill website. For the latest and most comprehensive description of Chapter 33, we recommend visiting: 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 $1,426 in 2009-2010. 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 2010 is $934 per credit and $6,110 fees per semester. |
Duration of Program | 36 month entitlement | 36 month entitlement |
Additional Expense Payments | No additional payments for expenses | Living Expenses for Full-time Students – stipend based on local BAH for E-5 with dependents (current Active Duty personnel are ineligible) |
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 – for more information please visit: www.gibill.va.gov/post-911/post-911-gi-bill-summary/transfer-of-benefits.html |
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 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 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 pay grade 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.
o According to the Department of Defense's Defense Travel Management website at: www.defensetravel.dod.mil, the dollar amount for an E-5 with dependents for zip code: 15940 for 2011 was $870 per month.
· 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.
Benefits Calculator:
Please visit http://gibill.va.gov/CH33Estimator/.