Calculate your MHA payments for the housing benefits afforded under the GI Bill.
The MHA calculator should be used by veterans, dependents, National Guard and reserves to calculate housing benefits whereas the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) Calculator should be used by active duty service members. Both BAH and MHA benefits are based off the same payment tables but benefit amounts do vary based on different calculations.
MHA rates are for August 1, 2020 through July 31, 2021 school year. Rates will be increased on August 1, 2021.
The Department of Defense adjusts the military BAH rate every calendar year (January 1) based on changes to housing costs across the country. BAH is a housing benefit provided by the Department of Defense whereas MHA is a benefit provided by the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) payments for the GI Bill are based on the military’s Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for an E-5 with dependents unless attending online or a foreign school.
The basic allowance for housing for online students is half the national average BAH for an E-5 with dependents for student veterans.
Post-9/11 & GI Forever GI Bill (Chapter 33) Payment Rate Exceptions
| a | ||
|---|---|---|
| August 1, 2019 - July 31, 2020 | ||
| Type of School | MHA Rate | |
| Foreign School | $1,789.00 | |
| Schools in US Territories | E-5 with dependents Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) Rate for school location | |
| Exclusively Online Training (No Classroom Instruction) | $894.50 | |
| Active Duty Trainee (or spouse of servicemember) | NOT PAYABLE | |
How to Use the MHA Calculator
Enter your military status, learning environment (in person, online or hybrid), school ZIP code and Rate of Pursuit (ROP) and view current MHA housing compensation and what-if scenarios such as a school change (e.g. ZIP code change) or payment differences between taking 100% online classes or in-person.
MHA benefits are paid at the nearest 10% level once the training time (e.g. number of credits) is determined. For instance, if your training time is determined to be 78% as calculated above, you will be paid 80% of the applicable housing allowance. If your training time is calculated to be 64% you will be paid 60% of the applicable housing allowance.
The MHA calculator is an estimation of housing benefits under the GI Bill program.
Cumulative Post-9/11 service
The GI Bill provides financial support for education and a housing allowance. To qualify for this program, you must have served after September 10, 2001 for at least 90 days or, if you were discharged with a service-connected disability, for at least 30 days. You also need to have received an honorable discharge.
To be eligible for 100 percent of the benefit, one of the following must be true:
- You served 36 total months of active duty.
- You were discharged after Sept. 10, 2001 for a service-connected disability after 30 days of continuous active duty service.
If you served fewer than 36 months, your percentage of benefits ranges from 40 to 90 percent:
- 90 percent: 30 total months, including active duty in entry level and skill training.
- 80 percent: 24 total months, including active duty in entry level and skill training.
- 70 percent: 18 total months, excluding active duty in entry level and skill training.
- 60 percent: 12 total months, excluding active duty in entry level and skill training.
- 50 percent: six total months, excluding active duty in entry level and skill training.
- 40 percent: 90 or more days, excluding active duty in entry level and skill training.
Rate of Pursuit (ROP)
ROP is expressed in a percentage calculated by dividing the number of credits in which the student is enrolled by the number of credits considered to be full time. A student with a rate of pursuit greater than 50% can qualify for the housing allowance.
The VA considers the following when calculating Rate of Pursuit (ROP) in the benefit estimation:
- Full time students are taking 12 credits per term
- 3/4 time students are taking 9 credits per term; the calculator uses .8 to determine the amount due
- More than half-time students are taking 7-8 credits per term; the calculator uses .6 to determine the amount due
- Less than half-time students are taking 1-6 credits per term; the calculator uses .5 to determine the amount due
- Students are not enrolling in the summer term
Rates are rounded to the nearest dollar when calculating the monthly housing allowance.