Under what circumstances does the military not pay break pay?

Military break pay is one of the many military benefits associated with the Post 9/11 GI Bill to help students get through college breaks financially. Whether the break pay is made to students enrolled in a university or earning an education at another accredited school, there are certain break pay rules that must be adhered to, according to restrictions placed by the US government. Some of these restrictions include lapses in break pay if certain criteria are not met by students.

For starters, the VA will not provide military break pay benefits if:

• The university break is longer than 56 days;
• A student changes programs or education facilities;
• The break is longer than 30 days as a result of students changing schools;
• Students are not enrolling consecutively in non-standard terms;
• The college breaks are longer than the terms surrounding them;
• A student is currently on active duty.

Additionally, under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, students who participate in training prior to college breaks that are less than ½ time (rate of pursuit is less than 50%) are ineligible to receive military break pay. These break pay rules also place restrictions on break pay for students whose entitlement will run out during the break they request pay for.

Depending on the university or education institution’s calendar, break pay may not be necessary. Students who do not want to participate in the Post 9/11 GI Bill break pay benefits can request to do so only prior to the VA authorizing payment for the break. Military break pay does not provide benefits to students who withdraw from all university courses or cease training during the term just prior to the break.

There are certain break pay rules and restrictions for summer session education courses. For spring to summer or summer to fall sessions that have less than 8 weeks of college breaks between them, the Post 9/11 GI Bill break pay rules are applicable.