How Will Attending Two Different Schools Affect My Post 9/11 GI Bill Housing Allowance?
Q: I am going to be getting honorably discharged in June 2012. I am currently under the Montgomery GI Bill and I am trying to switch over to the Post 9/11. Will I need to do this before I get out and if so, what form will I use to accomplish this. Also, after I get out, will I be able to attend 2 different schools at one time under the Post 9/11 and how will this affect my BAH?
A: No, you will not need to switch over to the Post 9/11 GI Bill before you get out (however you can if you want to). You can do it anytime and you have up to 15 years from your last date of discharge to use up your benefits.
To switch, you will need to go to the eBenefits website and submit VA Form 22-1990. In return you would receive a Certificate of Eligibility that you will need when enrolling in school.
As far as attending two schools at once, here is how it works. The school that will be issuing your degree is known as your primary school. The other school where you will attend some classes is the secondary school. You have to work out with your primary school which classes in your degree plan you want to take at the secondary school (and possibly why).
If approved, your primary school will send your secondary school a letter stating which classes you will attend. Once you have finished those classes, your secondary school will send a transcript of the credits to your primary school. Your primary school will post the transcripts to your degree plan crediting you for those classes.
As far as calculating your housing allowance, the VA will use the zip code of your primary school along with the combined number of credits you take at both schools.