Your User’s Guide to Active Duty G.I. Bill Benefits
Don’t let the educational benefits you worked hard to earn slip away. Learn more about how the G.I. Bill can help you attain your professional and educational goals in this guide.
The G.I. Bill is in place to help active duty servicemembers pay for their education and job training. The G.I. Bill covers the following:
- College Courses
- Technical and Vocational Courses
- Distance Learning and Correspondence Courses
- Certification and Licensing Tests
- Apprenticeship or On-the-Job Training (This is available only to veterans and Reserve)
- Flight Training
G.I. Bill benefits can be worth over $39,000; this is paid out monthly to those who qualify. The maximum monthly payment for 2008 is $1,101; however, this amount may increase each year in October. Additionally, your rate may be higher if you signed up for the Army, Navy or Marine Corps College Fund. Typically, the G.I. Bill covers 36 months of education, which comes out to eight semesters—or four years.
Who Qualifies for the G.I. Bill Education Benefits?
You are eligible if
- You have completed two years of active duty service, and
- You had $100 per month deducted from your pay for your first twelve months of active duty, OR you qualify under VEAP conversion, and
- You either graduated from high school or earned a high school equivalency certificate.
When Can I Use My G.I. Bill Benefits?
You can begin after you’ve served for two full years, and you usually have ten years from your last discharge date to use them—or else the benefits expire. This is important because you will not only lose the benefits you earned through your hard work, but also your initial $1,200 investment.
How Can I Apply to Begin Using My G.I. Bill Education Benefits?
Be aware that the application process is a bit lengthy, but it is certainly worth it! We’ve broken the application process down into four steps:
Step One
Select a school to attend. Ensure that it accepts G.I. Bill benefits. Most regionally or nationally accredited schools have VA approved programs, but you can always ask a school admissions counselor to make sure this is the case.
Step Two
Fill out the VA Form 22-1990, Application for Education Benefits, which you can usually find in your school’s registrar’s office. As an active duty servicemember, you’ll also need to have your Education Officer or Command representative complete Section Two of the form and sign it.
Step Three
Have your application and appropriate paperwork from your school sent to the nearest VA regional office. Generally, your school will handle this for you if you hand in a completed application. By having the school handle this process, it will be faster. However, if you have not settled on a school yet, you can certainly mail in VA Form 22-1990 yourself to ensure that you are eligible for the benefits. Find your VA Regional Processing Office here.
About four-eight weeks later, you should receive a letter from the VA stating your eligibility and describing your G.I. Bill education benefits. Don’t be surprised if they ask you to send more information before you get the final confirmation—this is common, but you must comply to be able to use your benefits.
Step Four
You will begin to receive your benefit payments via direct deposit to your designated account. Each month, you must fill out the VA’s WAVE (Web Automated Verification of Eligibility) to continue to receive your monthly benefit checks. It is a very simple and quick process, but it is necessary to remember this last step each month.
More from Your G.I. Bill Benefits
The G.I. Bill has been enhanced by several programs and additional services. Read more about the G.I. Bill and all it has to offer in the following links.
