Title 33 of the Post-9/11 GI Bill helps you pay for school or cover costs while you’re training for a job. If you’ve served on active duty after September 10, 2001, you may qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33). Find out if you can get this education benefit.
The GI Bill is one of the most valuable benefits available to military members, veterans, and their families. This education benefit helps pay for college, graduate school, and training programs.
But to get the most out of the GI Bill, you need to know when and how to pay for things. When will your monthly housing allowance arrive? When do money for school fees and tuition go to the school?
In this article, we’ll break down the key GI Bill pay dates for 2015 so you can plan accordingly.
Background on GI Bill Payments
First, some quick background on how GI Bill payments work:
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The VA pays tuition and fees directly to your school after you officially register for classes each term. You don’t have to handle these payments.
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The housing allowance (MHA) you get every month and the book stipend you get every year are both paid directly to you.
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Payment amounts depend on how much of the GI Bill you are eligible for, how much your tuition costs, and how many classes you are taking (full-time vs. part-time). part-time).
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Payments are issued after each month once the VA confirms your enrollment.
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You must be enrolled at least half-time to qualify for the housing allowance.
Now let’s look at the key payment dates for the 2015 calendar year.
Monthly Housing Allowance
The GI Bill housing allowance is paid at the beginning of each month for the previous month’s enrollment.
Because of this, if you started full-time in January 2015, you would get your January housing payment in early February 2015.
Here is an estimated MHA payment schedule for 2015:
- January MHA: Early February
- February MHA: Early March
- March MHA: Early April
- April MHA: Early May
- May MHA: Early June
- June MHA: Early July
- July MHA: Early August
- August MHA: Early September
- September MHA: Early October
- October MHA: Early November
- November MHA: Early December
- December MHA: Early January 2016
Keep in mind these are estimate payment windows – the exact date may vary by a few days.
Also note that your housing allowance may be prorated if you were not enrolled for the full month.
Tuition and Fee Payments to Schools
Tuition and fee payments are sent directly to your school shortly after the start of each term, once the school confirms your enrollment.
Here are the estimated tuition payment dates for 2015 academic terms:
Spring 2015 Semester
- Payments sent to schools: Early February 2015
This covers tuition and fees for the Spring 2015 term.
Summer 2015 Semester
- Payments sent to schools: Early June 2015
This covers tuition and fees for the full Summer 2015 term.
Fall 2015 Semester
- Payments sent to schools: Early September 2015
This covers tuition and fees for the Fall 2015 term.
Again, the exact payment date varies, but tuition funds are sent at the beginning of your academic term.
Annual Book and Supply Stipend
Students receiving Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits are eligible for an annual book stipend of up to $1,000 per academic year.
For 2015, here is the payment schedule:
- $500 book stipend for Spring 2015 sent in early February 2015
- $500 book stipend for Fall 2015 sent in early September 2015
Remember, this is for full-time students. Part-time students receive a prorated book stipend.
Other Important GI Bill Dates
Here are some other key GI Bill dates and deadlines to keep in mind for 2015:
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January 1st – Post 9/11 GI Bill eligibility updated to include those who served on active duty after September 10, 2001. Previously, benefits were only available to veterans who served after September 11, 2001.
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January 5th – Winter school terms start at many colleges. GI Bill enrollment certifications for Winter sessions due.
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January 15th – Priority deadline to submit GI Bill enrollment certifications for Spring 2015. Submitting by this date ensures no delays in Spring housing and tuition payments.
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May 1st – Priority deadline to submit GI Bill enrollment certifications for Summer 2015 terms.
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October 1st – VA academic year begins. Housing allowance rates adjusted if BAH rates change.
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December 7th – Fall 2015 GI Bill enrollment certifications should be submitted for timely Fall tuition and housing payments.
How to Check GI Bill Payment Status
You can check the status of your upcoming GI Bill payments using the VA’s WAVE feature. WAVE stands for “Web Automated Verification of Enrollment” and allows you to track payments online.
To access WAVE:
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Go to the main GI Bill website (www.benefits.va.gov/gibill).
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Click “WAVE” in the top menu bar.
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Log in using your VA account credentials.
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View your pending payments – you can see the estimated disbursement date for each payment.
If you have any questions about your GI Bill pay dates or believe your payments are late, call the VA at 1-888-GIBILL-1.
Recap of 2015 GI Bill Pay Dates
Understanding when you will receive GI Bill payments is key to using your benefits effectively.
Refer back to this article throughout the 2015 calendar year for a recap of the estimated GI Bill pay dates and windows.
Planning your finances around these payment schedules will ensure you maximize your education benefits!
If you’ve completed 2 or more qualifying periods of active duty
You may qualify for up to 48 months of benefits if you’re eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill and either MGIB-AD or MGIB-SR benefits.
Recent changes:
- If you’re getting MGIB-AD benefits and then switch to Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, you’re no longer limited to the amount of MGIB-AD benefits you can get.
- When you switched to the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may have given up MGIB-AD or MGIB-SR benefits. You may now be able to get up to 12 months of extra MGIB benefits, for a total of 48 months.
Note: We consider any reenlistment a separate period of active duty. But an extension isn’t a separate period of active duty.
You may qualify for additional entitlement under more than 1 education benefit
If you have served two or more qualifying periods of active duty, you may now be able to get up to 48 months of your pay. You must be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and either the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) or the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR).
We call giving up your right to use MGIB-AD or MGIB-SR benefits in the past “relinquishing” those benefits. However, you may now be able to use some of that entitlement.
New GI Bill® Payment Rates!
FAQ
When should I expect GI Bill payments?
How payments work. Your payments will be sent to the bank account you set up for direct deposit with the VA. You will be paid at the end of each month. If school starts September 6, that means your first payment should arrive on or around October 1.
Is the VA paying $3000 this month?
Government confirms $3,000 payments for veterans in May. Because of the most recent cost-of-living adjustment, payments to veterans have increased by 3. 2%. On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, the next payment will be made, and many veterans will get at least $3,000.
How many years does the GI Bill pay for?
You can use up to a maximum of 36 months of education benefits. You can’t change your mind later and use one of these other education benefits instead of the Post-9/11 GI Bill: Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD or Chapter 30)
What is the VA payment schedule for 2025?
Payment Dates – VA Payment Schedule TableMonthPayment DateDay of the WeekJanuary 2025Friday, January 31, 2025February 2025Friday, February 28, 2025March 2025Friday, March 28, 2025April 1, 2025Tuesday, April 30, 2025May 1, 2025Thursday
When will I get my GI bill payment?
The payment will include the first partial month and the first full month of your enrollment. Example: If your enrollment starts on August 25, the advance payment will cover August 25 through September 30. Since GI Bill benefits are paid at the end of the month, you’ll get your next payment for October 1 to 31 in early November.
When do GI bill payments go to school?
GI Bill payment rates are based on the academic school year and may be sent from August 1st of one year to July 31st of the next. GI Bill housing payment dates are typically paid the first week of the month after the month you enrolled. GI Bill housing payments go to the student, unlike GI Bill payments, which are sent directly to the school.
When are GI Bill housing payments made?
GI Bill housing payment dates are typically paid the first week of the month after the month you enrolled. GI Bill housing payments go to the student, unlike GI Bill payments, which are sent directly to the school. GI Bill housing payments are not made on the same dates each month. Your payment times may vary depending on a variety of factors.
How long does it take VA to send GI bill payments?
Once you are done verifying your enrollment, it usually takes 1-3 working days for this to reflect on your account, after which, the VA will be sending the payments to you. What If I Did Not Receive My Check Or My GI Bill Payment Is Late?
Can I get a GI Bill advance payment?
This depends on which GI Bill program you’re using. If you’re using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you can’t get an advance payment. If you’re using a GI Bill program other than the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may be able to get an advance payment. You’ll need to meet all of the requirements listed below. You must:
What if my GI bill payments are delayed?
With the implementation of the Forever GI Bill, the VA is making a lot of necessary adjustments, and this includes payment rates for all GI Bill educational benefits. As per the VA, this can take until the first of December, 2019. So if your MHA payments are delayed, bear with the VA as they are working on resolving the issue.
