New GI Bill for the 21st Century: Information and Resources
Last year, Congress enacted the new GI Bill for the 21st Century (the "Post-9/11 GI Bill") to restore the promise of a full, four-year college education for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. As of May 1st, veterans can begin to apply for a certificate of eligibility for the new college benefits at the VA website here, which will become available on August 1st.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
Am I eligible to receive educational benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill? This chart shows the percentage of costs covered, based on the length of your service:
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What does the Post-9/11 GI Bill pay for?
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How do I access benefits? You can apply for benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill online, using the Veterans Online Application System (VONAPP). Select Form 22-1990. You can also download Form 22-1990 here, and mail it in. |
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Do I need to claim my benefits before a certain date? You generally have 15 years following release from active duty to use the benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. |
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Can I transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to my spouse or children? If you are a member of the Armed Forces on August 1, 2009, the Department of Defense (DOD) may offer you the opportunity to transfer benefits to your spouse or dependent children. While rules on transferability are still being finalized, for most servicemembers, to transfer benefits to a spouse, you must have served six years and reenlist to serve at least four more. To give education benefits to a child, you must have served for at least ten years. |
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Will the benefits cover an education at a private university or college, or those at out-of-state schools? |
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What if I have additional questions? |
Additional Resources
- Read a letter from the Director of the VA Education Service explaining the Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits>>
- Visit Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill website>>
- Review a comparison between the Post-9/11 GI Bill and other educational benefits>>
For many eligible participants, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is a better alternative than other education benefit programs, such as the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty, Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve and the Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP). However, this decision depends on several factors, including the type of education or training you plan to take and the amount of benefits received under each program. - View a chart listing the 2008 - 2009 maximum tuition and fees>>