The Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) payments you receive for the Post-9/11 GI Bill are based on the military's Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for an E-5 with dependents. The Department of Defense adjusts the military BAH rate every calendar year (January 1) based on changes to housing costs across the country. Rates can either go up or down.
Public Law 111-377 (the Veterans Educational Assistance Improvement Act of 2010) amended the effective date for the adjustment of the MHA you receive under the Post-9/11 GI Bill from the beginning of the calendar year to the beginning of the academic year (August 1).
If the BAH increased for your area, you will not see an increase until your September payment for training pursued in August. If the BAH decreases for your area, your MHA amount will not decrease unless you change the campus where you take the majority of your classes, change schools or have more than a six-month break in training.
On August 1, 2018, MHA calculated under Post-9/11 GI Bill, based on location of campus where the majority of classes are being taken. Prior to August 1, 2018, MHA was calculated based on where the educational institution (generally the main campus or a branch campus) was located. MHA rates may increase or decrease because of a change in the BAH rate zone corresponding to the location of campus where the majority of classes are being taken. These differences are caused by a change in the law, not a decrease in the Department of Defense’s BAH rates, and VA does not have the authority to pay a higher rate corresponding to a different BAH rate zone.
Assistance for Post-9/11 GI Bill students impacted by Colmery Act MHA changes.
Please note: See our most recent rates.