Independent and distance learning | Veterans Affairs (2024)

FAQs

Can I get full bah for online classes? ›

For online learning

We'll pay you up to $1,054.50 (equal to half the national average for MHA). This is the maximum amount we'll pay you each month. Note: If you take at least one class in person while taking other online learning classes, you may be eligible for the higher resident MHA.

NOTE: An undergrad student taking 12 credits is considered full time. A graduate student taking 9 credits is considered full time. If you are enrolled in 12 credits as an undergrad student, you will receive 100% of applicable BAH.

Unfortunately, your spouse cannot receive your VA disability compensation after you die. However, they may get a monthly allowance if they qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. If you lived in government housing, VA might also allow them to stay in residence for up to a year.

You can check the status of your VA claim, decision review, or appeal online right now. You'll need to sign in first with Login.gov, ID.me, DS Logon, or My HealtheVet. If you don't have any of these accounts, you can create a free Login.gov or ID.me account now.

You will receive BAH as a veteran attending online college, schools, or distance learning programs as a full-time student. The current MHA or Post 9/11 GI Bill BAH rate for online schools is $988 for the 2022-2023 academic year (Aug 1, 2022 – Jul 31, 2023). This is determined by taking half of the national BAH average.

If you're using your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits while taking only distance-learning courses, we'll pay a housing allowance based on 50% of the national average.

12 credits or more (Full MHA/BAH) 9-11 credits (3/4 MHA/BAH) 7-8 credits (1/2 MHA/BAH)

You can enroll in all hybrid and online courses to receive the full BAH.

The amount of money you receive for a housing allowance as part of your GI Bill is based on whether you take classes on campus. Students who study solely online receive less than those who take at least one in-person class each semester.

Spouses, unfortunately, cannot be paid to provide care, as their income is also considered when calculating a veteran's pension amount. However, other relatives, such as adult children, nieces and nephews, and grandchildren, can be paid to be caregivers.

Is VA disability going away in 2024? ›

Under that phaseout, veterans whose gross household income was $170,000 or higher in calendar year 2023 and who would have received the average annual payment would no longer receive any disability compensation from VA in calendar year 2024.

How much does a surviving spouse get from a 100% disabled veteran? For a veteran with no spouse, the monthly VA disability pay for 2024 is $3,737.85. If the veteran has a spouse but no children, the monthly pay increases to $3,946.25. With one spouse and one child, the monthly compensation rises to $4,098.87.

You married the Veteran or service member within 15 years of their discharge from the period of military service during which the qualifying illness or injury started or got worse, or. You were married to the Veteran or service member for at least 1 year, or. You had a child with the Veteran or service member.

If VA rated the Veteran permanently and totally disabled with an effective date of three years from discharge, or if the Servicemember died on active duty, a spouse will be eligible for benefits for 20 years from the effective date of the rating or date of death.

If at the time of the Veteran's death, the Veteran was in receipt of or entitled to receive compensation for a service-connected disability rated totally disabling (including a rating based on individual unemployability) for a continuous period of at least 8 years immediately preceding death and the surviving spouse ...

The Full Chapter 33 BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) is based on the student's entitlement percentage. For example, if you are at 100% entitlement and you are enrolled in 12 or more undergraduate hours you will receive the full BAH amount.

BAH rates during Fall & Spring semesters for 16 week classes: 12 credits or more (Full MHA/BAH)

The VA does not pay for developmental classes (under 100 level) in either online or hybrid format. Take those in person. The VA considers hybrid and self-paced classes as online.

Full time students are taking 12 credits per term.