The VA also announced changes to their system of G.I. Bills benefit for veterans who have served in several periods of military service; now they can get an additional 12 months of education benefits with respect to this G.I. Bill change. This was announced on Friday, not to be exclusive to those who reenlist or serve multiple terms, though they could also benefit from it.
Narrowly before, veterans could get a maximum of 36 months of G.I. Bill benefit even when qualifying eligibility to both Montgomery G.I. Bill and Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. Under the new policy, however, the cap no longer exists, thus making it possible for eligible veterans to access up to 48 months of benefits combined.
Such a big step was taken after years of tireless advocacy and a landmark Supreme Court decision earlier this year, proving the commitment of the VA toward extending educational opportunities for veterans. The change is said to affect over 1 million veterans and families according to the department.
Supreme court decision expands G.I. Bill benefits
Changes in this policy arise because of the Supreme Court case of Rudisill v. McDonough decided in April. This was a case in which the court gave a 7-2 judgment in favor of James Rudisill, a former U.S. Army captain, stating that he should benefit from both the Montgomery G.I. Bill and Post-9/11 G.I. Bill as educational assistance.
This was the majority opinion written by Ketanji Brown Jackson with Justices John Roberts, Sonia Sotomayor, Amy Coney Barrett, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh joining it, while Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented.
Rudisill served for the first time in the U.S. Army in 2000. He has served in the Army three times at different times. He had claimed his benefits under Montgomery G.I. Bill but, due to subsequent service, became eligible under the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill for much more generous benefits. He later submitted a VA benefits application to use the benefits to get a graduate degree. The VA rejected it. Ultimately, the Supreme Court ruled in his favor, making it possible for greater extension of benefits to all veterans fitting in the eligibility spectrum.
And in other changes, the VA has also made other alterations, such as the further extension of the expiration dates for benefit G.I. Bill to include additional demonstrated veterans. These new benefits will reinstate the remaining time of Montgomery G.I. Bill veterans who will be converted to Post-9/11 G.I. Bill with an extra 90 days to use that time.
Understanding the G.I. Bill
Originally, the G.I. Bill was for the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, passed in 1944 for students who are heading the U.S. armed forces and now makes extensions for eligible veterans to have the benefits for which they have served the nation over the years.
Montgomery G.I. Bill (1984): Not only active-duty members but also reserve members are now accommodated in all aspects of education.
Under the new Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, which is effective in 2008, veterans who have served after September 11, 2001, are entitled to maximum tuition payments, housing allowances, and book stipends. This Bill has so far granted benefits worth over $143 billion to more than 2.7 million beneficiaries.
Now, under this new provision, veterans with multiple periods of service can optimize their education benefits towards undergraduate, graduate, and vocational training programs.
What leaders are saying
Joshua Jacobs, the Under Secretary for VA Benefits, pronounced upon education as this for veterans: “Each veteran has earned it to get good, affordable education. That’s why under this new policy, many of the veterans will be getting an additional 12-month benefit from G.I. Bill.”
In a press release, VA remained committed to the cause for soldiers: “Supporting Veterans and their families is a critical pillar of President Biden’s Unity Agenda for the nation. VA and the Biden-Harris Administration are working hard to ensure that veterans can access high-quality, low-cost education. In 2024 alone, VA helped more than 900,000 veterans and their families pay for school and cover training expenses.
Looking ahead
The VA has updated its policy so that more than 1.04 million veterans and their families will now potentially benefit from it. The department would launch targeted outreach campaigns to ensure the veterans are aware of new benefits.
The changes are part of what becomes an increasingly growing establishment within VA and across the federal government to honor the services rendered to veterans through tools created by and for them to make a different in civilian life. Such veterans will check on eligibility and take up the chances of enhanced educational opportunities.
