Montgomery GI Bill® Benefits (Chapter 30 and Chapter 1606)
The GI Bill® for veterans and servicemembers is currently separated into the Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill, which is further broken down into two options:
The Montgomery GI Bill pays a monthly rate direct to the student. Use the VA GI Bill Comparison Tool to review how your benefit options stack up against Columbia University's costs. You may find that the Montgomery GI Bill is the better value if you only qualify for a percentage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you plan to attend Columbia part-time, or you will complete an online program.
Keep in mind, if you are eligible for both the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill, you must choose between them. You are unable to use both and you are unable to switch back and forth after you have selected your benefit.
Review the information below for eligibility, applying for, and using this benefit.
Requirements
You may be eligible for education benefits through this program if you served at least two years on active duty and you were honorably discharged.
Further eligibility is broken down into four categories, each specifying a combination of required dates of service and education attained in addition to other more unique conditions, such as pay reductions, involuntary separations, or Selected Reserve participation.
Review the MGIB-AD webpage on the VA website to see the full list of requirements for each category.
Students who choose MGIB-AD benefits typically have 10 years to use the funds, but this is subject to change.
If you’re a member of a reserve force for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, or if you're a member of the Army National Guard or Air National Guard, you may be eligible for the Selected Reserve benefit of the Montgomery GI Bill, which can offer up to 36 months of education and training benefits, also known as your entitlement.
To be eligible, you need a six-year service obligation in the Selected Reserve, or you must be an officer in the Selected Reserve who agreed to serve six years in addition to your initial service obligation. This obligation must have started after June 30, 1985, or for some types of training after September 30, 1990.
Additional education, training, and good standing requirements also apply.
Visit the VA website to learn more about how payment rates are calculated should you qualify for Selected Reserve benefits.
Eligibility Period
If you are eligible for this benefit, you will have an eligibility period, during which time you must use your benefits. Your benefits run out when your eligibility period ends or when you use all of your entitlement, whichever comes first. Usually your date of separation from Selected Reserve ends your eligibility period.
However, your eligibility period will be extended if you are called to active duty during your service obligation. Your extension will be the length of time you were on active duty plus an additional four months.
You may also qualify for Selected Reserve benefits for 14 years from the date of your first six-year obligation if your separation was the result of a disability, or if your unit was deactivated or you were involuntarily separated between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2014.
After you are enrolled at Columbia and approved to receive benefits, you must verify your enrollment at the end of each month to keep receiving payments. MGIB recipients can verify their enrollment online through the Web Automated Verification system (called “WAVE”) or by phone at +1 (877) 823-2378.
How to Apply for Chapter 30 Active Duty Benefits
If you think you qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty benefit program, you can go online to the VA website to complete the Application for VA Education Benefits, also know as VA Form 22-1990. You will need to sign in via Login.gov or ID.me.
After you submit the form, Veterans Affairs will process the claim and make a decision within 30 days. You may be contacted by mail if more information is required to make a decision. Incomplete applications requiring more information will take longer than 30 days to process.
If your application is approved, you'll receive a Certificate of Eligibility in the mail, also known as an award letter or decision letter. If your application is denied, you will receive a denial letter in the mail.
You can download VA Form 22-1990 as a fillable PDF from the VA website. Fill in your information and print the document to send by mail.
If You Are Already Enrolled at Columbia
Mail the completed form to the Buffalo, NY regional processing office at the following address:
P.O. Box 4616 Buffalo, NY 14240-4616
If You Have Not Yet Enrolled at Columbia
Mail the completed form to the regional processing office associated with the state of your home address on file.
Anyone eligible to use the Montgomery GI Bill benefit who also contributes up to $600 during active duty will receive an additional monthly payment on top of their MGIB benefits. This buy-up program only applies to Montgomery GI Bill recipients. If you contribute to the buy-up program and later choose the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit, you will lose the amount of money you contributed to the buy-up program.
Your buy-up rate in this program is based on how much money you contributed during active duty in addition to your education enrollment level.
Payroll or Personnel Office for Your Branch of Service
To contribute to the buy-up program, visit your payroll or personnel office while on active duty and submit a Montgomery GI Bill Act of 1984 Basic Enrollment Form (DD Form 2366). You can download a PDF version of DD Form 2366 from the VA website.
You will be able to contribute a lump sum at this time or request that the contribution be taken out of your payroll.
- It is very important that you keep copies of DD Form 2366 and any paperwork that shows you made the payment, such as Leave and Earnings Statements or a DD Form 1131 cash voucher for paying with cash. You will need to submit these as evidence that you qualify for the buy-up program when you submit your claim for Montgomery GI Bill benefits.
How to Apply for Chapter 1606 Selected Reserve Benefits
Application Process
You should have already received your Notice of Basic Eligibility (DD Form 2384-1) from your unit, which should also be part of your personnel file.
Go online to the VA website to complete the Application for VA Education Benefits, also know as VA Form 22-1990. You will need to sign in via Login.gov or ID.me.
After you submit the form, Veterans Affairs will process the claim and make a decision within 30 days. You may be contacted by mail if more information is required to make a decision. Incomplete applications requiring more information will take longer than 30 days to process.
If your application is approved, you'll receive a Certificate of Eligibility in the mail, also known as an award letter or decision letter. If your application is denied, you will receive a denial letter in the mail.
Submit a Veterans Request for Certification
As soon as you are enrolled at Columbia, you must share your Notice of Basic Eligibility (DD Form 2384-1) and submit your Certificate of Eligibility with the Office of Veterans and Military Affairs. Once OVMA has these documents, you are required to Submit a Veterans Request for Certification in order to receive your funds.
Failure to share these documents and complete the certification with OVMA will result in non-payment of funds.
You can download VA Form 22-1990 as a fillable PDF from the VA website. Fill in your information and print the document to send by mail.
If You Are Already Accepted to or Enrolled at Columbia
Mail the completed form to the Buffalo, NY regional processing office at the following address:
P.O. Box 4616 Buffalo, NY 14240-4616
If You Have Not Yet Applied to Columbia for Enrollment
Mail the completed form to the regional processing office associated with the state of your home address on file.