Can I Switch to the Post 9/11 GI Bill?
Q: I am currently under Selective Reserve Chapter 1606. I have 21 months remaining on this benefit. I have been in the National Guard for 2 years now. I am deploying for 12 months, 6 months from now. Once I get back, will I be able to switch over to the Post 9/11 GI Bill?
A: Yes you will. With a one-year deployment, you will have 60% coverage meaning the VA will pay your school directly up to 60% of the in-state maximum for your tuition and eligible fees. You in turn, would get up to 60% of the housing allowance and up to 60% of the book stipend.
There are a couple of ways you can use your GI Bills once you are back from deployment (however, only one way really makes sense, depending of course on your educational goals). Under the Rule of 48, if you are eligible for two or more GI Bills, you can only get a combined maximum benefit of 48 months.
So your two choices would be:
- use your remaining 15 months of Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserves (MGIB-SR), switch and use the additional 12 months of Post 9/11 GI Bill or;
- switch after deployment and use the 15 months of Post 9/11 GI Bill at the 60% rate.
Let’s look at each scenario:
| Scenario 1 | * Denotes constants | |||||
| *15 months of MGIB-SR + 12 months of Post 9/11 GI Bill at 60% | ||||||
| *4-month semester at 12 credits per semester | ||||||
| *$250 per credit (in-state maximum at $250 per credit) | ||||||
| *$1,000 per month housing allwaonce | ||||||
| *$41.67 per credit book stipend | ||||||
| MGIB-SR | 15 months equates to 3.75 semesters | |||||
| $1,348 | ($337 per month X 4 months) | |||||
| ($3,000) | Tuition paid by student | |||||
| (-$1,652) | (owed per semester) | |||||
| (-$6,195.00) | (owed at the end of 3.75 semesters) | |||||
| 12 months of Post 9/11 GI Bill paid at 60% | ||||||
| $2,400 | $1,000 per month housing allowance at 60% | |||||
| $300 | (12 credits per semester paid at 60% of $41.67 per credit) | |||||
| $3,000 | (tuition paid by the VA) | |||||
| $2,700 | Paid to the student each semester | |||||
| $8,100 | Paid to the student after 3 semesters | |||||
| $1,905.00 | Net from both GI Bills | |||||
| Scenario 2 | ||||||
| 15 months of Post 9/11 GI Bill at 60% | ||||||
| $2,400 | $1,000 per month housing allowance at 60% | |||||
| $300 | (12 credits per semester paid at 60% of $41.67 per credit) | |||||
| $3,000 | (tuiton paid by the VA) | |||||
| $2,700 | Paid to the student each semester | |||||
| $10,125 | Paid to the student after 3.75 semesters | |||||
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