Since being introduced to Americans, GI Bills have changed the way education is received by the military community and civilians alike. There are two main GI Bills available today, and it’s important to understand both of these benefits to maximize your educational pursuits. Breaking down the Montgomery GI Bill can help you understand what you can receive if you qualify and which benefits best suit your needs. Learn more about this great opportunity available to the military community.
Read next: The Veteran’s Complete Guide to GI Bill Benefits
Montgomery GI Bill vs. Post-911: Let’s Compare
The Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill both provide benefits, and you only use one at a time. However, there are times when some military personnel may find that they are eligible for both.
At the end of the day, your military service, your time served, the time period in which you served, your educational pursuits, and many other factors go into eligibility for either benefit.
You should always consult your educational institution as well as the U.S. Department of Veterans (VA) before making a decision. GI Bill and other education benefit eligibility are available online and at 1 (888) 442-4551 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. ET.
Types of Montgomery GI Bills
There are two different types of Montgomery GI Bills: Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (MGIB-AD) and Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR). Each bill provides as much as 36 months of benefits, though, through extensions, as much as 48 months can be achieved.
Additionally, depending on how you separate from the military, you may receive fewer months of benefits under the MGIB-AD. You can qualify for these benefits in the following manner:
- 90 days of active or aggregate service (after 9/10/01) or 30 days of continuous service if discharged for Service-Connected disability for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
- Those eligible for the MGIB-AD must have served 2 years of continuous service of your 3-year service contract, 3 years of continuous service for your 4-year contract, or have become separated due to a Service-Connected disability following 30 days of service, though this can change depending on your service date, branch, and other factors.
- A 6-year service commitment is necessary for those who served after 6/30/85 to qualify for the MGIB-SR bill.
The amount you are paid will depend on the bill you qualify for and accept. Trust us; it wouldn’t be the military if there weren’t some complications here. They’re even more convoluted thanks to the fact that your rates can change from year to year.
What To Consider
The GI Bill comparison chart from the VA will be your best friend. There are, however, other comparable factors surrounding the bills that should also be considered, including:
- Part-time students may want to consider MGIB benefits, as Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits don’t provide housing benefits or the same amount of tuition assistance.
- Both can provide benefits to spouses or dependents of those who qualify.
- They all cover the same types of educational pursuits, including a college degree, flight school, national testing programs, etc.
How Does the Montgomery GI Bill Work?
The Montgomery GI Bill provides benefits to those who served in the military between the years 1984 and 2008. You can enjoy the benefits for as many as 10 years after leaving the service. However, you may be able to receive a GI Bill extension.
Your benefits provide you with money to cover a variety of expenses involving college. This may include your tuition, fees, textbooks, a monthly housing allowance, and supplies necessary for pursuing your degree.
Post-9/11 vs. Montgomery GI Bill in terms of how they work are similar in the notion that both provide benefits, but remember that the amount of money you receive can vary. Furthermore, how payment is received can depend on the bill you enroll in as a result.
How to Extend Montgomery GI Bill Benefits
Getting a GI Bill extension is as simple as sending a letter to the VA. Those eligible for Montgomery GI Bill benefits will need to include either a copy of their orders to report for active duty or a copy of their DD214 or other discharge papers. These papers are then mailed to the local Regional Processing Office.
Supreme Court Ruling Gives Veterans Access to Both Benefits
Historically, Veterans have not been allowed to access benefits from both the Post-9/11 and Montgomery GI Bill. Only in very rare circumstances have Vets been allowed to apply for additional benefits after they have used them up.
However, the Supreme Court ruled on in April 2024 that Veterans with overlapping periods of military service could use the benefits from both of the bills. This comes after the James Rudisill case.
Rudisill served three military rounds which caused him to qualify for the Montgomery GI bill as well as the post 9/11 version. Rudisill enlisted in 2000 and went in and out of the military for over a decade. He deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan and became a captain, but suffered multiple injures. His service ended up awarded him access to benefits from two GI bills, due to the timing of his service.
He used the Montgomery benefits to help pay for college before he rejoined. He had the intent to use his Post-9/11 benefits for his graduate degree. However, he found that he was only eligible for 10 month and 16 days of Post-9/11 benefits, the length of his unused Montgomery benefits.
Thus, he would have been forced to choose one over the other. In short, the VA limited his use of both bills causing him to sue. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled that Veterans with overlapping military service time can use the benefits they earned from both bills. Now, he, and other Vets, are able to use both bills for their education.
1.7 Million Veterans Can Now Gain Access to Benefits
Rudsill’s lawyers mentioned that this could help 1.7 million Veterans and give them access to education benefits from both of the GI bills.
Tim McHugh, one of his lawyers said, “Fundamentally, this ruling applies to Veterans who served six years or more. A continuous six-year enlistment or six years and then four years or whatever the case may be – as long as it aggregates up to six years total.”
The ruling was 7-2, with two more conservative judges disagreeing with the ruling. Now, Veterans who accrued benefits under both the Post-9/11 and Montgomery GI are allowed access to two benefits.
Suggested read: Women Veterans Should Know About These Available Resources and Benefits
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. Photo by Master Sgt. William Wiseman 185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard
Updated by Syrena Felty 4/19/2024