Below is 6 steps to apply for your veteran’s benefits. You are just a few steps away from finding out if you are eligible to receive education benefits. If you find out that you are eligible, please follow the below steps to apply for your benefits!
You may also receive an application form at the school or training establishment you wish to attend. The VA Certifying official at the school (usually located in the Registrar’s or Financial Aid office) should have the forms available, can assist you in filling them out, and will submit them to VA.
Step 1: Determine Your Best Benefit
(Please answer the following questions to determine your best benefit.)
What Type Of Training Do You Plan To Take?
GED
This training is not covered under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers only degree programs. That means it covers Associate, Bachelor, and graduate degrees at a college or university.
Associate, Bachelor, Or Graduate Degree
These are covered under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Your degree program must be from an Institution of Higher Learning. The programs must be accredited and approved by a State Approving Agency.
On-The-Job Training, Apprenticeship, Flight Training, Or Other Professional Training
The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers approved programs offered at institutions of higher learning. That means it covers an Associate, Bachelor, or Graduate degree, or a non-college degree program offered at a college or university. You may be able to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill for on-the-job, apprenticeship, flight, or other professional training if you have entitlement under another VA education program that covers such training.
Non-College Degree Training
This type of training is not covered under the Post-9/11 GI Bill if it is not pursued at a college or university.
Licensing & Certification Tests
Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you will be eligible for only one licensing or certification test not to exceed $2,000.00.
Where Will You Take Classes?
Online/Distance Learning Only
If you’re only taking distance or online classes, you won’t qualify for the monthly housing allowance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, but you can still receive the basic education allowance under the Montgomery GI Bill.
At Least One On Campus Course
If you’re taking at least one course on campus and your rate of pursuit is greater than ½ time you qualify for the monthly housing allowance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Do You Currently Have Any Time Left Under Another Education Program Such As The Montgomery GI Bill?
Yes: If you have remaining entitlement under the Montgomery GI Bill you can exhaust that entitlement (use up all that time) and then get up to 12 months of benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
No: You may apply for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Where Will You Be Living When Pursuing Training?
Tuition, fees and your monthly housing allowance are state specific.
More About Tuition And Fees
How much you receive depends on what state you will live in.
Your tuition and fees paid under the Post-9/11 GI Bill are based on the maximum allowed in your state
More About The Monthly Housing Allowance
Your monthly housing allowance is based on the E-5 with dependent rate: Basic Allowance for Housing for the zip code where your school is located.
What Rate Will You Study?
Full-Time
If you study full-time and take at least one in-residence course, you qualify for the monthly housing allowance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Exception: Active duty members are not eligible for the monthly housing allowance.
Greater Than Half-Time
If you study at greater than the half-time rate, you qualify for the monthly housing allowance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Half-time or less You will not qualify for the monthly housing allowance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill unless you are pursuing training greater than the half-time rate.
If You Are Active Duty, Do You Want To Transfer Entitlement Of Benefits To Family Members?
Yes: You may be able to transfer some of your education benefits to family members. The rules for transferring benefits are set by the Defense Department and the military services. You can find the latest Department of Defense information on policy and rules for transferability of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits is on the Department of Defense website.
No: Ok. If you ever want to transfer benefits to family members, you can find information on policy and rules for transferability of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits on the Department of Defense website.
Step 2: Collect Your Paperwork And Information
(You will need a few documents to complete the application. Please review the list below to make your you have everything you need to complete the process)
Dates And Service Status For Each Period Of Military Service.
Dates and service status for each period of military service is used to determine yourpercentage of entitlement.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit level is based on your aggregate qualifying active duty service, which is total service, including separate periods.
Payback time for ROTC or Service Academy does not count as qualifying service.
The Number Of Months Of Eligibility Remaining For Benefits Under One Or More VA Education Programs.
If you have used benefits under one or more VA education programs, you may be entitled to additional benefits under another program.
For example, an individual who has remaining entitlement under the Montgomery GI Bill can exhaust that entitlement and may still receive up to an additional 12 months under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Whether You Have Participated In The $600 Buy-Up Program.
You must be a member of a Ready Reserve component (Selected Reserve, Individual Ready Reserve, or Inactive National Guard) to participate in the Buy-Up Program.
Members of a Ready Reserve Component may contribute up to an additional $600 to the GI Bill to receive increased monthly benefits. For an additional $600 contribution, you may receive up to $5400 in additional GI Bill benefits. The additional $600 contribution is not payable under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
All Necessary Documents.
The documents needed are: DD214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty for most recent period of active duty.
Transcripts for all periods of education after high school.
Kicker Contract (the Department of Defense may be able to provide this information if you cannot locate a copy of the contract.)
OPTIONAL: The Routing Or Transit Number And Account Number Of A Bank Account To Allow Direct Deposit Of Benefits.
If you are entitled to direct payment of benefits, such as the monthly living allowance, a stipend for books and supplies, and/or the one-time rural benefit payment, the funds can be deposited directly to your bank account, giving you the fastest access to your payments. The routing or transit number and the number of the account will be required during the application process.
Step 3: Find A School
(If you’ve decided to pay for college using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you’ll need to get some information about each school you might attend.)
What Is The Maximum In-State Tuition For The State Where You Are Planning To Go To School?
The maximum in-state tuition for a public school in the state where you plan to go to college and your benefit level sets the maximum payment that the VA can give you through the Post-9/11 GI Bill. In order to figure out how much you could be paid, you will need to know the maximum in-state tuition and fees for each state where you might attend school and the benefit level you are eligible for.
NOTE: The maximum does not apply to active duty personnel. The Department of Defense pays the full cost of tuition and fees for service members in approved education programs.
What Is Your School’s Zip Code?
The monthly housing allowance paid under the Post-9/11 GI Bill is based on the Basic Allowance for Housing for the zip code where your school is located
NOTE: Active duty personnel (or spouses using transferred education benefits while the transferor is on active duty), those whose Rate of Pursuit is ½ time or less, or those entirely pursuing distance learning are not eligible for the monthly housing allowance.
How Much Does Your School Charge Per Credit Hour?
What are your school’s mandatory fees? You can figure out whether the Post-9/11 GI Bill will cover all of your tuition & fees costs by comparing the maximum tuition covered in the state where you want to go to school to the cost that your school charges and the maximum fees to your school’s fees. To do this, you will need the tuition per credit hour and mandatory fees charged by each school for the courses you want to take.
How much money can I get for books and supplies? You can get up to $1,000 per year – how much you get depends on your benefit level and the number of credit hours you are taking during the term.
NOTE: this does not apply to active duty personnel or spouses using transferred education benefits if the transferor is still on active duty.
Is the cost to me higher than what the VA will pay for my school? Do your tuition and fees exceed the maximum benefit VA will pay?
There are a few cases in which your school might charge you more than the maximum benefit you can get using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The most common cases would be if you go to a public school as an out-of-state student, go to graduate school, or choose a private or professional school. If you think that your tuition will be higher than the tuition payment you get from the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you should find out whether your school participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. If your school is part of this program, you may be able to reduce the amount that you have to pay.
To find out more, you can:
Check the list of Yellow Ribbon participants, or ask the school directly.
If your school is part of the program, find out how much of the difference your school will cover. Each Yellow Ribbon Program school sets limits on the additional amount they will pay, and VA will match this amount. So, if your school is part of the program, and sets a $500 limit on what they will pay, then you will get your Post-9/11 payment based on the state maximum tuition, $500 from your school, and an additional $500 from VA.
Determine if you are eligible for other funding – scholarships, loans, grants – that will cover the additional cost of attending a program where costs exceed the state maximum.
Do You Know How Much Your Living Expenses Will Be?
Comparing your living expenses to the housing allowance that the Post-9/11 bill can provide may help you decide which school you want to attend. To do this, you will need to figure out how much you expect to pay for your living expenses (housing, food, transportation, parking, etc.) in the community where each school is located.
Step 4: Calculate Your Benefits
Which Benefit Would Pay You More? Estimator
The VA has created a tool that will give you a rough estimate of the benefit you will receive under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Estimator will ask you to enter some data, and will use that information to provide you with an estimate of your payments.
Please be aware, this is only an estimate and will vary depending on multiple factors. We have developed table of options that may be of use in narrowing your choices.
DISCLAIMER: Estimates are only provided for tuition and fees and the monthly housing allowance. Estimates do not include benefits for books and supplies, kickers, or the Yellow Ribbon program. The values displayed are estimates and subject to change.
Step 5: Compare The Programs
Determine Benefit Program and School:
If you are eligible for another benefit program as well as the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), you should review the side-by-side comparison of benefits under each program.
While each individual’s situation is different, this may help you determine which of the programs provide the most benefit for your individual situation. You should now have enough information to decide whether you want to apply for the Post-9/11 GI Bill or another benefit program. Remember, if you give up another program to receive the Post-9/11 GI Bill, it is an irrevocable choice – this means that once you have selected the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you cannot switch back to the program you gave up. At this time, you also will have to determine which school you will apply to for enrollment.
Step 6: Apply For Benefits
When you have decided which education benefit is best for you, you’ll need to submit your application. You can either submit your application online or by mail, or, if you know what school you plan to attend, your school may be able to help you prepare and submit your application.
How Will You Submit Your Application?
I’m Planning To Submit My Application Online
You can use the VONAPP Veterans Online Applications website to fill out and submit your application online. You can use the information you gathered while using this tool to help complete your application.
You may be asked to provide some additional forms if you apply online. If you have access to a scanner, you can scan these forms and submit them online.
If you have trouble with the application process, you can call a VA Education Case Manager (1-888-GIBill1) to ask for help.
I’d Like To Submit A Paper Application
You can submit a paper application called on Form 22-1990 by mail to the VA Regional Processing Office. You can mail the form to the region of your home address, or, if you know what school you want to attend, the VA Regional Processing Office for the region of the school’s physical address.
- It will make it easier for the VA to determine what benefits you qualify for if you send a copy of the following documents:
- Your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD form 214) for all periods of active duty service
- DD Form 2384, also known as the Notice of Basic Eligibility, if applying for the Montgomery GI Bill for Selected Reserves (chapter 1606)
- Copies of orders if activated from the guard/reserves
- Supporting documents (e.g., vouchers, statements) for buy-up or buy-in contributions, which may allow you to make a small initial payment so that you can receive a higher monthly payment.
- College fund “kicker” contracts for additional monthly payments that you may receive from the Department of Defense through your branch of the Service.
If you have trouble with the application process, you can call a VA Education Case Manager (1-888-GIBill1) to ask for help.
I’m Still Having Trouble Filling Out My Application
Many schools have staff members who will help you prepare and submit your application for education benefits (which is also sometimes called Form 22-1990 Form 22-1990). You may be able to work with this individual, referred to as the School Certifying Officer, to fill out your application. To make the process easier, you should bring along these documents:
- Your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD form 214) for all periods of active duty service
- DD Form 2384, also known as the Notice of Basic Eligibility, if applying for the Montgomery GI Bill for Selected Reserves (chapter 1606)
- Copies of orders if activated from the guard/reserves
- Supporting documents (e.g., vouchers, statements) for buy-up or buy-in contributions, which may allow you to make a small initial payment so that you can receive a higher monthly payment.
- College fund “kicker” contracts for additional monthly payments that you may receive from the Department of Defense through your branch of the Service.
After working with you on your application, the school will send the application, along with paperwork from the school itself, to a VA Regional Processing Office.
If you have trouble with the application process, you can call a VA Education Case Manager (1-888-GIBill1) to ask for help.
I’ve Submitted My Application
Once you have finished and sent in your application, three things will happen:
- The Regional Processing Office will process the application and determine your eligibility. If you are certain of your eligibility, do not delay in enrolling in classes.
- Your school will send its request to VA for tuition and fees, which will be paid directly to the school.
- Other benefits that you receive, like a monthly housing allowance, books & supplies stipend or rural benefit payment, will be paid directly to you through direct deposit to your bank account.
The amount of time it takes to process your application will depend on whether the VA needs more information to figure out what benefits you qualify for.
I Have Already Received My Certificate Of Eligibility
Congratulations on successfully completing the application process! You can enroll in classes at the school you have chosen at any time.
And thank you for your service! Go to class. Get good grades. Enjoy life.
