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What will the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act do for me?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Some of the benefits the Post-9/11 GI Bill will pay include:
- Your tuition & fees directly to the school for based on your percentage of eligibility.
- A monthly housing allowance (MHA) based on your enrollment, credit amount, course length, and course format directly to the student. If you have questions about how the housing allowance will be calculated for your enrollment, you can contact Military and Veteran Services for an estimate. Click here for the GI Bill Comparison Tool
- An annual books & supplies stipend.
- This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits, potential expiration of benefits can vary.
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How do I start using my Post 9/11 benefits?
Apply for your benefits at https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/ . Select a school you would like to attend and make sure it is approved for Veteran benefits. Once you have been admitted to the school, talk to a Veteran Academic and Career Advisor and select a degree program. Register only for courses required under your degree program. Request transcripts from all previous educational institutions and your military transcript and have them evaluated for possible credit toward your degree. This is a Department of Veterans Affairs requirement.
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Am I eligible to transfer my Post 9/11 benefits to my spouse or children?
The transferability option under the Post-9/11 GI Bill allows Servicemembers to transfer all or some unused benefits to their spouse or dependent children. The Department of Defense (DoD) determines whether or not you can transfer benefits to your family. Once the DoD approves benefits for transfer, the new beneficiaries apply for them at VA. To find out more, visit the DoDs website
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What will the Montgomery GI Bill do for me?
The Montgomery GI Bill will provide you with a monthly educational allowance to help you pay for your education. The monthly benefit amount depends upon the number of credits you take each term, the length of each course, and the length of your initial enlistment. If you are eligible for the College Fund, you will receive additional monies. You may be eligible for 36 months of full-time educational benefits, provided you completed your initial obligation with an honorable discharge. Benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. Some benefits may not have an expiration.
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How do I start using my Montgomery GI Bill?
Apply for your benefits at https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/ . Select a school you would like to attend and make sure it is approved for Veteran benefits. Once you have been admitted to the school, talk to a Veteran Academic and Career Advisor and select a degree program. Register only for courses required under your degree program. Request transcripts from all previous educational institutions and your military transcript and have them evaluated for possible credit toward your degree. This is a Department of Veterans Affairs requirement.
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How does the Department of Veterans Affairs know to pay me?
Once you complete Prince George’s Community College’s process for requesting to utilize your benefits, the institution’s School Certifying Official will certify your enrollment to the VA. The VA will process your enrollment and send any eligible payments directly to the bank account you designated. All benefit request processes are completed through our Military and Veteran Services Canvas page.
To receive payments, students utilizing the GI Bill must verify their enrollment with the VA each month.
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When will I receive my first payment? How do I find out the status of my payments?
All inquiries regarding benefit payments should be directed to the VA. You can contact them by calling the GI Bill hotline at (888) 442-4551.
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Must I attend school full-time to receive my benefits?
No. You may take as many or as few courses as you feel you can comfortably manage. The VA determines the amount of any eligible monthly payments by your enrollment, credit amount, course length, and course format. You must be enrolled half-time or more to receive a monthly payment from the VA. If you are enrolled for less than half-time or on active duty, you will receive a lump sum payment of tuition cost or the amount of your monthly benefits, whichever is less*. If you have questions about calculating the monthly payment for your enrollment, you can contact Military and Veteran Services for an estimate.
*Exception is Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill
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Will I automatically receive benefits next semester?
No. Students must submit a Veteran Benefits Request Form every semester and complete or submit any required actions or documentation. Once you have done so, the Veteran Academic and Career Advisor will review your program of study and enrollment to certify your courses are required to complete your program then the School Certifying Official will certify your enrollment to the VA.
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What happens if I withdraw from a course? What if I fail a course?
If you withdraw from a course you may be required to repay the VA any payments received for the course unless there are mitigating circumstances or this is your first time withdrawing from a course or courses totaling no more than 6 credits. The VA is always the final decider. Any mitigating circumstances should be reported to your Veteran Academic and Career Advisor or School Certifying Official. Any enrollment changes should be reported to
To avoid an overpayment of benefits you should complete a Veteran Benefits Enrollment Change Form linked in our Military and Veteran Services Canvas page. However, you must maintain satisfactory academic progress as measured by your cumulative grade point average and the number of credits you have attempted. If your progress becomes unsatisfactory, your benefits will be suspended until you regain satisfactory progress for your degree program.
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Can I enroll in any course I want?
No. The VA will not pay for any courses outside of your official program of study or successfully completed, regardless of whether the VA has previously paid for it. We recommend scheduling an appointment with a Veteran Academic Career Advisor to ensure your courses are eligible for certification.
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Can I change my degree program?
Yes. The VA will allow you to change your program of study. You must complete an official Change of Program with a PGCC advisor to have it processed by the Office of Records and Registration and submit a Request for Change of Program of Place of Training Form to the VA. We recommend completing this process with a Veteran Academic Career Advisor to ensure your courses are eligible for certification.
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What if I am called to Active Duty?
Once you have received orders, you have the following options:
- Drop all classes and 100% of the tuition and fees will be refunded.
- Withdraw from all classes and receive a "W" grade. Please note there will be no refund of tuition and fees.
- Make arrangements with the instructor to receive an incomplete grade.
- Complete the work upon return from active duty and convert the incomplete grade to a letter grade. Please note failure to complete the work will result in a failing grade.
Please note your decision may impact any tuition assistance or financial aid you may have through state and federal programs. We recommend consulting with a Veteran Academic and Career Advisor and the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible.
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What about transcript requests?
The VA requires that students using VA Education Benefits must have all prior credits evaluated by the end of their first semester. This applies to institutional transcripts and Joint Service Transcripts. Failure to do so may result in repeated coursework or VA debt.
Students may be awarded credit for prior educational experiences in which college-level learning may be verified by documentation or assessments. A maximum of 45 credit hours may be transferred for anyone associate degree, of which not more than 30 credits may have been earned through nontraditional or noncollegiate sources.
Submit all transcripts directly to:
Email: transfercredit@pgcc.edu
Mail: Prince George's Community College, Transfer Evaluator, 301 Largo Road, Largo, MD 20774 -
What information can I obtain by calling 1-888-442-4551?
This toll-free number is for the VA’s GI Bill hotline and will connect you with a VA representative who can answer any inquiries regarding VA education benefits and payments. Its standard operating hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. EST
Start here if you have reviewed your application options and you're ready to apply.