Here’s the deal though:

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Your service record is unique, and the easiest way to be 100% sure which GI Bill you have is to log onto eBenefits to get your Statement of Benefits.

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But there is one catch:

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You can only check your Statement of Benefits if you’ve previously applied for the GI Bill.

If you’ve never applied to get your GI Bill benefits, you will have to submit an application FIRST, by going to this page on VA.gov.

You now submit the application online, but it will take 30 days to get back the official decision about your benefits.

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I’ll show you below exactly how to look up your Statement of Benefits online, as well as explain the specifics of each GI Bill, and how to best take advantage of each. 

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How to Quickly Find Out Which GI Bill You Have: 

Some call it a VA letter, some call it a Certificate of Eligibility, and the VA calls it a Statement of Benefits. 

But…

They all mean the same thing, and if you’ve previously applied for your GI Bill benefits, it will be listed on the government website. You can print this out for your records or to complete the process with your chosen school.

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Here are the 7 steps to quickly figure this out. You can also read this full article to learn more about how to get your GI Bill certificate of eligibility.

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Step 1. Go to the VA.gov website here.

Step 2: Under the “Education” Section, click the link “Check your Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits” 

Step 3: Click the green button “Sign In or Create an Account”

Step 4: Login with your DS or CAC login

Step 5: Click the green button “Check Your GI Bill Benefits”

Step 6: View your GI Bill “Statement of Benefits”/Certificate of Eligibility

Step 7: Click “Get Printable Statement of Benefits” Blue Button (Shown Above) 

Is it possible to have both the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill?

If you are eligible to receive educational benefits from more than one GI Bill program, you will have to choose which one to receive benefits from.

Each program has its own pros and cons depending on what you want to use it for.

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On first glance, the Post 9/11 GI Bill seems to provide the most amount of benefits; however, if you are currently using the Montgomery GI Bill and partook in the buy up program, you won't be able to use that once you transfer to the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

If you need help in making the decision on which GI Bill program to receive benefits from, you may call the GI Bill hotline at 888-GI-BILL-1 (888-442-4551) anytime from Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm.

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Can I qualify for GI Bill benefits if I am in the National Guard or the Reserves?

As we have discussed earlier, members of the National Guard and the Selected Reserve are qualified to receive educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill- Selected Reserve. 

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Furthermore, if you are a member of the Reserves who lost education benefits when the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) ended in November 2015, you may qualify to receive restored benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

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What is the Post 9/11 GI Bill?

The Post 9/11 GI Bill is the most recent educational benefit program implemented by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), which was passed into law towards the end of 2010. It provides financial assistance in pursuing continuing education covered under the following categories:

• Institutions of higher learning for undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs
• Non-college degree programs and vocational/ technical training
• On-the-job training and apprenticeship
• Flight and correspondence training
• Entrepreneurship training
• Independent and distance learning

Requirements

To qualify for this benefit, you must meet one of the following requirements:

• Served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty on or after September 11, 2001,
• Served at least 30 continuous days on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 before being discharged due to a service-connected disability, 
• Received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001 and was honorably discharged, or
• A dependent child using transferred benefits

Benefits

If you qualify, you can receive the following benefits, the actual amounts of which are calculated based on the length of time you were on active duty as well as your rate of pursuit, among other factors depending on the benefit you are availing:

• Tuition and fees (in-state costs for public schools, or an amount not exceeding the prescribed national maximum for the type of education or training you are pursuing)
• Monthly Housing Allowance (applicable for those studying at on at least a 50% rate of pursuit, and prorated depending on the location of the majority of your classes)
• Books and Supplies Stipend (a maximum of $1,000 per academic year)

In addition to these benefits, you may also receive a one-time rural benefit if you are relocating from a rural area to a school at least 500 miles away or only accessible from your residence via air travel. The VA also provides further assistance for matters such as licensing and certifications, tutorial assistance, and work-study programs. 

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Check all the benefits you can get from the Post 9/11 GI Bill here.

You can also view the current payment rates through this link.

If you want to find out how much you can get based on the school that you want to attend, use the GI Bill Comparison Tool.

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How do I find my Post 9/11 GI Bill Statement of Benefits?

 If you are not yet receiving benefits from the Post 9/11 GI Bill but are qualified to do so, you can apply through this link. Otherwise, you can check how much benefits you have left by viewing your GI Bill Statement of Benefits.

If you don’t have any plans of using your entitlement benefits soon, do take note that you can only use the GI Bill on some things within a certain period of time. And if you were discharged before 2013, your entire GI Bill benefits expire after 15 years. But, what if you don’t want your hard earned benefits to go to waste?

Here’s the good news:

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You can opt to transfer up to 36 months of your remaining GI Bill entitlement benefits to your spouse or dependents, provided that you meet certain qualifying requirements. 

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How do I transfer my Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to my spouse or dependents?

To be able to transfer entitlement benefits to your spouse or dependents, you must meet one of the following requirements:

• You have completed at least 6 years of active duty service and have agreed to serve for 4 more years, or
• You have completed at least 10 years of active duty service but cannot commit to serve 4 more years due to a policy or statute, but agree to serve for the maximum amount of time possible

Furthermore, the recipient of your transferred benefits must be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).

You can file for a transfer of benefits through the Department of Defense. Once it is approved, the recipient of transferred benefits has to apply for benefits through the VA website.

Check out more information about transferring GI Bill benefits here.

What is the Montgomery GI Bill?

The Montgomery GI Bill is an older GI Bill program by the VA that provides financial assistance for continuing education. It covers education and training that are covered under categories similar to the Post 9/11 GI Bill, which are:

• Institutions of higher learning for undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs
• Non-college degree programs and vocational/ technical training
• On-the-job training and apprenticeship
• Flight and correspondence training
• Entrepreneurship training
• Independent and distance learning

It also covers payments for licensing and certification tests. In some cases, this benefit can also be used to pay for remedial courses, deficiency courses, and refresher courses. 

The Montgomery GI Bill is divided into 2 categories- the Montgomery GI Bill- Active Duty (MGIB-AD) and the Montgomery GI Bill- Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR). The requirements and benefits for each category are different, and we will detail each one below.

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Montgomery GI Bill- Active Duty

Requirements

The basic requirements in order to qualify for benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill- Active Duty are as follows:

• At least 2 years of active duty service, and
• A high school diploma, GED, or 12 credit hours in college

The VA has additional specific requirements to determine your eligibility category including when you entered and left the military, whether you left the service voluntarily, as well as whether you had pay reductions. You can check the full list of requirements here.

Benefits

You can use up to 36 months of entitlement benefits within 10 years after your discharge from active duty service. The actual amounts that you can receive depends on several factors, such as:

• Your entitlement category
• The length of time you have served on active duty
• The type of education program under which you are availing benefits
• Whether you qualify for a college kicker/ fund
• How much you have paid into the $600 buy up program

You can check out the current payment rates through this link. If you want to find out how much you can get based on the school that you want to attend, use the GI Bill Comparison Tool. If you want to start receiving GI Bill benefits, visit this link to see the steps on how to apply.

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Montgomery GI Bill- Selected Reserve

Requirements

You are qualified to receive educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill- Selected Reserve if you are a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard, and meet the following requirements:

• You agreed to serve for 6 years in the Selected Reserve or you are an officer in the Selected Reserve who agreed to serve 6 years on top of your original service obligation,
• You have a high school diploma, a high school equivalency diploma, or a GED,
• You have completed your Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT), and
• You remain in good standing during your service in a Selected Reserve unit

Benefits

As a qualified recipient, you can receive up to 36 months of entitlement benefits which amounts to up to $384 per month.

You are eligible to use these benefits for 14 years after your initial 6 year service obligation, provided that you remain enlisted in the Selected Reserve. This duration can be further extended if you are called to active duty, where in such case, you will get an extra 4 months plus the length of time you were on active duty as an added time frame to use your benefits.

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In the event that you are already separated from the Selected Reserve and still want to use your benefits, you may do so, provided that you meet one of these requirements:

• You separated due to a disability not connected to misconduct,
• You involuntarily separated for reasons other than misconduct between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2014, or
• Your unit was deactivated between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2014

You can check out the current payment rates through this link.

If you want to find out how much you can get based on the school that you want to attend, use the GI Bill Comparison Tool.

If you want to start receiving GI Bill benefits, visit this link to see the steps on how to apply.

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As you can see, there are many ways to take advantage of your GI Bill benefits. However, the actual benefit amounts are not the same for everyone.

If your eligibility percentage is low, or if there are other factors affecting how much you can receive from your entitlement benefits, you might be wondering if there are other VA programs that can help you offset whatever education costs that will not be covered by your GI Bill benefits.

Here is the good news:

There are several VA programs that either supplement the GI Bill or work independently of it. One of these is the Yellow Ribbon Program.

What is the Yellow Ribbon Program?

The Yellow Ribbon Program is an additional benefit that can help you pay for out-of-state, private, or graduate school tuition costs that are not covered by or are in excess of your existing GI Bill benefits.
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This is a voluntary program that schools elect to participate in, and comes at no entitlement charge to your benefits. You can check whether the school you want to attend is participating in the Yellow Ribbon by clicking here.

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You can also find out more information about this program including the list of requirements and the steps on how to apply by visiting the VA website. 

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This post will teach you how to get your Certificate of Eligibility, which you will need to enroll in the many different education and training benefits and programs that the VA offers. You will also need this certificate when applying to schools and training facilities, so that they can process your enrollment under GI Bill Veteran program rules.

*Note: The eBenefits portal has changed. Many other blogs describe the steps incorrectly since the user flow has changed on the website. Here are the correct steps:

The Correct Way To Get Your GI Bill Certificate of Eligibility (or GI Bill Letter)?

1. Go to https://www.va.gov/

2. Under the “Education” Section, click the link “Check your Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits”

3. Click the green button “Sign In or Create an Account”

4. Login with your DS or CAC login

5. Click the green button “Check Your GI Bill Benefits”

6. View your GI Bill “Statement of Benefits”/Certificate of Eligibility

7. Click “Get Printable Statement of Benefits” 

How Do I Know My GI Bill Eligibility?

The VA has several programs and benefits that you can apply for depending on your status and qualifications, providing support for both active duty and discharged service members, as well as their dependents.

You may find out which program you are qualified for by clicking this link. Or you can read on below to see the different GI Bill and other benefit categories:

Post 9/11 GI Bill

Requirement:

Active duty service of at least 90 days after September 10, 2001

Montgomery GI Bill

1. Active Duty Requirements:

• Active duty service of at least 2 years,
• Was honorably discharged, and
• Has a highschool diploma/ GED/ 12 credit hours in college

2. Selected Reserve Requirements:

• A member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserves, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard, and
• Has a 6-year service obligation (or a Selected Reserve officer with another 6-year service obligation)

If you do not qualify for these programs, don’t worry!

Aside from the Post 9/11 and the Montgomery GI Bills, the VA offers other assistance programs, such as the following:

• Advanced trainings and certifications for non-degree programs and vocational courses
• Educational assistance programs for guardsmen, reservists, and other veterans
• Educational and career counseling for recently discharged members, and their dependents
• Vocational rehab and employment for those discharged due to a service-connected disability, and their dependents

How Do I Know My Dependent’s GI Bill Eligibility?

Like we just said, your family can also reap the benefits of the GI Bill. The VA has generous provisions for providing assistance to dependents and survivors of active duty, discharged, and deceased service members. Your spouse and/or your children can definitely benefit from these programs!

You can check your dependent’s GI Bill status using the same instructions outlined above. 

Aside from the ones we already mentioned, here are two more education benefits that VA offers to dependents and survivors:

Transferred Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

This program is facilitated by the Department of Defense, which allows active duty and Selected Reserve service members to transfer up to 36 months of unused benefits to their dependents.

Requirements:

• The service member has completed 6 years of service, and has agreed to serve 4 more years
• The qualified dependent is enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System

If you need to transfer benefits, or have questions about that, you can get answers on the VA.gov transfer page here.

DEA Program and the Fry Scholarship

These programs are for the dependents of disabled and deceased service members and veterans.

Requirements:

1. For the spouse or child of a deceased service member

• The service member died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001, or
• The service member is missing in action/ captured/ detained by hostile or foreign entities in the line of duty, or
• The service member is receiving out-patient treatment for a permanent service-connected disability that is a basis for discharge

2. For the spouse or child of a permanently disabled veteran

• The veteran has a permanent service-connected disability, or
• The veteran died in the line of duty or from a service-connected disability

How To Apply (so that You Can Get a GI Bill Letter)

Once you have determined which GI Bill program you are eligible to get benefits from, you can now start your application!

Creating an account

To start your application, go to the VA website and log in to your account. If you don’t have an account yet, create one now. You will need to provide your personal information such as name, address, contact details, and Social Security Number.

Required Information

The next step once you have an account is to start your application. Provide all the requested information including your military history, education history, bank account direct deposit information, and basic information about the school or training facility that you want to attend or are attending.

Make sure that all the information you provide is accurate. After you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation message.

How To Obtain a Copy Of Your GI Bill Certificate of Eligibility, or GI Bill Letter

It’s best to keep your original copy for your personal records. In any case, whether you are keeping it or have already submitted it somewhere, you will definitely need a copy for the next time you want to use your GI Bill benefits.

*Note: The eBenefits portal has changed. Many other blogs describe the steps incorrectly since the user flow has changed on the website. Here are the correct steps:

Here is how you can get a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility:

Step 1. Go to the VA.gov website here

Step 2: Under the “Education” Section, click the link “Check your Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits” 

Step 3: Click the green button “Sign In or Create an Account”

Step 4: Login with your DS or CAC login

Step 5: Click the green button “Check Your GI Bill Benefits”

Step 6: View your GI Bill “Statement of Benefits”/Certificate of Eligibility

Step 7: Click “Get Printable Statement of Benefits” Blue Button (Shown Above) 

How Long Does It Take To Get a GI Bill Certificate of Eligibility?

If you’ve already applied for the GI Bill, and have been approved, then getting the letter is instant if you just want to log on and print your GI Bill Letter (Statement of Benefits). See instructions above.

If you haven’t yet applied for the GI Bill:

Then, all you have to do is wait for around 30 days for the results.

The VA will send your Certificate of Eligibility in the mail, but its much quicker to just print it yourself from the online portal. In the case where you get denied, or they need more information to process your application, they will let you know via mail as well.

Notes

• You can also start your application without an account on the VA portal, but you won’t be able to save your progress if you don’t finish your application in one sitting.
• If you want to process your application by mail, request a copy of the application form by calling 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (888-442-4551) anytime from Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm. Send in your accomplished application form to the nearest VA regional processing office in your area. 
• You may also process your application in person by going to the VA regional processing office. For a list of regional processing offices, click here.
• If you need help with your application, you can reach out to an accredited representative by clicking this link.

GI Bill Overview

A quick refresher on the GI Bill: 

The GI Bill is a legislation implemented by the Department of Veteran Affairs that provides education benefits to veterans and active duty members of the different branches of the Department of Defense.

It provides several avenues for pursuing education and training through different programs, such as the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill.

Since its implementation in 1944, the GI Bill has provided countless opportunities for eligible recipients in smoothly transitioning to civilian life and opening doors for career advancement.

If you are not receiving GI Bill benefits yet, don’t miss out! Now is the time to enroll in a GI Bill program and reap its benefits. We’ll show you how to apply for the GI Bill benefits.

What can I use my GI Bill benefits for?

Now that you have your Certificate of Eligibility allowing you to use your benefits, you can start using them! From learning yoga, to developing your culinary skills, to becoming a doctor, there is a lot of opportunities for you!

Here is a list of where you can use your GI Bill benefits:

• Undergraduate and graduate degrees
• Non-degree programs
• Vocational courses
• Flight and correspondence training
• Foreign programs
• Licensing and certifications

The GI Bill will provide you with the following, based on your qualifications:

• Tuition assistance
• Housing allowance
• Books and supplies stipend
• Rural benefit
• Tutorial assistance

Here is the best part yet:

You don’t have to choose just one of these things! You can use your GI Bill benefits several times, such as taking two degrees, or getting licensed for different fields. This is as long as you have entitlement benefits remaining.

Just remember, the amount of benefits you can receive depends on your qualifications, such as the amount of time you have served as an active duty service member. 

Wondering how you can do that?

It’s simple! You just need to apply to use your benefits each time you are enrolling in a class or training program.

Here is where your Certificate of Eligibility comes in: 

Every time you apply for using your benefits, or enroll in a learning or training institution, you will need to submit this certificate.

And there you have it! Start using your GI Bill benefits now, and use them smartly!

For a list of all the things you can use your benefits for, check out all of the 29,000 VA Approved GI bill opportunities here: https://milversity.com/explore/