How Come I’m Getting Less Post 9/11 GI Bill Housing Allowance Than Expected?
Q: I am in college now and was expecting to receive my housing allowance for going to college. I was in for just over 2 years and so I was told I would be getting 70% of everything I believe. Well I have $406 pending which I assume is my housing allowance, but my question is this: How come I am only getting $400 and not the $700 and something? I was really hoping on getting the $700 and something as my rent is $600 and is due. What am I to do?
A: With at least 24 months of service, you should be at the 80% Post 9/11 GI Bill tier level. If you had less than 24 months of eligible service (in which your training time does not count, then you would in fact be at the 70% tier level. The 24-month mark is where you pick up training time that counts toward Post 9/11 GI Bill eligibility; less than 24 months and you can’t count training time.
Your $406 payment might in fact be your book stipend payment. The Post 9/11 GI Bill pays up to $41.67 per credit per semester (with a $1,000 yearly cap). While that figure is low for the 70% tier as a full-time student, it is almost right on the money if you are at the 80% tier.
The $700 and something figure you quoted could end up being more too if you are at the 80% tier. You it could end up being an amount closer to $952.
And the additional tier percentage would also help you out with the difference left to pay in tuition after the VA paid their share (80% instead of 70%).
To see what tier percentage you are really at, take a look at your Certificate of Eligibility. It should show that you are using the Post 9/11 GI Bill, your tier percentage, the number of months of entitlement you have left to use, and when it expires (15 years from your last date of discharge).
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