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Forever GI Bill

April 12, 2024

Not to be confused with G.I. Bill or Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008.

The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-48), commonly known as the "Forever GI Bill", eliminated the 15-year use-it-or-lose-it constraint associated with the Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefit. The updated bill was created with the intent of improving previous versions of the bill and the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) which is now defunct. The bill, called the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2017, flew through both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the span of three weeks, passing both by unanimous votes. After the Senate's vote, the bill was signed into law by President Donald Trump.[1]

The official name of the bill is for Harry W. Colmery who is credited with being the author of the original GI Bill (Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944).[2]

Overview edit

The Forever GI Bill includes 34 provisions, 15 of which have the most substantial impact on the greatest number of servicemen, veterans, their dependents, and their beneficiaries. Some of the changes were positive, although some changes reduced coverage and/or eligibility. The most impactful 15 include:

  1. Elimination of the 15-year limitation on the use of the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.
  2. Restoration of lost GI Bill entitlement due to school closures.
  3. Expansion of benefits to Purple Heart recipients.
  4. Added Yellow Ribbon Program coverage to Fry Scholarship and Purple Heart recipients.
  5. Expanded Yellow Ribbon Program coverage for Active Duty members.
  6. Changed the entitlement use for licensing and certification tests.
  7. Reduced the amount authorized for Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH).
  8. Changed how the Basic Allowance for Housing is calculated.
  9. Changed Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility tiering for National Guard and Reservists.
  10. Increased GI Bill eligibility for National Guard and Reservists.
  11. Changed the transfer of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.
  12. Reduced the number of months of coverage under the Survivors’ and Dependents Educational Assistance Program (DEA).
  13. Increased DEA payment structure.
  14. Creation of a STEM scholarship program.
  15. Creation of a High Technology pilot program.

There are several lesser known changes that include:

  • Permanent work study program approval.
  • Mandatory training for school certifying officials.
  • VetSuccess program expansion.
  • GI Bill usage data.
  • VA automation.
  • Priority enrollment expansion.

Summary of Changes edit

Change[3] Summary of Change
Assistance for students affected by school closures and program disapprovals If the school closed while the student was attending, the student may seek back entitlements.
Elimination of 15-year time limit to use post-9/11 GI Bill For service members discharged after January 1, 2013, the 15-year time limit to use benefits was removed. This also applies to children of deceased service members and spouses using Fry Scholarships.
Independent study at technical schools and non-institutions of higher learning Beneficiaries can now use educational assistance at non institutions of higher education, which are accredited in career and technical education at the postsecondary level.
Priority enrollment The VA will better share with the beneficiary information regarding institutions which allow priority (early) enrollment to student veterans.
REAP eligibility credited toward post-9/11 GI BIll program Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) service members can apply their service credit toward the post-9/11 GI Bill.
Work-study expansion The expiration date for work-study qualification was removed.
GI Bill monthly housing allowance Service members using the post-9/11 GI Bill after January 1, 2018 will receive a monthly housing allowance.
Changes to licensing and certification charges The charges under these concepts will be prorated based on the fee charge for the test.
Changes to survivors’ and dependents’ educational assistance New enrollments under the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) after 08/01/2018 will decrease from 45 months to 36 month, however, enrollments before this date will maintain 45 months of benefits. The monthly allowance after 10/01/2018 increase to $1,224 for full-time coursework, $967 three quarter of time and $710 half-time.
Changes to transfer of benefits (TBE) Dependents’ entitlement can be transferred from a deceased dependent to another. If a veteran dies following the transfer of their entitlement, the dependent who had received their entitlement may transfer the entitlement to another.
Informing schools about beneficiary entitlement After 08/01/2018 the amount for educational assistance entitled to each beneficiary must be informed by the State to educational institutions. The veterans may opt to not share this information.
Monthly housing allowance during active duty service The effective day for receiving housing allowance will be the day the beneficiary is discharged from duty, before this bill the effective day corresponded to the first day of the next full month.
Monthly housing based on campus where student attends most classes Monthly houses allowance consider the zipcode where the beneficiary attends the majority of their classes rather than the school zip code.
Pilot programs for technology courses The state will give the opportunity to beneficiaries to enroll in high technology education programs based on the skills demanded by employers and industry.
Purple Heart recipients Recipients of the Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001 are entitled to Post-9/11 GI Benefits (100% up to 36 months).
Reserve component benefits National Guard and Reserve members who perform service under 10 U.S.C. 12304a or 12304b are entitled to benefits.
Reserve duty that counts toward post-9/11 eligibility If a Reservist entered active duty for medical reasons, this is counted towards active duty time necessary for Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility.
Yellow Ribbon extension to Fry and Purple Heart recipients Under the Yellow Ribbon Program, universities choose to provide matching funding to cover tuition and fees that exceed those covered under the GI Bill. The Forever GI Bill allows Fry Scholarship and Purple Heart recipients to use this program.
More benefits for STEM programs Up to nine months of additional benefits are provided for those enrolled in STEM degree fields.
Consolidation of benefit levels The 40% benefit level has been eliminated and folded into the 60% benefit level.
Yellow Ribbon extension to active duty servicemembers Under the Yellow Ribbon Program, universities choose to provide matching funding to cover tuition and fees that exceed those covered under the GI Bill. The Forever GI Bill allows active duty service members to use this program.

Effectiveness of the GI Bill edit

A 2021 study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) indicates that the GI Bill has had limited value, and in some cases may be less valuable for veterans than working after leaving military service. According to the authors "All veterans who were already enrolled in college at the time of bill passage increase their months of schooling, but only for those in public institutions did this translate into increases in bachelor’s degree attainment and longer-run earnings. For specific groups of students, large subsidies can modestly help degree completion but harm long run earnings due to lost labor market experience."[4][5]

Additional Resources edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Congress Just Made Huge Changes to the GI Bill. Here's What Matters Most for Veterans". Money. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  2. ^ "Harry Walter Colmery - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society". www.kshs.org. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  3. ^ . www.benefits.va.gov. U.S. Depart of Veterans Affairs. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  4. ^ Newton, Derek. "Report: Veterans Who Use GI Bill Have Lower Incomes After College Enrollments". Forbes. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  5. ^ Barr, Andrew; Kawano, Laura; Sacerdote, Bruce; Skimmyhorn, William; Stevens, Michael. "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH: THE EFFECTS OF THE POST-9/11 GI BILL ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND EARNINGS" (PDF). www.nber.org. National Bureau for Economic Research. Retrieved 2 September 2021.

External links edit

  • Official website  

April 12, 2024
forever, bill, confused, with, bill, post, veterans, educational, assistance, 2008, harry, colmery, veterans, educational, assistance, 2017, public, commonly, known, eliminated, year, lose, constraint, associated, with, post, bill, education, benefit, updated,. Not to be confused with G I Bill or Post 9 11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 The Harry W Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 Public Law 115 48 commonly known as the Forever GI Bill eliminated the 15 year use it or lose it constraint associated with the Post 9 11 GI Bill education benefit The updated bill was created with the intent of improving previous versions of the bill and the Reserve Educational Assistance Program REAP which is now defunct The bill called the Harry W Colmery Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2017 flew through both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the span of three weeks passing both by unanimous votes After the Senate s vote the bill was signed into law by President Donald Trump 1 The official name of the bill is for Harry W Colmery who is credited with being the author of the original GI Bill Servicemen s Readjustment Act of 1944 2 Contents 1 Overview 2 Summary of Changes 3 Effectiveness of the GI Bill 4 Additional Resources 5 References 6 External linksOverview editThe Forever GI Bill includes 34 provisions 15 of which have the most substantial impact on the greatest number of servicemen veterans their dependents and their beneficiaries Some of the changes were positive although some changes reduced coverage and or eligibility The most impactful 15 include Elimination of the 15 year limitation on the use of the Post 9 11 GI Bill benefits Restoration of lost GI Bill entitlement due to school closures Expansion of benefits to Purple Heart recipients Added Yellow Ribbon Program coverage to Fry Scholarship and Purple Heart recipients Expanded Yellow Ribbon Program coverage for Active Duty members Changed the entitlement use for licensing and certification tests Reduced the amount authorized for Basic Allowance for Housing BAH Changed how the Basic Allowance for Housing is calculated Changed Post 9 11 GI Bill eligibility tiering for National Guard and Reservists Increased GI Bill eligibility for National Guard and Reservists Changed the transfer of Post 9 11 GI Bill benefits Reduced the number of months of coverage under the Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program DEA Increased DEA payment structure Creation of a STEM scholarship program Creation of a High Technology pilot program There are several lesser known changes that include Permanent work study program approval Mandatory training for school certifying officials VetSuccess program expansion GI Bill usage data VA automation Priority enrollment expansion Summary of Changes editChange 3 Summary of ChangeAssistance for students affected by school closures and program disapprovals If the school closed while the student was attending the student may seek back entitlements Elimination of 15 year time limit to use post 9 11 GI Bill For service members discharged after January 1 2013 the 15 year time limit to use benefits was removed This also applies to children of deceased service members and spouses using Fry Scholarships Independent study at technical schools and non institutions of higher learning Beneficiaries can now use educational assistance at non institutions of higher education which are accredited in career and technical education at the postsecondary level Priority enrollment The VA will better share with the beneficiary information regarding institutions which allow priority early enrollment to student veterans REAP eligibility credited toward post 9 11 GI BIll program Reserve Educational Assistance Program REAP service members can apply their service credit toward the post 9 11 GI Bill Work study expansion The expiration date for work study qualification was removed GI Bill monthly housing allowance Service members using the post 9 11 GI Bill after January 1 2018 will receive a monthly housing allowance Changes to licensing and certification charges The charges under these concepts will be prorated based on the fee charge for the test Changes to survivors and dependents educational assistance New enrollments under the Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance DEA after 08 01 2018 will decrease from 45 months to 36 month however enrollments before this date will maintain 45 months of benefits The monthly allowance after 10 01 2018 increase to 1 224 for full time coursework 967 three quarter of time and 710 half time Changes to transfer of benefits TBE Dependents entitlement can be transferred from a deceased dependent to another If a veteran dies following the transfer of their entitlement the dependent who had received their entitlement may transfer the entitlement to another Informing schools about beneficiary entitlement After 08 01 2018 the amount for educational assistance entitled to each beneficiary must be informed by the State to educational institutions The veterans may opt to not share this information Monthly housing allowance during active duty service The effective day for receiving housing allowance will be the day the beneficiary is discharged from duty before this bill the effective day corresponded to the first day of the next full month Monthly housing based on campus where student attends most classes Monthly houses allowance consider the zipcode where the beneficiary attends the majority of their classes rather than the school zip code Pilot programs for technology courses The state will give the opportunity to beneficiaries to enroll in high technology education programs based on the skills demanded by employers and industry Purple Heart recipients Recipients of the Purple Heart on or after September 11 2001 are entitled to Post 9 11 GI Benefits 100 up to 36 months Reserve component benefits National Guard and Reserve members who perform service under 10 U S C 12304a or 12304b are entitled to benefits Reserve duty that counts toward post 9 11 eligibility If a Reservist entered active duty for medical reasons this is counted towards active duty time necessary for Post 9 11 GI Bill eligibility Yellow Ribbon extension to Fry and Purple Heart recipients Under the Yellow Ribbon Program universities choose to provide matching funding to cover tuition and fees that exceed those covered under the GI Bill The Forever GI Bill allows Fry Scholarship and Purple Heart recipients to use this program More benefits for STEM programs Up to nine months of additional benefits are provided for those enrolled in STEM degree fields Consolidation of benefit levels The 40 benefit level has been eliminated and folded into the 60 benefit level Yellow Ribbon extension to active duty servicemembers Under the Yellow Ribbon Program universities choose to provide matching funding to cover tuition and fees that exceed those covered under the GI Bill The Forever GI Bill allows active duty service members to use this program Effectiveness of the GI Bill editA 2021 study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research NBER indicates that the GI Bill has had limited value and in some cases may be less valuable for veterans than working after leaving military service According to the authors All veterans who were already enrolled in college at the time of bill passage increase their months of schooling but only for those in public institutions did this translate into increases in bachelor s degree attainment and longer run earnings For specific groups of students large subsidies can modestly help degree completion but harm long run earnings due to lost labor market experience 4 5 Additional Resources edithttps www militarytimes com education transition education 2017 08 16 trump signed the forever gi bill here are 11 things you should know https www politico com story 2017 08 02 veterans defense gi bill 241266 https nvest studentveterans org wp content uploads 2017 07 Things to Know About the Forever GI Bill SVA 1 pdf Archived 2020 03 17 at the Wayback Machine https taskandpurpose com gi bill forever budget resources https www benefits va gov GIBILL docs fgib FGIB Veteran Webinar pdfReferences edit Congress Just Made Huge Changes to the GI Bill Here s What Matters Most for Veterans Money Retrieved 2020 02 16 Harry Walter Colmery Kansapedia Kansas Historical Society www kshs org Retrieved 2019 05 06 Forever GI Bill Harry W Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act Education and Training www benefits va gov U S Depart of Veterans Affairs Archived from the original on January 16 2021 Retrieved 2019 05 06 Newton Derek Report Veterans Who Use GI Bill Have Lower Incomes After College Enrollments Forbes Retrieved 2 September 2021 Barr Andrew Kawano Laura Sacerdote Bruce Skimmyhorn William Stevens Michael YOU CAN T HANDLE THE TRUTH THE EFFECTS OF THE POST 9 11 GI BILL ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND EARNINGS PDF www nber org National Bureau for Economic Research Retrieved 2 September 2021 External links editOfficial website nbsp Portals nbsp Law nbsp Schools nbsp United States Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Forever GI Bill amp oldid 1206226148, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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