Where Do I Find Out If I Am Eligible for the GI Bill?

Well, I don’t have enough information to tell you whether you are eligible for the GI Bill, but I can tell you where to go to get that information.

The only place to apply for the GI Bill is the official Veterans Affairs department web-site. Their GI Bill application page walks you through the whole process and lets you know what you need to do to verify your eligibility.

Here are some of the basic questions that determine who is eligible for the GI Bill:

Did you sign up for the Montgomery GI Bill when enlisting in the military, and paid $100 per month into the bill for your first 12 months of duty? In this case you are eligible as long as you served enough of your commitment (2 years if you signed up for a 2-year enlistment, 3 years if you signed up for more) and received an honorable discharge. If you received a general discharge (even if it is “under honorable conditions”), or a dishonorable discharge, you are not eligible.

Did you serve at least 90 days of active duty after September 11, 2001, and receive an honorable discharge? If so, you are eligible for the new Post 9/11 GI Bill.  You must have served at least 36 months of active duty in order to get full benefits.

In some cases, you do not need to have served as long if you were separated from the military for medical purposes. If you were separated for a service-connected disability, you only need to have served 30 days active duty to be eligible for the new GI Bill.

You remain eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill for 10 years after separating from the military; you remain eligible for the new GI Bill for 15 years after separating.