In order to use this new benefit, does one still have to be affiliated with the military after Aug. 1, 2009? I served well over 90 days on active duty after 9/11, but I will be getting out soon. I was wondering if I will be entitled to use this educational benefit? Also, I never signed up for the GI Bill while I was in boot camp, so I was wondering if that will be a prerequisite for using the post 9/11 GI Bill?

There are still a few things that need to be worked out with teh new GI Bill (transferability to dependants). However, below is information for you. Basicly, it is based on your service in the years following 9/11, and you do not have to have elected MGIB to be eligable for the Post 9/11 Bill.

The Post- 9/11 GI Bill is a new benefit providing
educational assistance to individuals who have
served on active duty on or after September 11,
2001.
When Can I Receive Benefits under the Post-
9/11 GI Bill?
Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are payable for training
pursued on or after August 1, 2009. No
payments can be made under this program for
training pursued before that date.
Am I Eligible?
At a minimum, you must have served at least 30
days of continuous active duty service after
September 10, 2001 and be discharged due to a
service-connected disability, or served an
aggregate of 90 days of active duty service after
September 10, 2001, and--
- Be honorably discharged from Armed
Forces; or
- Be released from Armed Forces with service
characterized as honorable and placed on
the retired list, temporary disability retired
list, or transferred to the Fleet Reserve or the
Fleet Marine Corps Reserve; or
- Be released from the Armed Forces with
service characterized as honorable for
further service in a reserve component; or
- Be discharged or released from Armed
Forces for:
o EPTS (Existed Prior to Service)
o HDSP (Hardship) or
o CIWD (Condition Interfered with
Duty); or
- Continue to be on active duty.
If I am eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill
(chapter 30), Montgomery GI Bill- Selected
Reserve (chapter 1606,) or the Reserve
Educational Assistance Program (chapter
1607), am I eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill?
You may elect to receive benefits under the Post-
9/11 GI Bill if, on August 1, 2009, you have met
the requirements to qualify for the Post-9/11 GI
Bill and you are eligible for chapter 30, 1606,
1607, or are serving in the Armed Forces.
How many months of assistance can I
receive?
Generally, you may receive up to 36 months of
entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
How much will I receive?
You are entitled to a percentage, as determined
by your length of active duty service, of the
following:
- Amount of tuition and fees charged, not to
exceed the most expensive in-State public
institution of higher education (paid to
school);
- Monthly housing allowance equal to the
basic allowance for housing (BAH) amount
payable to a military E-5 with dependents, in
same zip code as school * (paid to you);
and
- Yearly books and supplies stipend of up to
$1000* per year (paid to you); and
- A one time payment of $500 may be
payable to certain individuals relocating
from highly rural areas. (paid to you)
NOTE –Housing allowance and books and
supplies stipend is not payable to individuals on
active duty. Housing allowance is not payable
for those pursuing training at half time or less or
to individuals taking distance learning.
Individuals must serve an aggregate period of
active duty after September 10, 2001, of:
Member Serves
Percentage
of Maximum
Benefit
Payable
At least 36 months 100%
At least 30 continuous days on
active duty and must be
discharged due to serviceconnected
disability
100%
At least 30 months, but less
than 36 months
90%
At least 24 months, but less
than 30 months
80%
At least 18 months, but less
than 24 months
70%
At least 12 months, but less
than 18 months
60%
At least 06 months, but less
than 12 months
50%
At least 90 days, but less than
06 months
40%
Examples:
Tuition and Fees charged for full time: $6700
Highest In-State Tuition and Fees: $7000
Example 1: If you served for three years on
active duty and separated, and you are going to
school full-time, in the above example you would
be eligible for $6700 for tuition and fees, the
monthly housing allowance, and $1000 for books
and supplies.
Example 2: If you aggregated 12 months of
active duty service in the guard or reserves, and were going to school full-time, you would be
eligible for $4020 (60% of $6700) for tuition and
fees, $600 (60% of $1000) for books and supplies
stipend and 60% of the monthly housing
allowance.
How long am I eligible?
You will be eligible for benefits for 15 years from
your last period of active duty of at least 90
consecutive days. If you were released for a
service-connected disability after at least 30 days
of continuous service, you will also be eligible for
benefits for 15 years.
What does The Post- 9/11 GI Bill cover?
You may receive benefits for training programs
approved for chapter 30 that are offered by an
institution of higher learning. This includes
graduate and undergraduate training,
vocational/technical training and foreign training.
You may also receive benefits for tutorial
assistance and reimbursement of a licensing and
certification test.
Additionally, if you were eligible for chapter 30,
1606 or 1607, and you elected to use benefits
under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you would be eligible
to receive benefits for on-the-job training,
apprenticeship training, correspondence courses,
flight training, preparatory courses, and national
exams.
Can I transfer my entitlement to my
dependents?
If you are a member of the Armed Forces on
August 1, 2009, the Department of Defense
(DoD) may offer you the opportunity to transfer
benefits to your spouse or dependent children.
Please contact DoD or your military service
branch for more information.

this thread has lots of answers on the ed board. Also, visit the VA's website, it to has lots of the answers.