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Financial Choices for Active Duty Military, Veterans, and Their Dependents

These are the eligibility requirements and specific financial benefits for active duty and their dependents, veterans and their dependents, and civilian personnel. You may fall into one or more these financial categories. Which source of funding would be best for you is a decision that you must make yourself. The Veterans Administration GI Bill site may be of assistance to you, or if you are active duty military, you may want to contact your branch education service counselor.

Universities have no authority to make judgment as to education benefits status. Only the Department of Veterans Affairs and/or the relevant military branch may determine the eligibility of individuals for veteran and/or active duty educational benefits and to approve payment of these benefits. Note: This process may take will take several weeks or several months. Visit the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs website for additional information.

APPLYING FOR VETERANS BENEFITS ONLINE.

Choosing Your GI Bill Benefits

  1. If you meet the eligibility requirements for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, as well as other GI Bills, such as the Montgomery GI Bill, you will be required to choose which benefit you wish to receive. For some individuals, your choice may be irrevocable.
  2. The Post-9/11 GI Bill may provide a better benefits package in terms of eligibility criteria, period of eligibility and financial value in comparison to existing educational benefit programs that remain in effect.
  3. The best program for you, if you are eligible for multiple educational benefit programs, will depend on your individual circumstance. Please review the eligibility requirements that apply for specific benefits and compare these benefits to those offered under other GI Bills for more clarity.

For additional Information: For assistance and questions, contact your chosen university’s Veterans Affairs Office (You can find the contact information if you select “Institutions” on the navigation bar at the top of the screen.) or a local Veterans Affairs regional or state office. For more details about the bill, visit the GI Bill Website or call (7:00 am to 5:00 pm CST) the United States Veterans Affairs at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).

  1. Chapter 30 - Montgomery GI Bill
    1. Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) assists those who entered active duty for the first time after July 1, 1985, and who agreed to have their pay reduced by $100 for 12 months.
    2. Veterans must have received an honorable discharge and active-duty personnel must have served at least two years to be eligible to use their benefits.
    3. Certain veterans and active-duty military personnel who were eligible for educational assistance under the Vietnam Era GI Bill (Chapter 34) on December 31, 1989, may be eligible for benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill if they have served on active duty since October 19, 1984, without a break in service and served three continuous years on active duty from June 30, 1985, through June 30, 1988, or served two continuous years on active duty followed by four years in the selected reserves after June 30, 1985. A break in service of 90 days or less during the period October 19, 1984, through June 30, 1985, will not disqualify a person from eligibility for benefits. However, a break in active duty of any length after June 30, 1985, will disqualify a person for the Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30). These participants are not required to make contributions to the program.
    4. Certain individuals who are voluntarily or involuntarily separated from active duty with an honorable discharge may elect to participate and make a $1,200 contribution to the Montgomery GI Bill program before separating from active duty. This includes individuals who may have participated in the Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP - Chapter 32).
    5. Active duty members may contribute up to an additional $600 to their Montgomery GI Bill to receive increased monthly benefits. An additional $600 contribution allows an additional $5,400 over the 36 month eligibility period. The "buy-up" program contribution must be made prior to leaving active duty and is only payable after leaving active duty. Visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website for addition information.
    6. Individuals are allowed 36 months of full-time entitlement. Participants who have eligibility through the Vietnam Era GI Bill have 36 months of entitlement or the amount of entitlement they have remaining from Chapter 34, whichever is less. Benefits must be used within 10 years from the date the individual was last discharged from active duty.
  2. Active Duty Tuition Assistance – See specific branch information
    1. It is the responsibility of each service member to make the appropriate contact within their military branch. The following links may assist you in acquiring tuition assistance.
    2. Army: Active Duty Army, Active Duty Reserves, Active Duty Army National Guard
    3. Air Force: Active Duty Air Force, Air Force Reserves
    4. Navy: Active Duty, Active Duty Navy, Naval Reserves
    5. Marines: Active Duty Marines
    6. Coast Guard: Active Duty Coast Guard, Selective Reserves, Civilian Employees
  3. Chapter 30 - Montgomery GI Bill Tuition Assistance Top-up
    1. Tuition Assistance Top-up is available to students on active duty and approved to use federal tuition assistance and eligible for Chapter 30, the Montgomery GI Bill (as of October 30, 2000).
    2. With the passing of an amendment to the Montgomery GI Bill, all branches of the military are allowed to pay 100% of the service member's tuition and expenses. When the military cannot or does not cover 100% of the tuition and expenses, a service member, eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill can elect to receive his or her benefits for all or part of the remaining expenses.
    3. The use of Tuition Assistance Top-up reduces future entitlement to the Montgomery GI Bill and service members should carefully consider their situations. For further information on Tuition Assistance Top-up, please visit the Department of Veterans Affairs Web site.
    4. Top-up payments are subject to the same limits that apply to Montgomery GI Bill monthly benefits. For example, a student who receives Tuition Assistance for a course or courses that would be payable at the half-time rate for chapter 30, could receive a Top-up payment equal to the cost of the course not covered by Tuition Assistance up to the amount payable for the half-time rate for the period of the course.
  4. Chapter 31 - Vocational Rehabilitation
    1. Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31) provides assistance to veterans who have a service-connected disability of at least 20 percent and are in need of vocational rehabilitation.
    2. Eligible veterans may be allowed up to 48 months of full-time benefits. Veterans generally have 12 years from the date they are notified of their entitlement to the program.
    3. You may be eligible for Chapter 31 benefits if you are rated 10% disabled; however it must be determined that you have a serious employment handicap.
  5. Chapter 32 - Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
    1. The Veterans Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 32 - VEAP) extends benefits to active-duty personnel and veterans who enlisted in the military between January 1, 1977, and July 11, 1985. Veterans must have been released under conditions other than dishonorable.
    2. Individuals must have contributed voluntarily to an educational fund through monthly pay reductions of $25 to $100, up to a maximum of $2,700. Contributions are matched at the rate of two dollars for each dollar contributed. (Eligibility to enroll in VEAP ended on March 31, 1987.)
    3. Individuals are eligible to receive monthly benefits for the number of months they contributed or for 36 months, whichever is less. Eligibility in the program expires 10 years for the date of the participant's discharge or release from active duty. Participants in this program are allowed to request a refund of any remaining unused benefits. Visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website for addition information.
  6. Chapter 33 – Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act
    1. The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 provides benefits to individuals who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. These individuals must have served at least 90 aggregate days or have been discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days.
    2. Under this bill, veterans may receive benefits for training they pursue on or after August 1, 2009.
    3. Benefits are not available for training pursued prior to that date. Eligible training includes undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs pursued at a university or college that is authorized to grant an associate’s degree or higher.
      Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits
    1. This bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits. Benefits are generally payable for 15 years following your release from active duty.
    2. Payments are based on the amount of service you completed after September 10, 2001. You will receive a larger benefit if you served more active duty or mobilization time.
    3. If you are eligible for online education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may receive a(n):
      1. Payment for tuition and fees sent directly to your university or college
      2. Annual book stipend of $1,000
      3. One-time rural benefit payment of $500
    4. Maximum benefits are earned if you served an aggregate of 36 months or more on active duty service or after 30 days of continuous service if you were discharged for a service connected disability after September 10, 2001.
    5. If you served between 90 days and 36 months of aggregate active duty service, you will be eligible for a percentage of the maximum benefits.
    6. Visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website for additional information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
  7. Chapter 35 - Survivors and Dependents Benefits
    1. Survivors and Dependents Benefits (Chapter 35) provide educational benefits to spouses and children of veterans who either died while in service, died as a result of a service-connected disability, or became totally and permanently disabled as a result of their military service.
    2. Survivors and dependents are allowed 45 months of full-time benefits.
    3. Spouses have 10 years from the date of the veteran's effective date of permanent and total disability rating or the veteran's death.
    4. Dependents' benefits end on their 26th birthday or eight years from the veteran's effective date of permanent or total disability rating or the veteran's death, but not after the dependent's 31st birthday.
    5. On December 23, 2006 an additional category of spouses and children were determined eligible for Chapter 35 benefits.
    6. The new category includes the spouse or child of a veteran who the VA determines: has a service connected 100% disability and at the time of the determination is active duty, hospitalized or receiving outpatient medical care and likely to be discharged from service due to the service connected disability.
    7. Visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website for additional information concerning Survivors and Dependents Benefits.
  8. Chapter 1606 - Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserves
    1. Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserves (Chapter 1606) benefits are available to reservists who enlist, reenlist, or extend an enlistment in the Selected Reserve for not less than six years on or after July 1, 1985.
    2. For officers, the six-year period is in addition to any other obligated period of service.
    3. Eligibility for the program requires that the reservists have obtained a high school diploma or equivalent.
    4. The reservist must have completed Initial Active Duty Training (IADB). Finally, a reservist must be participating in training at the time benefits are used.
    5. A reservist is allowed 36 months of full-time benefits.
  9. Chapter 1607 – Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
    1. The Reserve Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 1607) is available to students who are members of the Selected Reserves, Individual Ready Reserve, and National Guard and were called to active service in response to a war or national emergency.
    2. The Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security determines eligibility but generally a member of a Reserve component who serves on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 for at least 90 days is eligible.
  10. Sections 901 and 903 - Department of Defense Educational Test and Pilot Program
    1. Section 901 (Educational Assistance Test Program) and Section 903 (Educational Assistance Pilot Program) benefits are available to students whom the Department of Defense chosen for participation from among those who enlisted between November 30, 1980, and September 30, 1981.
    2. Participants are allowed 36 months of full-time benefits that must be used within 10 years from the date of last separation from active duty.
  11. Troops to Teachers
    1. Troops to Teachers is a U.S. Department of Education and Department of Defense program that helps eligible military personnel begin a new career as teachers in public schools where their skills, knowledge and experience are most needed.
    2. Please access this link for eligibility information.
    3. You may print this file for Troops to Teachers Specific State Information.
    4. Troops to Teachers seminar schedule by state
  12. Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) Program
    1. The Department of Defense remains strongly committed to helping military spouses find employment in high demand, high growth Portable Career fields. For those who are interested in pursuing such careers, DOD is expanding the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program.
    2. Eligible military spouses are now able to receive up to $6,000 of MyCAA Financial Assistance (FA) that can help them pursue education, training, licenses, certificates and degrees leading to employment in Portable Career fields. By calling Military OneSource (1-800-342-9647), military spouses can request career and education counseling.
    3. Spouses of Active Duty members of the Department of Defense (DOD) and activated members of the National Guard and Reserve Components are eligible. The period of eligibility for spouses of Guard and Reserve members is from the date of the Alert or Warning Order for Military Recall or Mobilization, through activation and deployment until 180 days following De-Mobilization.
    4. Spouses of the severely injured, ill, wounded or Killed in Action (KIA) are also eligible.
    5. Spouses of Prisoners of War (POW) or Missing in Action (MIA) are eligible.
    6. MyCAA Financial Assistance (FA) pays for expenses such as education and training programs, tuition, and licensing and credentialing fees. This includes degree programs (e.g. associates, bachelors, masters, doctoral and post doctoral), continuing education classes (including those offered through professional associations), Bar, CPA and other similar exams, and state certifications for teachers, medical professionals and other individuals who require a certificate or license for employment purposes.
  13. National Call to Service Program
    1. The National Call to Service Program became effective October 1, 2003.
    2. Eligibility for the program involves a three-tiered service requirement to be approved by the Secretary of Defense.
    3. Individuals who participate in the program have a choice of benefits.
    4. The benefits include: a cash bonus, repayment of student loans, entitlement to educational benefits equal to the three year monthly Chapter 30 rate for 12 months or entitlement to educational benefits to fifty percent of the less than three year monthly Chapter 30 rate for 36 months.
  14. REPS - Restored Entitlement Program for Survivors
    1. Restored Entitlement Program for Survivors (REPS) may be available to certain survivors of deceased veterans in addition to Chapter 35 benefits.
    2. Eligibility for these benefits is limited to unmarried full-time students between the ages of 18 and 22 whose parent died while on active duty before August 13, 1981, or who died as a result of a service-connected disability incurred before August 13, 1981.
    3. These benefits are similar to the benefits eliminated from Social Security. The amount of the benefits is based on information from the Social Security Administration.
    4. Students who are applying for benefits for the first time must complete DVA form 21-8924, Application of Surviving Spouse or Child for REPS Benefits.
    5. Search here for form 21-8924.
  15. Tutorial Benefits
    1. Students eligible for benefits under Chapters 30, 32, 1606, and 35 may be eligible for tutorial assistance from the DVA. To receive the benefit, a student must be enrolled on at least a half-time basis (6 semester hours) or greater.
    2. Students must show deficiency in a course or courses required for their degree program.
    3. Students, who are eligible, may receive a maximum monthly payment of $100. The maximum total benefit is $1,200.
    4. There is no entitlement charge for the first $600 of tutorial assistance.
    5. To apply, students must complete DVA form 22-1990t, Application and Enrollment Certification for Individualized Tutorial Assistance.
    6. Contact your chosen academic institution’s veterans’ office for assistance in determining eligibility for this benefit. You may contact the academic institutions veterans’ office via the navigator bar at the top of this web page.
  16. Work-Study Benefits
    1. Students eligible for benefits under Chapters 30, 31, 32, 35, and 1606 may be eligible to participate in the DVA work-study program.
    2. To receive the benefit, a student must be enrolled on at least a three-quarter-time basis (9 semester hours) or greater.
    3. Students may work at DVA-approved sites up to 400 hours during a semester.
    4. Payment is at the federal or state minimum wage, whichever is greater.
    5. Visit this VA Student Work Study Site for additional information.
  17. Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA)
    1. The FAFSA is the federal application for financial aid, but it is also used to apply for aid from other sources, such as your state or school. Please see the FAFSA website (step 4 below) for information and the process needed to complete this application.
    2. Pay close attention to deadlines! Ask your school about their definition of an application deadline - whether it is the receipt date and time or the process date and time of the application.
    3. Federal Student Aid considers a FAFSA’s receipt date and time to be when the FAFSA/correction is submitted successfully.
    4. The FAFSA website.
    5. You must complete the FAFSA application and request that the approval notice of funding be sent to the institution of your choice. You will then be contacted by the institution.
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