How do I find out how much GI Bill® I have left?

Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)

38 U.S.C. 3312(a), 38 U.S.C. 3313(c)(1)

The Post-9/11 education benefit: up to 36 months that pay tuition and fees to the school, a monthly housing allowance set by the campus ZIP code, and a yearly payment for books and supplies. How much it pays depends on how long the member served (the eligibility tier).

Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB)

38 U.S.C. 3319(b) and (c), 38 CFR 21.9571(b)

Giving Post-9/11 GI Bill months to a spouse or children, the member’s dependents in DEERS. The Defense Department decides it: a member with at least 6 years of service who agrees to 4 more can transfer up to 36 months, requested through milConnect while still serving. VA’s rule calls it transfer of entitlement.

Chapter 35 DEA (Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance)

38 U.S.C. 3501(a)(1), 38 U.S.C. 3532(a)

A VA program for the spouse or child of a Veteran VA has found permanently and totally disabled by a service-connected disability, or who died of one or in the line of duty. It pays a monthly payment directly to the student, who pays the school, in steps by training time, and has no housing allowance or book stipend.

Rate of pursuit

38 U.S.C. 3313(c)(1)(B)(i), 38 CFR 21.9641(c)(1)

How much of a full load you are carrying, as a percentage. Nine credits where 12 is full time is 75 percent. The GI Bill pays housing by it, rounded to the nearest 10 percent, and only when it is over 50 percent. It also sets how fast your GI Bill months get used. DEA uses steps instead: full, three-quarter, half, and less than half.

Full time, three-quarter time and half time

38 CFR 21.4270(c), 38 U.S.C. 3532(a)

How VA measures a course load. VA counts 14 credits a term as full time unless the school certifies 12 or 13 for its undergraduates. Where 12 is full time, 9 to 11 is three-quarter time and 6 to 8 is half time; for graduate work, full time is what the school certifies, or 14 credits. Chapter 35 DEA pays in steps by it, and the GI Bill pays housing only above half time.

Remaining benefits

VA.gov, Check remaining GI Bill and other education benefits

How many months you have left. VA’s page Check remaining GI Bill and other education benefits, on VA.gov, shows it for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, DEA and transferred months.

Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

38 U.S.C. 3698A(a)(1)

VA’s letter that a benefit is yours to use. A family member using transferred months gets one after applying to VA, online or with VA Form 22-1990e. VA sends it electronically, with mail as an option.

School Certifying Official (SCO)

38 U.S.C. 3684(a)(1)

The person at a school who certifies enrollment to VA and can talk through a plan, and the one to ask to review yours in writing before you enroll. VA decides eligibility and months.

From The Order Matters, The Terms, Plainly, and terms added or reworded here since, which go into the book at its next update.