Introduction To The Post 9/11 GI Bill
The Post 9/11 GI Bill is a reform of the Montgomery GI Bill. Its benefits begin August 1st, 2009. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs is now accepting applications for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, although active duty, reserve, and veterans are encouraged to weigh the options of the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post 9/11 GI Bill before applying.
For a continuous, comprehensive, up-to-date source of the Post 9/11 GI Bill, visit the Veterans' Benefits GI Bill Blog.
History of the GI Bill
Franklin D. Roosevelt passed the first GI Bill in 1944. This bill gave college students five hundred dollars per school year to cover tuition, provided they had prior military service.
The idea behind the original GI Bill, often referred to as the "Montgomery GI Bill," was that members of the military and veterans returning from war would be able to re-incorporate themselves into the workforce with a quality education. As time passed, however, the GI Bill became less of a solution for returning vets of war and more of an incentive for military recruitment.
The idea of being able to "go to college through service" increased in popularity. Today, many people join the military to gain the benefits of the GI Bill. Despite this, there are also many that still join the military and are unaware they ever qualify for the GI Bill's benefits.
The "Post 9/11 GI Bill" provides the most benefits military personnel have ever received and is far more lucrative than the original benefits of the GI Bill of 1944.
How Do I Apply for the Post 9/11 GI Bill?
Visit the website of the Department of Veteran Affairs at www.gibill.va.gov. All college taken after July 31, 2009 is eligible to gain the benefits of the Post 9/11 GI Bill. A student is required to also apply for the FAFSA. Complete education on the process is found on the government's website or the Veterans Benefits GI Bill Blog.
Active duty, members of the reserve, and veterans should weigh the options of the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill before applying. Once application is made for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, it is irrevocable. Students attending college in California, for example, might gain more benefits from the Montgomery GI Bill, which is based on a flat fee rather than local government-funded college tuition costs (which, in California, is zero.)
Am I Eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill?
You become eligible for parts of the benefits of the GI Bill after consecutive service for 90 days since September 11, 2001. The more service accrued in that time span, the more benefits become available. Full benefits become available after three years of service, or if you were discharged due to a service-related disability.
Because the Montgomery GI Bill is separate from the Post 9/11 GI Bill, it is not required for you to qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill in order to get this one.
What Benefits Does the 9/11 GI Bill Offer?
The GI Bill will provide up to 100% of your tuition costs, dependent on the college attended.
The tuition costs provided is determined by the tuition fees of an in-state government college, so if you attend a private university that is more expensive than a government-run college, the Post 9/11 GI Bill will not cover all the tuition costs. However, the Yellow Ribbon Program can help mitigate this.
The Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision of the Post 9/11 GI Bill, allows private schools with higher tuition costs to waive the additional expenses so that students may receive 100% tuition benefits at their school of choice. In order to qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program, the school must opt to participate in the program for all students. A list of college participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program is available at the VA's website starting June 2009.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill also grants $1,000/year for books and supplies. Students must attend school full time, or the benefits will be lowered based upon units taken.
These figures vary state-to-state, but this is a rough idea of the benefits depending on service since 2001:
- 100% for 3 years
- 100% for 30 days with discharge
- 90% for two-and-a-half years
- 80% for 2 years
- 70% for one-and-a-half years
- 60% for a year
- 50% for half a year
- and 40% for 90 days.
A housing stipend is also available for full-time students that attend a college campus or participate in hybrid learning, in which online education and campus education are intermingled. Students that participate strictly in distance learning education do not qualify for the housing stipend. Housing varies by zipcodes (to address the needs of higher cost areas) but averages at $1,200/month.
Can My Dependents Benefit from the Post 9/11 GI Bill?
Most definitely! Military veterans that have served a minimum of six years and agree to serve for another four years may give up to half of their benefits from the Post 9/11 GI Bill to dependents like their children or their spouse. The Department of Defense has the right to place additional requirements for this eligibility.
The ability for dependents to receive the benefits of the Post 9/11 GI Bill is considered a new source of recruitment and retention for the armed forces. Military personnel have expressed that this ability to transfer benefits is arguably the most exciting prospect of the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
What are the Differences Between the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill?
The Montgomery GI Bill offered significantly less than the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Even with several increases in benefits over the decades, the Montgomery Bill did not triple the original amount of $500 in 1944, capping at $1,321/year for tuition. This made higher cost colleges impossible without further financial support. There also was an enrollment fee to be considered for qualification, and more stringent guidelines to qualify.
As part of the goal to further educate America, the Post 9/11 GI Bill offers greater benefits, easier qualifications, and free applicaton. It also extends its reach beyond the cost of tuition and into the expenses of books, supplies, and housing. This bill is meant to serve the future for generations to come.