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Chapter 33: the Post-9/11 GI Bill (and how it differs from Chapter 35)
The GI Bill is based on how long you served, not your rating. It is yours. Chapter 35 is a separate benefit for your family that turns on P&T. Many families can use both.
At a glance
| Who | 90+ days of active duty after Sept 10, 2001; or Purple Heart after 9/11 with any service; or 30 continuous days and a discharge for a service-connected disability |
| Rating needed | None |
| How much | 36 months. Public in-state tuition paid in full at the 100% tier; private school cap $30,908.34 per year (Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027); housing allowance; up to $1,000 a year for books |
| Expires? | Never, if your service ended on or after Jan 1, 2013. Otherwise 15 years after separation |
| Form | VA Form 22-1990 (22-1990e for a family member using transferred benefits) |
| Official page | va.gov Post-9/11 GI Bill |
Payment tiers by service
| Active duty after 9/11 | Share of full benefit |
|---|---|
| 36 months or more (or Purple Heart, or 30 days + disability discharge) | 100% |
| 30 to 35 months | 90% |
| 24 to 29 months | 80% |
| 18 to 23 months | 70% |
| 6 to 17 months | 60% |
| 90 days to 5 months | 50% |
Chapter 33 vs. Chapter 35, side by side
| Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) | Chapter 35 (DEA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Whose benefit | Yours (or transferred to family while you were still serving) | Your spouse's or child's, on top of yours |
| Trigger | Days of active duty after 9/11 | Your 100% P&T rating or service-connected death |
| Pays | Tuition to the school, plus housing and books to the student | Flat monthly check to the student ($1,621 full time); no tuition payment |
| Months | 36 | 36 (45 if started before Aug 1, 2018) |
| Transfer | Only while serving, after 6 years, with 4 more years of service (DoD milConnect) | No transfer needed; the family member applies directly |
| Form | 22-1990 / 22-1990e | 22-5490 |
Traps
- Transfer has to happen while you are still in. Veterans cannot transfer the GI Bill after separation. If you are still serving, set it up in milConnect now.
- Fry Scholarship covers children and spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after 9/11. Same tuition structure as the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Form 22-5490. A dependent eligible for both Fry and Chapter 35 must choose.
- Combined cap: using more than one VA education program is capped at 48 months total.
Sources
- VA Post-9/11 GI Bill (page updated Jul 23, 2026)
- Post-9/11 GI Bill rates, Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027 (page updated Oct 13, 2026)
- Transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits (page updated Sep 1, 2026)
- Fry Scholarship (page updated Sep 22, 2026)
- How to apply for education benefits (page updated Aug 17, 2026)
All links checked and content verified on Oct 16, 2026. Rules change; confirm on the official page before you act.