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EVENTS
NEWS & INPUT
VETERAN PROGRAMS
GI Bill & VA Education Benefits
A plain-English look at the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, and VR&E — and how they fit alongside Texas's Hazlewood Act.
Overview
There's more than one federal way to pay for school: the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, and Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E). Which one you use, and in what order, affects what's left for the Texas Hazlewood Act later.
This page points you to VA's own tools and explains what order to use them in.
How to get started
Figure out which benefit fits you
Use VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool to estimate what each benefit would pay at your school. VA decides which benefit you qualify for when you apply.
Apply and get your Certificate of Eligibility
Apply online at VA.gov, or ask the county Veteran Service Office for help. VA sends a Certificate of Eligibility that shows which benefit you have and how much is left. Keep it: your school and a Hazlewood application both ask about your federal benefits.
Check whether VR&E (Chapter 31) applies to you
If you have a VA disability rating of at least 10%, VR&E may cover tuition, books, and a monthly living allowance while you train for a job. It doesn't use up your GI Bill months.
Use your federal benefits before Hazlewood
Hazlewood generally can't be used while you still have Post-9/11 GI Bill or VR&E benefits that pay tuition and fees. Once those are used up, Hazlewood can cover tuition and most fees at Texas public colleges for up to 150 credit hours. See our Hazlewood Act guide.