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Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)

What is the purpose of the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)?

The Post-9/11 GI Bill®, also known as Chapter 33, provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or for individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

 

Who is eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®?

You may be eligible if you served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty after September 10, 2001, and you are still on active duty or

  • honorably discharged from the active duty;or
  • released from active duty and placed on the retired list or temporary disability retired list; or relates from active duty and transferred to the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve; or
  • released from the active duty for further service in a reserve component of the Armed Forces. You may also be eligible if you were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and you served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001.

 

How do I apply?

If you have decided to elect the Post-9/11 GI Bill as your benefit, submit Application for VA Education Benefits (VA Form 22-1990). You must check the appropriate box and agree to receive Post-9/11 GIB benefits in lieu of any other chapter of the GI Bill.

 

What is the earliest date I can use these benefits?

Post-9/11 GIB benefits may be paid for training pursued on or after August 1, 2009. No payments can be made under this program for training pursued before that date.

 

How many months will I be entitled to Post-9/11 benefits?

You will receive 36 months of full time entitlement at your given rate. A Post-9/11 GIB participant that previously used Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (Chapter 30) is only entitled to the remaining amount of Chapter 30 benefit time. For example, if a student used 6 months of full-time MGIB Chapter 30 benefits, and then elects Post-9/11 participation, the student will only be entitled to 30 months of Post-9/11 GIB benefits.

 

Can I receive this assistance with any other education benefit?

No, you must make an irrevocable choice of which program you want to apply your military service toward. You also cannot receive assistance under more than one VA Education program at a time.

 

Do I have to contribute $1,200 to receive Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits?

No. Unlike the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (Chapter 30), service members do not have to pay anything to participate in the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The only eligibility criteria are at least 90 aggregate days of service after Sept 11, 2001 under one of the qualifying operations.

If a student elects to withdraw from his/her MGIB - AD (Chapter 30) benefits, the VA will authorize reimbursement of the $1,200 payment that was previously paid and allow for an additional 12 months of Post-9/11 GIB benefits.

 

What does the Post-9/11 GI Bill pay?

The payment rates are based on a tier chart which is based on the total amount of Title 10 Active Duty performed since Sept. 11, 2001.

At least 36 months of AD

100% 

At least 30 continuous days and discharged due to service-connected disability

100%

At least 30 months < 36 months of AD

90 %

At least 24 months < 30 months of AD

80%

At least 18 months < 24 months of AD

70%

At least 12 months < 18 months of AD

60%

At lease 6 months < 12 months of AD

50%

At least 90 days < 6 months of AD

40 %

 

There are three Post-9/11 GIB (Chapter 33) payments based on the above tier chart:

  • Payment of Tuition & Fees - this payment is sent on behalf of the veteran student to the school.
  • Payment of Books & Supplies - this payment is sent to the student, and is based on the number of credits in which the veteran student is enrolled. The maximum is $1,000 per year for 100% eligibility.
  • Payment of Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) - this payment is sent to the student monthly. The zip code to be used is 19607 (Alvernia University's zip code). Amounts can be found on the Defense Travel Management Office page of the DoD Center for Travel Excellence website.

 

How do I get additional information on Chapter 33?

The best, most direct information is available on the VA's G.I. Bill webpage, or you can call them at 844-698-2377. You may also use the VA online question portal.

If you feel the Alvernia Student Financial Planning Office is a better source, the contact information is below.  

 

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Veterans' Benefits

Flags at Campus Commons
Student Financial Services
400 Saint Bernardine Street
Francis Hall, Room 203
Reading, PA 19607
Phone: 610.796.8201 / Fax: 610.796.8336
Email: sfs@alvernia.edu