The GI Bill isn’t a pool of money from which a student draws. Instead, it is tracked as a number of months of benefits that you have left, and can include partial months. This means that, since the monthly GI Bill payment increases in most years, your GI Bill is actually worth more than the estimate that was quoted to you when you enlisted. Enlistment incentive increases, or “kickers,” do not increase, however.

To find out how much time you have left on your GI Bill, contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs at their toll-free GI Bill number: 1-888-442-4551.

If you ended your only military term with a general discharge, then you are not eligible for the GI Bill. This is a specific stipulation under section of the US Code that governs the GI Bill. It doesn’t matter whether a general discharge is characterized as “under honorable conditions,” or otherwise, it is not an honorable discharge. If you had received a general discharge, but hat previously re-enlisted, which ends the prior term with an honorable discharge, then the prior term of service could qualify you for the benefits.

If you manage to get your discharge changed officially to an honorable discharge, then you will be eligible for the benefits of the GI Bill after that point. You will need to present the new, amended discharge form to the VA to prove your eligibility.

If you are referring to the up to $3,000 advance on the GI Bill that the VA offered in the fall and winter of 2009, the answer is no. That advance was a one-time-only offer, brought on by the delay that the VA was experiencing in processing a very large number of GI Bill applications at that time. While it is possible that a similar offer may be made in the future if the right circumstances come up, it is not currently available, although many veterans are still paying off the advance at this time.