While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the LIHEAP program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.

GI Bill

Table of Contents

About Us

We are not affiliated with the government in any way. We are a private company that engaged writers to research the GI Bill programs and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process. We are not providing legal or financial advice. If you need such advice please contact an attorney or a financial advisor.

What is the GI Bill?

The GI Bill Program helps fund the higher education of eligible Veterans and their families. Since 1994, GI Bill benefits have helped Veterans and their families attend college, graduate school and training programs increase their career opportunities. There are also different types of programs within the GI Bill Program. These include:

  • Post-9/11 GI Bill
  • Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD)
  • Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
  • Survivors’ and dependents’ assistance (DEA)

Depending on your current service status or the service history of your family member you may qualify for different GI Bill benefits. You can learn more about the GI Bill and the benefits it provides by accessing the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) website here.

What Types of GI Bill Benefits Are Available?

GI Bill programs provide financial assistance to Veterans and their family members who seek to further their career through education or job training. The amount of financial assistance you receive will depend on the GI Bill program you choose or qualify for.

For example, if you qualify for the Post-GI Bill Program, your education at a public university will be fully paid by the program if you are an in-state student. However, if you choose the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty Program, you will receive monthly payments to pay for your education based on how often you attend school (i.e. part-time student vs full-time student).

You may also receive Education Counseling benefits depending on the program you qualify for.

You can find all available rate information here on the VA website, or you can learn more about the different program benefits here.

How Much Assistance Do GI Bill Benefits Provide?

Each GI Bill program differs in the amount of assistance it provides. Below you will find information on the benefits available for each GI Bill program:

  • Post-9/11 GI Bill - the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides full payment for the tuition of Veterans or their family members if they choose to study at an in-state college or university. However, if an individual chooses to study at a private or foreign institution, he or she will receive no more than $27,120.05 in tuition assistance. You can find more information on Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits here.
  • Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) - For Active Duty benefits, it will depend on how long a service member will serve as well as how often he or she will be attending class.

The small table below shows the benefits active duty members receive when they sign up to complete three or more years of enlistment:

Training/Studying TimeMonthly Rates
Full-time student$2,358
3/4 time$1,768.50
1/2 time$1,179
Less than 1/2 but more then 1/4$1,179
1/4 time$589.50

For those who will enlist for less than three years, the rates will change to the following:

Training/Studying TimeMonthly Rates
Full-time student$1,913
3/4 time$1,434.75
1/2 time$956.50
Less than 1/2 but more then 1/4$956.50
1/4 time$478.25

For more information on Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty rates, click here.

  • Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) - For Selected Reserve benefits, it will depend on whether you are attending an institution for training/studying or if you are undergoing an apprenticeship for job training.

Below you will find a chart of benefit rates depending on how often you attend an institution:

Training/Studying TimeMonthly Rates
Full-time$466
3/4$349
1/2$233
Less than 1/2$116.50

For those undergoing an apprenticeship, the monthly benefit rate will be as follows:

Training PeriodMonthly Rates
First 6 months$349.50
Second 6 months$256.30
Remaining training period$163.10

For more details on Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve rates, click here.

  • Survivors’ and dependents’ assistance (DEA) - DEA benefits are for the surviving family and dependents of Veterans. DEA benefits are similar to Montgomery Active Duty benefits in that the amount of benefits received usually depends on how long you are spending studying or training, although DEA benefits usually pay less.

Below is a chart of DEA benefit rates:

Training/Studying TimeMonthly Rates
Full-time student$1,488
3/4 time$1,176
1/2 time$862
Less than 1/2 but more then 1/4$862
1/4 time$372

If you wish to undergo an apprenticeship or job training, you will have the following benefit options:

Training PeriodMonthly Rates
First 6 months$945
Second 6 months$710
Third 6 months$466
Remaining training period$237

To learn more about DEA rates, click here.

For a full breakdown of all the possible benefit rates you can receive, visit the VA website here.

Who Can Qualify for GI Bill Benefits?

Each GI Bill Program has different requirements. Below you will find a list of programs and what is required to qualify for each:

  • Post-9/11 GI Bill - To qualify for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, one of the following must be true:
    • You served as an active duty member for at least 90 days after September 10, 2001. Your 90 days of service could be fulfilled continuously or in parts.
    • You received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001 and were honorably discharged. The amount of service fulfilled is not a factor.
    • You served at least 30 days of continuous active duty without any breaks in service and were honorably discharged due to a service-related disability.
    • You are the dependent of a qualifying Veteran.

For more information about qualifying for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, click here.

  • Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) - To qualify for Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty, the following must be true:
    • You were honorably discharged from service
    • You have a GED, high school diploma or at least 12 hours of college credits
    • You entered active duty after June 30, 1985
    • You had your military pay reduced by $100 a month during your first year of service.
    • You must have serviced 3 years continuously without any breaks in service, or serviced 2 years continuously if that was the deal upon your initial contract.

These are the Category one qualifications for MGIB-AD benefits. To explore more potential qualifications, click here.

  • Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) - To qualify for Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve, the following must be true:
    • You must complete your initial active duty for training (IADT)
    • You must have a high school diploma or equivalent, such as a GED
    • You must keep a good standing while you serve in a Selected Reserve unit
    • You must complete 6 years of service without any interruptions

For more information on MGIB-SR qualification, click here.

  • Survivors’ and dependents’ assistance (DEA) - DEA benefits, also referred to as Chapter 35 benefits, are available for the dependents or surviving spouses of eligible Veterans. Below are some of the criteria required for survivors and dependents to qualify for DEA benefits:
    • The service member you are related to must have died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001
    • The service member you are related to must be declared missing in action or captured by a hostile group
    • The service member you are related to must have been held against their will by a foreign government while serving
    • The service member you are related to is currently hospitalized due to a service-related injury that will result in a disability or has already been honorably discharged for a service-related injury or disability.

For more information on eligibility criteria for the DEA program, click here.

If you still have questions, get more information on GI Bill eligibility requirements on the VA website here.

How to Apply for GI Bill Benefits

Before you apply for benefits, you can learn about qualifying using the eligibility tool here.

Once you have checked your eligibility, follow these steps below to apply:

1. Gather all the necessary documents needed to apply

You can find a list of all the documents you need here.

2. Choose your application method, whether online, in person or by mail.

To apply online, click here.

To apply in person, visit the VA regional office closest to you. To locate a VA office near you, click here.

To apply by mail, call  (888) 442-4551 Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM and request a paper application be sent to you. Fill out the application and send it to the VA regional claims office closest to your school of choice. To find a claims office near your school, click here.

3. Send your application.

If you require assistance filing your claim, click here to get help from a trained professional or call the VA at (888) 442-4551.

How to Check Your Application Status

It takes 30 days for the VA to make a decision on your education benefit claim or application.

To check the status of your claim at 30 days, call the VA at  (888) 442-4551 Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

What Happens After You Are Approved?

If you are approved, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), which you can present to your school to secure your benefits. You will receive this certificate within 30 days of applying for benefits. Once you have received your certificate and presented it to your institution of choice, you will start to receive benefits for your education or training.

How to Update and Make Changes to Your Profile

You may need to notify the VA of personal changes, such as:

  • Direct deposit information.
  • The school or program.
  • The benefactor, such as transferring unused benefits to a spouse or child.

You can update your profile information online by signing into your existing DS Logon, My HealtheVet or ID.me account here.

To update your information by phone, call (888) 442-4551 Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 7:00 ET.

You can also contact or visit your local VA facility in person. Find VA Education and Training Benefits locations here.

How to Appeal Denials

If you disagree with your claim decision, you have the following three appeal options:

1. File a supplemental claim

You can file a supplemental claim in person or by mail.

To file a supplemental claim in person and present new evidence that supports your case, you can fill out the application here and submit it to a local VA office. Find the nearest VA health care facility location here.

To submit your claim by mail, send the application to:

Department of Veterans Affairs

Claims Intake Center

PO Box 4444

Janesville, WI 53547-4444

2. Request a higher-level review

You can request a higher-level review in person, by mail or by fax.

To request a higher-level review in person from a senior officer, you can fill out the application here and submit it to a local VA office. Find the nearest VA health care facility location here.

To submit your request by mail, send your application to the following address:

Department of Veterans Affairs

Claims Intake Center

PO Box 4444

Janesville, WI 53547-4444

To request your higher-level reviews by fax, send your completed application to (844) 531-7818.

3. File a board appeal

Board appeals can be requested in three different ways:

  • Request a Direct Review from a Veterans Law Judge.
  • Submit more evidence before the Veterans Law Judge, who will then review your appeal.
  • Request a hearing with a Veterans Law Judge, with or without additional evidence.

Regardless of the option you choose, you can submit the application form found here in person, by mail or by fax.

To submit your application in person at a local VA office, find the nearest VA health care facility location here.

You can also submit your application by mail by sending your application to:

Board of Veteran’s Appeals

PO BOX 27063

Washington D.C. 20038

To send your board appeal by fax, complete your application and send it to (844) 678-8979.

To learn more about what to do after you request an appeal, click here.

How to Find Offices for GI Bill Assistance

Find VA locations and contact information here.

Need More Help?

If you need help or have a question about GI Bill Education and Training Benefits, call the following numbers Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 9:00 ET:

  • The VA benefit hotline at (800) 827-1000
  • The VA helpline at (888) 442-4551
  • TTY at 711

You can also call your nearby VA office. Find VA office locations and contact information here.

To ask questions online, click here for the Inquiry Routing and Information System (IRIS).

View or Download Our Free Guide

While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the GI Bill and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.

Our free GI Bill Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements, and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.