The ‘Forever’ GI Bill® will allow military veterans to pursue educational opportunities for life, although how it will affect you personally depends on when you were discharged.
The Forever GI Bill phases in a variety of changes over time. The most recent changes are at the top, with older provisions toward the bottom of this article. There is also a section of listing pending changes scheduled for later dates and a group of changes to the GI Bill that are already in effect.
Update: President approves fix to protect GI Bill benefits due to schools shifting to online classes due to the coronavirus.
GI Bill Changes Effective Now
Increased DEA Payments
The monthly payment for educational assistance under the DEA program will be increased by $200 a month.
Effective Date: October 1, 2018
Expanded GI Bill Benefits for Purple Heart Recipients
Any member of the military awarded a Purple Heart, regardless of how long they have served, will be eligible for full GI Bill benefits. Previously, Purple Heart recipients had to serve for at least three years.
Effective Date: August 1, 2018
Yellow Ribbon for Fry Scholarship & Purple Heart Recipients
Fry Scholarship recipients and Purple Heart recipients are eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program. This change is also available to active duty service members, but not until August 1, 2022.
Effective Date: August 1, 2018
Licensure & Certification Tests
Certain licensure and certification tests such as a national (GMAT, GRE, CLEP) or a test required for state licensing will be prorated to the amount for the actual cost of the test. Previously a veteran was charged a whole month of entitlement pay for these tests.
Effective Date: August 1, 2018
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) Reduced
In order to offset the cost of the Forever GI Bill benefits the GI Bill living stipend will be reduced to what’s received by an active-duty servicemember at the E-5 with dependents rate.
In 2015 the annual percentage increase to active duty BAH payments began to be reduced by 1 percent a year for five years, but GI Bill Monthly Housing Allowance Rates (aka BAH) were exempt. The decrease would not apply to students now using the GI Bill.
Effective Date: August 1, 2018; applies to new GI Bill enrollees only
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) Reflects Actual Housing Location
The Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) aka BAH will now calculate payments based on where the student attends the majority of their classes. Previously, payment was calculated on where the school was located. This is a big change for online students receiving lower BAH payments because their school was located in an area with a lower BAH.
Effective Date: August 1, 2018; applies to new GI Bill enrollees only; See below regarding delays to implementation
Forever GI Bill Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) Delays
Effective Dec. 1, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) will reset its implementation efforts to develop the capability to process Spring 2020 enrollments in accordance with the law by December 1, 2019.
- During this time, VBA will pay monthly housing allowance rates for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the current academic year uncapped Department of Defense (DoD) Basic Housing Allowance (BAH) rates.
- For many students, this DoD BAH rate will be equal to or higher than their current payment.
- VBA will also correct retroactively any underpayments resulting from section 107 and 501 implementation problems.
- If a student was overpaid due to the change in law or because of VBA’s challenges in implementing the law, the student will not be held liable for the debt.
- Also, for the current academic year (2018-2019), VBA will pay housing allowances based on the location of a school’s main campus, rather than the physical location of the student.
- This interim policy will terminate by December 1, 2019, upon implementation of a fully developed IT solution for sections 107 and 501 of the law.
- Finally, VBA will define a training site as a “campus” when the following conditions are true: the physical site of the training is either owned or leased by the school, and the school has ownership or control over the student’s classroom instruction or the faculty conducting the instruction. This approach reduces the administrative burden for schools and students from VBA’s initial interpretation of the law.
“Each and every post-9/11 GI Bill beneficiary will be made 100 percent whole – retroactively if need be – for their housing benefits for this academic year based on Forever GI Bill rates, not on post-9/11 GI Bill rates.” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie
“We will work with lawmakers to ensure that — once VA is in a position to process education claims in accordance with the new law – each and every beneficiary will receive retroactively the exact benefits to which they are entitled under that law,” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie
Transfer of Unused Post-9/11 Education Assistance Benefits
Veterans are allowed to transfer remaining GI Bill entitlements if the designated dependent dies. A dependent may also transfer the remaining benefits to another dependent after the death of a servicemember or veteran.
Effective Date: August 1, 2018. Applies to deaths on or after August 1, 2009.
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA)
The number of months of entitlement will be changed from 45 months to 36 months which will now be consistent with other GI Bill programs that provide 36 months of eligibility educational assistance.
Effective Date: August 1, 2018
Restores Benefits if a College Shuts Down or Loses Accreditation
Previously veterans using the GI Bill had no recourse should they not get credit for the classes they took. Now, any school that has been shut down or loses accreditation after January 1, 2015 will have their GI Bill benefits restored.
Effective Date: January 1, 2015
Elimination Of The 15-year Expiration Date for Educational Benefits
The Forever GI Bill , hence its nickname, removes benefit expiration dates also known as the use-it-or-lose-it rule. Previously, veterans had 15 years after they were discharged to the use the money.
Unfortunately this will not apply to all veterans as the cost to do so was too costly. Veterans whose last discharge or release from active duty is on or after January 1, 2013, will not expire. Those that were discharged or released before January 1, 2013 will still expire.
Effective Date: January 1, 2013
Pending Forever GI Bill Changes
The items below are scheduled for implementation by the Department of Veterans Affairs. These dates are subject to change due to alterations in legislation, VA policy, or other variables.
Funding for GI Bill Claims Processing and Training
The Forever GI bill will provide $30 million dollars to upgrade technology at the Veterans Benefits Administration to complete their rules-based processing system for claim and the department will provide training requirements to school certifying officers that process the paperwork.
Effective Date: 2018 and 2019
VA High Technology Pilot Program
Provides veterans with the opportunity to enroll high-tech programs such as coding boot camps or IT certifications that do not lead to a degree. This is a 5-year pilot program where the VA will contract with the schools or programs and incentivize the institutions with higher tuition and fee payments based on graduating and finding a job in their field of study.
Effective Date: No later than 180 days after August 1, 2018
Additional Benefits for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Programs
Benefits will be extended by nine months or a lump sum of $30,000 for veterans enrolled in specific STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) five-year degree programs.
Veterans will have to apply for a separate STEM scholarship in order to receive this benefit and the aggregate benefit will be capped at $100 million a year. Learn more about the Forever GI Bill STEM extension.
Effective Date: August 1, 2019
Yellow Ribbon for Armed Forces Serving on Active Duty
Certain members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty are eligible in The Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program.
Effective Date: August 1, 2022
Consolidation of Certain Eligibility Tiers for National Guard and Reserve Members
Individuals who serve at least 90 days but less than 6 months on active duty receive increases from 40% to 50% benefit payable. Individuals who serve at least 6 months but less than 12 months receive increases from 50% to 60% benefit payable, resulting in up to $2,300 more a year in tuition.
Effective Date: August 1, 2020; retroactive to National Guard or Reservists who’s service commenced on or after September, 11, 2001
Increased Eligibility for National Guard and Reserve Members
Expands access to a wider group of National Guard and Reserve members who will now be eligible for expanded education benefits. Additionally, Guard and Reserve members placed on medical hold status now will see that time count toward their eligibility, retroactive to September, 11, 2001.
Effective Date: August 1, 2020; retroactive to National Guard or Reservists who’s service commenced on or after September, 11, 2001
Forever GI Bill Changes Already In Effect
Priority Enrollment for Veterans
The GI Bill Comparison Tool will include information as to whether a school administers a priority enrollment system that allows veterans to enroll earlier than other students. This provision applies to students pursuing institutions of higher learning.
Effective Now
Work-Study Program Extension
Full-time or 3/4-time students in a college degree, vocational, or professional program, can “earn while you learn” with a VA work-study allowance. This benefit was set to expire but the sunset date has now been repealed.
Effective Now
Independent Study Programs
Eligible individuals can use GI Bill benefits to pursue independent study programs at certain educational institutions that are institutions of higher learning such as a technical education school or postsecondary vocational school.
Effective Now
Annual Reports to Congress
The Secretary of Veterans’ Affair will be required to submit report from education institutions regarding student performance by March 1 of each year.
Effective Now
Eliminated Exemption from DoD Basic Housing Allowance (BHA) Reduction
This change to the Forever GI Bill creates two categories of students with separate rate tables. One rate table is for those who started using the Post 9/11 GI Bill before 1 January 2018 with an “uncapped” VA rate, the other is for those who started using their Post 9/11 benefits on or after 1 January 2018 at the DoD “capped” rate.
Effective Now
Changes In School Reporting Requirements
The Department of Veterans Affairs no longer requires schools to do enrollment certifications. However, the VA official site advises schools that still do the certifications that a resubmission may be required “…if the student was taking classes in a zip code other than the location associated with the enrollment certification”.
Effective Now
The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2017 is named after the principal architect of the original GI Bill, which was enacted in 1944.