I Switched from the Montgomery GI Bill to the Post 9/11 GI Bill, How Do I Switch Back?

Hi Michael, I’m sorry to hear about your situation.  Have you checked to make sure that the $360 is the correct amount for your housing stipend?  That amount does not sound correct for an E-5 with dependents, unless your school happens to be in an area with an extremely low cost of living.  Go to the link I am giving you, click on the section for 2010  Housing Rates, and enter the zipcode of your school, and an E-5 rank with dependents, and the amount that shows is the amount you should be receiving if you are eligible for full Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, and you are taking at least 1/2 a course load of credit hours for the semester.

One of the reasons there is such a difference in amounts you received under the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post 9/11 GI Bill, is that with the Montgomery GI Bill you were enrolled in before, you were receiving all of the benefits, and you were responsible for paying your tuition out of that $1300.  The Post 9/11 GI Bill sends the tuition amount directly to the school, and what you receive is the housing stipend and book stipend that you are eligible for.

I think that you are going to have a very tough time switching back to the Montgomery GI Bill, as they make it very clear that veterans will not be able to switch back after they change to the Post 9/11 GI Bill.  If you want to write someone, you should find the location of the nearest regional VA office to your location.  A visit to the office would be best, but if you can’t to that, then a letter would be the thing to do.  I think you should be prepared for a negative reply, though.  But before you do anything, check to make sure you are getting the correct amount for your housing stipend.  That $360 could have been an incorrect amount, or for something entirely different.