The GI Bill® is a generic term for several different programs for veterans and their dependents. Use this guide to see which one is the best for you.
When a veteran goes onto the VA website to explore the GI Bill® Comparison Tool, they will need to answer some questions to determine their level of eligibility.
One question is: “Which GI Bill benefit do you want to use?” The question has a dropdown menu so you can choose from multiple options.
Which GI Bill is best for you and your kids? To choose the best option, it is important to do a bit of research. Doing so will give you or your veteran some peace of mind knowing that you have chosen the GI Bill that is going to provide the most benefits for all of you.
In this Article about Choosing the Right G.I. Bill:
The Different GI Bill Programs Available for Veterans
Here is a look at some of the GI Bill options.
Post-9/11 GI Bill (Ch 33)
Vets often ask what the difference is between the MG and Post-9/11 GI Bill. In fact, search for “Montgomery GI Bill vs. Post-9/11 Reddit” online, and there are hundreds of questions and answers from veterans trying to help their brothers- and sisters-in-arms.
To help clear up the confusion, let’s look at each program individually, starting with the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
The Veteran Must Qualify for One of the Following:
- Engaged in 90 days of active duty service after September 10, 2001
- Received an honorable discharge for any amount of service and received a Purple Heart on (or after) September 11, 2001
- Served continuously for 30 days (on or after September 11, 2001), sustained a disability connected to their service, and received an honorable discharge
- The qualified veteran chooses to transfer their benefits to a dependent child
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
- 36 months of benefits
- Tuition and fee coverage can include up to 100% of the cost of higher education (in-state, public schools only). There is a cap if a veteran decides to enroll in a private or foreign school program.
- Monthly housing allowance for veterans who are in school at least half-time. The amount depends on the cost of living in the city in which the school is located.
- A $1,000 stipend for books and other supplies
- A one-time payment if the veteran lives in a rural area and needs assistance moving to the city where they will be attending school
What the Veteran Has to Pay:
Not all veterans are eligible to receive 100% tuition and housing coverage. The GI Bill Comparison Tool shows what percentage a veteran is eligible for (between 50% – 100%) depending on cumulative time served, scholarships received, disability status, and whether you have received a Purple Heart.
Do the Benefits Expire?
Benefits expire 15 years post-active duty service if a veteran’s service ended prior to January 1, 2013. For those whose service ended after that date, their benefits will not expire due to the Forever GI Bill (the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017).
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Montgomery GI Bill (Ch 30)
The Montgomery GI Bill can help veterans with their tuition if they have served two years of active duty. However, the two years alone is not enough to qualify. They need to fit into one of four categories and be honorably discharged.
Category One:
The veteran needs to have a GED, high school diploma, or college credit amounting to 12 hours. They also need to have entered active duty after June 30, 1985 and had their military pay reduced by $100 per month over the first 12 months of active duty. One of the following is also required:
- Served continuously for three years
- Served for two years (cumulative) as per their enlistment agreement
- Served continuously for four years in the Select Reserve within 12 months of leaving active duty service
Category Two:
The veteran needs to check all these boxes:
- GED, high school diploma, or 12 hours of credit in college
- Started their active duty service prior to January 1, 1977
- Served at least one day between October 19, 1984 and June 30, 1985. They also need to have stayed in active duty service through June 30, 1988.
- As of December 31, 1988, they need to have had at least one day of entitlement remaining of the Vietnam Era GI Bill®
Category Three:
Veterans in this category need a GED, 12 hours of college credit or a high school diploma. They cannot qualify for either Category One or Two of this Bill. They also need to have had their pay reduced prior to their military separation by $1,200. Veterans also need to have one of the following:
- Were engaged in active duty on September 30, 1990, but were involuntarily discharged after February 2, 1991
- They were separated (again, involuntarily) on/after November 30, 1993
- Chose voluntary separation under one of two programs: the Special Separation Benefit (SSB) or the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI)
Category Four:
Finally, in this category, the veteran must again have 12 hours of college, a high school diploma, or a GED. They also need to have received a pay reduction of $100 per month for a year or made a one-time contribution of $1,200. Additionally, the veteran must have been on active duty on October 9, 1996, chose the Montgomery GI Bill before October 9, 1997, and had funds remaining in their VEAP account. Or, they need to have entered full-time duty in the National Guard between July 1, 1985, and November 28, 1989.
Montgomery GI Bill Benefits :
Benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill are paid monthly. The amount a veteran receives depends on:
- The amount of time spent on active duty
- The school they choose to attend
- Which category they fall under
- The type of educational or training program they choose
- If and how much they have paid into the $600 Buy-Up Program
- If they qualify for a college fund or kicker
What the Veteran Has to Pay:
Like the Post-9/11 GI Bill, what a veteran pays depends on their qualifications. Some are eligible for 100% tuition coverage for up to 36 months of training/education.
Do the Benefits Expire?
Once a veteran leaves active duty service, they have 10 years to use their GI Bill benefits. However, if they rejoin active duty service or have been activated from reserve and serve over 90 days, they have 10 years from the end of that service period to take advantage of their benefits.
Selected Reserve GI Bill® (Ch 1606)
The Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve is a reserve education assistance program for members of the:
- Navy
- Marine Corps
- Army
- Air Force
- Army National Guard
- Coast Guard Reserve
- Air National Guard
Qualifications Include:
- Served for six years or agreed to serve for six years in addition to their initial obligation
- Service began after June 30, 1985
- Active duty training is complete
- They have a GED or high school diploma
- They remained in good standing during their active service
Benefits of the Selected Reserve GI Bill:
Up to 36 months of benefits, which amount to approximately $384 per month maximum.
Do the Benefits Expire?
Selected Reserve GI Bill benefits extend for 10-14 years after separation.
Here one of our VA disability lawyers goes over the questions Woods and Woods, The Veteran’s Firm, is often asked about veterans’ disability claims and appeals.
Veteran Readiness and Employment
The VR&E program helps veterans – particularly those with service-related disabilities – with job training, résumé development, getting a job, and skills coaching, so they can impress potential employers during the interview process. Some benefits include helping veterans start their own businesses.
Veterans must fill out an application to see if they are eligible. If they are, they will go through a training process that consists of five phases:
- Entitlement Decision
- Evaluation/Planning
- Five Tracks
- Employment Training
- Rehabilitation
As a VA disability firm, this is the one we are the most interested in. When we help a veteran get a VA rating for any disability, we know that TDIU isn’t for everyone. Opportunities like VR&E are wide open as soon as the VA recognizes your service-connected disability.
VET TEC Program
The VET TEC Program (Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses) is a five-year pilot program that trains veterans to learn new skills. The goal is to help them gain high-tech skills so they can gain employment that pays a top wage. Additionally, the program helps veterans make a smooth transition back into civilian life.
Dependence Education Assistance Program (DEA)
Survivors and dependents of veterans can also benefit from the GI Bill. If the service member died, was captured, is MIA, is being treated for a service-related disability, or is totally disabled because of their service, spouses or children can be eligible for the DEA.
Benefits are paid directly to the student (up to $1,224 per month). Eligibility can range from 10 to 20 years depending on VA requirements and eligibility status. Once they decide to take advantage of the DEA program, the tuition/training will be covered for up to 45 months.
It may be difficult to get 100% TDIU from one disability, but here one of our VA disability lawyers talks about common disabilities that add up to a 100% combined rating.
FAQs about the GI Bill
Here are some of the most common questions when deciding which GI Bill to choose.
It depends on the needs of the veteran, as well as what they are eligible for, depending on the amount of time they served and their discharge status. It is important to note, too, that once they have decided which GI Bill they are going to use, that decision is permanent.
The GI Bill usage timeline depends on each program and the qualifications of the veteran. To see if they are still eligible or how many benefits they have remaining, veterans can look at their GI Bill Statement of Benefits.
The GI Bill differs from Tuition Assistance (TA), a financial aid program provided by a veteran’s service branch. The branch will pay a certain amount of the tuition fee, while the vet pays the difference.
The GI Bill Kicker is a College Fund provided by the Department of Defense. Whether a veteran qualifies is not dependent upon the VA but rather, the service branch in which the veteran served (Marine Corps, Army, Navy).
The College Fund adds additional money to the veteran’s GI Bill payment each month. Some veterans can boost their tuition coverage by nearly $1000 per month.
In this case, a judge determined that if a veteran has two (or more) periods of service that qualify them under both the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill, they can receive benefits under both programs.
Under the basic GI Bill programs, veterans face limits to how much the VA will pay toward out-of-state or private educational institutions. Veterans who qualify will receive a grant or scholarship that will help cover the extra tuition costs and the VA will match that contribution.
Veterans should absolutely use their benefits – even if they are disabled. Veterans with a low disability rating – or those who have been denied disability benefits – have a chance to gain an education that will help them find a job that is conducive to their limitations and that will help them earn a good income.
How Woods and Woods Can Help
Woods and Woods does not help veterans apply for the GI Bill. Instead, we assist veterans in obtaining VA disability benefits, including appealing a denied claim if necessary.
If a veteran has an illness or injury sustained or made worse during active duty, they are entitled to disability benefits. The legal team at Woods and Woods has been making sure veterans receive the compensation they deserve since 1985.
Many of the benefits above require most of the paperwork we do for you to apply for VA disability. You don’t have to have a VA disability to get the GI Bill, but some of the GI Bills give you more money if you can prove a service-connected disability.
The Woods and Woods legal team will also encourage their clients to pursue benefits available through the GI Bill. Qualifying for VA disability can fast-track the process of obtaining GI Bill status for you or your children.
Call us today for free and we’ll see if you’ve got a good case for VA disability benefits.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(866) 232-5777
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.