Rates
The VA uses the term "entitlement" to mean the number of months of benefits you may receive. Under the ADMGIB, one is entitled to 36 months worth of full-time benefits. Therefore, to find the maximum entitlement, one takes the maximum monthly payment and muliplies it by 36.
- Full Time Student: $329.00 per month
- 3/4 Time Student: $246.00 per month
- Half Time Student: $163.00
- Less than 1/2 Time:: $82.25
Full time generally means taking at least 12 credit hours in a term or 24 clock hours per week. 3/4 time generally means taking at least 9 credit hours in a term or 18 clock hours per week. Half time generally means taking at least 6 credit hours in a term or 12 clock hours per week.
For approved programs in college and vocational or technical schools, basic payments are monthly and the rates are based on your training time.
For on-the-job training (OJT) and apprenticeship programs, rates are monthly and based on your length of time in the program. Your MGIB rates decrease as your wages increase according to an approved wage schedule.
For correspondence courses, you receive 55% of the approved charges for the course.
For flight training, you receive 60% of the approved charges for the course.
The basic monthly rates increase October 1 every year with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase. They may increase at other times by an act of Congress.
Increases Above the Rates
If you’re in a critical unit or have a critical job skill, you may be entitled to an additional amount, commonly known as a "kicker." The "kicker," is an additional amount of money that increases your basic MGIB monthly benefit and is included in your VA payment.
Example. Let's say you have the SRMGIB and a "kicker" of $5,000. Your total education entitlements are the SRMGIB ($11,844), plus the "kicker" ($5,000), or $16,844 total. Divide that number by 36 and you get $467.88 worth of full-time education benefits, per month, for 36 months. This is how much you would receive if you attended school full time while in the Selected Reserves.
Converting to the Active Duty G.I. Bill
If you were activated under Title 10 U. S. Code and have served on active duty continuously for 24 months, you may now be able to qualify for ADMGIB benefits (See related article). In order to qualify, you must:
- Have no active duty prior to 7/1/85
- Have been called to active duty under Title 10 U. S. Code (Federal Military Service) after 7/1/85
- Have served a minimum of 24 months of continuous active duty
- Complete DD Form 2366, Election to Participate in the MGIB Active Duty Program
- Pay $1200.00 to DFAS to enroll in the program
- Have Honorable service for your active duty period
Multiple Benefits
You may be eligible for more than one VA education benefit. If you are, you must elect which benefit to receive. You can’t receive payment for more than one benefit at a time. The other benefits are:
- Training and Rehabilitation for Veterans With Service-Connected Disabilities
- Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
- Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance
- Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty Educational Assistance Program (ADMGIB)
- Educational Assistance Test Program
- Educational Assistance Pilot Program
- The Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986
Maximum Benefits
You may receive a maximum of 48 months of benefits under more than one VA education program. For example, if you used 30 months of benefits under the ADMGIB and are eligible for SRMGIB, you could have a maximum of 18 months of entitlement remaining.
