Understanding when you’ll receive your GI Bill benefits can be confusing. With multiple payment dates each month, it’s hard to keep track of when cash will hit your account. This article breaks down the key GI Bill pay dates for 2015 so you can plan accordingly.
When I first started using my GI Bill, I had no idea when my payments would come through. I’d check my bank account daily, wondering when the deposit would magically appear. This uncertainty made budgeting tough.
After digging into the details, I realized VA GI Bill payments follow a predictable schedule. Now I know exactly what to expect each month. You can have the same clarity and control over your finances by learning these pay dates.
How GI Bill Payments Work
Before we dive into the dates, it helps to understand the general payment process. Here are a few key facts
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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issues GI Bill payments, not the military. The VA is a federal agency.
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Payments disburse from the U.S. Treasury in Austin, Texas. This is where the money originates.
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Most payments process 1-2 business days after the VA approves your enrollment certification. This is called your “transaction date.”
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Deposits take 1-3 additional days to reach your bank account after disbursing from Austin.
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Weekends and holidays delay deposits since banks are closed.
So in total, expect GI Bill deposits about 3-5 days after your transaction date, depending on weekends or holidays.
GI Bill Payment Cycles
Now, when do these transaction dates occur each month?
The VA processes GI Bill payments in weekly cycles. Here is the typical schedule:
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Week 1: Transactions process on the 1st and 2nd business day of the month. Payments disburse the next week.
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Week 2: Transactions process on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th business day. Payments disburse the following week.
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Week 3: Transactions happen on the 6th, 7th, and 8th business day, with checks going out the next week.
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Week 4: The 9th, 10th, and 13th business day are transaction dates, while payments release the fourth week.
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Week 5 (when applicable): Transactions occur on the 14th, 15th, and 16th business day. Deposits are made the final week of the month.
Keep in mind months with holidays or 31 days may shift this schedule slightly. But in general, the VA sticks to this weekly payment cycle.
GI Bill Payment Calendar for 2015
Now let’s plug in the actual dates for each transaction week and corresponding payment week throughout 2015.
January
Week 1 Transactions: 1/2, 1/5
Payments Disburse: 1/12
Week 2 Transactions: 1/6, 1/7, 1/8
Payments Disburse: 1/13
Week 3 Transactions: 1/9, 1/12, 1/13
Payments Disburse: 1/20
Week 4 Transactions: 1/14, 1/15, 1/16
Payments Disburse: 1/22
February
Week 1 Transactions: 2/2
Payments Disburse: 2/6
Week 2 Transactions: 2/3, 2/4, 2/5
Payments Disburse: 2/12
Week 3 Transactions: 2/6, 2/9, 2/10
Payments Disburse: 2/17
Week 4 Transactions: 2/11, 2/12, 2/13
Payments Disburse: 2/20
March
Week 1 Transactions: 3/2, 3/3
Payments Disburse: 3/10
Week 2 Transactions: 3/4, 3/5, 3/6
Payments Disburse: 3/12
Week 3 Transactions: 3/9, 3/10, 3/11
Payments Disburse: 3/17
Week 4 Transactions: 3/12, 3/13, 3/16
Payments Disburse: 3/20
Week 5 Transactions: 3/17, 3/18, 3/19
Payments Disburse: 3/25
April
Week 1 Transactions: 4/1, 4/2
Payments Disburse: 4/8
Week 2 Transactions: 4/6, 4/7, 4/8
Payments Disburse: 4/14
Week 3 Transactions: 4/9, 4/10, 4/13
Payments Disburse: 4/16
Week 4 Transactions: 4/14, 4/15, 4/16
Payments Disburse: 4/22
May
Week 1 Transactions: 5/1
Payments Disburse: 5/7
Week 2 Transactions: 5/4, 5/5, 5/6
Payments Disburse: 5/13
Week 3 Transactions: 5/7, 5/8, 5/11
Payments Disburse: 5/15
Week 4 Transactions: 5/12, 5/13, 5/14
Payments Disburse: 5/21
June
Week 1 Transactions: 6/1, 6/2
Payments Disburse: 6/8
Week 2 Transactions: 6/3, 6/4, 6/5
Payments Disburse: 6/11
Week 3 Transactions: 6/8, 6/9, 6/10
Payments Disburse: 6/17
Week 4 Transactions: 6/11, 6/12, 6/15
Payments Disburse: 6/22
Week 5 Transactions: 6/16, 6/17, 6/18
Payments Disburse: 6/24
July
Week 1 Transactions: 7/1, 7/2
Payments Disburse: 7/8
Week 2 Transactions: 7/6, 7/7, 7/8
Payments Disburse: 7/14
Week 3 Transactions: 7/9, 7/10, 7/13
Payments Disburse: 7/16
Week 4 Transactions: 7/14, 7/15, 7/16
Payments Disburse: 7/22
August
Week 1 Transactions: 8/3, 8/4
Payments Disburse: 8/11
Week 2 Transactions: 8/5, 8/6, 8/7
Payments Disburse: 8/13
Week 3 Transactions: 8/10, 8/11, 8/12
Payments Disburse: 8/19
Week 4 Transactions: 8/13, 8/14, 8/17
Payments Disburse: 8/21
September
Week 1 Transactions: 9/1, 9/2
Payments Disburse: 9/9
Week 2 Transactions: 9/3, 9/4, 9/8
Payments Disburse: 9/15
Week 3 Transactions: 9/9, 9/10, 9/11
Payments Disburse: 9/17
Week 4 Transactions: 9/14, 9/15, 9/16
Payments Disburse: 9/23
October
Week 1 Transactions: 10/1, 10/2
Payments Disburse: 10/8
Week 2 Transactions: 10/5, 10/6, 10/7
Payments Disburse: 10/14
Week 3 Transactions: 10/8, 10/9, 10/13
Payments Disburse: 10/21
Week 4 Transactions: 10/14, 10/15, 10/16
Payments Disburse: 10/23
November
Week 1 Transactions: 11/2, 11/3
Payments Disburse: 11/10
Week 2 Transactions: 11/4, 11/5, 11/6
Payments Disburse: 11/13
Week 3 Transactions: 11/9, 11/10, 11/12
Payments Disburse: 11/18
Week 4 Transactions: 11/13, 11/16, 11/17
Payments Disburse: 11/24
December
Week 1 Transactions: 12/1, 12/2
Payments Disburse: 12/9
Week 2 Transactions: 12/3, 12/4, 12/7
Payments Disburse: 12/14
Week 3 Transactions: 12/8, 12/9, 12/10
Payments Disburse: 12/16
Week 4 Transactions: 12/11, 12/14, 12/15
Payments Disburse: 12/23
Key Takeaways
As you can see, GI Bill deposits follow a consistent weekly schedule. Here are some key patterns:
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Transactions always occur on business days, excluding holidays.
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Deposits are made 1-3 days after the corresponding transaction dates.
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Most months have 4 transaction/payment weeks. Months with holidays may have 3.
GI Bill MHA or BAH Payment Schedule
Use this guide to determine your projected payment date:
- From the date your transaction was processed (labeled as “Transaction Date” on your WAVE account), go to the next business day immediately after that.
- Then, count 3 to 5 days for the range of your projected payment date.
The VA regularly updates the WAVE Certification Projected Payment dates.
Students attending college or university on the GI Bill may qualify for a yearly GI Bill stipend for books and supplies (up to $1,000.00) which is offered based on your enrollment. Full-time students get $500 a semester maximum, paid at the beginning of the academic year. Those who are not full-time attendees will receive a smaller stipend.
It is important to remember that you need to be at over half-time status in order to receive any GI Bill Housing Payment benefit. If you are above half-time credit hours but below full-time you would receive a prorated amount.
Those who attend above half-time hours but are not full-time attendees will have a prorated GI Bill housing stipend paid to them rather than the full time amount.
Some may notice a smaller GI Bill housing stipend paid when the term begins in August or December, most often caused by the shortened academic schedule for that first month back to class. This is typical.
Some students may qualify for a one-time payment of $500 from the VA, offered to those who are relocating from rural areas such as counties with six people or less per square mile as determined by the latest census. Those who qualify soon learn that like other GI Bill benefits, you should not expect a specific payment date but like most other benefits in this area will be disbursed at the start of the term unless your school or the VA notifies you otherwise.
Montgomery GI Bill Payment Schedule
The student is paid directly for the following:
- MHA/BAH
- Annual books and supplies payments
- VA rural benefit where applicable
The school is paid directly for the following:
- Tuition costs every semester/term/training period
MGIB users generally have their payments within two weeks of performing their monthly enrollment verification. There is no fixed payment date and weekends and federal holidays may affect the payment schedule.
Those using the Montgomery GI Bill are required to certify attendance on a monthly basis, so it’s important to know that your responsibilities don’t end once your first GI Bill benefits have been paid. This is true for both the active duty and reserve versions.
The information in this article pertains only to VA benefits issued by the federal-level Department of Veterans Affairs. Some state-level agencies have names similar to the VA such as Division of Veterans Affairs or Illinois State Department of Veterans Affairs.
These agencies have veteran education programs that vary depending on the state and payment times vary equally in such cases. You will need to contact the state-level agency issuing the veteran education benefits you seek to learn what payment times and related issues may apply.
How Much Money I Made Using The Post 9/11 GI Bill
How do GI bill payment rates work?
These payment rates are paid according to the length of your period of service as listed in the previous question. Tuition and fee payments will be made to your school for all authorized charges. The Post-9/11 GI Bill can pay your full resident tuition at a public school.
When will I get my GI bill payment?
The payment will include the first partial month and the first full month of your enrollment. Example: If your enrollment starts on August 25, the advance payment will cover August 25 through September 30. Since GI Bill benefits are paid at the end of the month, you’ll get your next payment for October 1 to 31 in early November.
How much does the GI Bill pay for a school?
Tuition and fee payments will be made to your school for all authorized charges. The Post-9/11 GI Bill can pay your full resident tuition at a public school. If you are attending a private or foreign school it will pay up to $26,042.81 each year.
Can I get a GI Bill advance payment?
This depends on which GI Bill program you’re using. If you’re using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you can’t get an advance payment. If you’re using a GI Bill program other than the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may be able to get an advance payment. You’ll need to meet all of the requirements listed below. You must: