The GI Bill is one of the most valuable benefits available to veterans pursuing higher education. However, navigating when and how you get paid can be confusing, especially if you’re new to using your education benefits. In this article, we’ll break down exactly when you can expect to receive your various GI Bill payments in 2016.
GI Bill 101
The GI Bill helps cover the costs of education for eligible veterans and their dependents There are a few different GI Bill programs, with the most popular being the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This program provides money for tuition, housing, books/supplies, and other costs
Some key things to understand about GI Bill payments:
- The VA pays tuition and fees directly to the school after you enroll
- The housing allowance (called MHA or BAH) and book stipend go directly to the student
- Payments are issued at the beginning of each month and cover the previous month
So if you start school in September, your first housing payment would come at the beginning of October.
Projected Payment Dates
The VA provides a wave chart showing estimated payment dates each month. Here are the projected dates for key months in 2016:
January 2016
Date Processed – Payment Date
1/4 – 1/8
1/5 – 1/11
1/6 – 1/12
1/7 – 1/13
1/8 – 1/15
August 2016
Date Processed – Payment Date
8/1 – 8/5
8/2 – 8/8
8/3 – 8/9
8/4 – 8/10
8/5 – 8/11
December 2016
Date Processed – Payment Date
12/1 – 12/6
12/2 – 12/7
12/5 – 12/9
12/6 – 12/12
12/7 – 12/13
The “date processed” refers to the date your enrollment information was entered into the system. Count 1-5 business days from that date to estimate your payment date.
Housing Allowance
The housing allowance (MHA/BAH) is paid directly to the student at the beginning of each month. Here are some key points on when to expect these payments:
- There is no set date, but expect funds in your account within the first 5 days of the month
- Your first payment may be delayed as the VA processes your initial application
- Once established, payments should be consistent each month during the school year
- Payments are prorated if your term starts/ends mid-month
So if your classes run from August 20 to December 10, your first housing payment in September will be prorated for only part of the month. But payments in October, November, and December will be the full amount.
Book Stipend
The book stipend is an annual payment to help cover textbooks and supplies. Here is the payment schedule:
- Full-time students get $500 per semester, paid out at the start of each term
- Half-time students get $250 per semester
- Less than half-time students are not eligible
So if you’re full time in the fall and spring, expect $500 in September and another $500 in January. Part-time students would get half of those amounts.
Tuition Payments
Tuition and fee payments go directly from the VA to your school, not to the student. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Payments are made after you confirm your enrollment each term
- Your school may not receive funds before their billing deadlines
- Check with the school on payment policies if VA benefits are delayed
- Schools are used to working with VA payment timelines
If your tuition payment from VA is late, your school’s veterans office or financial aid office should be able to assist you. Many schools are flexible if funds are on the way but delayed.
Tips for Managing Payments
- Contact the VA if you haven’t received initial payment after 30 days
- Make sure all benefits go to one account to avoid issues
- Discuss policies with your school for late VA tuition payments
- Expect a potential delay in your first housing allowance
- Don’t count on an exact date, but expect funds in the first week of each month
Understanding when and how payments are delivered is critical to making the most of your hard-earned education benefits. Hopefully this breakdown of projected 2016 payment timelines provides helpful guidance as you embark on using your GI Bill. With a little planning and preparation, you can avoid payment issues and focus on achieving your academic goals.
Montgomery GI Bill Payment Schedule
The student is paid directly for the following:
- MHA/BAH
- Annual books and supplies payments
- VA rural benefit where applicable
The school is paid directly for the following:
- Tuition costs every semester/term/training period
MGIB users generally have their payments within two weeks of performing their monthly enrollment verification. There is no fixed payment date and weekends and federal holidays may affect the payment schedule.
Those using the Montgomery GI Bill are required to certify attendance on a monthly basis, so it’s important to know that your responsibilities don’t end once your first GI Bill benefits have been paid. This is true for both the active duty and reserve versions.
The information in this article pertains only to VA benefits issued by the federal-level Department of Veterans Affairs. Some state-level agencies have names similar to the VA such as Division of Veterans Affairs or Illinois State Department of Veterans Affairs.
These agencies have veteran education programs that vary depending on the state and payment times vary equally in such cases. You will need to contact the state-level agency issuing the veteran education benefits you seek to learn what payment times and related issues may apply.
GI Bill MHA or BAH Payment Schedule
Use this guide to determine your projected payment date:
- From the date your transaction was processed (labeled as “Transaction Date” on your WAVE account), go to the next business day immediately after that.
- Then, count 3 to 5 days for the range of your projected payment date.
The VA regularly updates the WAVE Certification Projected Payment dates.
Students attending college or university on the GI Bill may qualify for a yearly GI Bill stipend for books and supplies (up to $1,000.00) which is offered based on your enrollment. Full-time students get $500 a semester maximum, paid at the beginning of the academic year. Those who are not full-time attendees will receive a smaller stipend.
It is important to remember that you need to be at over half-time status in order to receive any GI Bill Housing Payment benefit. If you are above half-time credit hours but below full-time you would receive a prorated amount.
Those who attend above half-time hours but are not full-time attendees will have a prorated GI Bill housing stipend paid to them rather than the full time amount.
Some may notice a smaller GI Bill housing stipend paid when the term begins in August or December, most often caused by the shortened academic schedule for that first month back to class. This is typical.
Some students may qualify for a one-time payment of $500 from the VA, offered to those who are relocating from rural areas such as counties with six people or less per square mile as determined by the latest census. Those who qualify soon learn that like other GI Bill benefits, you should not expect a specific payment date but like most other benefits in this area will be disbursed at the start of the term unless your school or the VA notifies you otherwise.
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FAQ
What day of the month does GI Bill pay?
Is the VA paying $3000 this month?
Why haven’t I received my chapter 35 benefits?
Is GI Bill Bah paid twice a month?
When will I get my GI bill payment?
The payment will include the first partial month and the first full month of your enrollment. Example: If your enrollment starts on August 25, the advance payment will cover August 25 through September 30. Since GI Bill benefits are paid at the end of the month, you’ll get your next payment for October 1 to 31 in early November.
Does the Montgomery GI Bill have a fixed payment date?
There is no fixed payment date and weekends and federal holidays may affect the payment schedule. Those using the Montgomery GI Bill are required to certify attendance on a monthly basis, so it’s important to know that your responsibilities don’t end once your first GI Bill benefits have been paid.
Can I get a GI Bill advance payment?
This depends on which GI Bill program you’re using. If you’re using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you can’t get an advance payment. If you’re using a GI Bill program other than the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may be able to get an advance payment. You’ll need to meet all of the requirements listed below. You must:
How much GI Bill stipend do Va students get?
The VA regularly updates the WAVE Certification Projected Payment dates. Students attending college or university on the GI Bill may qualify for a yearly GI Bill stipend for books and supplies (up to $1,000.00) which is offered based on your enrollment. Full-time students get $500 a semester maximum, paid at the beginning of the academic year.
When is GI Bill housing allowance paid?
GI Bill housing allowance is paid after the fact. So if you start school on Sept. 1 – the earliest you could be paid under the best of circumstances is Oct. 1. The most-common reason for a smaller than expected BAH payment is due to the payment being prorated based on the number of days in the month that a student is enrolled.
How long does it take to get a replacement GI Bill?
If you get your payment by check and it’s been at least 3 weeks since we issued the check, you can request a replacement. It could take up to 6 weeks to get a replacement. Why is my monthly GI Bill payment less than my monthly rate?