When to Expect Your GI Bill Payments for School

Depending on what benefit or assistance you are eligible for the payment and coverage may vary. Below is basic information about how your veteran benefit payment processes work, including GI Bill® programs, and what education-related expenses are covered.

In accordance with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, eligible Chapter 31 and Chapter 33 beneficiaries are allowed to attend class without penalties while awaiting payments from the VA. No additional fees will be assessed, no access or privilege will be denied, and beneficiaries will not be required to take out loans for the semester in which they are waiting on Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 benefit payments from the VA. Students are responsible for payment of tuition and fees not covered by their Chapter 31 and Chapter 33 benefits.

The GI Bill provides invaluable education benefits to help veterans and their families pursue college or training programs. But when can you expect to actually receive those GI Bill payments each month? Understanding the payment timelines helps ensure your tuition and expenses are covered on time.

In this detailed guide, we’ll walk through exactly when the VA pays out your Post-9/11 and other GI Bill benefits for school to avoid any gaps.

GI Bill Payments for Tuition and Fees

Let’s start with the basics. The Post-9/11 GI Bill and other education programs provide a monthly payment that goes directly to your school. This covers your tuition, fees, and other authorized charges.

When Does the VA Send Tuition Payments?

The VA sends tuition and fee payments directly to the school, not to the student Here is the typical timing

After you enroll, your school certifies your enrollment to the VA.
The VA processes this 3-5 weeks after receiving the certification.
On the first of the next month, the VA sends the tuition payment to your school.

For example:

You enroll in classes on August 28th for the fall semester.
In early September, your school sends the VA certification for your fall enrollment.
By late September or early October, the VA processes the certification and approves benefits.
On November 1st, the VA sends the first tuition payment for November to your school.
Additional tuition payments are sent on the 1st of each following month.

So you can expect the VA to send your first GI Bill tuition payment about 1-2 months after you enroll and your school certifies your classes.

Late Tuition Payments

Your school shouldn’t penalize you if the VA tuition payment is late, as long as you’ve done your part and verified enrollment on time.

If the payment is delayed more than 90 days, contact your school’s VA/military office to file a late payment appeal so you avoid penalties or holds. Also contact the VA at 1-888-GIBILL-1 to see if they can expedite the payment.

GI Bill Housing Allowance Payments

In addition to tuition coverage, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides a monthly housing allowance to help with living expenses like rent and food. Here is when to expect these payments.

When Does the VA Send Housing Payments?

GI Bill housing allowances are paid directly to the student, not the school. The payment schedule is:

Housing payments are sent at the end of each month you are enrolled.
You should receive the payment in your bank account within the first 10 days of the following month.

For example:

In August, you’re enrolled at least half time for the fall semester.
Around September 30th, the VA processes your August housing payment.
Between October 1-10, you receive the August housing payment in your bank account.

So you’ll get each prior month’s housing allowance in the first 1-10 days of the next month.

Prorated Housing Allowances

Keep in mind your housing payments are prorated for partial months:

If classes start or end mid-month, you’ll receive a prorated housing payment for only the days you were enrolled.
Prorated payments are calculated based on a 30-day month.
You won’t receive a housing payment for any full month you aren’t enrolled at least half time.

Hardship Requests

You can request an expedited “hardship payment” if you will face serious financial issues without the housing stipend. To qualify, you must document expenses like food, utilities, rent, etc. that create a financial hardship.

Other GI Bill Payment Situations

Beyond the regular tuition and housing payments, there are a few other situations that impact payment timing:

New GI Bill Recipients

For new GI Bill recipients, it takes 30-60 days after approval to receive your first payments. Build this delay into your planning.

Advance Payments

You can request an advance payment to receive funds before classes start if you won’t be paid for at least 30 days. This option isn’t available under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Overseas Schools

Overseas tuition payments follow a different timeline. The VA needs 45-60 days after enrollment certification to process the first payment. Plan your finances accordingly if attending abroad.

Work Study or Tutorial Assistance

Work study payments are sent at the end of each month you participate in the program. Tutorial assistance is paid at the end of the term. Both are paid directly to the student.

Understanding when to anticipate each type of GI Bill payment helps avoid surprises and penalties from late payments. Now you can plan your finances armed with knowledge of the VA’s payment timelines.

When Does The Gi Bill Pay

+ Chapter 33

The Post 9/11 GI Bill® pays in three ways: tuition and fees, a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA), and a book stipend. The tuition and fees payment will be sent directly to the school. The MHA and book stipend will be sent to the bank account you set up for direct deposit with the VA. If you are the service member this will be your MyPay account or the information you included on the VONAPP application. To change your direct deposit bank account with the VA, call them directly at 1-888-442-4551.

Tuition and fees: all required tuition and fees are covered by the Post 9/11 GI Bill®. For the most part this means if you did not decide to add the charge to your account, it will be covered by the VA. If you have 100% eligiblity, 100% of those costs will be covered. If you have 40% eligibility, 40% of those costs will be covered. For example, resident tuition and any required student fees on your campus are covered, however dental insurance, UPass, parking passes, health insurance for spouses or dependents, and bookstore charges are not covered. Please note, if you have a tuition specific scholarship, fellowship, or grant you cannot “double-dip” with the GI Bill®. This does not apply to funds received through the FAFSA. If you have questions about your specific situation, contact us.
Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA): this benefit pays directly to you. The MHA is based on the school’s zip code for an E-5 with dependents. The VA pro-rates the MHA based on a 30-day month. MHA payments are sent after you have completed a month of attendance. This means if school starts on September 6 you will receive your MHA payment on October 1.
Books: the book stipend is based on your percent of eligibility and the number of credits you take. If you have 100% eligibility, you can receive a book stipend of up to $1000 for the year. If you have 60% eligibility, you can receive a book stipend of up to $600.

Studying abroad
Online-only enrollment: if you are enrolled exclusively in online classes, you can find info about your MHA benefits and rates on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Repeating courses: if you do not receive a passing grade, the VA will pay for you to repeat a class once. If you pass a class but want to try for a better grade (example you get a C but you think you can get an A now), the VA will not pay for you to repeat that course. However, the VA will pay for repeats if a college requires you to repeat courses that require a minimum grade, or higher, to complete a major.
Suspension: the VA uses the same progress standards as the University of Minnesota. If your low grades lead to a suspension, the suspension will be reported to the VA.
Test coverage: you can be reimbursed up to $2,000 per test. Your entitlement will be charged one month for every $1,759.08 paid to you rounded to the nearest non-zero whole month; this means even low-cost tests are charged one month of entitlement per test.
Tutoring: you should first contact your department to see if free tutoring is available. Individual tutorial assistance can be reimbursed by the GI Bill® for chapters 30, 33, 35 and 1606. The monthly amount reimbursed cannot exceed $100. To apply, complete VA Form 22-1990t, Application and Enrollment Certification for Individualized Tutorial Assistance. You will be required to pay the tutor up front and the VA will reimburse you.

+ Minnesota GI Bill®

The Minnesota GI Bill is a need-based form of financial aid and a last-payer. Typically this means the benefit will not pay out until the second half of the semester. Students must have room in their budget for the the MN GI Bill to disburse. If you have more than 90% of the Post 9/11 GI Bill® you will not have room in your budget for this benefit.

Based on your budget, full-time undergraduate or graduate students may be eligible to receive up to $3,000 per year and part-time students may be eligible to receive up to $500 per semester.

How Much Money I Made Using The Post 9/11 GI Bill

FAQ

Does the GI Bill pay you every month?

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.

When should I expect my first GI Bill payment?

Once an application is approved, whether it’s for the first time, to re-enroll, or to confirm enrollment, a check should arrive in the mail within two weeks, or within a week if direct deposit is chosen.

What time does VA direct deposit hit?

You should get VA disability pay on the first business day of every month, but there is no set time on that day when it will arrive. When you receive funds typically depends on when your bank processes transactions.

What day does the VA send out payments?

Scheduled Dates: VA typically deposits payments on the first business day of each month. The payment is made on the last business day before the first of the month if it is a weekend or holiday. Direct Deposit: Signing up for direct deposit is the most efficient way to receive your payments.

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.

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 your GI Bill isn’t the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you might be able to get a payment ahead of time. 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. GI Bill has been helping veterans and their families get money for school or training since 1944. It can cover all or some of the costs. Learn more about GI Bill benefits on this page—and how to apply for them.

How long does it take VA to send GI bill payments?

After you confirm your enrollment, it usually takes one to three business days for the changes to show up in your account. After that, the VA will send the payments to you. What If I Did Not Receive My Check Or My GI Bill Payment Is Late?.

How does GI Bill tuition work?

No matter which GI Bill program you are using, the VA will send your tuition costs to the school or training facility you are attending. They will be paid every semester or training period.

What if my GI bill payments are delayed?

As a result of the Forever GI Bill, the VA is making a lot of changes that need to be made. One of these changes is the 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 late, please wait while the VA works to fix the problem.