VA Education Rates Rise, Bringing Higher Payments for GI Bill and DEA Students

If you're using the Montgomery GI Bill or Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) to pay for school, your monthly payment just went up.

As of Oct. 1, the Department of Veterans Affairs raised its benefit rates for October 2026 through September 2027. Full-time students using the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty with at least three nonstop years of service now receive up to $2,601 a month, an increase of $83. Full-time DEA students now receive up to $1,621 a month, up $47.

Here's the latest on what each program pays now, who gets the increase without applying, and why Post-9/11 GI Bill housing payments haven't changed.

What Each Program Pays Now

The VA sends Montgomery GI Bill and DEA payments directly to you each month. The amount depends on how many classes you're taking and, for the Montgomery GI Bill, how many years you served.

Here's what each program pays per month as of Oct. 1:

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Montgomery GI Bill (3+ years of service)

• Full-time: $2,601 (up from $2,518)
• Three-quarter time: $1,950.75
• Half time: $1,300.50
• One-quarter time or less: up to $650.25, or the cost of tuition and fees if that's lower

Montgomery GI Bill (2–3 years of service)

• Full time: $2,110 (up from $2,043)
• Three-quarter time: $1,582.50
• Half time: $1,055
• One-quarter time or less: up to $527.50, or the cost of tuition and fees if that's lower

DEA (Chapter 35)

• Full time: $1,621 (up from $1,574)
• Three-quarter time: $1,281
• Half time: $939
• One-quarter time or less: up to $405.25, or the cost of tuition and fees if that's lower

These rates run the same for college degree programs and trade or vocational schools. If a term starts in the middle of the month, you're only paid for the days left in that month.

For example, if classes start on the 20th, you're paid for 10 days, about one-third of the monthly rate. For students enrolled less than half time, if tuition and fees cost less than the monthly rate, the VA sends a single disbursement at the start of the term instead.

Who Gets the Increase Automatically

You don't have to apply for the new rate. Federal law requires the VA to raise Montgomery GI Bill and DEA rates yearly, so anyone already approved for these benefits gets the higher amount starting Oct. 1.

The only difference is for service members still on active duty. If you're using the Montgomery GI Bill while serving, the VA pays either the monthly rate or the cost of your tuition and fees, whichever is less.

The increase is automatic, but the payment isn't. To get paid monthly, Montgomery GI Bill, DEA, and Post-9/11 GI Bill students must verify enrollment with the VA via text, email, or online. That means verifying your credit or clock hours and your start and end dates.

For DEA families, this process is still fairly new. According to Brittany Bonin-Bruder, Vice President of Casework and Education Support Services at the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), DEA students have had to verify their enrollment every month since January 2026. She mentioned many students assume their school handles it, but it doesn't.

"School certification and the student's monthly verification are separate steps," Bonin-Bruder said.

"Students shouldn't assume that because the School Certifying Official (SCO) has certified their enrollment, there's nothing else they need to do."

Why Post-9/11 GI Bill Housing Payments Haven't Changed

If you use the Post-9/11 GI Bill and didn't see a change on Oct. 1, don't be alarmed; nothing is wrong. Post-9/11 rates follow a different schedule, running from Aug. 1 to July 31. The current rates took effect Aug. 1, 2026, and stay active through July 31, 2027.

The main piece that changed in August is the monthly housing allowance. VA bases it on the military's Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents, using the ZIP code where you attend most of your classes in person. Payments running from Aug. 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027, use 2026 BAH rates.

Your actual payment is a percentage of that amount. It depends on how much of the Post-9/11 benefit you have through your time in service and how many credits you're enrolled in. You must be enrolled more than half-time to get any housing money, and VA pays it at the end of each month.

A few other rules to remember:

• Remote students get up to $1,261 a month if they started using their benefits on or after Jan. 1, 2018. Taking at least one class in person may qualify you for the higher local rate.
• No housing allowance is paid while on active duty, enrolled half-time or less, or on break between terms.

What DEA Families Should Know

DEA helps the spouses and children of Veterans who have passed, are missing, or have a permanent and total service-connected disability pay for school or job training.

According to Bonin-Bruder, the yearly increase is meaningful for surviving families, since many DEA students balance school with the financial realities of losing a service member or Veteran.

"The additional $564 over a full 12 months of full-time enrollment allows surviving military dependents to use that support toward housing, meal plans, transportation, books, or other education-related expenses," Bonin-Bruder explained.

Unlike other benefits that send tuition straight to the school, DEA pays the benefit directly to students, and the amount depends on how many classes they take. That means a few dropped classes or withdrawals can change the payment.

"A student dropping a course, changing programs, or taking a break in enrollment can affect how and what the VA pays," Bonin-Bruder said.

"Understanding those rules early can prevent some unpleasant surprises later."

What to Check For This Month

The increase is automatic, but actually getting paid still depends on you. Start by making sure the VA has your current contact information so you don't miss the monthly verification text or email. Then verify your enrollment every month, even if your school has already certified it.

When your October payment lands, check it against the new rates. A full-time Montgomery GI Bill student with three or more years of service should see up to $2,601 for a full month, and a full-time DEA student should see up to $1,621. And before dropping a class or taking a break, keep in mind that changes in enrollment can affect what the VA pays.

As long as you verify on time, the new rates will show up on their own through Sept. 30, 2027. The VA plans to post next year's DEA rates in August 2027, and Post-9/11 GI Bill students will see their next update once the current rates end on July 31, 2027.