Many Veterans know about the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Others remember paying into the Montgomery GI Bill during their first year of military service.
Some Veterans may be eligible for both.
That does not necessarily mean the Veteran must permanently give up one benefit to use the other. Recent court decisions and updated Department of Veterans Affairs guidance have changed how VA handles certain Veterans who earned entitlement under both programs.
The important question is not simply, “Which GI Bill is better?”
The better questions are:
- Which benefits did the Veteran earn?
- How many qualifying periods of service did the Veteran complete?
- When did those periods of service begin?
- Has the Veteran already used either benefit?
- Is the Veteran eligible for separate entitlements under both programs?
- Which benefit provides the most value for the particular school or training program?
The answers can affect tuition, housing payments, book money, remaining entitlement, and whether the Veteran may receive as many as 48 total months of education benefits.
What Veterans Mean by the “Old GI Bill”
When Veterans today refer to the “old GI Bill,” they usually mean the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty program, also called MGIB-AD or Chapter 30.
This article compares:
The Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve program, Chapter 1606, has different eligibility rules and is not the primary focus of this article.
The Quick Answer: Can Veterans Use Both?
Some Veterans can use both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
But there are two major limits:
- A Veteran cannot receive payments under both programs for the same period of education or training.
- The combined entitlement is generally limited to 48 months, not 72 months.
Each program may provide up to 36 months by itself. But when a Veteran qualifies for more than one VA education program, federal law generally limits the total combined use to 48 months.
For example, an eligible Veteran might use:
- 36 months of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and 12 months of Montgomery GI Bill benefits
- 24 months of Montgomery GI Bill benefits and 24 months of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits
- Another combination that does not exceed the Veteran’s entitlement or the 48-month combined limit
Whether a particular Veteran qualifies for both programs depends on the Veteran’s service and education-benefit history.
What the Post-9/11 GI Bill Provides
The Post-9/11 GI Bill, Chapter 33, is generally designed around the actual cost of education.
Depending on eligibility, the benefit may include:
- Tuition and mandatory fees paid directly to the school or training program
- A monthly housing allowance for qualifying students
- Money for books and supplies
- Yellow Ribbon Program assistance for certain higher tuition costs
- Payments for approved licensing and certification tests
- Apprenticeship and on-the-job training benefits
- Vocational and technical training
- Flight training
- Certain national tests and preparatory courses
VA states that a Veteran eligible at the 100% level may receive the full net cost of in-state tuition and mandatory fees at a public institution. Private and foreign schools are subject to annual payment limits.
The monthly housing allowance depends on several factors, including:
- The Veteran’s eligibility percentage
- Rate of pursuit
- Whether the Veteran attends more than half time
- Whether classes are in person or online
- The location where the Veteran physically attends most classes
The Post-9/11 GI Bill can also be transferred to eligible spouses or children in some circumstances, but the transfer generally must be approved by the Department of Defense while the service member is still serving.
Current benefit amounts change over time. Veterans should review the current Post-9/11 GI Bill payment rates before choosing a school or training program.
What the Montgomery GI Bill Provides
The Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty program works differently.
Instead of paying the school’s tuition bill under the same structure as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, VA generally pays the Veteran directly each month. The payment amount depends on factors such as:
- The Veteran’s length of qualifying service
- Whether the Veteran attends full time, three-quarter time, half time, or less
- The type of education or training
- Whether the Veteran has a college-fund kicker
- Whether the Veteran participated in the $600 Buy-Up program
Many Veterans became eligible after having their military pay reduced by $100 per month for their first 12 months of service, for a total contribution of $1,200.
Because the payment goes directly to the Veteran, the Veteran is normally responsible for paying the school or training provider.
This structure may make the Montgomery GI Bill worth comparing when:
- Tuition is relatively low
- The Veteran has a valuable kicker or Buy-Up
- The training program does not fit neatly into a traditional college model
- The Veteran is considering an apprenticeship or on-the-job training
- The monthly MGIB payment may provide more value than the applicable Post-9/11 benefit
VA publishes updated Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty payment rates.
Why the Post-9/11 GI Bill Is Often More Valuable
For many Veterans attending a college or university, the Post-9/11 GI Bill may provide more total value because it can combine:
- Tuition paid directly to the school
- A monthly housing allowance
- A books and supplies stipend
- Yellow Ribbon assistance in qualifying cases
That does not mean Chapter 33 is always the best choice.
A Veteran attending a low-cost school, using an MGIB kicker, completing specialized training, or studying under circumstances that do not generate a full Post-9/11 housing allowance may reach a different conclusion.
Online-only students should compare carefully because the Post-9/11 housing allowance for online education is calculated differently from the allowance for qualifying in-person attendance.
The correct comparison should be based on the Veteran’s actual school, tuition, training schedule, location, eligibility tier, and expected housing allowance.
The Rudisill Decision Changed the Analysis
In April 2024, the United States Supreme Court decided Rudisill v. McDonough.
The Court held that a service member who separately earned entitlement under the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill through qualifying service could use either benefit, in either order, subject to the 48-month combined limit.
Before Rudisill, VA had taken the position that certain Veterans had to give up, or “relinquish,” Montgomery GI Bill entitlement to receive Post-9/11 benefits. VA also limited some Veterans’ Post-9/11 entitlement to the amount of Montgomery entitlement they had remaining.
The Court rejected that restriction for Veterans who separately earned both entitlements.
VA now states that affected Veterans:
- May not be required to waive Montgomery GI Bill eligibility before using Post-9/11 benefits
- May not be limited to only the amount of Montgomery entitlement remaining
- May be able to revoke a previous election that gave up Montgomery GI Bill benefits
- May qualify for up to 48 months of combined education entitlement
VA explains the current process on its Rudisill and Perkins education-benefits page.
What the Perkins Decision Added
The Rudisill case involved a Veteran who served during multiple periods of active duty.
A later decision, Perkins v. Collins, addressed Veterans who had one obligated period of service that was long enough to establish entitlement under both programs based on different months and days of that service.
VA’s current guidance states that some Veterans with a single obligated period of sufficient length may also qualify for separate education entitlements.
This is important because Veterans should not assume that only a break in service or a completely separate enlistment can create eligibility.
At the same time, the rules remain fact-specific. VA’s general education pages continue to distinguish among:
- One qualifying period of active duty
- Multiple qualifying periods
- Reenlistments
- Extensions
- Service beginning before or after August 1, 2011
VA states that a reenlistment is generally treated as a separate period of active duty, while an extension is not treated as a separate period.
Because these distinctions can change the result, Veterans should request and review an official VA education-entitlement determination rather than relying only on a general online summary.
Not Every Veteran Can Use 48 Months
The 48-month rule is not automatic for everyone who was technically eligible for both programs at some point.
VA’s standard guidance says that a Veteran with only one qualifying period of active duty beginning on or after August 1, 2011, generally must choose one education benefit. Once the choice is made, the Veteran may give up the right to use the other benefit and may be limited to 36 months.
Veterans with service beginning before August 1, 2011, may be subject to different switching rules.
Rudisill and Perkins may provide additional entitlement when the Veteran separately earned both benefits, but an individualized review is still necessary.
The safest approach is to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility or other written decision from VA showing:
- Which programs the Veteran qualifies for
- The number of months available under each
- The total combined entitlement
- Any expiration date
- Whether VA restored previously relinquished Montgomery entitlement
The Two Benefits Cannot Be Used at the Same Time
A Veteran who qualifies for both programs cannot receive Montgomery GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill payments for the same dates.
The benefits must be used sequentially.
A Veteran might use one program for an undergraduate degree and the other for:
- Graduate school
- Law school
- Technical education
- A skilled-trades program
- An apprenticeship
- On-the-job training
- Licensing or certification
- Another approved education program
The strategy should be planned before enrollment whenever possible.
Using the more valuable benefit first is not always the best long-term strategy. Sometimes preserving a particular benefit for a later, more expensive program may produce greater overall value.
Example: Using Montgomery First and Post-9/11 Later
Consider a Veteran who qualifies for separate entitlement under both programs.
The Veteran attends an inexpensive community college and uses the Montgomery GI Bill. Because MGIB pays the Veteran directly each month, the benefit may exceed the school’s relatively low tuition costs.
Later, the Veteran transfers to a more expensive public university or attends graduate school. The Veteran then uses the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which pays qualifying tuition directly and may provide a monthly housing allowance and book stipend.
If VA has determined that the Veteran separately earned both benefits, the Veteran may be able to use them in sequence up to the combined 48-month limit.
Example: Using Post-9/11 First and Montgomery Later
Another Veteran may use 36 months of Post-9/11 benefits to complete an undergraduate degree.
If that Veteran separately earned Montgomery entitlement and qualifies under the updated rules, the Veteran may have as many as 12 additional months of Montgomery benefits available for another approved program.
That additional entitlement could help with:
- A professional certificate
- Technical training
- A graduate semester
- An apprenticeship
- Licensing preparation
- Another approved career program
The exact balance depends on what the Veteran previously used and what VA restores or recognizes.
What If the Veteran Previously Gave Up MGIB?
Some Veterans checked a box or made an election giving up Montgomery GI Bill benefits so they could use the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
That election may not be the end of the analysis.
VA states that Veterans affected by Rudisill or Perkins may be able to revoke an earlier waiver and recover some Montgomery entitlement.
VA also states that it is updating its systems to review potentially affected Veterans automatically. Under VA’s current guidance:
- Veterans generally do not need to submit a special request for a Rudisill or Perkins review
- VA will evaluate potentially affected files
- VA will notify Veterans through a formal decision or advise them if additional action is needed
- The previously announced October 1, 2030, deadline no longer applies
- VA is prioritizing Veterans who are currently enrolled or were enrolled during the last six months
Veterans should still read all VA letters carefully and keep their mailing address current.
What About the $1,200 Montgomery Contribution?
A Veteran who contributed to MGIB but elects to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill may sometimes receive a refund of part or all of the $1,200 contribution.
VA generally ties the refund to exhausting Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement and meeting other requirements.
Veterans should not assume the refund will arrive merely because they chose Chapter 33. Review VA’s Montgomery GI Bill refund rules before making the decision.
A Veteran who may qualify to use restored Montgomery entitlement should also consider how using that entitlement could affect the refund analysis.
Expiration Rules May Be Different
The programs also have different expiration rules.
For the Post-9/11 GI Bill:
- If qualifying active-duty service ended before January 1, 2013, benefits generally expire 15 years after the last separation from active duty
- If qualifying service ended on or after January 1, 2013, Post-9/11 benefits generally do not expire under the Forever GI Bill
For the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty program, VA states that Veterans usually have 10 years to use the benefit, although exceptions and adjusted dates may apply.
VA may recalculate an MGIB expiration date for some Veterans whose benefits are restored after a Rudisill or Perkins review.
How Veterans Should Compare the Programs
Before selecting a GI Bill, calculate the expected value under both programs.
Consider:
- Net tuition and mandatory fees
- Public versus private school
- In-state versus out-of-state tuition
- Yellow Ribbon eligibility
- Monthly housing allowance
- In-person versus online attendance
- Full-time versus part-time enrollment
- Books and supplies payments
- MGIB monthly rate
- Any MGIB kicker or Buy-Up
- Remaining entitlement
- Benefit-expiration dates
- Plans for graduate school or later training
- Whether benefits were transferred to dependents
VA’s GI Bill Comparison Tool can help Veterans compare approved schools and estimated benefits.
Veterans should also speak with the school’s certifying official before enrolling.
What Records Should Veterans Review?
Veterans trying to determine whether they can use both benefits should keep copies of:
- DD-214s from every period of service
- Reenlistment documents
- Service contracts
- Certificates of Eligibility
- VA education decisions
- Records showing previous GI Bill usage
- Montgomery GI Bill contribution records
- School enrollment certifications
- Transcripts
- Letters showing transferred benefits
- VA correspondence concerning Rudisill or Perkins
A Veteran can also review the online GI Bill Statement of Benefits to see remaining Post-9/11 entitlement.
What If VA Shows Only 36 Months?
If VA’s records show only 36 months but the Veteran believes both benefits were separately earned, the Veteran should review:
- Whether there were multiple qualifying periods of service
- Whether there was a reenlistment
- Whether one obligated period was sufficiently long to establish separate entitlements
- Whether MGIB was previously relinquished
- Whether VA has completed a Rudisill or Perkins review
- Whether the Certificate of Eligibility accurately states the remaining entitlement
Veterans can contact the VA Education Call Center at 888-442-4551 or submit a question through Ask VA.
A Veteran who receives an unfavorable written education-benefits decision should read the review and appeal instructions included with that decision.
Bottom Line
The Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill are not interchangeable.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill generally focuses on paying tuition to the school and may provide housing and book assistance. The Montgomery GI Bill generally pays the Veteran a monthly amount directly.
Some Veterans must choose one program and may receive no more than 36 months.
Other Veterans may have separately earned both benefits and may be entitled to use them sequentially for up to 48 combined months.
The Rudisill and Perkins decisions make it especially important for Veterans to review old elections, prior GI Bill usage, reenlistments, service dates, and current Certificates of Eligibility.
Do not assume that selecting the Post-9/11 GI Bill permanently erased every month of Montgomery GI Bill entitlement. And do not assume that being eligible for both programs automatically guarantees 48 months.
The right answer depends on the Veteran’s service and benefit history.
This article is for general information only. It is not legal advice and does not guarantee eligibility for any VA education benefit. Veterans should obtain a formal entitlement decision from VA before making education or financial commitments.
Sources
- VA: Post-9/11 GI Bill, Chapter 33
- VA: Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty, Chapter 30
- VA: Impact of the Rudisill and Perkins Decisions
- U.S. Supreme Court: Rudisill v. McDonough
- VA: Current Post-9/11 GI Bill Rates
- VA: Current Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty Rates
- VA: Montgomery GI Bill Refunds
- VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool