GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Chapter 30/34 — Montgomery GI Bill® (Active Duty)
Establishes a program of education benefits for essentially two groups of categories of individuals based on their active duty service Individuals entering military service on or after July 1, 1985, who have had their basic military pay reduced by $100.00 per month for their first 12 months of their service and received a discharge specified as "HONORABLE" are eligible. Individuals eligible for the old GI Bill® (Chapter 34) as of December 31, 1989, who meet the certain eligibility requirements, and persons separated from active service with a service-connected disability or hardship discharge may be eligible. Participants must have received a high school diploma or its equivalency before or during the qualifying period. The Montgomery GI Bill® program provides up to 36 months of benefits. Benefits are payable for 10 years following release from active duty.
Chapter 31 — Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation Program
A veteran of WWII or thereafter who has a service connected disability which entitles him/her to DVA disability compensation and who is in need of vocational rehabilitation because the disability creates an unemployable handicap may be eligible for Chapter 31 benefits. Professional counselors from the DVA will help you plan an individual program. This includes the services and financial assistance needed to carry out the program.
Chapter 33 — Post 9/11 GI Bill®
Individuals who served on active duty after 9/10/01 will be eligible for Chapter 33 benefits if the individual served for an aggregate period of at least 90 days, served at least 30 continuous days and received a disability discharge. Individuals will remain eligible for benefits for 15 years for the date of last discharge or release from active duty of at least 90 continuous days. Individuals will generally receive 36 months of benefits. Individuals are limited to 48 months of combined benefits under educational assistance programs administered by the VA. Individuals transferring to the post 9/11 GI Bill® from the Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapter 30) will be limited to the amount of remaining Chapter 30 entitlement.
Chapter 35 — Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance
Sons, daughters, and spouses of a veteran who dies on active duty, was released from active duty due to a service connected disability, permanently and totally disabled, MIA, POW, or detained by a foreign government while on or in the line of duty, may be eligible for benefits. Generally, the eligibility period for sons and daughters is between the ages of 18 and 26 years of age. A spouse may use educational benefits during a 10-year period after eligibility is found. A surviving spouse may use those benefits during a 10-year period after the veterans death or 10 years after the DVA determines the veterans death was caused by a service-connected disability, provided the surviving spouse does not marry. Public Law 109-461 adds a new group of persons who may be eligible for DEA benefits. Effective December 23, 2006, spouses and children of service members hospitalized, or receiving outpatient care for a VA determined service-connected permanent and total disability, may be eligible for DEA benefits.
Chapter 1606 — Montgomery GI Bill® (Selected Reserve Educational Assistance Program)
Individuals who have agreed to serve six years in the selected reserve, on or after July 1, 1985, re enlisted or extended an enlistment for a period of at least six years may be eligible. Note: Active duty personnel are reimbursed for tuition and fees only, but are accessed entitlements charges at the rate of attendance.
Chapter 1607 — Montgomery GI Bill® (Educational Assistance for Reserved Component Members Supporting Contingency Operations and Certain Other Operations)
A member of the reserve component who serves on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 under title 10, U.S.C., for a contingency operation and who serves at least 90 consecutive days or more is eligible for chapter 1607. National Guard members are also eligible if their active duty is 90 consecutive days or more and their service is authorized under section 502(f),title 32, U.S.C.,authorized by the President or Secretary of Defense for a national emergency, and supported by federal funds.
