The Post 9/11 GI Bill went into effect August 1, 2009.  Changes to this new GI Bill have been adopted and will all be in effect as of October 1, 2011. This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits.

The program benefits may include:

• tuition and fees paid directly to the school, not to exceed a cap of $17,500 per year;
  • A program exists which may help to reimburse amounts above the cap. This program is called the "Yellow Ribbon Program".
• a monthly housing allowance;
• an annual books and supplies stipend of $1,000, paid proportionately based on enrollment, and;
• other benefits such as college fund payments, a rural benefit payment, and/or a Yellow Ribbon benefit.

The housing allowance is prorated to your rate of enrollment (as of August 1, 2011) and if you are enrolled in exclusively online courses you will receive 50% of the housing allowance normally allotted (as of October 1, 2011).

This is the first chapter of the GI Bill to allow transfer of the benefits to a spouse and/or child. Click here for more information.

For an overview of the Post 9/11 GI Bill, click here.

To compare other GI educational benefit programs (such as the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty) with the Post 9/11 GI Bill, click here.

PLEASE NOTE: Once this switch is made it is an irrevocable change. If you are using another benefit and plan to change to this chapter, please research it carefully. You may want to make your effective date "the day after my current benefits expire". Also, you may gain more benefit time if you transfer to this chapter after your other benefit expires.