Pay issues/ gi bill/ kicker
Frequently Asked Questions
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The GI Bill and Kicker are both paid monthly, and typically deposited together as one lump sum.
Where can I find the current Montgomery GI Bill rates?
www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/rates.htm
(Most traditional Guardsmen have the Chapter 1606 GI Bill.)
Who is eligible for the Montgomery G.I. Bill?
If you were eligible, a GI Bill contract (DA 5435 Statement of Understanding-The Selected Reserve Montgomery G.I.
Bill 10USC Chapter 1606) would have been done at the time of your enlistment. To be eligible for the MGIB SR you
must meet the following criteria:
A. Agree to a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve or Guard signed after June 30, 1985. If you
are an officer, you must have agreed to serve six years in addition to your original obligation.
B. Complete your initial active duty for training (IADT). (This is Basic & AIT)
C. Meet the requirement to receive a high school diploma or equivalency certificate before completing IADT.
D. Remain in good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit.
How do I apply for the Montgomery G.I. Bill / Kicker?
1. As soon as you get home from Basic Training and AIT, contact your Recruit Sustainment (RSP) Coordinator and
tell them you need a Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE). Your RSP coordinator will request your NOBE DD Form 2384-
1. A copy will be mailed to your unit and your home of record address. Your RSP Coordinator can also send you a
email copy, if you request it. You can also obtain a copy of your Chapter 1606/1607 NOBE by going to the National
Guard Benefits Website. (After logging on to the website, you will see an icon titled "Chpt 1606/1607 Select Reserve
NOBE". This link will take you to download your NOBE. If you cannot find your NOBE online, you will need to contact
your unit or RSP Coordinator as stated in this paragraph.) Once the NOBE is processed you will receive the original
NOBE and extra copies. The copies are for the college(s) and/or universities. Keep the original in a safe place. The
date of basic eligibility indicated on this form is the date that starts your 10 years of eligibility. Your MGIB is in affect
as soon as you return from BCT and AIT. If you do not wish to attend school as soon as you come home, your MGIB
eligibility date has already started and will expire in 10 years, leave the National Guard or when you use 36 months of
benefits.
2. The State Education Office only verifies eligibility to the program. The MGIB and MGIB Kicker programs are
administered by the Veteran’s Administration. Any problem other than eligibility should be directed to the G.I. Bill
Hotline at 888-442-4551.
3. Visit the Coordinator of Veterans Affairs office located at 102 Whichard Building, ECU and take a copy of your
NOBE (Notice of Basic Eligibility). They will be able to tell you if the program and courses you want to take are
approved by the Veteran's Administration (almost all are) for the Montgomery G.I. Bill. All courses must apply to your
degree goal. Courses not required for your degree curriculum do not qualify for these benefits. Remedial courses
are considered on a case by case basis. If the courses you want to take are approved, you will be required to fill out
an Application for Education Benefits (VA Form 22-1990) and the school will complete a Certificate of Enrollment (VA
Form 22-1999).
4. Once you have completed the VA forms, the College VA Coordinator will forward your paperwork to the Regional
Veteran's Administration Office for processing, which will take about 6 weeks. After your application is processed, you
will receive a letter from the VA which should begin: "You have been awarded educational assistance as described
below." The letter will tell you how much money you receive, how many months of remaining entitlements you will
have at the end of the school term and when your 10 years of eligibility will end. The letter has important instructions
about changes in status which may cause you to lose eligibility. Keep in mind that it is not uncommon to get a letter
from the VA requesting more information. You will have to answer the Department of Veteran’s Affairs requests to be
determined eligible and complete the process.
* Remember, The State Education Office only verifies eligibility. VA Denials for eligibility should be directed to the
State Education Office. The MGIB and MGIB Kicker programs are administered by the Veteran’s Administration. Any
problem other than eligibility should be directed to the G.I. Bill Hotline at 888-442-4551.
5. Once you begin receiving your benefit payments (Direct Deposit) you will have to complete the VA’s Web
Automated Verification of Eligibility (WAVE) process each month to continue to receive your monthly benefits
payments. The WAVE is a simple process that requires you to either log-on to the VA WAVE website or call their toll-
free number at 1-888-GIBILL-1.
I received a rejection letter from the VA for my G.I. Bill/ Kicker, what do I need to do?
If you submitted your NOBE (Notice of Basic Eligibility) DD Form 2384-1 to the College VA Coordinators office and
you received a denial letter from the VA stating in it:
“We must deny your claim for the reasons described below.
Basic eligibility to the program is determined by the Reserve and National Guard components of DOD. Before we
can approve your claim, DOD must provide us with notification that you are eligible for benefits.
Information provided by the Army National Guard indicates that you have not completed your IADT (Initial Active Duty
for Training”
This is an eligibility issue. This error most commonly occurs when you have received your NOBE (Notice of
Basic Eligibility) but you were not updated in the SIDPERS personnel database when you returned from AIT showing
that you completed basic training and AIT. You should contact your Recruit Sustainment Program (RSP) coordinator
and the State Education Office. You can find their numbers on the Points of Contact page of this web site. They will
be able to correct this eligibility error.
ANY REASONS FOR DENIAL OTHER THAN “ELIGIBILITY” NEED TO BE DIRECTED TO THE GI BILL HOTLINE (1-
888-442-4551). THE STATE EDUCATION OFFICE HAS NO AUTHORITY IN G.I. BILL AND G.I. BILL KICKER
MATTERS ONCE PROCESSING BEGINS. THE G.I. BILL PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, NOT THE NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD.
How quickly can I get my G.I. Bill / Kicker money?
You will receive your first monthly check, paid directly to you, within 30 to 90 days after you have been admitted to a
VA approved school (ECU is a VA approved school) and received your VA education benefit eligibility notice.
Do I have to keep re-applying once I start receiving my GI Bill benefits?
Yes and No. You should only have to submit your VA Form 22-1990 (Application for Education Benefits) once.
However, while you attend school, you must report to VA each month through the Web Automated Verification of
Enrollment (WAVE) or by calling their toll free Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone line at 1-877-823-2378.
This will ensure that you continue to receive your monthly benefits without disruption. In addition, the school must
submit their VA Form 22-1999 (Certificate of Enrollment ) for each new academic semester or quarter. Many schools
can do this electronically through the VA-Once program. Note: If you take correspondence courses you may be
required to complete and submit your own VA 22-1999c, for each course, to ensure you continue to receive your
benefits.
Does the GI Bill cover Graduate Schools?
Yes. The GI Bill will pay for you to take courses ranging from Community Colleges to Universities, including Graduate
level coursework. Go to the VA website at www.gibill.va.gov for more information.
I’ve already applied for my G.I. Bill / Kicker, why am I not receiving it?
Did you remember to re-submit your request each month? While you attend school, you must report to VA each
month through the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) or by calling their toll free Interactive Voice
Response (IVR) telephone line at 1-877-823-2378. This will ensure that you continue to receive your monthly
benefits without disruption. In addition, the school must submit their VA Form 22-1999 for each new academic
semester or quarter. Many schools can do this electronically through the VA-Once program. Note: If you take
correspondence courses you may be required to complete and submit your own VA 22-1999c, for each course, to
ensure you continue to receive your benefits. If this does not solve the problem contact the G.I. Bill Hotline at 888-
442-4551 for more assistance.
Montgomery G.I. Bill Kicker:
The MGIB-SR Kicker is an extra monthly GI Bill Bonus payment paid with the soldier’s MGIB-SR or MGIB-AD basic
benefit. Its purpose is to encourage the enlistment and retention of soldiers into designated units/MOSs. It is not
subject to federal/state withholding. Kicker entitlement lasts as long as the MGIB basic benefit, up to 36 months
maximum. Not everyone receives the GI Bill Kicker. If your entitled to the GI Bill Kicker it would be part of your
enlistment / reenlistment / SMP contract. If your unsure of your eligible for the GI Bill Kicker, contact your Recruit
Sustainment Program (RSP) Coordinator or unit of assignment and they can determine if you received the GI Bill
Kicker when you enlisted / reenlisted or became a SMP Cadet. You can also go to “IPerms” and search your
personnel records for a NGB Form 5435-R Annex K to DD Form 4 MGIB Kicker Incentive Addendum ARNG or a NGB
Form 5435-1-R Annex K to DD Form 4 (Supplemental) MGIB Kicker Incentive Addendum.
How much will I receive from the G.I. Bill Kicker?
Payments will range from $200 to $350 per month. Your NGB Form 5435-R Annex K to DD Form 4 MGIB Kicker
Incentive Addendum ARNG, or NGB Form 5435-1-R Annex K to DD Form 4 (Supplemental) MGIB Kicker Incentive
Addendum contract will state the monthly rate that you contracted for.
How do I get my G.I. Bill Kicker started?
See the “How do I apply for the Montgomery G.I. Bill” question under the Frequently Asked Questions page of this
website. The G.I. Bill Kicker will be processed for payment along with your base G.I. Bill based on the information that
is in the Veterans Administration database. Any problems with Kicker payments should be directed to the G.I. Bill
Hotline at 1-888-442-4551. ONLY ELIGIBILITY ISSUES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE NATIONAL GUARD
STATE EDUCATION OFFICE. Their phone numbers can be found on the Points of Contact page of this website.
Will I receive my G.I. Bill / Kicker for the summer semesters of college?
Yes, you can continue to receive the G.I. Bill / Kicker payments while you are attending summer semesters. The
amounts you receive will be deducted from your maximum entitlements under those programs. The G.I. Bill / Kicker
amount paid is determined on your status as a Full-Time / ¾ Time / ½ Time / ¼ Time, student. The Coordinator of
Veterans Affairs office can inform you what rate you will receive based on the summer semester hours that you are
enrolled for. The Coordinator of Veterans Affairs office is located at 102 Whichard Building, ECU Campus.
Why is my G.I. Bill / Kicker Payment less than is should be?
One of the most common reasons for a G.I. Bill / Kicker payment to be less than the full amount is because the
payment has been prorated. The G.I. Bill and the Kicker are tax free income, but during months where there is not a
full month of school such as at the start or ending of a semester, payments will be prorated. The only way to be sure
of what the issue may be is to contact the G.I. Bill Hotline at 888-442-4551 and have a V.A. representative check
your account.
For more detailed information of the Montgomery GI Bill and Kicker, visit www.gibill.va.gov/.
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