If you’re a military member, Veteran, or even a family member pursuing a degree or higher education program, the GI Bill is a fantastic resource to help with the cost of tuition, books, and more.
But if you’re an active duty service member or family, you might also be navigating a permanent change of station (PCS) move while you attend school. Taking on both of these milestones can be challenging, but not impossible. Find out just how to navigate school and PCS at the same time without interrupting your studies.
What is the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is available for those who served after September 10, 2001. In order to qualify for full benefits through this program administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, you have to have served at least 90 days or have some sort of exemption. If you served from September 10, 2001, until December 31, 2012, you have 15 years to utilize the benefits. However, if you served after January 1, 2013, the Forever GI Bill removed that 15-year limitation.
Sometimes, the military member can transfer their eligibility to a dependent family member. They can use the benefit in the same way to cover the cost of school and supplies.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers the cost of tuition for an in-state public school in the state where you attend classes. You can use this toward a public or private institution, but if the tuition rate is above the approved amount, you must cover the difference. Some schools provided extra funding for GI Bill-eligible students through the Yellow Ribbon Program to offset the extra cost.
Tuition is only part of higher education costs, so the GI Bill also includes funding to cover books and other materials. Even though a smaller amount compared to the hefty tuition bill, it’s still a helpful part that can keep costs manageable.
The GI Bill also provides a stipend for housing and living expenses, called a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA), equal to the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) of an E-5 with dependents in the same zip code, regardless of the pay grade of the person receiving GI Bill benefits. The exception to this is when an active duty service member or their spouse uses the GI Bill while the military member is still on active duty. In this case, the housing stipend is not included because they already receive normal BAH.
What is a Military PCS?
The vast majority of military members end up moving to meet military orders. Known as a permanent change of station (PCS), the service member must move to a new city in order to change assigned units. Sometimes, PCS orders only require a local move or a move within the state. Other times, military members find themselves relocating across the globe. Either way, if you’re in the military, get familiar with the PCS process so you know how to make the most of the opportunities.
In some cases, a PCS is unaccompanied, meaning dependent family members are not allowed to come along. On the other side, an accompanied PCS lets family members listed in the service record to move as well. The exact funding and timeline for the move is outlined in a copy of official military orders.
How to Transfer Your GI Bill to a New School
If you’re attending school using your GI Bill benefits and suddenly find yourself facing a PCS, there’s a likelihood that a lot of questions are running through your mind.
How do I transfer my benefits to a new school?
Can I keep attending my old school?
What happens if I have to move to a new state?
Fortunately, like most things in the military, an established process ensures things are set up and in place. It may not be easy or quick, but you can transfer things without missing a single day of class.
To transfer your GI Bill benefits to another school, complete the VA Form 22-1995. This is used to change any part of your program, including switching from one school or program to another. It’s important to verify your new school is eligible for the GI Bill before making plans to switch.
Your housing allowance will continue to be based on your previous zip code until your PCS is complete. Depending on how far you need to travel, you may be allotted a single day to finish your PCS or a few weeks. This is included in the official PCS orders, as well as time assigned to other commands, like training temporarily in the middle of your PCS.
For example, if you move from Norfolk, VA, to San Diego, CA, you’ll continue to receive BAH based on the rates in Norfolk during the time that it takes for your move. Once you officially check in to your new command in California, your BAH rate changes. Since the amount can vary quite a bit based on the cost of living in one location compared to another, it’s important to know when to expect a lower (or higher) BAH.
Utilizing Transferred Benefits
When you initially apply for GI Bill benefits, you have to provide your bank information so funding can be directly deposited into your account for use. When you complete a transfer, you may have to verify your bank information as well to help keep funds flowing where they need to go, so you can use them as intended.
Tuition expenses are paid directly from the VA to the school, so make sure to provide the appropriate routing and contact information for the registrar or financial office. When switching to a new school, you must include all of this information in your change paperwork.
GI Bill funds can help cover the cost of housing and incidentals through the BAH portion. This applies regardless of where you live as long as you aren’t receiving BAH entitlements based on your active duty status. You cannot receive both MHA from the GI Bill and active-duty BAH concurrently. The same goes for spouses living with active duty military members. If a dependent child, who must be over the age of 18, is using the GI Bill, they still get a housing stipend.
The GI Bill can also cover the cost of non-four-year programs and education, including trade schools, professional certification training, and licensing exams. You can’t use it to pay for actual licenses and fees, but any education associated with getting these credentials, including exam study courses, is fair game. This also includes non-traditional, unique educational ventures.
Exploring Schools and Programs
It’s not always easy to pick up and start over in a new place when you PCS. If you are a student pursuing a degree or training, it makes things extra challenging. When looking to switch to a new school or program, here are a few things to consider.
Some schools allow online options, which can work with the GI Bill. Your location may impact your housing stipend, however, so talk to your VA representative before committing to this route. It might be the best option for your situation, especially if you are moving to a remote location or only moving for a short time.
Before switching, you should also make sure your new school is approved to work with the GI Bill. It should be accredited and eligible under the Department of Veterans Affairs. You can search by location, institution name, and more. Some provide more benefits, such as the Yellow Ribbon Program, that can make things even more affordable.
If you switch from a public to a private school, you may end up paying more out of pocket for your education. The GI Bill caps rates at the amount it would cost for a public four-year university in the same state.
The Bottom Line
When getting ready for a PCS as a student, understanding the GI Bill requirements is key to ensure you don’t have to interrupt your studies. A transfer form is all you need to get started in a new classroom without even taking a day off from school. Whether you stay in the same program, switch to an online option, or enroll at an entirely new school, you can hit the books and fulfill your military obligations at the same time.
To also help lighten the load when PCSing, check out AHRN’s PCS Toolkit.