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You are here: Home / Education / Top 5 Forever GI Bill Questions

Top 5 Forever GI Bill Questions

by MilitaryBenefits

The Forever GI Bill has been approved, ushering in changes to the rules of access, duration, and amount of the benefit. Some changes are fairly easy to understand, such as the provision that allows Purple Heart recipients to receive 100% GI Bill benefits regardless of time served.

Other changes require more explanation, and raise questions about who is eligible and when. Here are some of the most pressing questions about the Forever GI Bill:

USMC photo by Lance Cpl. Michelle Brinn.

Who Is Eligible For The “Forever” Part Of The Forever GI Bill?

Under previous versions of the GI Bill, students had a time limit of either 10 years (Montgomery GI Bill) or 15 years (Post 9/11 GI Bill) to use the benefits. Under the new rules, “in the case of an individual whose last discharge or release from active duty is on or after January 1, 2013,” the GI Bill benefit “shall not expire.”.

In the case of transferred GI Bill benefits to children or spouses of service members who have died, there are also provisions that address the “15 year rule”.

The text of the new rules includes the following for dependent children “in the case of a child who first becomes entitled to such entitlement on or after January 1, 2013, shall not expire” and for spouses of service members who have died, “in the case of a spouse who first becomes entitled to such entitlement on or after January 1, 2013, shall not expire.”

Who Is Eligible For Restored Benefits For College Closings/VA Disapproval?

The Forever GI Bill adds protections for students who use their benefits at a for-profit college that closes down or is denied approval to participate in the GI Bill program. However, this benefit is not open-ended and applies to school closings or disapprovals after January 1, 2015.

Will BAH Housing Allowance Benefits Change?

GI Bill recipients eligible to receive BAH housing allowance payments as part of the Post 9/11 GI Bill based on the zip code of their school. The amount of that housing allowance will decrease for those eligible for the Forever GI Bill on or after January 1, 2018. However, those currently being paid BAH as part of the GI Bill will experience no reduction in their housing allowance.

I’m Not Eligible For 100% GI Bill Benefits. Do I Get Anything From The Forever GI Bill?

Those who are not Purple Heart recipients and are not eligible for 100% GI Bill benefits (because of time-in-service requirements) may be eligible for a 10% increase in the percentage they are authorized to use. Those who only served 90 days of continuous active service are eligible for 40% of the benefit under the Post 9/11 GI Bill. That percentage remains the same, but under the Forever GI Bill, those who served more than 90 days but less than six months will be entitled to a 10% increase from 40 to 50%. Those who served more than six months but less than 12 months get a 10% increase, pushing their total benefit to 60% under the Forever GI Bill.

Are Dependent Benefits Affected By The Forever GI Bill?

Yes. In some cases the amount of money paid monthly may increase, but the number of months the benefit is available may decrease. This is true of Dependent’s Education Assistance. In other cases, such as the Fry Scholarship, dependents also get access to the Yellow Ribbon program, which was previously not available to dependents. The Yellow Ribbon program is for those who attend a private school with tuition that costs more than the GI Bill covers. The VA and the school agree to waive the amount in excess of the GI Bill’s coverage, with the VA matching the amount of the waiver in return.


Related Articles
Post 9/11 GI Bill Overview Top 5 Forever GI Bill Questions
What You Should Know About The “Forever GI Bill” Important Dates For The Forever GI Bill
Is The Forever GI Bill A Taxable Benefit? Forever GI Bill
Post 9/11 GI Bill BAH Rate for Online Colleges Yellow Ribbon Program
Post 9/11 GI Bill Unknown Benefits Military Friendly Colleges Guide

About The AuthorJoe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter for Air Force Television News

Filed Under: Education

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Disclaimer: This is a private website that is NOT affiliated with the U.S. government, U.S. Armed Forces or Department of Veteran Affairs. U.S. government agencies have not reviewed this information. This site contains information about GI Bill benefits, VA loans, news and services for military veterans and is not connected with any government agency. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). If you would like to find more information about benefits offered by Veteran Affairs, visit the official site for veterans benefits at Veterans Affairs. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
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