The Post-9/11 GI Bill Housing Allowance payments are based on the military's Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for an E-5 with dependents for the ZIP code of the school you are attending. The Department of Defense adjusts the military BAH rate every calendar year (January 1) based on changes to housing costs across the country. Rates can either go up or down.
However, the VA adjusts your Post-9/11 GI Bill Housing Allowance from the beginning of the academic year, which begins on August 1.
This means if the BAH increases for your area, you will not see an increase in your Post-9/11 GI Bill Housing Allowance until your September GI Bill payment, if you are enrolled in classes during the month of August.
If the BAH decreases for your area, your Post-9/11 GI Bill Housing Allowance will not decrease unless you change schools or have more than a six-month break in training.
If you are attending online training only, no classroom training, your Post-9/11 GI Bill Housing Allowance is 1/2 the national average BAH rate. If you are attending a foreign school your Post-9/11 GI Bill Housing Allowance is the national average BAH.
See our Post-9/11 GI Bill Rates page for more details.
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