VETERANS
GI Bill & VA Education Benefits
FEDERAL 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
Between the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, and Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment, there's more than one federal path to paying for school — and picking the right one first can affect how much you have left over for Hazlewood later. This page doesn't try to replace VA.gov's own tools; it points you to the right ones and explains what order to use them in.
Your application journey
2
3
4
1
Figure out which chapter applies to you
The VA's own GI Bill Comparison Tool is the most reliable way to see what you qualify for based on your service history and disability rating — use it before you assume which chapter you're under.
Request your Certificate of Eligibility
Apply at VA.gov/education, or ask a VSO for help. You'll need this same document for a Hazlewood application too, so get it early.
Check whether VR&E (Chapter 31) applies to you
If you have a service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher, VR&E can cover tuition, housing, and vocational counseling — and it doesn't use up your GI Bill months.
Compare what's left against Hazlewood
Federal education benefits are generally used first. Hazlewood is there to fill in gaps — extra semesters, fees Hazlewood covers that GI Bill housing allowance doesn't, and so on.
What to gather
Helpful links
-
VA.gov — GI Bill Comparison Tool
-
VA.gov — VR&E (Chapter 31)
-
Austin VA Regional Office — find your nearest office