Zack Jerry

It’s that time again: another semester approaches! While many online education programs are not semester based, schools that operate with both campus and online programs often keep them separated semester-by-semester, so this could potentially be a monumental time for the distance learner.

The Online Education Blog recently received a question on our Post 9/11 GI Bill post regarding the Montgomery GI Bill that may apply to many students as we transition from fall to spring semester. The question: “My husband is currently using his review myassignmenthelp benefits. At the end of this semester he will have 12 days of eligibility remaining. He spoke with the VA, and was told that those 12 days will cover his entire spring semester, meaning that he will receive $1300/month for January – May, even though he only has 12 days of eligibility. Can anyone confirm this to be true? I can’t imagine he would continue to receive it if he only has 12 days of eligibility for the semester.”

After digging around, the answer came from the depths of a forum post and the technicalities of the U.S. Code for Title 38, Chapter 30, but it’s a thumb’s up: students that receive benefits from the Montgomery GI Bill get those benefits by semester, so military students that have a partial amount of days left can still squeeze one last semester of military benefits out of their GI Bill to finish their education.

Furthermore, if the student has liquidated all MGIB benefits, they may still qualify for Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, provided they meet all the eligibility requirements for the other bill. Here’s the V.A. Q&A regarding using the Post 9/11 GI Bill after the MGIB. The maximum amount of benefits a student receives from both GI Bills cannot go over 48 months, so if a student has used 3 years of MGIB benefits, that leaves a year of Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.

The last tidbit of important information to consider about the Montgomery GI Bill as the new semester approaches: the MGIB is only good for ten years. Veteran benefits need to be used within a decade of leaving service or those benefits are considered forfeit. Students that are approaching that ten year mark should use the benefits as soon as possible, rather than squatting on it for a later graduate degree or other educational pursuit.

To learn more about the Montgomery GI Bill, Post 9/11 GI Bill, and military benefits, visit the Veterans Benefits GI Bill blog.