When signing up for the GI Bill, one of the first things you should know has to do with GI Bill payment dates. When do you get your housing stipend (monthly housing allowance or basic allowance for housing), when does the payment for books arrive and when does the school get their money?.
The VA official site reminds students there are many variables that affect when you will receive your GI Bill payments. First-time users should expect delays as it takes about a full month to receive and process new applications for benefits and in cases where the VA must verify the applicant’s military service there may be delays not applicable to other applications.
If you haven’t heard anything about a new application for GI Bill benefits 30 days after applying, contact the VA directly at 888-GIBILL-1 (888-442-4551) to talk to a claims specialist.
If you are re-enrolling, the VA takes around a week to process your documents. Note: The VA wants people who get more than one benefit to make sure they all go to the same account. It doesn’t have to be a new account to just to get VA benefits, but they must all go to the same account. The deadline to complete this if you currently don’t have it set up that way is April 20, 2024.
Your Post-9/11 and Forever GI Bill payments are made at the beginning of each month. They cover the time you spent in school during the month that ended. Some students have trouble making their first payment on time, but once they do, they usually make the same payment every month for the whole school year.
Generally once an application is approved – either for first time benefits, re-enrollment, or enrollment verification – a check can be expected within 2 weeks via mail and within a week if enrolled in direct deposit.
You’re not the only veteran who wants to know when they’ll start getting tuition payments from the GI Bill. The GI Bill is a great benefit for veterans going to college because it pays for all or part of the cost of tuition. However, the payment process can be hard to understand. This article will show you the main steps and when they need to be done, so you know what to expect.
An Overview of the GI Bill Tuition Payment Process
The GI Bill tuition payment process involves a few key steps:
- You apply for GI Bill benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
- You get accepted to a college or training program.
- You submit enrollment paperwork to your school’s veterans certifying official.
- The school certifying official submits your enrollment certification to the VA.
- The VA processes the enrollment certification.
- The VA disburses payment to your school.
This entire process can take 4-12 weeks from the time you submit your enrollment certification. The VA estimates it takes 4-6 weeks on average. However, it’s not uncommon for payments to take longer, especially at the start of a busy semester.
So in short, you can expect your GI Bill tuition payment anywhere from 1-3 months after submitting your enrollment paperwork.
Below we’ll explore the steps in more detail so you know what to anticipate
Step 1: Applying for GI Bill Benefits
This first step is submitting your application for GI Bill benefits to the VA. You can apply online through the GI Bill website.
Processing times for initial applications vary, but often take 4-6 weeks. During peak enrollment periods like summer, it may take longer.
Once you’re approved, the VA will send you a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) that lists your qualifying GI Bill program and the number of months or days of benefits you still have left. Keep this because you’ll need it for the next step!
Step 2: Getting Accepted to a Program
Next, you need to choose a college, university, or training program and follow their normal steps for applying and getting accepted. You have time for this step; just make sure you apply early!
After 9/11, the GI Bill can pay for degrees from vocational certificates to doctoral programs. Your COE will tell you which GI Bill program you are eligible for.
Step 3: Submitting Enrollment Paperwork
Once accepted to your program, you need to submit enrollment paperwork to your school’s veterans certifying official. This person is usually in the Registrar or Financial Aid office.
Forms you need to provide:
- Certificate of Eligibility
- Class registration paperwork
- Any other forms required by your program
Submit this paperwork as early as possible! Many schools have priority deadlines for veterans to ensure timely tuition payments.
Step 4: School Submits Enrollment Certification
Next, the school certifying official will submit your enrollment certification online to the VA. This officially verifies that you are enrolled at the school.
The school should submit this immediately after you register or within 30 days of your program start date. You’ll want to follow up with the certifying official to make sure they meet VA deadlines.
Step 5: VA Processes Enrollment Certification
Now the waiting begins! The VA needs to review and process the enrollment certification.
This step takes approximately 4-6 weeks on average. During busier times of year, it can take 8 weeks or longer.
The VA will review your enrollment details, confirm your eligibility for benefits, calculate payment amounts, and authorize disbursements. This involves coordination across multiple VA offices.
Step 6: VA Issues Payment to School
Finally, once they complete processing, the VA will issue tuition and fee payments directly to your school. If you get a monthly housing allowance, that will be paid directly to you.
Payments are disbursed at the end of each month for the previous month. So if you start classes September 15, your September tuition payment will be issued end of October.
Why GI Bill Payments Can Be Delayed
As you can see, many steps are required for your GI Bill payments to start flowing. Here are some common reasons payments get held up:
- Your initial GI Bill application is incomplete or processing takes longer than 4-6 weeks.
- You submit enrollment paperwork late to your school’s certifying official.
- Your school’s certifying official submits your enrollment certification late to the VA.
- The VA has a claims backlog and payment processing takes 8+ weeks.
- You made a change to your registration that must be re-certified.
Your best bet is getting your paperwork in early and following up frequently with your school and the VA. Be aware that delays, while frustrating, are not uncommon. Manage your expectations and be prepared to cover tuition costs for 1-2 months while waiting on payments.
Tips for Smoother GI Bill Payments
Here are some tips to help streamline your tuition payment process:
-
Apply early! Get your initial GI Bill COE well in advance so you’re ready to submit enrollment paperwork as soon as you register for classes.
-
Submit documents ASAP. Get required forms to your school’s certifying official within days of registering for classes. Follow up to confirm they received everything.
-
Communicate with your school. Make sure your certifying official knows you rely on GI Bill benefits. Confirm they understand VA deadlines and will submit your enrollment certification within 30 days. Follow up with them weekly for status updates.
-
Stay organized. Keep copies of all paperwork you submit. Document dates you submitted items or spoke with contacts. Log your calls with the VA. This will be useful if payments are delayed and you need to follow up.
-
Contact the VA with any questions and to check statuses. You can call the GI Bill Hotline at 888-442-4551.
-
Budget for delays. Have backup funds available in case you need to cover 1-2 months of tuition/housing while waiting on GI Bill payments.
-
Be patient but persistent! Understand delays happen, but keep following up and escalating issues if your wait time seems excessive.
The Bottom Line
The GI Bill provides invaluable education assistance to veterans. But the tuition payment process involves many moving pieces and potential delays. Give yourself plenty of time and be diligently prepared. If you stay organized, submit everything early, and keep asking questions, you can expect to receive your first GI Bill payments within 4-12 weeks after you become certified. Reach out to your school and the VA with any issues and budget extra in case payments take longer. With determination and advocacy, you’ll get the education funding you’ve earned!
GI Bill MHA or BAH Payment Schedule
Use this guide to determine your projected payment date:
- In your WAVE account, the date your transaction was processed is shown as “Transaction Date.” From that date, go to the next business day right after that.
- Then, make a list of the three to five days that you think your payment will be due.
The VA regularly updates the WAVE Certification Projected Payment dates.
GI Bill recipients who are going to college or university may be able to get up to $1,000 a year to help pay for books and other school supplies. 00) which is offered based on your enrollment. Full-time students get $500 a semester maximum, paid at the beginning of the academic year. Those who are not full-time attendees will receive a smaller stipend.
It is important to remember that you need to be at over half-time status in order to receive any GI Bill Housing Payment benefit. If you are above half-time credit hours but below full-time you would receive a prorated amount.
Those who attend above half-time hours but are not full-time attendees will have a prorated GI Bill housing stipend paid to them rather than the full time amount.
Some may notice a smaller GI Bill housing stipend paid when the term begins in August or December, most often caused by the shortened academic schedule for that first month back to class. This is typical.
Some students may qualify for a one-time payment of $500 from the VA, offered to those who are relocating from rural areas such as counties with six people or less per square mile as determined by the latest census. Those who qualify soon learn that like other GI Bill benefits, you should not expect a specific payment date but like most other benefits in this area will be disbursed at the start of the term unless your school or the VA notifies you otherwise.
Montgomery GI Bill Payment Schedule
The student is paid directly for the following:
- MHA/BAH
- Annual books and supplies payments
- VA rural benefit where applicable
The school is paid directly for the following:
- Tuition costs every semester/term/training period
MGIB users generally have their payments within two weeks of performing their monthly enrollment verification. There is no fixed payment date and weekends and federal holidays may affect the payment schedule.
People who are using the Montgomery GI Bill have to certify their attendance every month. It’s important to know that your duties don’t end when you get your first GI Bill payment. This is true for both the active duty and reserve versions.
The information in this article pertains only to VA benefits issued by the federal-level Department of Veterans Affairs. There are state-level organizations with names that sound like the VA, like the Illinois State Department of Veterans Affairs or the Division of Veterans Affairs.
These agencies have veteran education programs that vary depending on the state and payment times vary equally in such cases. You will need to contact the state-level agency issuing the veteran education benefits you seek to learn what payment times and related issues may apply.
How Much Money I Made Using The Post 9/11 GI Bill
FAQ
How long does it take for a GI Bill to pay school?
If you chose direct deposit when you applied for education benefits, your payment will be sent to your bank account 7 to 10 business days after you show proof that you are enrolled in school. This is the fastest way to receive your payment.
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.
How long does the VA take to pay my school?
For the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, tuition and fee payments are released by the VA no sooner than 14 days from each class start date and then our billing department requests 2 weeks to process the payments to student accounts.
What is the maximum the GI Bill will pay?
The maximum benefit provides: Full tuition & fees directly to the school for all public school in-state students. For those attending private or foreign schools’ tuition & fees are capped at $27,120. 05 for the 2023-2024 academic year.
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. You’ll get your next GI Bill payment for October 1–31 in early November because it’s paid at the end of the month.
How long does it take to get a GI Bill?
Generally once an application is approved – either for first time benefits, re-enrollment, or enrollment verification – a check can be expected within 2 weeks via mail and within a week if enrolled in direct deposit. Who Gets What When You Use the GI Bill? Usually, all of your tuition and fees are sent straight to the school.
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 are GI Bill benefits?
GI Bill benefits help you pay for school and cover expenses while you’re training for a job. Since 1944, the GI Bill has helped qualifying Veterans and their family members get money to cover all or some of the costs for school or training. Learn more about GI Bill benefits on this page—and how to apply for them.
How many months of GI Bill benefits can I get?
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. If you gave up MGIB-AD or MGIB-SR benefits when you switched to Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may now qualify for up to 12 months of additional MGIB benefits (for a maximum of 48 months).
Does the GI Bill cover school fees?
For students attending public colleges and universities, the GI Bill covers all tuition and fees at the in-state rate, but it may not have the same reach at a private or for-profit school. The national maximum at such schools will be $24,476.79 for the 2019-2020 school year and generally increases slightly each year.
