How to apply for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
Step-by-step guide to applying for Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits. Up to 36 months of tuition + housing allowance + book stipend at colleges, vocational schools, or apprenticeships. 5 steps using VA Form 22-1990.
What you'll need
- VA Form 22-1990 (Application for VA Education Benefits) — file online at va.gov
- DD-214
- Service number or SSN
- School information (if already enrolled / accepted)
Step-by-step
Step 1: Confirm eligibility
Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility requires at least 90 days of active-duty service after Sept 10, 2001 (or 30+ days separated for service-connected disability). Benefit level scales by months served: 90 days = 40%; 6 months = 50%; 18 months = 80%; 36 months = 100%. Check your eligibility tier at va.gov/education/eligibility/.
Step 2: Choose between GI Bill (Ch 33) and VR&E (Ch 31)
If you have a service-connected disability ≥10-20%, VR&E (Chapter 31) is often more generous than GI Bill — it pays the full tuition (no GI-Bill state-school cap) plus subsistence + book/supplies. CVSOs can help you compare. You can use both, but only one at a time per term.
Step 3: Choose your school + program
Verify the school accepts GI Bill via va.gov/education/gi-bill-comparison-tool/. Public schools: GI Bill pays full in-state tuition. Private/foreign schools: capped at $28,937.09/year (2025). Yellow Ribbon program may bridge the gap at participating private schools — verify with the school's VA certifying official.
Step 4: Apply via VA Form 22-1990
File online at va.gov/education/how-to-apply/. Most applications take 30 minutes. Processing time: 30-60 days for Certificate of Eligibility (COE). VA will mail (and email) the COE — present it to your school.
Step 5: Enroll + receive housing allowance
Once enrolled, the school certifies your enrollment to VA. VA then pays tuition directly to the school AND pays housing allowance directly to you. Housing allowance equals the local Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) E-5 with-dependents rate for the school's ZIP code. Books/supplies stipend up to $1,000/year prorated by enrollment level.
Critical tips
- You can transfer up to 36 months of GI Bill to your spouse or children if you're still on active duty (must commit to 4 more years). Once separated, transfer is no longer available.
- Distance-learning students get 50% of the residence-based BAH rate. Hybrid programs (some in-person) restore the full BAH rate.
- GI Bill expires 15 years from your date of last separation (Forever GI Bill exempts post-2013 dischargees).
- Pair with state veteran tuition waivers for additional savings — most states have one. Check warriorsfund.org/state/{your-state}.