VA Education Benefits
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs administers a variety of educational benefit programs. Many veterans and active-duty personnel can qualify for more than one program, and there also are programs for qualified dependents. Explore the many benefits of the GI Bill® and other programs, often known as Chapters, through the links below at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/apply.asp.
Explanation of Benefits
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, and who are still on active duty, or an individual discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Your entitlement is:
- Tuition and fees are paid at the Florida Resident rate only
- The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)
- Book Stipend of $1,000 per academic year ($41.67 per credit)
BAH Requirements
- Must be enrolled in more than half-time.
- One class per term must be in-person or hybrid/blended.
- If all classes are exclusively online, you will receive $825 for full-time enrollment.
- If you are on active duty, you will not receive the housing allowance.
VA pays fees that are mandatory for all students, however late fees and parking fees are not paid by the VA.
For more information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill: https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/post911_gibill.asp
Payment Rate for 2018 Academic Year (August 1, 2018-July 31, 2019): https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/resources/benefits_resources/rates/ch33/ch33rates080118.asp
Effective August 1, 2018: The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act (Forever GI Bill) requires the monthly housing allowance (MHA) under the Post-9/11 GI Bill program to be calculated based on the zip code of the campus where the student physically attends the majority of classes, rather than the location of the institution of higher learning where the student is enrolled. This applies to the first enrollment in an educational program on or after August 1, 2018. In addition, individuals who first use the Post-9/11 GI Bill program on or after January 1, 2018 will receive monthly housing allowances based on DoD’s reduced basic housing allowance (BAH) for monthly housing rates. However, those that began using benefits prior to January 1, 2018, will continue to receive a higher monthly housing rate based in the non-adjusted BAH rates.
More information about The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act (Forever GI Bill): https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/forevergibill.asp
The Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) may be available to veterans and servicemembers who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces and have at least two years of active duty.
Members of the Reserve who established eligibility for educational assistance under the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) before November 25, 2015, and lost it due to the sunset provision may elect to have that service credited towards the Post-9/11 GI Bill program.
Some reservists may contribute up to an additional $600 to the GI Bill to receive increased monthly benefits. For an additional $600 contribution, you may receive up to $5400 in additional GI Bill benefits. This program can’t be used with the Post 9/11 GI Bill, and the additional contribution must be made while on active duty.
View the Buy-Up Program rate table.
Other Benefits
Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Students must be the child or spouse of:
- A veteran who died or who is permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability. The disability must arise out of active service in the Armed Forces.
- A veteran who died from any cause while such permanent and total service-connected disability was in existence.
- A servicemember missing in action or captured in the line of duty by a hostile force.
- A servicemember forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government or power.
- A servicemember who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability and who is likely to be discharged for that disability.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Benefit Payments
The VA posts the most current basic monthly rate information online. The amount of benefit is often determined by the number of classes a student enrolls in.
VA Payment Processing
For timely processing of VA payments, be sure to:
- Notify the IRSC Military & Veterans Services Department of your semester enrollment via email at veterans-info@irsc.edu. Include your Student ID number in the email.
- Allow enough time for processing. Chapter 30, 33, and 1606 require 30-45 days for continuing certification and 60-90 days for new applications. Chapter 35 requires 30-40 days for continuing certifications plus 7-14 business days to process and mail a check. New application requires 90-120 days for processing.
- Your school account must not show money owed due to withdrawal or dropping a class.
Your attendance must be verified online (WAVE) on the last calendar day of the month or by phone (Chapter 30 and 1606).
