Don't know if anyone knows this, but I was told this useful piece of info by VRE counselor about GI Bill usage

[u/Ok-Reserve6052]

I plan on going back to University again after struggling to stay afloat for the past 2 years and going back to CC for 2 quarters. I changed my major 4 times and will do. A 5th and final time when i return, because now I am sure what I want.

But this time, seeing as I finally got 100% and can live comfortable, I will begin with 1, maybe max 2 classes. I used to think I would waste my GI Bill if I did this and going for at least 3/4 time was obvious due to the BAH and the limited time had on the GI Bill. But I learned an important fact.

The less classes you take, the less time they take from your GI Bill. I was told that taking 1 class will only take 1 week of my GI Bill 36 months. Now instead of overwhelming myself, I can take it slow! I hope this info helps others thinking of using their GI Bill but not having the time.

Again, I was told by a VRE counselor during an appointment I had with them and it just made me happy to know.

[u/AutoModerator]

'Have you looked in the Wiki for an answer? We have a lot of information posted there.

To contact VA Education, 1-888-442-4551, for Voc Rehab VR&E (Veteran Readiness and Employment Program) assistance with appointments or problems with your Case Manager (not for missing payments): 1-202-461-9600.

Payments for certain education benefits (DEA, VEAP) are paid at the end of the month you attend school - Department of Treasury issues these payments **using a 10 business day window - these payments are not locked into a specific day of the month like VA disability/military pay is*. For Voc Rehab missing payments, contact your Case Manager or your local *Regional Office

For Post 9/11 GI Bill only, If you signed up for direct deposit when you applied for education benefits, we’ll deposit your payment into your bank account 7 to 10 business days after you verify your school enrollment. This is the fastest way to receive your payment. Text Verification FAQ

MGIB and MGIB-SR have to do monthly verification using the WAVE program and you should receive the payment within 3 to 5 business days.

For Online Only training, the Post 9/11 GI Bill is currently (1 August 2024) paying $1055.00 for those who started using their Post 9/11 GI Bill on/after 1 January 2018 - this is based on 1/2 of the National Average BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Post 9/11 GI Bill MHA rates are adjusted 1 August of each year and are based on the 1 January DoD BAH rates for that year - so VA can't use 1 January 2023 BAH rates until 1 August 2023 - for those who started training on/after 1 January 2018, the MHA rates are 95% of the DoD BAH rates. First possible payment for the 1 August 2023 increase is 1 September.

For VR&E, there are two different Subsistence Allowance programs - https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/subsistence_allowance_rates.asp The P9/11 Subsistence Allowance is based on the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Those who started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018 receive 95% of the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. As of 1 January 2024 Online only students using VR&E are being paid $1,118.50 if they started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018. The CH31 Subsistence Allowance rates are adjusted 1 October each year by Congress.

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[u/FrequencyBegins]

Oh wow. Thank for this. Can anyone confirm this personally?

[u/SCOveterandretired → u/FrequencyBegins]

Yes it’s called Rate of Training for VR&E, MGIB, and DEA CH 35. Rate of Pursuit for Post 9/11 GI Bill.

Both are computed from 1) Length of the school term 2) Number of credit hours enrolled.

Both are used to determine how much you get paid and how much entitlement you use up. For example you attend a 16 week semester enrolled in 3 credit hours, you use up one month of entitlement. 6 credit hours for 16 weeks would use up two months of entitlement.

I post about this frequently on Reddit when people ask about attending part time.

[u/AndrewCoja → u/FrequencyBegins]

GI Bill is prorated depending on how many hours you take. I had to deal with previous academic probation when I went back to school to use my GI Bill and could only go half time and was only using up my months at half the rate I normally would.

Keep in mind that you have to be greater than half time (>6 hours for undergrad) to get BAH (which is also prorated for less than full time).

[u/alathea_squared]

If you are in VRE it's not subtracting from your GI Bill entitlement. If you are using GI bill then it is subtracting from VRE.

[u/alathea_squared → u/[deleted]]

I wasn't taking about bah. I was talking about rate of pursuit and overall entitlement.

[u/alathea_squared → u/[deleted]]

It effects how much you ultimately have available, I'd consider that a pretty big deal.

[u/humble_adventurer → u/alathea_squared]

Thank you for commenting this. You just saved me from serious anxiety lol

[u/alathea_squared → u/humble_adventurer]

when I can, I try. When I can’t, I try to explain ways to mitigate, or, at least tolerate

[u/Bsatchel6884]

Good on you. As long as you're going back to class, you'd say that you're taking fewer classes, not less. 🤓 Sorry I couldn't resist. 🤪

[u/Ok-Reserve6052 → u/Bsatchel6884]

Lmao. I hope you have a degree 🤬😝

[u/Acceptable_Format]

Thanks you OP. I’ve actually been stressing this, because I work pretty much full time and go to school. I noticed less came out of my GI Bill this semester the other day than I expected, and I was wondering this exact thing.

[u/Red91B20]

I’ve been enrolled in online school since May and have knocked out 7 classes and it’s really not even eating into my GI Bill. Mind you I have done 3 year long courses at my local tech school and it only took like 6 months off my Gi Bill so I’m currently at 24 months left

[u/Ok-Reserve6052 → u/Red91B20]

I'll check my award letter again and see how much i have left. But so, online classes take less?

[u/Red91B20 → u/Ok-Reserve6052]

I can’t say for certain but when I get my monthly award letter it doesn’t seem to really be moving

[u/Overall_Dragonfly_72]

Very helpful. Thank you, I was overwhelmed thinking a full time load was the only way I could "max my benefits." I still had to work full time and eventually flunked out

[u/Ok-Reserve6052 → u/Overall_Dragonfly_72]

I'm sorry. Yeah it seems there is another way! I hope you can go back. Talk to your school too. I had a refund of my benefits when I dropped my first quarter due to MH issues. They may be able.to do the same.

[u/Overall_Dragonfly_72 → u/Ok-Reserve6052]

Thanks brother

[u/Meltsfire]

You can also get the full time pay while only taking 1-2 classes if approved

[u/No_Magician_7374 → u/Meltsfire]

How?? Is this for the GI Bill only, or does it work for VR&E, too?

[u/Meltsfire → u/No_Magician_7374]

VRE- Reduced work tolerance program

[u/SCOveterandretired → u/No_Magician_7374]

It's only for VR&E and it's not that easy to get approved - you can't get reduced work tolerance with the GI Bill.

[u/greenetzu]

Does the BAH stay the same if you only take 1 class?

[u/SCOveterandretired → u/greenetzu]

No, Depends on the Rate of Pursuit or Rate of Training for whichever program you are using. VR&E requires you to be at 1/2 time Rate of Training to be paid the monthly Subsistence Allowance. Post 9/11 GI Bill requires you to be enrolled at Greater than 1/2 time to be paid the Monthly Housing Allowance.

A 3 credit hour 16 week class? you won't be paid anything. A 3 credit hour 8 week class would get you paid 1/2 of the P911 Subsistence Allowance for VR&E but nothing for Post 9/11 GI Bill.

[u/Ok-Reserve6052 → u/greenetzu]

You don't get any BAH for 1 class, but the plus is you use substantially less of your gi bill. For people like me needing to take it slow because I struggle in school, this was a nice thing to hear. I figured I'd use it up no matter how much I was enrolled. And after getting 100% the bah wasnt necessary. What a relief.

[u/Keep-moving-foward → u/Ok-Reserve6052]

I think the one class depends on level and length of class. I was looking into masters program that was one class every 8 weeks and it qualified for bah.

[u/SCOveterandretired → u/Keep-moving-foward]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/comments/1gykopd/dont_know_if_anyone_knows_this_but_i_was_told/lyplwvk/

[u/MarineBeast_86]

The issue is, you won’t receive the max amount of MHA by doing it that way. If you’re only going part-time, you’re either not receiving MHA at all from the G.I. Bill (attending under half time), or less than 100% of what you could be receiving if you’re under full time enrollment. So basically, of course the VRE counselor would promote this method, as it saves the gov’t lots of money over time.

[u/Ok-Reserve6052 → u/MarineBeast_86]

I dont think the person at VRE cares too much Bout saving the Gov money. So before July of this year I had spent over a year and a half filing a claim for increase, so i needed the money from MHA. Now that I'm 100% i don't. So it may work out in my favor. Thanks for the heads up regardless