Here are the 2017 and 2018 Post 9/11 GI Bill® BAH Rates for students. Post 9/11 Gill Bill benefits include a Monthly Housing Allowance (aka BAH rate) for eligible veterans and service members.
| Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) Payment Rate Exceptions | |
| August 1, 2017 – July 31, 2018 | |
| Type of School | MHA Rate |
| Foreign School | $1,681.00 |
| Schools in US Territories | E-5 with dependents Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) Rate for school location |
| Exclusively Online Training (No Classroom Instruction) | $840.50 |
| Attending classes at ½ time or less (Less than 7 credits) | NOT PAYABLE |
| Active Duty Trainee (or spouse of servicemember) | NOT PAYABLE |
Books/Supplies Stipend
A yearly books and supplies stipend of up to $1000.00 paid proportionately based on enrollment.
Rural benefit
A one time payment of $500 may be payable to certain individuals relocating from highly rural areas if they reside in a county with 6 persons or less per square mile (as determined by the most recent decennial census) and either:
1. Physically relocate at least 500 miles to attend an educational institution or
2. Travel by air to physically attend an educational institution if no other land-based transportation exists
Monthly Housing Allowance Payments
The Monthly Housing Allowance is paid at the nearest 10% level once the training time (e.g number of credits) is determined. For instance, if your training time is determined to be 68% as calculated above you will be paid 70% of the applicable housing allowance. If your training time is calculated to be 56% you will be paid 60% of the applicable housing allowance.
Here are some important facts for determining eligibility and individual Post 9/11 GI Bill MHA rates.
Monthly Housing Allowance Facts
- Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) payments are based on the Department of Defense’s Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for an E-5 with dependents.
- MHA is based on the zip code of the school or college the student is attending.
- August 1st of each year is the effective date for the adjustment of MHA – While BAH rates are adjusted every calendar year and effective on January 1st the post 9/11 GI Bill MHA is effective at the beginning of the academic year which is set at August 1st.
- BAH Decreases – Adjusted MHA rates typically will NOT be adjusted down (decreased). Service members have individual rate protection against any BAH decrease and the MHA amount will not decrease unless there is a change in school or college or have more than a six-month break in training.
- BAH Increases – Even though BAH increases are effective January 1st recipient housing allowance stipend will not see an increase until the September payment for training pursued in August.
- There are some exceptions to MHA.
- MHA rates terms are commonly interchanged with Post 9/11 BAH rates terms, they are one and the same.
- The MHA rate for online colleges, schools, or distance learning programs is $805.50. For more information on how to determine your online MHA rate and eligibility click here.
- BAH is paid each month. However, the first payment may not arrive for several months so plan accordingly.
- Students cannot receive over the maximum allowable BAH amount.
- BAH is not paid during winter or summer breaks. Spring Break counts!
- Dropping courses can negatively affect MHA (BAH).