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6 Things to Know About the Post-9/11 GI Bill®

Last Updated February 9, 2021

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The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, also known as the original GI Bill®, gave veterans returning from World War II the opportunity to succeed as civilians. Benefits included low-rate mortgages, business loans and unemployment benefits. Millions took advantage of one of the bill’s most popular benefits: educational assistance for college and vocational training.

The legacy of the GI Bill® lives on with the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. Servicemembers can participate if they meet one of these four qualifications:

  • Served at least 90 days on active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001 — this can be all at once, or with breaks in service.
  • Received a Purple Heart on or after Sept. 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged.
  • Served for at least 30 continuous days on or after Sept. 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged with a service-connected disability — this has to be all at once; you can’t have a break in service.
  • Are a dependent child using benefits transferred from a parent who meets one of the three qualifications above.

If you’re eligible for full benefits, you may be able to receive:

  • Full or partial tuition and fees (up to the max rate of benefit per year)
  • A monthly housing allowance
  • A stipend for books and supplies, up to $1,000 each year
  • A one-time relocation allowance if you’re moving from a rural area (a county with six or fewer people per square mile) to attend college at least 500 miles away or with no other option but air travel

Little-Known Post-9/11 GI Bill Facts 

1. Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits are Tax-Free

You don’t have to pay federal or state taxes on benefits you receive through the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. When filing your tax forms, do not report the benefits as income. Refer to Publication 970 from the Internal Revenue Service for details.

2. You Can Get a Refund of Your Montgomery GI Bill® Enrollment Fee

If you were previously enrolled in the Montgomery GI Bill® and converted to the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, you might be eligible to receive a proportional refund of the $1,200 enrollment fee based on the number of months remaining under the Montgomery GI Bill®. There are conditions and qualifications you must meet, which are described by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

3. The Post-9/11 GI Bill® Pays up to $25,162.14

According to the set academic rates for Aug. 1, 2020, to Jul. 31, 2021, individuals who are eligible for 100% of their Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits can receive the entire cost of in-state tuition and fees at a public school, or up to $25,162.14 for a private or foreign school. These benefits are prorated based on length of service. Refer to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs eligibility table for more information about your benefits.

4. If You Participated in the Montgomery GI Bill’s Buy-Up Program, You Can’t Use That Money for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®

The Buy-Up Program is a voluntary program under the Montgomery GI Bill® that allows active servicemembers to contribute toward future education costs. The program only applies to the Montgomery GI Bill® and is not compatible with the Post 9/11 GI Bill®.

5. ROTC Grads and the Post-9/11 GI Bill®

Time spent satisfying the ROTC/Service Academy active duty obligation cannot be applied toward the length of service used to determine eligibility or calculate benefits for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.

6. The Post-9/11 GI Bill® May Cover Your Tutor

In addition to paying for tuition and fees, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® may provide up to $100 a month to receive tutoring outside the classroom. Veterans will need to fill out a form to apply which must be signed by the tutor.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

VA Benefit Eligibility: Visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Web Enabled Approval Management System (WEAMS) to view which programs of study or courses are currently certified. Benefit certification depends upon your VA determined eligibility, enrollment status and certified program of study.

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