Reservists, veterans can now apply for Post 9/11 GI Bill

11 May 2009 |

The Department of Veterans Affairs began accepting applications for certificates of eligibility for the Post 9/11 (Chapter 33) GI Bill on May 1.

Certificates of eligibility are mailed to the member's home address and provides the following:

- Benefit level based on length of service, including Yellow Ribbon for individuals at the maximum benefit level 

- 15-year eligibility date for individuals not on active duty 

- Number of months of entitlement

- Program approval, if applicable

The form requires that members currently eligible for another education benefit make an irrevocable election from their existing program to Chapter 33. Typically individuals who are eligible for more than one benefit may use a combined total of 48 months of entitlement. 

Therefore, for members eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill program, please be advised that if you have entitlement remaining under MGIB, the number of months of Chapter 33 entitlement you will be eligible for will be equal to the number of months remaining under MGIB. However, if you exhaust all of your MGIB entitlement, then you may be entitled to a maximum of 12 additional months of entitlement under chapter 33.

Members will receive a letter explaining VA's decision regarding their eligibility for the program. Payments for Chapter 33 will not be processed until August 1.

The application may be found at the following link: 

http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp

The VA is not currently accepting transferability applications. The VA will announce when they will begin to accept transferability documents. 

For more information about the Post 9/11 GI Bill, call the 94th Airlift Wing Education Office at 678-655-4000.