VA Education Benefits Changes

By Blake HYFIELD

This article is an extract from a recent Veterans Affairs posting on its website.

The VA sent an email on Feb. 1 to students eligible for VA educational benefits informing them that they no longer have a time limit to use these post-9/11 benefits:

“This email is to make you aware that you may be impacted by recent legislation, the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-48, Section 112), commonly known as the ‘Forever GI Bill.’ This law removes the time limit for using the Post-9/11 GI Bill for certain veterans and dependents. If you are currently using your education benefits, please be aware that letters produced by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) automated systems may incorrectly advise you that you have an end date to use your benefits. We are working to update our automated systems in order to resolve this issue in the coming months.

“Individuals who no longer have a time limit to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill:

– Veterans with a last discharge or release from active duty on or after Jan. 1, 2013, provided such discharge was from a period of service of at least 90 days in length.

– Spouses utilizing transfer of entitlement (TOE) benefits when the transferor has a last discharge or release from active duty on or after Jan. 1, 2013, provided such discharge was from a period of service of at least 90 days in length.

– Children of deceased service members who first became entitled to the Marine Gunnery Sgt. John David Fry scholarship on or after Jan. 1, 2013.

– Any spouse entitled to the Marine Gunnery Sgt. John David Fry Scholarship.”

Additionally, the VA recently updated its website advising opportunities for veterans to potentially restore and utilize their educational benefits. This would apply to those student veterans whose benefits were wasted at schools that abruptly closed to seek restoration of those benefits.

For additional information about eligibility or to apply for benefit restoration, please visit the following VA website:

https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/fgib/restoration.asp.

Blake Hyfield is the post service officer for the local VFW and American Legion posts. He can be reached at bhpegleg@yahoo.com.

  Blake HYFIELD