Expanded GI Bill Benefits For Qualifying Veterans
Are you a Veteran who served at least two periods of service? In other words, did you reenlist? If so, there’s a chance that you’re eligible for additional G.I. Bill benefits thanks to changes to eligibility criteria for both the Montgomery GI Bill and Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Changes at the VA May Help Some Vets Claim More GI Bill Money
The VA has updated its process for awarding G.I. Bill benefits. This means that many Veterans who served multiple periods of military service may be eligible for additional benefits.
Specifically, under the previous policy, eligible Veterans who served at least two periods of service were forced to choose between the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill for a maximum of 36 months of G.I. Bill benefits.
Under the updated policy, Veterans will no longer have to make that choice when they apply for benefits, meaning they can qualify for up to 48 months of G.I. Bill benefits.
Read next: GI Bill Benefits Guide
Retroactive GI Bill Benefits
Many Veterans are also now eligible for additional, retroactive benefits. Specifically, Veterans who served at least two periods of service—one that qualified them for the Montgomery G.I. Bill and a second that qualified them for the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill—may be eligible to receive up to 12 months of additional G.I. Bill benefits.
These Veterans may be eligible to receive 12 months of additional, retroactive G.I. Bill benefits, bringing them to a 48 month total).
Who qualifies for this expansion?
Veterans who served at least two periods of service—one that qualifies for the Montgomery G.I. Bill and a second that qualifies for the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill—may receive additional GI Bill benefits.
The VA has pledged to reach out to “potentially impacted beneficiaries.”
My G.I. Bill benefits expired. Will there be an extension if I’m found eligible?
Applications must be submitted by Oct. 1, 2030 to receive an expiration date extension.
Read next: GI Bill Benefits Guide
Do I need to do anything?
Of the 1.04 million Veterans who may potentially be eligible for additional benefits, VA may automatically decide the claims for approximately 660,000 without any further action required on their part. The VA may contact all remaining veterans directly to encourage them to file a claim.
When is the deadline to apply?
Oct. 1, 2030.
To learn more about this change, including how to apply, visit the Rudisill info on VBA’s education service webpage.
Read next: GI Bill Benefits Guide
About the author
Editor-in-Chief Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
