Chapt . 33 ( G . I . Bill of Rights ) In July 2008 the Post - 9 / 11 GI Bill was signed into law , creating a new robust education benefits program rivaling the WWII Era GI Bill of Rights . The new Post 9 / 11 GI Bill , which goes into effect on August 1 , 2009 , will provide education benefits for servicemembers who have served on active duty for 90 or more days since Sept . 10 , 2001 . These benefits are tiered based on the number of days served on active duty , creating a benefit package that gives current and previously activated National Guard and Reserve members the same benefits as active duty servicemembers . The Department of Veterans Affairs is currently accepting applications for the Post - 9 / 11 GI Bill . Once the VA has received your application they will determine your eligibility for the Post - 9 / 11 GI Bill , and issue you a Certificate of Eligibility . You can apply using the VA Form 22 - 1990 . The form includes the instructions needed to begin the process . Post - 9 / 11 benefits are not available to cover training or education programs completed before July 31 , 2009 . The New Post - 9 / 11 GI Bill . The New Post - 9 / 11 GI Bill offers a new set of benefits for servicemembers and veteran s attending education and training programs taken at an accredited college or university . The new benefits include up to 100 % tuition and fees ( paid directly to the school ) for public in - state institutions and , for the 2012 - 2013 academic year , up to $ 18 , 077 . 50 for private / foreign institutions ( paid directly to the school ) , a monthly living / housing stipend , up to $ 1 , 000 a year for books and supplies , and more . These new Post - 9 / 11 GI Bill benefit payment s are tiered based on the amount creditable active - duty service you have since Sept . 10 , 2001 . Pending Changes to the Post - 9 / 11 GI Bill . New for 2011 - In December 2010 Congress passed the Post - 9 / 11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 . The new law , often referred to as GI Bill 2 . 0 , expands eligibility to include members of the National Guard who served on Title 32 or in the full - time Active Guard and Reserve ( AGR ) . The new law also includes a new ( reduced ) housing stipend for online ( distance ) learners enables active - duty servicemembers and their GI Bill eligible spouses to receive the annual $ 1 , 000 book stipend , adds several vocational , certification and OJT options , and removes the state - by - state tuition caps for veterans enrolled at public ( state - operated ) colleges and universities . In addition , the new GI Bill 2 . 0 includes new tuition and fees coverage caps for veterans attending private universities - $ 17 , 500 a year , prorates the housing stipend based on the student ' s rate of pursuit , and eliminates the " interval pay " which allowed veteran s to continue to receive payments during scheduled school breaks ( i . e . winter and spring breaks ) . The bulk of these changes go into effect August and October 2011 . Tuition and Fees . If you are eligible , VA will pay your tuition & fees payment directly to the school . This payment is not to exceed the in - state tuition rate for the school that you are attending for a public schools , or $ 18 , 077 per academic year for private or foreign schools . Yellow Ribbon Program . The new GI Bill also includes a provision to help students avoid some or all of the out - of - pocket tuition and fees associated with education programs that may exceed the Post 9 / 11 GI Bill tuition benefit . The YRP is not automatic , schools must enter into an agreement with the VA to share the expense . To qualify to receive the Yellow Ribbon benefits you must meet the following criteria : Monthly Living Stipend . As an eligible veteran or member of the National Guard or Selected Reserve you may receive a monthly housing allowance ( living stipend ) based on the ZIP code of the location of the school you are attending - not your home ZIP code . This stipend currently averages $ 1 , 200 a month , but can run as high as $ 2 , 700 . This stipend is based on the DoD ' s Basic Allowance for Housing ( BAH ) for an E - 5 with dependents . This stipend does not require students to live on campus . NOTE : Servicemembers currently on active duty and veterans ( and eligible family members ) taking courses on a half - time or less basis and / or taking 100 % of their classes at a distance ( online etc . ) * do not qualify for the monthly housing stipend . Book and Supply Stipend . You may receive an annual book stipend of up to $ 1 , 000 if you are a veteran or member of the Guard or Selected Reserve . This stipend will be paid at the beginning of each term . It is paid proportionately based on the number of credits taken by each student at $ 41 . 62 per credit hour . NOTE : Service members currently on active duty are not eligible for the Book Stipend . However , beginning Oct . 1 , 2011 Active - duty service members and their eligible spouses will be eligible for the annual book stipend Other Benefits . One - Time Relocation Allowance . You may also receive a one - time rural relocation benefit payment of $ 500 . 00 to help cover the cost of relocating from a rural location to attend school . To qualify you must : - or - Certification Exams , Work Study , and Tutorial Assistance . Eligible veterans also qualify for a one - time reimbursement of up to $ 2 , 000 for a certification or licencing exam , work - study programs , and $ 100 a month for tutorial assistance . Benefit Update : Beginning Aug . 1 , 2011 , VA will lift the single exam restriction , allowing eligible veterans and servicemembers to take multiple exams . Benefit Transferability . The Department of Defense ( DoD ) is authorized to allow individuals who , on or after August 1 , 2009 , have served at least 6 years in the Armed Forces and who agree to serve at least another 4 years in the Armed Forces to transfer unused entitlement to their Spouse . Once the member has reached their 10 year anniversary they may choose to transfer the benefit to any dependent ( s ) ( spouse , children ) . The Department of Defense may , by regulation , impose additional eligibility requirements and limit the number of months transferable to not less than 18 months . Eligibility Criteria for Post - 9 / 11 GI Bill Benefits . You are eligible if you served a minimum of 90 days on active duty after September 10 , 2001 . This covers active duty served as a member of the Armed Forces or as a result of a call or order to active duty from a reserve component ( National Guard and Reserve ) under certain sections of title 10 . However , some periods of active duty service are excluded . Periods of service under the following do not count toward qualification for the Post 9 / 11 GI Bill : Selected reserve service used to establish eligibility under the Montgomery GI Bill ( MGIB chapter 30 ) , MGIB for Selected Reserve ( MGIB - SR Chapter 1606 ) , or the Reserve Education Assistance Program ( REAP chapter 1607 ) . Further Details From the VA : At a minimum , you must have served at least 30 days of continuous active duty service after September 10 , 2001 and be discharged due to a service - connected disability , or served an aggregate of 90 days of active duty service after September 10 , 2001 , and : Be honorably discharged from Armed Forces ; or Be released from Armed Forces with service characterized as honorable and placed on the retired list , temporary disability retired list , or transferred to the Fleet Reserve or the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve ; or Be released from the Armed Forces with service characterized as honorable for further service in a reserve component ; or Post 9 / 11 GI Bill Benefit Tiers . All Post 9 / 11 GI Bill benefit payments are based on the amount of creditable active - duty service each veteran has since Sept . 10 , 2001 . If you are an active - duty , National Guard , Selected Reserve member , or veterans who has served on active - duty for 90 or more days since Sept . 10 , 2001 the following percentage of benefits apply based on your Post - 9 / 11 Active - duty service :