So What Is the Actual Answer to This Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer Question?
Q: I just read a blog post about a member asking if he switched to the new Post 9/11 GI Bill with 21 days remaining on his MGIB would he receive the additional 12 months. The response to his question was that he would only receive the 21 days unless he fully uses up his MGIB then switches. He would then receive the 12 months.
I just wanted to clarify if this is true because in May I will only have 6 months remaining on my MGIB and also asked about this at the education office on Lackland AFB and was told no. So I just want to know the actual answer to this question. Thank you in advance.
A: The actual answer is just as I had posted it: If you switch to the Post 9/11 GI Bill, with time left on your Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), then you will only get the same Post 9/11 GI Bill time as you had left on your MGIB at the time you switched.
However, if you first exhaust your MGIB, and then switch, you get the additional 12 months of Post 9/11 GI Bill entitlement. A direct quote off of the VA’s website says, “For example, an individual who has remaining entitlement under the Montgomery GI Bill can exhaust that entitlement and may still receive up to an additional 12 months under the Post-9/11 GI Bill”.
If you are eligible for both GI Bills, let your MGIB benefits run out and then apply to switch. On your end it will be seamless as your benefits will continue.
Once the VA gets your application to switch, they will see you are eligible for the additional 12 months. Once you get notice that your application was approved, it may show you actually have less than 12 months left. The reason is because the VA “ loaned” you enough time between when your MGIB ran out and when your Post 9/11 GI Bill was approved to keep your payments coming. Once approved, they took off the “loan” from your remaining months of entitlement.
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