GI Benefits, known as the GI Bill, are education and training benefits provided by the U.S. Department of Affairs (VA) to service members, veterans, and their families to help pay for college, vocational training, apprenticeships, and other educational programs. These benefits can cover tuition and fees, provide a monthly housing allowance, and cover costs for books and supplies making higher education more accessible and affordable for those who have served in the military.
Below are several resources that will help you select the GI Bill Benefits that you can utilize. Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits may be eligible for transfer to dependents.
- Determine your eligibility. See “GI Bill and Other Education Benefit Eligibility,” a resource from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
- If eligible, you can apply online. See “How to Apply for the GI Bill and Related Benefits,” also from Veterans Affairs.
- For those receiving GI Bill benefits, you may be eligible to receive a monthly housing stipend based on the zip code of your institution (E-5 with dependents) and up to a $1,000 stipend annually for books and supplies. Learn about what benefits are available through the GI Bill Comparison Tool.
- Gather the following documents and information, which you will need to apply for education benefits:
- Social Security number
- Bank account direct deposit information
- Education and military history
- Basic information about the institution or training facility you want to attend or are attending now
Note: To apply for Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31) or educational and career counseling through Personalized Career Planning and Guidance (Chapter 36), you will need to use a different application.