How to Apply for Post-9/11 GI Bill or Other VA Education Benefits

Which GI Bill programs can you apply for with VA Form 22-1990?

VA Form 22-1990, Application for VA Education Benefits, is the main application for several major education programs:

• Post-9/11 GI Bill, Chapter 33.
• Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty, Chapter 30.
• Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve, Chapter 1606.

VA also provides an online application for these programs, so you do not have to mail the paper form if you apply electronically.

Who can qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill?

You may qualify for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits if at least one qualifying service rule applies. VA currently lists these principal routes:

• You served at least 90 days on qualifying active duty after September 10, 2001, either continuously or in separate periods.
• You served at least 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001 and were honorably discharged because of a service-connected disability.
• You received a Purple Heart after September 10, 2001 and meet VA's discharge requirements.
• You are an eligible dependent child using transferred benefits from a qualifying Veteran or service member.

The percentage of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits you receive can depend on qualifying active-duty service and other statutory rules.

What can Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits cover?

Depending on your eligibility percentage and program, Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits may help pay for tuition and fees, housing, books and supplies and certain other approved education or training costs.

If you qualify for the maximum benefit, VA states that it can cover the full cost of public in-state tuition and fees. Private and foreign-school tuition is subject to annual VA caps. Housing payments generally require enrollment at more than half time, and the amount can depend on the school location and training format.

Be careful when choosing between GI Bill programs

Some applicants are eligible for more than one VA education program. Your choice can matter because, in some cases, choosing one education benefit affects whether you can later switch to another.

VA currently states that if you have only one qualifying period of service beginning on or after August 1, 2011 and qualify for more than one education program, you generally must choose which benefit to use. Review the available programs before making that election.

VA also now recognizes additional entitlement for some people with two or more qualifying periods of active duty following the Rudisill decision. Eligible applicants with both Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty entitlement may qualify for up to 48 months of combined education benefits. VA says it automatically reviews affected entitlement and notifies beneficiaries when changes apply.

What information do you need before applying?

VA advises applicants to gather several pieces of information before starting:

• Social Security number.
• Education history.
• Military history.
• Bank account and routing information for direct deposit.
• Basic information about the school or training facility you plan to attend or are currently attending.

Having accurate dates of service, education history and school details available can reduce the chance that VA will need clarification after you file.

Apply online through VA.gov

Veterans, service members, Reservists and Guard members can apply online for Post-9/11 GI Bill, MGIB-AD or MGIB-SR benefits through VA's education-benefits application.

The online route lets you submit the application directly without mailing VA Form 22-1990. VA also provides online application routes for several other education programs, including benefits for eligible survivors and dependents.

Apply by mail with VA Form 22-1990

If you prefer paper, complete and sign the current VA Form 22-1990. The correct mailing office depends on the location of your school or training establishment.

If you have already chosen a school, mail the application to the VA Regional Processing Office serving the school's physical location. If you have not chosen a school, VA instructs you to use the processing office serving your home address.

Where do you mail VA Form 22-1990?

VA currently operates two Regional Processing Offices for GI Bill applications:

• Muskogee Regional Processing Office: Department of Veterans Affairs, PO Box 8888, Muskogee, OK 74402-8888.
• Buffalo Regional Processing Office: Department of Veterans Affairs, PO Box 4616, Buffalo, NY 14240-4616.

Which office applies depends on the school location or, if you have not yet selected a school, your home address. VA's current regional-office page lists the states and territories served by each office.

Family members using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits need a different application

A spouse or dependent child who has already received transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement should not use the Veteran's ordinary VA Form 22-1990. The family member generally applies using VA Form 22-1990e, Application for Family Member to Use Transferred Benefits, or the corresponding online application.

The Department of Defense must approve the transfer before the dependent applies to VA. A service member who has not yet transferred benefits generally must request the transfer through the Department of Defense while still on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.

If you need service records while preparing another VA benefit claim, Helpydo also explains how to request a copy of your DD Form 214 or military service records.

Do Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits expire?

The expiration rule depends on when your active-duty service ended.

• If your service ended on or after January 1, 2013, your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits generally do not expire under the Forever GI Bill.
• If your service ended before January 1, 2013, VA states that the benefits generally expire 15 years after your last separation from active service.

Other VA education programs have different time limits, so do not assume that the Post-9/11 GI Bill expiration rule applies to Montgomery GI Bill or dependent benefits.

Make sure VA has approved the school or training program

Before enrolling, VA recommends checking whether the program is approved for VA education benefits. The GI Bill Comparison Tool lets you compare schools and training programs and review how VA benefits may apply.

If a program is not approved, the school—not the student—generally must request approval. VA warns that if it does not approve the program, the student may be responsible for the full tuition and fees.

Tell the school's certifying official you applied

If you have already selected a school, notify its VA certifying official that you applied for education benefits. The school submits enrollment information to VA, generally through an electronic enrollment certification corresponding to VA Form 22-1999.

Your benefit application and the school's enrollment certification are separate steps. Filing VA Form 22-1990 alone does not certify your enrollment for payment.

VA reviews your eligibility and sends a decision

After receiving the claim, VA reviews your military service and other eligibility information and may request additional documents.

If VA asks you for supporting evidence after the application is filed, its current education-benefits instructions allow requested documents to be uploaded through QuickSubmit.

How long does a GI Bill application take?

VA currently reports an average processing time of about 30 days for education claims.

This is an average, not a guaranteed deadline. A claim can take longer if VA needs additional service information, documents or clarification.

What is the GI Bill Certificate of Eligibility?

After deciding the application, VA mails a decision letter. If the application is approved, the decision establishes your education-benefit eligibility and may serve as the Certificate of Eligibility, or COE.

You may need to provide the COE to your school's VA certifying official before using your education benefits. If you applied for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits through VA.gov, VA states that you may also be able to download the education decision letter online.

GI Bill benefits can be part of a larger education funding plan

VA education benefits and federal student aid are different programs. Depending on your circumstances, you may also qualify for federal grants, loans or work-study administered through the Department of Education. Helpydo's separate guide explains how to complete the FAFSA to apply for federal student aid.

Some Post-9/11 students must verify enrollment each month

VA states that people using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits must verify their enrollment each month to continue receiving a monthly housing allowance or kicker payments when those payments apply.

Enrollment verification happens after the benefit has been established and the school has certified enrollment, so it is separate from the initial application.

Common application mistakes to avoid

• Choosing a GI Bill program before understanding how the election may affect other education entitlement.
• Using VA Form 22-1990 when you are a dependent who should use VA Form 22-1990e or another family-benefit application.
• Entering incomplete or inaccurate military-service or education history.
• Applying for a school or program without checking whether VA has approved it.
• Mailing a paper application to the wrong Regional Processing Office.
• Failing to tell the school's VA certifying official that you applied.
• Assuming the initial VA application automatically certifies school enrollment.
• Ignoring requests from VA for additional documents or information.
• Assuming all Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits expire after 15 years even when qualifying service ended on or after January 1, 2013.
• Missing required monthly enrollment verification after benefits begin.

Other VA procedures may apply to your situation

Education benefits are separate from VA disability compensation. A Veteran with a disability related to military service can review the distinct process to file a VA disability compensation claim for a service-connected condition.