The post-9/11 GI Bill is a very valuable veteran benefit.

The new GI Bill went into effect Aug. 1, 2009. It is the most comprehensive education benefits package since the original Montgomery GI bill was passed in 1944.

Former President George Bush signed the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008. Former President Barack Obama made adjustments to this bill in January 2011.

This bill does more than offer college tuition assistance. Veterans receive full tuition and fees, a $1,000-per-year stipend for books and supplies and a monthly housing stipend while in school.

The bill also provides a one-time relocation allowance should a veteran need to move to a school, and it also allows eligible servicemembers to transfer their unused benefits to family members.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is authorized to allow veterans who, on or after Aug. 1, 2009, have served at least six years in the Armed Forces, and who agree to serve at least another four years, to transfer unused entitlements to their spouse or dependents.

For more information about transferability, visit military.com/education/gi-bill/post-911-gi-bill-transferability-fact-sheet.html.

The basic eligibility criteria for the benefits are that a veteran has served at least 30 days of continuous active-duty service after Sept. 10, 2001; has been discharged due to a service-connected disability; or has served an aggregate of 90 days of active-duty service after Sept. 10, 2001, and received an honorable discharge.

The Veterans Administration (VA) pays tuition and fee payments directly to the school.  Tuition payments are premised on the amount of creditable active-duty service after Sept. 10, 2001.

Most schools and universities have veterans' assistance offices.

For a complete explanation about the calculation of educational benefits, visit military.com/education/gi-bill/20-top-faqs-for-the-new-gi-bill.html#1.

An added benefit is the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA), a payment for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.  What follows are some key points.

The MHA is based on the DoD's Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for an E-5 with dependents, and it is based on the ZIP code of the school or college the veteran attends - not where the veteran lives.

This stipend currently averages $1,611 per month but can exceed $2,700 depending on where the veteran goes to school.

Veterans taking 100 percent of their classes online are eligible for a monthly stipend equal to half of the national average stipend, which is presently $805 per month.

Adjusted MHA rates typically will not decrease.  Servicemembers have individual rate protection against any BAH decrease, and the MHA amount will not decrease unless there is a change in school or there is a six-month break in training.

MHA rate terms are commonly interchanged with Post-9/11 BAH rates terms - they are one and the same.

Students cannot receive more than the maximum allowable BAH amount, nor is BAH paid during winter or summer breaks.

Dropping courses can negatively affect one's MHA.

For more information about housing benefits, visit militarybenefits.info/monthly-housing-allowance-mha-for-post-911-gi-bill/.

Learn about your benefits before separating, and use them wisely.