How to Get Your BAH With the GI Bill

The Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is a financial benefit provided to eligible student veterans through the GI Bill. It helps cover living expenses while individuals pursue approved education or training programs.

Understanding Monthly Housing Allowance Eligibility

The Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is the GI Bill’s equivalent to the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) that active-duty service members receive. MHA is provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to students utilizing specific GI Bill chapters. The primary program offering MHA is the Post-9/11 GI Bill, also known as Chapter 33.

To qualify for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, including MHA, individuals must have served at least 90 days on active duty after September 10, 2001, or been honorably discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 continuous days of service. Eligibility also extends to Purple Heart recipients discharged honorably on or after September 11, 2001. The length of qualifying active-duty service determines the percentage of MHA entitlement. For instance, 36 months or more of active duty qualifies for 100% of benefits, while shorter periods, such as 30 to 35 months, qualify for 90%, and 18 to 23 months for 70%.

MHA is available for students enrolled in various approved programs, including degree programs, vocational training, non-college degree programs, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training. To receive MHA, students must be enrolled more than half-time. Active-duty service members do not receive MHA if they are already receiving BAH.

Other GI Bill chapters, such as the Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) or Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606), provide monthly payments for living expenses. However, these are structured differently and not tied to BAH rates like MHA. The Post-9/11 GI Bill’s MHA specifically helps student veterans cover housing costs based on their educational location.

Calculating Your Monthly Housing Allowance

The amount of Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) a student receives through the Post-9/11 GI Bill is determined by several factors. MHA is based on the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate for an E-5 with dependents. This rate is tied to the zip code of the main campus of the educational institution where the student attends the majority of their classes.

A primary factor influencing the MHA amount is the student’s rate of pursuit, which reflects their enrollment status. Students must be enrolled more than half-time to receive MHA. For example, if a school considers 12 credits full-time and a student is taking 8 credits, their rate of pursuit might be calculated at 67%, which the VA rounds to the nearest 10 percent, resulting in 70% of the applicable MHA. If a student’s rate of pursuit is 50% or less, they do not receive MHA.

The type of enrollment also impacts the MHA calculation. For students taking all their courses exclusively online, the MHA is capped at 50% of the national average BAH for an E-5 with dependents. This rate is adjusted annually, effective August 1st of each academic year. For example, for the 2025-2026 academic year, the maximum MHA for online-only students is $1,169.00.

The percentage of entitlement a Post-9/11 GI Bill recipient has directly affects their MHA. This percentage is based on the length of qualifying active-duty service. For instance, if an individual is eligible for 80% of the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit, they receive 80% of the calculated MHA rate based on their school’s location and their rate of pursuit. A student’s MHA is a combination of the school’s location-based BAH rate, their enrollment intensity, and their overall GI Bill eligibility percentage.

Applying for GI Bill Benefits and MHA

Applying for GI Bill benefits, including MHA, is a streamlined process handled through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Prospective students begin by submitting an application online via the VA.gov website. The common form for veterans applying for the first time is VA Form 22-1990. Dependents using transferred benefits use VA Form 22-1990E.

Before applying, individuals should gather necessary documents and information, such as their Social Security number, military history (e.g., DD-214), education history, and basic information about the school or training facility. While the application can be completed online, paper forms are available by mail or at a VA regional office. The VA suggests the online application may take approximately 15 minutes.

After the application is submitted, the VA reviews it to determine eligibility and sends a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to the applicant. This COE summarizes the military education benefits for which the individual qualifies. Once received, the student must provide a copy of their COE to the school’s VA certifying official. This official certifies the student’s enrollment to the VA, initiating benefit payments. MHA is not a separate application; it is automatically included as part of the overall GI Bill benefit application once enrollment is certified.

Receiving and Maintaining Monthly Housing Allowance Payments

Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) payments are disbursed directly to the student, via direct deposit to the bank account provided to the VA. Payments are made at the end of each month for the prior month’s attendance. For example, if classes begin in September, the MHA payment for September would be received in early October. New students may experience an initial delay, but payments become consistent once established.

Maintaining continuous MHA payments requires students to fulfill ongoing responsibilities. The school’s VA certifying official submits enrollment certifications to the VA for each term. Students are required to verify their enrollment status monthly. This verification ensures they are still enrolled in the courses or training certified to the VA. This can be done via text message after opting into the service through the VA Education Call Center.

Students must maintain their required course load or “rate of pursuit” to continue receiving their expected MHA amount. Dropping courses or reducing credit hours can impact MHA, potentially leading to a reduced payment or an overpayment if not reported promptly. Students must promptly report any changes to their enrollment status, such as withdrawing from courses, changing schools, or altering credit hours, to both the school’s VA certifying official and the VA directly. Failure to report changes or verify enrollment can lead to payments being withheld or an overpayment, which the VA will seek to recoup.