New GI Bill Frequently Asked Questions

The following FAQs are provided by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) the nation's first and largest group dedicated to the troops and veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Will the new GI Bill apply to all veterans, or just to veteran a of Iraq and Afghanistan?

The new GI bill will update education benefits for all veterans who have served at least 90 days of active duty service post-9/11 and have not already used up all their education benefits.

Only post 9/11 service counts toward this new GI Bill. Therefore a veteran must do three years of active duty service after 9/11 to qualify for the full benefit. If a veteran did less then three years post 9/11 the following chart applies:

90 Consecutive Days / 40% (Tuition, Books, & Living Stipend)
6 Cumulative Months / 50% (Tuition, Books, & Living Stipend)
12 Cumulative Months / 60% (Tuition, Books, & Living Stipend)
18 Cumulative Months / 70% (Tuition, Books, & Living Stipend)
24 Cumulative Months / 80% (Tuition, Books, & Living Stipend)
30 Cumulative Months / 90% (Tuition, Books, & Living Stipend)
36 Cumulative Months / 100% (Tuition, Books, & Living Stipend)

If the new GI Bill passes, when will it take effect?

The new GI Bill will go into effect on August 1, 2009. Training completed before July 31, 2009 will not be eligible for benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. However, until that time MGIB eligible veterans and servicemembers will see a payment increased to $1,321 a month.

I did not elect to take part in the original GI Bill. Am I eligible for this new one?

Yes. There is no requirement to have elected into the original (Montgomery) GI Bill in order to take part in the new one.

How many months of benefits will someone be able to use if they have not already used any GI Bill benefits?

36 Months.

I retired and am now in school. Will I be able to use the new GI Bill?

The new GI bill will update education benefits for all veterans who have served at least 90 days of active duty service post-9/11 and have not already used up all their education benefits. If you meet these requirements you will qualify for the bill.

Will veterans who have already started using their GI Bill benefits be grandfathered into the new version?

Veterans with any remaining GI bill benefits will be able to transfer them to this new program and receive the higher rate.

Will the new GI Bill erase debt I incurred paying for college under the old benefits?

Unfortunately, the new GI Bill will not repay those debts.

Under the old bill, I had ten years to use my benefits. If the new GI Bill passes, will this time be reset?

Under this new bill a veteran will have 15 years from the date they separated from active duty (not 10) to use their education benefits. However, the clock does not restart if the bill passes.

I didn't buy into VEAP, and am excluded from the current GI Bill. Will I be able to use education benefits under the new GI Bill?

Are graduates of the service academies included in this bill?

The GI bill will allow officers who graduated from service academies or received ROTC scholarships to qualify for the new GI Bill benefits. The only catch is that the time spent satisfying the ROTC/Service Academy active duty obligation does not count toward the 3 years necessary to qualify for the full benefits.

Will I receive the Basic Housing Allowance (BAH)?

A veteran attending school will receive the BAH for that area at the E-5 with dependent level. The housing stipend will not be available for active duty service members who are using their GI Bill, because they already receive a housing allowance.

[Editor's Note:In addition, the stipend for housing is not payable to distance learning students.]

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is the nation's first and largest group dedicated to the Troops and Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.