When will I get my first GI Bill payment?

Your first payment usually arrives about 4 to 6 weeks after your school certifies your enrollment to the VA. Counting from the day you first apply, I tell students to plan on 60 to 90 days. That gap surprises a lot of people, so budget for it.

What gets paid, and to whom

• Chapter 33 (Post-9/11): tuition and fees go to the school. The monthly housing allowance (MHA) and the books stipend go to you.
• Chapter 30, 1606, and 35: one monthly payment goes to you, and you pay the school.
• Chapter 31 (VR&E): tuition goes to the school, and a subsistence allowance goes to you.

Housing is paid in arrears

The Post-9/11 housing allowance is paid around the 1st of each month for the month you just attended. So the payment you get at the start of October covers September. It is paid after attendance, never before.

The books stipend

Chapter 33 students get a books and supplies stipend paid by credit hour, up to an annual cap. It is usually paid near the start of the term, after certification, and it is the same for online and in-person students. It is also paid at your benefit percentage.

If six weeks have passed since certification and nothing has arrived, check with your certifying official first to confirm the certification went out, then call the VA.