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Veterans who served two or more separate periods of military service are now eligible for up to 12 months of additional education benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced Jan. 3.
VA’s updated policy means that eligible veterans may now use up to 48 months of total GI Bill benefits by leveraging the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill in any order.
Previously, eligible veterans who served at least two separate periods of service were required to choose between using a maximum of 36 months of education benefits from either the Montgomery GI Bill or the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
"This policy will not only help Veterans who apply for GI Bill benefits in the future — it will also allow VA to provide additional benefits to many Veterans who used GI Bill benefits in the past," VA Under Secretary for Benefits Joshua Jacobs said.
VA’s updated policy is a result of the Supreme Court’s decision in Rudisill v. McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
The justices ruled 7-2 April 16, 2024, that James Rudisill could use benefits accrued under the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Bloomberg Law reported the same day.
Rudisill served in the Army three separate times between 2000 and 2011.
VA argued Rudisill was only eligible for the length of his unused Montgomery GI Bill benefits as they couldn’t be used simultaneously with Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits at the time.
The agency now estimates its policy change could impact as many as 1.04 million veterans and their beneficiaries.
VA will automatically adjudicate claims for about 660,000 of these veterans without any further action required on their part.
The department will contact the remaining veterans directly and encourage them to file a claim for the new benefits.
Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough said Jan. 3 that about one-third of eligible beneficiaries must submit a claim to take advantage of VA’s updated education benefits.
"If you received a VA education decision before August 15th, 2018, you must file a new claim by October 1st, 2030," he said at the Student Veterans of America’s 17th National Conference in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
VA helped more than 900,000 veterans or their families pay for school and job training expenses in 2024.
Eligible veterans now have an extension to the expiration date for using their GI Bill benefits due to VA’s policy change.
Going forward, veterans with multiple periods of service who chose Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits over Montgomery GI Bill benefits have the amount of time they had remaining when they made their election, plus 90 extra days.
For example, a veteran who chose Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits when they had five years left to use Montgomery GI Bill benefits would receive five years and 90 days to leverage the Montgomery GI Bill benefits they are eligible for.
Applications must be submitted to VA by Oct. 1, 2030, for eligible veterans to receive an extension of the expiration date for their benefits.
GI Bill benefits assist eligible active-duty, Reserves and National Guard service members, veterans or their family members who survived them or are their dependents.
These benefits can help recipients pay for education costs including tuition, books and housing.
VA explains the agency’s policy change here. The agency details the eligibility requirements for GI Bill benefits here.
— By Mark Hensch
