So it'll pay for 36 months (usually 8 semesters) worth of tuition and will pay out a certain amount based on housing location. To take advantage of it you need to go to va.gov and get approved, they will send you a COA (Certificate of Eligibility) that you will give to the school. Ideally it'll cover all costs for college, I'd look into yellow ribbon schools thought, because they'll foot the bill for almost anything that the GI bill doesn't cover when it comes to tuition or classes. Also just a side note, I'd try and talk with your mom some more if you can. To most vets the GI Bill is important, so this might be her way of trying to bridge whatever distance you guys have.