Can I Use GI Bill Benefits Retroactively?

I imagine that you were given 12 months of the new Post 9/11 GI Bill because you have completely used up your Montgomery GI Bill benefits, or because you had 12 months of MGIB benefits left.

The answer is no on using GI Bill benefits retroactively. If you didn’t apply for the GI Bill benefits for the courses before you started the term, then you can’t get the GI Bill for those courses. You can only get the GI Bill if you are currently taking qualifying courses.