The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced an update to the process for awarding GI Bill benefits, following a 2024 Supreme Court decision. This change allows many Veterans who served multiple periods of military service, such as those who reenlisted, to be eligible for up to an additional 12 months of education benefits.
Previously, Veterans with at least two periods of service were limited to a maximum total of 36 months of GI Bill benefits between the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The updated policy removes this limitation, enabling eligible Veterans to qualify for up to 48 months of total GI Bill benefits.
The policy change means that many Veterans previously capped at 36 months will now have access to additional education benefits. Specifically, those who served at least two qualifying periods — one qualifying them for the Montgomery GI Bill and another for the Post-9/11 GI Bill — may receive up to 12 extra months of benefits, totaling 48 months. This could affect approximately 1.04 million Veterans and beneficiaries. The VA is launching a targeted outreach campaign to ensure every Veteran receives these additional benefits.
Supporting Veterans and their families is part of President Biden’s Unity Agenda. The VA and the Biden-Harris Administration are committed to providing high-quality, low-cost education opportunities for Veterans. In 2024 alone, more than 900,000 Veterans or their families received assistance from the VA in paying for school and covering expenses while training for jobs.
“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,” said Under Secretary for Benefits Joshua Jacobs. “Every Veteran has earned the right to get a good, affordable education — and under this new policy, many Veterans will get additional 12 months of GI Bill benefits.”
Of the potentially eligible 1.04 million Veterans, about 660,000 claims can be automatically adjudicated by the VA without further action required from them. For other eligible Veterans, direct outreach will encourage them to file claims.
Additionally, as part of this policy update, expiration dates for using GI Bill benefits are being extended for eligible Veterans with multiple service periods who chose the Post-9/11 GI Bill over the Montgomery GI Bill. The time remaining on their Montgomery GI Bill at election plus an extra 90 days will be reinstated if applications are submitted by October 1, 2030.
Since its inception, over $143 billion has been paid out through the Post-9/11 GI Bill to more than 2.7 million beneficiaries. It serves as both a recruiting and retention tool within the military and helps reduce out-of-pocket costs significantly for attending school or training programs.
For more information on these changes and how to apply, visit the Rudisill webpage.
