Why you should NOT transfer all of your GI BILL and Keep a couple months for yourself.
- Josh Atkinson
- 24 hours ago
- 5 min read
As a service member the Post 9/11 GI BILL or PGIB is one of the greatest benefits that you earn. Education is powerful. But as a disabled veteran, you have access to other programs that may not require you to tap into your PGIB yet. Also, if you transfer all of your benefits to your kids then you might miss out on a ton of BAH funding or other benefits. This article will help outline why you should keep at least one or two months for yourself. (I did not do this and I am looking to pull a month back).
You can also watch our video on the subject at the bottom of this article.
Why should you keep a month or two for yourself.
1. PGIB now covers more than just college. Starting in 2021 the PGIB was changed to fund training and education towards licenses and certifications. These courses are price capped at $2k which means it is less than one month of benefits. Later in life you may find a need to invest in your own professional upskilling outside a traditional college or university. Many universities are giving credits for professional certifications as well and using a month of benefits for a certification like your Project Management Professional (PMP)® or COMPTIA or others, may save you months of GI BILL benefits later.
2. If you have over 10% disability and qualify for CH31 benefits or Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) benefits, and have at least a month of PGIB, then you may potentially receive a higher subsistence allowance, often equivalent to the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). The VR&E program helps you find a career path, and using it does not deduct entitlement from your GI Bill, though you may need some remaining GI Bill entitlement to get the BAH rate. If you've already used all your GI Bill entitlement, you may still be eligible for VR&E but would not receive the BAH rate and would not be able to get those entitlement months back to use later through the standard process. However, your VR&E counselor may be able to assist with applying for "retroactive induction" if you are eligible.
Which should I use first?
Both PGIB and CH31 have a ton of value but they serve different purposes.
PGIB | VR&E |
Upskilling or reskilling for higher pay | upskilling or reskilling to improve VA Rated disability |
Immediate access | 30+ days to meet with counselors |
Self directed | Counselor advised and approved |
College, certs and licenses | College, Certs, and licenses |
MBA or Masters Degree usable | May be used for advanced degrees but harder to justify |
BAH | Subsistence (BAH if you have PGIB remaining) |
Can be transferred | Cannot be Transferred |
36 Months | 48 Months |
Use VR&E first if:
You have a service-connected disability: VR&E is designed to help veterans with disabilities find employment or vocational training.
You want more support: VR&E provides a vocational counselor who will help you identify your skills and career goals, which can be very beneficial for career planning.
You want to maximize your benefits: By using VR&E first, you can use its 48 months of benefits without affecting your GI Bill entitlement, potentially allowing you to receive up to 84 months of total benefits (48 months from VR&E and 36 months from the GI Bill).
You want a higher monthly allowance: The VR&E subsistence allowance is often higher than the GI Bill's Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH).
Use the GI Bill first if:
You do not have a service-connected disability: The GI Bill is the right choice if you are not disabled and are simply looking for higher education.
You want more flexibility: The GI Bill is more flexible than VR&E, which requires justification for program changes.
You are pursuing a program that does not require a counselor's approval: The GI Bill does not require a counselor's approval, making it a good option for veterans who have a clear educational path in mind.
You want to preserve your VR&E benefits for later: If you think you may need VR&E later, you can use your GI Bill now for a degree and save VR&E for a graduate degree or a different career path.
If I’m eligible for GI Bill benefits, can I get paid the Post-9/11 GI Bill subsistence rate for my VR&E program?
If you’re participating in a VR&E program, you can choose to get paid the GI Bill subsistence rate instead of the Chapter 31 subsistence allowance rate if you meet both of these requirements.
Both of these must be true:
You have at least 1 day of entitlement remaining under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and
You’re within your GI Bill eligibility period (If you separated prior to 2013 then you have a time limit). If after 2013 you are in the forever GI BILL which does not expire.
Note: In most cases, the GI Bill rate is higher.
You’ll need to officially choose the GI Bill subsistence rate. Your VRC can help you with this.
VR&E with Post-9/11 GI Bill
Allowance: You will receive a housing allowance at the E-5 with dependent rate, based on the ZIP code of your training location.
Benefit: This rate is generally much higher than the standard Chapter 31 subsistence allowance.
How it works: The payment is based on your training rate (full-time, half-time, etc.), with a full-time trainee receiving the full BAH amount.
VR&E without Post-9/11 GI Bill
Allowance: You will receive a standard subsistence allowance, which is a lower rate than the BAH.
Benefit: This allowance is calculated based on your training rate (full-time, three-quarter time, half-time), number of dependents, and the type of training.
Important notes
Combining benefits: You can use VR&E and the Post-9/11 GI Bill together. VR&E is a separate benefit from the GI Bill and will not deduct from your education entitlement if you have eligibility left.
Retroactive induction: If you previously used other VA education benefits and are now eligible for VR&E, you may be able to have your previous entitlement retroactively applied and restored to your education program.
Career path: VR&E requires you to select a career field and get approval from a counselor. The level of education covered will be based on the hiring requirements for that specific career.
So how do you use VR&E?
VR&E is not an educational program; it is a vocational and career assistance program designed to allow our disabled veterans to gain employment and upskilling opportunities to reduce the pain and stresses caused by their disability. In many cases this requires additional education or training that can be funded through VR&E.
VR&E is NOT an educational benefit to increase your salary or pay.
Bad Example: I am currently employed as a project manager and getting my PMP will allow me to get a raise. VR&E will not approved this request.
Good Example: I am currently employed as a carpenter with a shoulder injury from my military time. My work is inflaming my shoulder. I want to finish my degree and get my PMP certification so I can be employed as a project manager and reduce my physical stress.
The WHY matters.
If you are interested in using VR&E or your GI BILL to pursue a certification or multiple in Project management, please reach out and we can connect you with an advisor today to help guide you onto the best path for you and your goals.
You can also watch our video on the subject here: