Improvement in Educational Benefits for Veterans

President Trump signed into law in 2017 the Forever GI Bill. The law makes some changes to the ways that veterans can access education. Here are some examples of the positive changes for veterans. There’s no longer an expiration date. Any veteran who left the military after 1 January 2013 can access educational benefits. The Yellow Ribbon program, where schools split the cost of education with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reduce the amount students need to pay, is being extended to include more veterans, plus surviving spouses and children. Purple Heart recipients (those wounded in active service) no longer need a 36-month service record to qualify for full educational benefits.

Veterans will see a rise in what they’re entitled to based on length of duty. Vets who served more than 90 days, but less than six months’ active service now qualify for 50% of GI bill benefits instead of 40%. There is an increase in benefits for spouses, with new legislation meaning some benefits can now be extended to surviving spouses or children. Vets now have more flexibility in how they distribute their educational benefits for use by their surviving spouse or children in the event of their death. These changes, among others, make it a bit easier for Veterans seeking to better their life through education. Schedule an Appointment.