GI Bill Cheat Sheet

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Effective August 1, 2009, the Post-9/11 GI Bill brings new benefits and improves upon some of the outdated features of the Montgomery GI Bill. The GI Bill, often called the best piece of legislation passed by the U.S. government, has been revamped a few times since it was first passed in 1944. President Franklin D. Roosevelt first signed the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, or the GI Bill of Rights, into law. Only three years later in 1947, veterans accounted for a full 49 percent of college admissions. The original GI Bill was such a success that by the time it ended in 1956, 7.8 million of the 16 million World War II veterans had taken advantage of it.

Since then, each new GI Bill is better and proves Roosevelt's assertion that the GI Bill "gives emphatic notice to the men and women in our armed forces that the American people do not intend to let them down."

The Post-9/11 GI Bill: New Features, Better Benefits

Any veteran who has served at least 90 days of active duty after September 11, 2001 and received an honorable discharge is eligible to take advantage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Veterans who served 30 days but were honorably discharged for a service-related disability also qualify for the new GI Bill benefits. Some of the great new benefits include:

• Tuition paid directly to schools
• A housing allowance
• Money for books and school supplies
• Up to $2,000 for tutorial services or certification exams
• $500 to individuals relocating from highly rural areas to attend college

These new GI Bill benefits are transferable to immediate family and will cover up to 36 months of schooling. The Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits expire 15 years after separation from the Armed Forces, so find out if you're eligible and start working towards your bright future today.