Post-9/11 GI Bill Chapter 33

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is an education program for Service Members who serve on active duty after 10 September 2001 and receive an honorable discharge.

Serve at least 90 days in a period of qualifying active duty on or after September 11, 2001: 

• Title 10 USC Sec’s 688, 12301(a), 12301(d), 12301(g), 12301(h), 12302, 12304, 12304a, or 12304b 
  
• Title 10 AGR or Title 32 AGR
• Title 32 USC, Section 502(f) as follows:
  • Operation Noble Eagle: Sep 11, 2001 – May 31, 2002
  • Southwest Border (Operation Guardian Shield): Feb 15, 2019 – Jan 20, 2021
  • COVID-19 Pandemic Response: March 22, 2020 -–  July 1, 2022
  • Capitol Police (59th Inauguration): January 11, 2021- May 23, 2021 
• Serve for 30 continuous days and separate due to a service-connected disability or injury.
• Purple Heart recipients eligible at 100% payment tier. Check this site often or check with your state ESO for newly added periods of qualifying active duty.

Basic Training and AIT can be added to qualifying time if:

• You have completed 24 months of other qualifying active duty; and
• Your Basic Training and/or AIT occurred on or after 11 SEP 2001

The following service time DOES NOT qualify for Post-9/11:

• Title 32 ADOS/ADSW/FTNGD-OS (unless listed above)
  
• The Service Obligation from a Service Academy Contract
• The Service Obligation from a ROTC Active Duty Contract (Dedicated Guard Only)
• Active Duty used for Active Duty Loan Repayment (Title 10 Sec. 109)
• Active Duty period receiving less than honorable discharge

Tuition and Fees (based on percentage tier)

• Up to 100% of in-state tuition if you are attending a public school
• Max payment of $27,120.05 per year for private or foreign school

Book and Supply Stipend (based on percentage tier)

• Up to $1,000 per academic year ($41.67/credit hour)

Monthly Housing Allowance (based on percentage tier)

• Equal to BAH rate for E-5 with dependents
• Based on zip code of campus where attending class
• Must be attending more than half-time to qualify
• If attending only online classes: $1,054.50 
• AGR and Active Duty Soldiers and spouses are not eligible for the Housing Stipend

Payment Tiers

• Payments for all three benefits are pro-rated on your percentage tier. The book and supply stipend and the MHA are also adjusted based on your enrollment (number of credit hours).

Vocational Flight Schools

The actual net costs not to exceed $15,497.15 per academic year. The cap applies to all classes and/or enrollments that begin during that academic year, regardless of the academic year in which the classes or enrollments are completed. Find out how your VA education benefits can help pay for flight training to advance your pilot qualifications. https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/flight-training/

Correspondence Schools

The actual net costs not to exceed $13,172.57 per academic year. 

National Testing Programs/Licensing & Certification Tests

Full rates for testing fees
Effective August 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024

Check to make sure your requested tests are covered before you take them. The VA will cover only tests they approve for the GI Bill.
Learn what tests we approve for the GI Bill https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/test-fees/

Licensing and certification test fees
Receive up to $2,000 for qualifying licensing and certification test fees.
Your entitlement will be charged at the rate of 1 month for every $2,262.59 in fees paid by the VA for licensing and certification tests. 

National tests
There’s no limit on how much the VA will reimburse you for national test fees. 
Your entitlement will be charged at the rate of 1 month for every $2,262.59 in fees paid by the VA for national tests. 

On-the-job training and apprenticeships
Effective August 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024

Money for books and supplies
The VA will pay you up to $1,000 each academic year for books and supplies. This is paid to you at the start of your benefit award period, and at the start of each academic year while you’re in your training program.

 Monthly housing allowance
You may be eligible for money to help pay for your housing while you’re studying. If you’re eligible for monthly housing allowance (MHA), The VA will pay you this allowance at the end of each month. 

 You are paid a percentage of the full monthly housing allowance (called a “prorated payment”) based on these 2 factors:

• The percentage of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits you’re eligible for, and
• How many hours you work each month

Your MHA is based on the monthly military Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for an E-5 with dependents.
You can use the Defense Department (DOD) lookup tool on the Defense Travel Management Office website to find out how much money you may be eligible to receive for housing. You’ll need the zip code for your school to get started. https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing/BAH-Rate-Lookup/

Timeline/Expiration of Benefits:

If your last day of qualifying Active Duty is on or after 1 JAN 2013, your benefits never expire

If your last day of qualifying Active Duty is before 1 JAN 2013, your benefits expire 15 years from your last day of Active Duty Service

• You can reset your expiration date by completing another qualifying period of service of at least 90 consecutive days
• Submit VA Form 21-4138 with your new DD 214 to the VA Regional Processing Center

Rates change every year on October 1. View current rates:  https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/resources/benefits_resources/rate_tables.asp#ch33

Submit the Veterans Online Application to begin using at: https://www.va.gov

Notify the VA Certifying Official at your school so they can verify your enrollment.