When signing up for the GI Bill, one of the first things you should know has to do with GI Bill payment dates. When does your monthly housing allowance or basic housing allowance come in? When do you get paid for your books? When does the school get their money?
There are a lot of things that can change when you get your GI Bill payments, as the VA website reminds students. 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 applied for GI Bill benefits 30 days ago and haven’t heard anything about it, call the VA 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 is requiring anyone who receives multiple benefits to make sure all benefits go to a single 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 start of the new month and cover the time period you were in school for the month which just ended. Some students experience a delay in their initial payment; once the payment has been established it generally runs on a consistent basis for the duration of the 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.
The GI Bill is one of the most popular and beneficial programs for military veterans pursuing higher education. One of the most helpful parts of the GI Bill is the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). This payment helps student veterans cover housing costs while going to school. But when exactly does the GI Bill pay out this vital housing stipend? This article will explain when GI Bill recipients can expect to receive BAH payments.
What is BAH?
BAH stands for Basic Allowance for Housing. It is a monthly payment made to GI Bill users to help cover housing expenses. BAH rates are determined based on the ZIP code of where you attend school. Rates vary widely across the country based on local housing costs.
BAH payments go directly to the student veteran. This differs from tuition and fee payments which go straight to the school. BAH is meant to help veterans pay for rent, mortgages, utilities and other housing costs.
BAH Payment Frequency
GI Bill BAH payments are made once per month. Payments are disbursed for the previous month of enrollment.
For example, if you start school on January 5, your first BAH payment will cover January. This payment will be sent to you in early February. Your second BAH payment for February will be sent to you in early March, and so on.
BAH payments are always disbursed after the month of enrollment, never in advance. The VA determines eligibility for BAH based on how many days you were enrolled during the previous month.
BAH Payment Dates
The VA does not issue BAH on the same date each month. However, payments typically go out during the first week of the month
For example your January BAH would likely be paid somewhere between the 1st and 5th of February. Your February BAH would then probably hit your account between March 1st-5th.
The first week of every month is when BAH payments are made, but the exact date varies. You might get paid on the 2nd some months and the 4th or 5th others.
The VA posts an official BAH payment schedule online. You can use this to find out exactly when your next payments are due.
How to Get BAH Sooner
Since BAH is paid after the month of enrollment, there can be a gap between starting school and getting your first payment. For some veterans, this delay could make it difficult to pay rent or other housing bills.
Fortunately, there are a couple options to get BAH sooner:
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Request an advance payment: Veterans using certain GI Bill programs can ask for their first BAH payment to be sent to them early. You have to send this request at least 30 days before the term starts. If you are approved, you can go to your school and pick up the advance check. This will include the first month of BAH, both half and full.
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Use financial aid: Federal student loans and grants can help cover costs until BAH payments start rolling in. Money from financial aid is sent directly to the school and can be used for tuition and living expenses.
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Find temporary assistance: Organizations like the Salvation Army and USA Cares offer temporary financial help for veterans in need. Local veteran service groups may also have emergency relief funds to help cover bills.
BAH Payment Methods
You can choose to receive your monthly BAH via direct deposit or paper check:
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Direct deposit: This is the quickest way to get BAH payments. Money is deposited directly into your bank account, typically 7-10 days after verifying enrollment.
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Paper check: If you request check payments, your BAH will arrive in the mail about 14 days after verifying enrollment. This method has a higher risk of delayed or lost payments.
I highly recommend setting up direct deposit for your BAH. It ensures you get payments as quickly as possible into a safe location. You can sign up for direct deposit on the GI Bill website.
Track BAH Payments
Since BAH disbursements vary month-to-month, it helps to track your payments. You can see when upcoming BAH deposits are scheduled using the VA’s GI Bill Comparison Tool. This shows your last five payments and next three scheduled payments.
The tool also lets you view payment history for the last 12 months. Check for any missed or lower payments. Report any issues to the VA right away.
You can also call the GI Bill Hotline at 888-442-4551 to ask questions about BAH payments. The VA can look into any discrepancies.
Staying on top of your BAH schedule ensures you get paid accurately and on time.
Changes That Affect BAH
Certain changes in your enrollment can impact BAH eligibility and payment amounts:
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Dropped classes: If you drop below full-time, BAH will decrease or stop until you enroll full-time again.
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Rate changes: If your school ZIP code changes, your BAH rate will adjust up or down starting the next month.
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Deployment: Active duty deployments of over 30 days will pause BAH payments until you return to school.
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Graduation: BAH stops the month after you graduate or complete your program.
Report any of these changes to the VA right away to avoid overpayments or underpayments. Work with your school’s certifying official to ensure enrollment is certified correctly.
Manage BAH Wisely
BAH can cover a huge chunk of housing costs for student veterans. Make sure to budget this money responsibly each month. Avoid the temptation to overspend just because BAH comes in reliably.
Pay your most essential bills first like rent, utilities, and food. Use any remaining funds for less critical costs like entertainment or transportation. Build up a savings over time so you have a financial cushion.
Creating a budget for your BAH helps control spending. And learning to live below your BAH payment amount prepares you for when the payments stop after graduation.
The Takeaway
BAH provides vital housing assistance so veterans can focus on education. Make sure you understand when and how much BAH you’ll receive. Tracking payments, creating a budget, and planning ahead will help you maximize this important benefit. Use BAH wisely, and it will give you the stable foundation needed to succeed in school.
GI Bill Payments: Who Gets What?
In general, all tuition and fee requirements are paid directly to the school. You will not be responsible for handling or transferring GI Bill funds in this area.
The student is paid directly for the following:
- Monthly housing allowance (MHA) or basic allowance for housing (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
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 be able to get a one-time payment of $500 from the VA if they are moving from a rural area, like a county with six people or less per square mile, according to the most recent census. People who are eligible quickly learn that, like other GI Bill benefits, they shouldn’t expect a specific payment date. Instead, they learn that their money will be sent to them at the beginning of the school year, unless their school or the VA tells them otherwise.
GI Bill Housing Allowance Explained (BAH)
FAQ
How long does it take for GI Bill Bah to kick in?
Your check should arrive in two weeks (allowing for mailing time), or just one week if you have direct deposit set up, after your application is approved. This is true whether you are applying for the first time, re-enrolling, or verifying your enrollment.
What day of the month does GI Bill pay?
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. However, first-time users may see a delay in the arrival of this first payment.
How is Bah paid for GI Bill?
It’s a monthly benefit paid via direct deposit to students while attending school under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and is equal to the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) of an E-5 with dependents.
Why haven’t I received my BAH for GI Bill?
Alternatively you can contact the GI Bill hotline to verify the status (1-888-442-4551). If they say they don’t see a certification, that could just mean it hasn’t been processed yet. Contact your SCO to double check it was submitted (you would also typically get a text once we submit your certification).
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.
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:
When is GI Bill housing allowance paid?
GI Bill housing allowance is paid after the fact. In the best case scenario, you wouldn’t get paid until October 1 if you start school on September 1. We often hear my housing allowance is late, how am I supposed to pay my rent, food, etc. – We do issue partial housing allowance.
How much does the GI Bill pay a month?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill also pays a monthly housing allowance based on the ZIP code of the location of the school or campus where you attend the majority of your classes. This stipend averages $1,934. 80 a month but can exceed $2,700 depending on where you go to school.
Are GI bill payments a mystery?
GI Bill payments, particularly monthly housing payments, can sometimes be a mystery. You may hear about people receiving a smaller than expected monthly housing payment or not getting one at all when they think they should. Please allow me to explain how they work. Please get this out to all of our Veteran students and schools.
What is GI Bill monthly housing allowance (MHA)?
Your Post-9/11 GI Bill monthly housing allowance (MHA) is generally the same as the military’s Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents living in your school’s ZIP code. Unlike the BAH, which changes Jan. 1 of every year, the GI Bill MHA rate changes Aug. 1 (the start of the academic year). There are some exceptions to MHA.
