How to Calculate GI Bill Benefits
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Proof of Service (DD 214)
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- American servicemen and women have a chance to reap education benefits as a part of their military enlistment. The Federal Government provides these benefits in a program known as the GI Bill. The monetary amount, however, is determined by several factors such as which GI Bill is being used, when the benefits will begin and where the school or institution is located.
Instructions
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Check your military status. GI Bill benefits are different for reservists, active duty members, National Guardsmen and active duty veterans. For reservists and National Guardsmen, you may be entitled to active duty benefits if you were activated in certain time periods. Keep this status in mind when viewing benefit details on the Veterans Affairs (VA) GI Bill website.
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Establish when you began or will begin using benefits. GI Bill benefits are payable for 36 academic months of use within 10 years of separation from the military. If you used GI Bill benefits during active duty, those months are subtracted from the 36 months before you separate. The total dollar amount of benefits available also changes yearly. As of 2009, the GI Bill could be worth up to $47,000 a year, depending on certain factors such as the type of school you are attending and tuition costs.
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Determine which GI Bill you are using. The calculation factors are different for the Montgomery GI Bill in comparison to the Post 9/11 GI Bill. For example, the Montgomery GI Bill pays benefits directly to the member on a monthly basis, whereas tuition payments for the Post 9/11 GI Bill are paid directly to the school. The 2009 Active Duty Montgomery GI Bill rate for enlistees of three years or more attending school full time is $1,368.00 per month.For the Post 9/11 GI Bill, the amount of benefits paid also considers the home state of the school and how much the VA will pay that state per credit hour taken.
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Contact your educational institution to see if you qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program if you are using the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Schools participating in the Yellow Ribbon program agree to absorb a certain amount of tuition costs not covered by the VA benefits that you would normally pay out of pocket. If, for example, you attend a four-year college in Indiana, the VA would pay $321.75 per credit hour as of August 2009. If your tuition would cost more than that, the Yellow Ribbon program could pay for the difference so that you don't pay out of pocket.
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Consider additional Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits such as Basic Allowance for Housing and course material stipends. If books are required for your school, the GI Bill will pay up to $1,000 per calendar year to cover costs at a disbursement rate dependent upon the credit hours you take. For full time students, you may also be eligible for a Basic Housing Allowance that is paid per month at the rate of an E-5 with dependents in your school's locale. Check the Department of Defense Travel website to find this rate.
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Tips & Warnings
Contact the GI Bill help desk (1-800-GI BILL1) to get the latest up-to-date information on your available benefits. Customer Service Representatives can give you your personal benefit status.
