VA Updates Process for Awarding GI Bill Benefits, Offering Additional Year of Benefits for Eligible Veterans

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced an update to its process for awarding GI Bill benefits, allowing many veterans who served multiple periods of military service, such as those who reenlisted, to be eligible for an additional year of benefits for themselves or their beneficiaries.

Under the previous policy, eligible veterans who served at least two periods of service were required to choose between the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill, with a maximum of 36 months of GI Bill benefits. The updated policy now enables veterans to qualify for up to 48 months of GI Bill benefits without having to make this choice.

Additionally, many veterans are now eligible for retroactive benefits. Veterans who served at least two periods of service, one qualifying them for the Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty and Selected Reserve) and a second qualifying them for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, may receive 12 months of additional, retroactive GI Bill benefits, bringing their total to 48 months.

For beneficiaries, the update means that those who previously gave up all or part of their Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) benefits may be entitled to the remaining months of their MGIB benefits, up to a maximum of 48 months of combined benefits. Those whose Post-9/11 GI Bill (PGIB) entitlement was limited based on MGIB usage may now be entitled to additional months of PGIB entitlement.

Dependents, spouses, or children using transferred benefits will have their additional entitlement based on their veteran/service member’s entitlement eligibility. No action is needed from identified beneficiaries who received an education claim decision on or after August 15, 2018. The VA will review education program data to determine eligibility and will complete records reviews within approximately 22 months. Beneficiaries will receive an official decision once the review is complete. This notice is not an official notification of eligibility.

As part of this policy, the VA is extending the expiration dates for using GI Bill benefits for eligible veterans. Veterans who were forced to choose between the Montgomery GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill will have their remaining time reinstated plus 90 days. For example, if a veteran chose to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill with 5 years remaining on the Montgomery GI Bill, they will be granted 5 years plus 90 days to use any additional benefits.

The deadline to apply for additional benefits under the Rudisill decision is October 1, 2030. Beneficiaries can still submit claims after this date, but normal delimiting (expiration) date calculation rules will apply.

For more information on how VA education and training benefits are impacted by this change, visit the Rudisill webpage. If you have questions about your GI Bill benefits, you can submit them through Ask VA, which requires an authenticated VA account. Stay updated on the VA’s efforts to implement these changes through email and the Post-9/11 GI Bill Facebook page.