Hubbry Logo
Forever GI BillForever GI BillMain
Open search
Forever GI Bill
Community hub
Forever GI Bill
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Forever GI Bill
Forever GI Bill
Forever GI Bill
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

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]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Forever GI Bill

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Forever GI Bill, formally known as the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-48), is a enacted to reform and expand benefits for military veterans, active-duty servicemembers, and eligible dependents under the Post-9/11 GI Bill program. Signed into law by President on August 16, 2017, and named for World War II veteran Harry W. Colmery—the primary drafter of the original 1944 —it primarily eliminates the previous 15-year time limit on benefit usage for veterans who separated from service on or after January 1, 2013, thereby allowing indefinite access to tuition, housing stipends, and other educational support without expiration concerns. The act's core provisions enhance benefit portability and equity by extending full Post-9/11 GI Bill coverage—up to 100% eligibility based on service length—to recipients regardless of activation dates, Reserve and members with federally declared duty exceeding 90 days, and certain surviving spouses or children of servicemembers who died in the line of duty. It also restores entitlement for veterans whose benefits were exhausted due to low-quality schools via a risk-based oversight system targeting institutions with high debt-to-earnings ratios or low graduation rates, aiming to protect against misuse while preserving access. Additional reforms include increased housing allowances tied to actual attendance (rather than 100% full-time assumptions), expanded Program matching for private school costs, and statutory authorization for the VetSuccess on Campus counseling initiative to provide on-site vocational guidance at colleges. Implementation began in phases starting August 1, 2018, with the Department of Veterans Affairs tasked to update systems for compliance, though early challenges in housing payment processing prompted follow-on legislation like the 2018 Forever GI Bill Housing Payment Fulfillment Act to address delays and ensure timely disbursements. These changes have notably broadened educational opportunities, enabling more than 800,000 additional s and dependents to pursue degrees, vocational training, or apprenticeships without time pressures, while prioritizing fiscal safeguards against benefit abuse at underperforming institutions. The law reflects a bipartisan effort to modernize post-service support, building on from prior iterations that correlate expanded benefits with higher rates and reduced reliance on public assistance.

Background and Historical Context

Evolution of GI Bill Programs

The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, signed into law by President on June 22, 1944, established the original to aid veterans in readjusting to civilian life through , vocational , home loans, and unemployment compensation. This legislation enabled over 7.8 million veterans to pursue higher education or , fundamentally expanding access to postsecondary opportunities and contributing to postwar . Subsequent conflicts prompted extensions and new programs; the Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1952 provided similar benefits for veterans, while Vietnam-era support initially relied on extensions of prior provisions before the introduction of the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) in 1976, which required participant contributions during service. VEAP marked a shift toward contributory models but saw low enrollment due to its voluntary nature and limited benefits compared to earlier non-contributory programs. In 1984, enacted the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), effective for those entering service after June 30, 1985, requiring a $1,200 deduction over 12 months in exchange for up to 36 months of benefits, with separate tracks for (MGIB-AD) and selected reserves (MGIB-SR). This program emphasized recruitment and retention incentives, providing monthly stipends rather than direct tuition payments, though benefits remained capped and subject to a 10-year usage limit. The Post-9/11 GI Bill, formally the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 signed on June 30, 2008 with benefits effective August 1, 2009, represented a major expansion by covering up to 100% of in-state public tuition, offering a housing allowance based on school location, and providing a books , tiered by service length and without requiring contributions. However, it imposed a 15-year delimiting date from the date of separation for benefit usage, potentially barring later-life pursuits for some veterans whose careers or family obligations delayed . The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, known as the Forever GI Bill and signed August 16, 2017, amended the Post-9/11 GI Bill by eliminating the 15-year expiration for veterans separating on or after , 2013, allowing indefinite use of remaining entitlement while preserving other enhancements like increased program participation and STEM extensions. This evolution reflects a progression from time-bound, conflict-specific aid to more flexible, lifelong support, prioritizing veteran autonomy in timing educational investments amid varying post-service trajectories.

Limitations of the Post-9/11 GI Bill Prior to 2017

The Post-9/11 GI Bill, established under Title XVII of the GI Bill Improvement Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-252), imposed a 15-year delimiting period on eligibility for benefits, requiring veterans to initiate or complete their within 15 years of their last date of active-duty service separation. This expiration applied universally to all recipients prior to amendments in 2017, regardless of service era within the post-9/11 period, and prevented access to , housing allowances, and book stipends after the deadline, even if entitlement months remained unused. For instance, a separating on October 1, 2001, would face benefit forfeiture after October 1, 2016, potentially stranding those who postponed due to , obligations, or repeated deployments. This time constraint stemmed from congressional intent to promote timely educational pursuit while containing program costs, but it drew criticism for inflexibility, as life events often delayed veterans' enrollment; data from the Department of Veterans Affairs indicated that thousands of eligible veterans annually lost access without the limit's reform. Extensions were narrowly available only for specific circumstances, such as a veteran's total disability rating or active-duty recall extending the original delimiting date, but these required individual VA approval and were not guaranteed, leaving many without recourse. The policy disproportionately impacted National Guard and Reserve members with intermittent service, whose "last active duty" date might not align with overall career timelines, further complicating benefit utilization. Additional pre-2017 restrictions compounded the expiration issue, including an irrevocable election requirement: veterans opting for Post-9/11 benefits forfeited entitlement under prior programs like the Montgomery GI Bill without refund, limiting flexibility for those with overlapping eligibility. Benefit transfer to dependents was also confined to active-duty members meeting stringent service thresholds (typically six years with four-year commitment), excluding most reservists and retirees unless on extended orders, which restricted family educational support options. These elements collectively reduced the program's accessibility, with VA reports showing underutilization rates exceeding 50% among eligible post-9/11 veterans by 2016, partly attributable to the temporal and eligibility barriers.

Legislative Development

Introduction and Key Provisions Proposed

The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, known as the Forever GI Bill, was introduced as H.R. 3218 in the on July 13, 2017, by Representative David P. Roe (R-TN), chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, with bipartisan cosponsorship from 121 members. The legislation sought to address shortcomings in the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33 of title 38, U.S. Code), particularly the 15-year delimiting date that prevented many veterans from using benefits later in life due to career demands, family obligations, or disabilities incurred post-service. Named after Harry W. Colmery, the original drafter of the 1944 Servicemen's Readjustment Act, the bill proposed over 30 amendments to expand access, enhance benefit calculations, and introduce flexibilities for veterans, service members, reservists, and dependents. A central proposed provision was the elimination of the 15-year expiration period for Post-9/11 eligibility, applying to individuals separating from on or after January 1, 2013, thereby allowing perpetual use of benefits without time constraints for newer claimants while preserving the limit for earlier separators unless individually waived. This change aimed to accommodate veterans pursuing after extended careers or delays, with indicating that approximately 280,000 post-9/11 veterans had lost eligibility by 2017 due to the prior deadline. The bill also proposed restoring lost entitlement for beneficiaries affected by school closures or disapprovals during enrollment, prorating benefits for partial months, and extending eligibility restoration periods from two to four years in such cases. Additional key proposals included refining benefit percentages to grant full 100% Post-9/11 coverage for 36 months of qualifying service, with graduated scales for lesser durations, and expanding countable service to encompass more and Reserve activations under Title 10 or certain Title 32 orders. allowances were set to align with the Department of Defense's Basic Allowance for Housing rate for an E-5 with dependents at the relevant , calculated based on the primary physical campus location for hybrid or distance learning starting August 1, 2018. The legislation further proposed increasing monthly stipends for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) from $1,000 to the equivalent of Post-9/11 tuition and fees plus a allowance, extending Program participation to Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship recipients and certain awardees, and authorizing an additional year of benefits for STEM pursuits. These measures were designed to boost utilization rates, which hovered around 50% for post-9/11 veterans prior to enactment, by reducing administrative barriers and enhancing financial incentives.

Congressional Debate and Passage

The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, commonly referred to as the Forever GI Bill, originated as H.R. 3218 in the , introduced on July 13, 2017, by Representative Phil Roe (R-TN), chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, with bipartisan co-sponsorship including Representative (D-MN). A companion bill, S. 1598, was introduced in the on July 20, 2017, by Senator (R-GA), chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, garnering 63 co-sponsors across party lines. The legislation aimed to eliminate the 15-year delimiting date on Post-9/11 benefits, among other enhancements, reflecting long-standing advocacy from veterans' groups like the and for removing time-based restrictions that prevented many older service members from utilizing earned educational entitlements. Congressional debate was notably brief and non-contentious, with proponents emphasizing the bill's alignment with the original intent of GI Bill programs to provide lifelong educational opportunities without arbitrary expiration, particularly for reservists, members, and those with disabilities who often delay postsecondary pursuits due to career or health demands. House floor consideration on July 24, 2017, proceeded under , bypassing committee amendments and limiting debate to 40 minutes, during which members highlighted the measure's cost-neutral expansions—such as increased benefits for recipients and vocational training—and its projected $2.3 billion addition to VA education outlays over a decade, offset by adjustments to dependency allowances. No substantive opposition emerged, as the bill passed the by a vote of 405-0, with 28 members not voting, underscoring rare bipartisan unanimity on veterans' policy. In the Senate, debate was similarly expedited, with the chamber passing the House-amended version by on August 2, , avoiding a roll-call vote and risks. Senators Isakson and others framed the act as a corrective to prior limitations that had left approximately 1.2 million eligible veterans unable to claim benefits by due to the expiration clock, arguing that service-connected in warranted permanent access without penalizing delayed use. Veterans service organizations, including Got Your 6, actively lobbied for passage, citing data from VA reports showing underutilization rates exceeding 50% among post-9/11 cohorts affected by the time limit. The absence of recorded dissent or amendments reflected congressional consensus on prioritizing earned benefits over fiscal austerity concerns raised in preliminary CBO scoring.

Signing into Law

On August 16, 2017, President Donald Trump signed the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 into law as Public Law 115-48, formalizing the legislation known as the Forever GI Bill. The signing occurred shortly after the bill's passage by the House on July 24, 2017, and subsequent Senate approval, representing the largest expansion of GI Bill educational benefits since the Post-9/11 GI Bill in 2008. The enactment eliminated the 15-year expiration on Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for veterans separating after January 1, 2013, and introduced enhancements such as increased housing allowances tied to the highest in-state public tuition rates and expanded transferability options for active-duty members. Veterans' advocacy groups, including the , commended the move for providing long-term educational security without arbitrary time limits, crediting bipartisan congressional efforts led by figures like Senator and Representative Phil Roe. The law's namesake, Harry W. Colmery, a World War II veteran and original GI Bill architect, underscored the continuity of post-service educational support from the 1944 Servicemen's Readjustment Act onward.

Core Changes and Provisions

Elimination of Expiration Dates

Prior to the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, benefits under the Post-9/11 (Chapter 33) were subject to a 15-year delimiting date, requiring veterans to use their educational assistance within 15 years of their last active-duty discharge or release date, after which unused benefits would expire. This "use-it-or-lose-it" restriction aimed to encourage prompt utilization but often disadvantaged veterans facing delayed career transitions, family obligations, or medical issues that postponed . The Forever GI Bill, enacted as Public Law 115-48 on August 16, 2017, eliminated this 15-year expiration for veterans whose last active-duty service ended on or after January 1, 2013, allowing indefinite access to remaining entitlement without time-based forfeiture. The removal took effect immediately upon signing, applying retroactively to eligible veterans whose benefits might have otherwise lapsed post-2013. For those separating before January 1, 2013, the 15-year limit persists, though extensions remain possible for qualifying reasons such as service-connected disabilities that prevented timely use. This provision extended to related programs, including the elimination of expiration dates for qualifying funded through GI Bill entitlements, enabling flexible participation without deadline pressures. By decoupling benefits from temporal constraints, the change addressed empirical barriers to completion, as data from prior years indicated that approximately 20-30% of eligible veterans forfeited benefits due to the deadline, particularly older service members pursuing mid-career retraining. The policy shift prioritized sustained access over urgency, reflecting legislative intent to maximize the return on federal investment in military amid rising demand for skilled labor.

Adjustments to Eligibility and Benefit Calculations

The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 amended eligibility for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits by extending 100% benefit levels to recipients of who served after , 2001, regardless of aggregate length, effective August 1, 2018; previously, full benefits required at least 36 months of service. It also allowed aggregation of entitlement across programs, enabling eligible veterans to claim up to 48 months total from Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB-AD) combined, without permanent forfeiture of one program upon electing the other, effective , 2018. For Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA), eligibility entitlement was reduced from 45 months to 36 months at the 100% rate, effective October 1, 2018, aligning it more closely with Post-9/11 durations while preserving full benefit value per month used. Benefit tiers under the Post-9/11 GI Bill were consolidated by eliminating the 40% level; individuals with 90 days to under 6 months of qualifying service now receive 50% benefits, effective August 1, 2018, which increased support for shorter-service veterans without altering higher tiers (60% for 6-12 months, 80% for 18-24 months, and 100% for 30+ months or equivalent). Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) calculations were revised to match Department of Defense E-5 with dependents Basic Allowance for Housing rates, effective January 1, 2018, providing a more standardized and service-aligned for in-person enrollment. For distance learning, MHA was limited to 50% of the national average starting August 1, 2018, reflecting reduced housing needs for non-residential programs. Sections 107 and 501 shifted MHA determination from the beneficiary's residence to the physical location of the where most classes occur, effective for enrollments after July 31, 2019, aiming to better align payments with local costs at the training site; this change, implemented after regulatory development, addressed prior discrepancies where remote students received higher allowances unrelated to program locale. These adjustments prioritized empirical alignment with service realities and cost data, though VA processing delays initially affected payments until full system updates.

Expansions for Specific Programs and Transfers

The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 expanded Post-9/11 GI Bill coverage to include reimbursement for approved licensing and certification tests, changing from a lifetime cap of $2,000 to up to $2,000 per test without an overall limit, with entitlement charged on a prorated basis equal to the cost divided by $2,000. This provision took effect on August 1, 2018, and applies to tests approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that assess prior learning or professional qualifications, enabling veterans to pursue credentials in fields like and healthcare without full entitlement depletion for low-cost exams. Flight training programs received expanded benefits under the Post-9/11 , allowing eligible veterans at the 100% benefit tier to receive up to the full cost of VA-approved flight courses, including private pilot, instrument, and commercial ratings, whereas prior restrictions limited coverage to 60% under other variants. These expansions, effective August 1, 2018, required schools to be VA-certified and participants to hold a valid for advanced training, aiming to support career transitions but excluding costs bundled into degree tuition at institutions. Apprenticeships and saw revised payment schedules to incentivize participation, with monthly stipends starting at $1,000 for the first six months, decreasing to $800 for months seven through twelve, $600 for months thirteen through eighteen, and $400 thereafter, up to a maximum of two years, replacing the previous flat rate tied to active-duty pay. Effective October 1, 2018, this structure applies to VA-approved programs and scales with the veteran's eligibility percentage, providing higher initial support to offset early costs while tapering to encourage completion. Regarding transfers, the Act permitted service members and veterans who had previously transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement to dependents to revoke and reallocate unused benefits to a different eligible dependent upon the death of the original beneficiary or sponsor, provided the transfer occurred while on and met service obligations. This flexibility, implemented August 1, 2018, via Department of Defense processes like milConnect, addressed cases where family circumstances changed, such as beneficiary ineligibility or death, without requiring new service commitments, though revocations could not restore benefits to the original sponsor. Additionally, it extended transfer eligibility to certain Reserve component members who lost prior benefits due to legislative changes, allowing conversion to Post-9/11 benefits under specified conditions.

Implementation and Administrative Evolution

Phased Implementation Timeline

The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, commonly known as the Forever GI Bill, was signed into law on August 16, 2017, with certain provisions taking effect immediately upon enactment. These included the restoration of entitlement for veterans who had previously exhausted benefits due to administrative discharge upgrades and limited extensions of delimiting dates for specific cases, such as recipients separated before eligibility thresholds. However, the majority of substantive changes required regulatory and systems updates by the (VA), leading to a primary implementation phase beginning August 1, 2018. This date marked the activation of core expansions, such as the elimination of the 15-year delimiting date for veterans discharged on or after January 1, 2013; consolidation of benefit tiers to eliminate the 40% level and adjust minimum service requirements (e.g., 90 days to six months qualifying for 50% benefits); extension of maximum entitlement from 36 to 48 months for those eligible under multiple GI Bill programs; and immediate 100% benefit rates for recipients regardless of service length. Subsequent phases addressed technical and benefit-specific adjustments. On October 1, 2018, refinements to monthly housing allowances (MHA) for distance learning and foreign institutions took effect, though initial VA systems struggled with accurate prorated calculations, resulting in payment delays and overpayments for some enrollees during the 2018-2019 academic year. Section 107, which reduced MHA for fully online programs to 50% of the national average residency rate, faced further delays due to information technology (IT) integration challenges; its full "go-live" for processing Spring 2020 enrollments occurred in early 2021. Additional provisions, such as eligibility for preparatory courses under GI Bill benefits, activated on August 1, 2021. VA's IT modernization, encompassing 31 GI Bill-related updates, extended through multiple fiscal years amid for processing errors. Initial systems upgrades supported the August 2018 rollout but proved inadequate for complex recalculations, prompting phased enhancements; full completion was announced on October 31, 2020, enabling accurate handling of expanded eligibility and benefit transfers.
DateKey Implementation Milestones
August 16, 2017Enactment; immediate effects on delimiting date extensions and entitlement restorations for select cases.
August 1, 2018Core provisions: Elimination of 15-year limit (post-2013 discharges), 48-month entitlement expansions, eligibility tier adjustments, and benefit accelerations.
October 1, 2018MHA adjustments for distance and foreign programs; initial IT strains emerge.
Early 2021Section 107 full activation for online MHA reductions.
August 1, 2021Preparatory course eligibility added.
October 31, 2020Completion of VA IT systems overhaul for all Colmery Act provisions.

VA Operational Challenges and Reforms

The implementation of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, known as the Forever GI Bill, encountered significant operational hurdles at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), primarily stemming from inadequate preparation of legacy IT systems for new benefit calculations. Sections 107 and 501 of the act altered the monthly housing allowance (MHA) formula, tying it more closely to the Department of Defense's Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates at the ZIP code of the educational institution rather than the student's residence, effective for the 2018-2019 academic year. This shift, intended to better reflect local living costs, overwhelmed the VA's Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) and other processing platforms, resulting in widespread delays in disbursing over $2 billion in education benefits annually. By late 2018, thousands of Post-9/11 GI Bill recipients experienced months-long waits for MHA payments, forcing many to rely on loans, credit cards, or institutional advances from schools, with reports of up to 20,000 affected claims in the initial rollout. A VA Office of Inspector General audit released on March 20, 2019, highlighted early implementation deficiencies, including insufficient testing of IT updates, inadequate staff training, and failure to anticipate the volume of recalculations for ongoing students—estimated at over 300,000—who needed retroactive adjustments under the act's provisions for increased benefits like Purple Heart expansions and transferability enhancements. Processing backlogs peaked with claims averaging 35.4 days for originals and 23.8 days for supplements by November 2019, though over 1,400 remained pending beyond the 60-day target, exacerbating financial instability for veterans pursuing degrees or vocational training. These issues echoed historical VA struggles with prior GI Bill expansions, such as the 2008 Post-9/11 version, where similar system overloads occurred due to underinvestment in scalable technology amid rising demand from extended eligibility periods. In response, the VA initiated targeted reforms, including a temporary suspension of the new MHA methodology for the 2018-2019 in November 2018, reverting payments to pre-act rates to stabilize disbursements while systems were overhauled. This "reset" was formalized in 2019, delaying full compliance until the 2019-2020 cycle and prioritizing manual interventions for high-risk claims. By December 2020, the VA completed a comprehensive IT modernization of its education benefits infrastructure, integrating automated ZIP code-based BAH lookups and enhancing the Comparison Tool for real-time eligibility verification, which reduced error rates and processing times to under 30 days on average. Congressional oversight, including 2019 hearings by the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee, prompted additional measures such as increased staffing in the Veterans Benefits Administration's Service—adding over 200 positions—and pilot programs for tracking mandated by the act. These reforms, while addressing immediate bottlenecks, underscored ongoing dependencies on federal funding for IT resilience, with the VA's $100 billion annual benefits portfolio remaining vulnerable to legislative expansions without proportional technological upgrades.

Empirical Impact and Outcomes

Educational and Employment Metrics

The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, known as the , removed the 15-year delimiting date for Post-9/11 (PGIB) eligibility for veterans separating after January 1, 2013, enabling deferred use of benefits and potentially broadening access for older or delayed entrants. Post-2017 data indicate sustained high PGIB usage, with 54% of eligible enlisted veterans utilizing benefits as of analyses covering up to 2019. In fiscal year 2023, PGIB supported 564,665 beneficiaries, down slightly from 714,346 in 2019 but reflecting ongoing demand amid the act's expansions. New enrollments totaled 103,679 in FY2023, predominantly in two-year colleges (53,695) and vocational/technical programs (20,628). Degree completion rates among PGIB users demonstrate robust outcomes relative to comparable non-veteran cohorts. Among enlisted PGIB-eligible veterans, 47% completed a degree within six years of enrollment, doubling the 23% rate for financially independent non-veteran students. Completion varied by institution type, with only 41% at for-profit schools versus higher rates at public and nonprofit institutions. Demographic factors influenced persistence: females achieved 55% completion compared to 45% for males, while rural residents and those with 100% ratings hovered around 42%. The act's provisions, including enhanced benefit calculations for longer service, correlated with these metrics by incentivizing pursuit of credentials like apprenticeships (1,574 completions in FY2023).
Fiscal YearPGIB BeneficiariesTotal Payments ($ millions)
2019714,34610,749
2020657,92710,108
2021610,0099,141
2022564,5018,134
2023564,6658,642
PGIB usage trends post-2017, adapted from VA data. Employment metrics for PGIB users reflect gains tied to . Labor force participation reached 87% among users, with degree completers earning $55,700 annually for bachelor's holders and $44,100 for associates as of 2019 data. These earnings exceeded non-user baselines, though rural bachelor's holders earned $6,500 less than urban counterparts before adjustments. The Forever Bill's elimination of expiration facilitated later-life skill upgrades, contributing to lower risks for educated s, as higher credentials consistently link to reduced across cohorts. Overall unemployment fell to 3.2% in 2024, with degree-holding veterans outperforming non-degree holders by margins observed in pre- and post-act analyses.

Economic and Societal Effects

The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, by eliminating the 15-year expiration on Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for veterans separating after , 2013, enabled greater long-term utilization, particularly among older veterans aged 35 and above, who comprised 21% of users and could pursue mid-career retraining or skill upgrades. This provision, alongside expansions like additional funding for STEM programs up to $30,000 per eligible recipient, aimed to address workforce skills gaps, with projections of 2.6 million unfilled STEM positions in 2018 alone. Economically, the Act contributed to elevated postsecondary enrollment among eligible veterans, with over half of the 2.7 million Post-9/11 GI Bill-eligible individuals utilizing benefits by 2020, yielding higher degree completion rates compared to financially independent non-veteran students, especially at public flagship institutions where completion exceeded rates at for-profits by significant margins. Veterans attending nonprofit and public institutions post-enrollment demonstrated superior earnings trajectories relative to those at for-profit schools, where completion rates lagged 15 percentage points after controlling for demographics. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill's net direct spending impact at a $222 million reduction over 2018–2027, driven by offsets like housing stipend adjustments, though the removal of time limits implied sustained higher utilization and costs beyond the window. These outcomes supported veteran economic mobility, with Post-9/11 benefits correlating to increased lifetime earnings—potentially 15% higher, equating to $300,000 additional over careers—via enhanced human capital in high-demand sectors. Societally, the permanent benefits facilitated smoother civilian reintegration by allowing deferred use, mirroring historical effects in fostering family stability and reducing post-service economic dislocation, as seen in Vietnam-era users who offset service-related earnings losses through schooling. Benefit transferability to spouses and children reached approximately 900,000 dependents annually by 2020, promoting intergenerational mobility; children of benefit-using veterans exhibited superior compared to peers of non-users. This expanded access, including for women and minority veterans who disproportionately utilized benefits, narrowed demographic gaps in postsecondary success and contributed to a broader skilled labor pool, echoing the original 's role in post-World War II by training 7.8 million veterans by 1956. Overall, these provisions mitigated veteran-specific social costs, such as , by aligning with labor market needs and yielding public returns through elevated tax revenues from higher-earning alumni.

Controversies and Critiques

Reductions in Certain Benefits and Eligibility

The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 implemented targeted reductions in select Post-9/11 components to partially offset the costs of its expansions, such as the elimination of the 15-year benefits expiration. A primary adjustment involved the monthly allowance (MHA), calculated based on the Department of Defense Basic Allowance for for an E-5 with dependents. Under Section 301 of the act, the MHA payable to eligible veterans and dependents was reduced by 1.0 percentage point annually during each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022, resulting in a cumulative 5 percent decrease over that period. This measure aimed to generate approximately $2 billion in savings to fund enhanced tuition caps and recipient benefits, though it effectively lowered living stipends for recipients pursuing education during those years. The act also curtailed the structure of benefits for licensing, certification, and preparatory examinations. Prior to August 1, 2018, reimbursements for certain approved test fees under 38 U.S.C. § 3315 were provided without deducting from the veteran's 36-month entitlement limit. Post-enactment, the Department of charges one month of entitlement for every $2,000 (or fraction thereof) reimbursed for qualifying tests, imposing a direct consumption of finite benefits that previously incurred no such penalty. This change applied to examinations for professional credentials, entrepreneurial training, and certain flight-related certifications, limiting the effective utility of benefits for career-transition testing and prompting concerns over reduced flexibility for non-degree pursuits. Eligibility and entitlement under the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA, or Chapter 35) program faced a notable contraction. The maximum benefit duration was shortened from 45 months to 36 months for eligible spouses and children of veterans who died in the or from service-connected disabilities, effective for awards on or after August 1, 2018. While monthly rates were raised to align with Post-9/11 levels—up to the full in-state public tuition, fees, and a $1,000 annual books —the cap reduction curtailed total support for extended or multiple degrees, particularly affecting dependents pursuing graduate or vocational programs. This alignment with the 36-month Post-9/11 standard was justified as standardizing aid across programs but drew critique for diminishing aid to survivor families without equivalent expansions elsewhere. These provisions tightened access in niche areas, such as by restricting non-duplicative benefits across GI Bill chapters and enhancing VA oversight of program approvals to prevent overpayments, which indirectly narrowed eligibility for overlapping claims. For instance, veterans electing Post-9/11 benefits must forgo concurrent Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (MGIB-AD) usage without restoration options in all cases, preserving the aggregate 48-month cap across programs. Empirical data from VA reports indicate these adjustments contributed to controlled program costs amid rising enrollment, with Post-9/11 outlays increasing 20 percent from 2017 to 2019 despite the offsets, though individual recipients in affected categories experienced diminished per-beneficiary value.

Fiscal and Efficiency Concerns

The Forever GI Bill, by eliminating the 15-year limit on Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility, has extended the program's fiscal footprint beyond initial projections, contributing to sustained growth in federal expenditures on veterans' . In fiscal year 2025, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is estimated to support nearly 600,000 beneficiaries at a exceeding $10 billion, reflecting expansions under the Colmery Act such as enhanced benefits for certain service periods and transfers. Overall federal spending on veterans' benefits rose approximately 250% between 2009 and 2019, driven in part by Post-9/11 enhancements including those codified in the Forever GI Bill. While the projected net direct spending reductions of $222 million over 2018-2027 due to offsets like adjusted reporting fees and licensing test reimbursements, the removal of time restrictions has increased long-term liabilities by enabling deferred usage among older veterans, potentially straining future budgets without corresponding revenue adjustments. Efficiency critiques center on administrative burdens and suboptimal , exacerbated by the bill's . The 2017 enactment necessitated major IT upgrades to the Department of Veterans Affairs' systems for prorated housing allowances and expanded eligibility, resulting in widespread payment delays and a backlog of over 20,000 claims by late 2018, which disrupted veterans' financial planning and eroded program trust. Ongoing concerns include persistent overpayments, with a 2015 Government Accountability Office analysis identifying millions in erroneous disbursements under the Post-9/11 framework due to inadequate verification of enrollment and attendance. Fraud and waste further undermine efficiency, with billions in benefits flowing to underperforming or predatory institutions despite safeguards. The Department of Justice documented schemes defrauding over $100 million, including a 2022 case involving falsified enrollments that siphoned $104 million from funds. For-profit colleges, which received substantial allocations via loopholes like the pre-2018 90/10 rule, have faced criticism for high default rates and low completion among veteran students, yet continued to draw taxpayer dollars without proportional employment outcomes—studies indicate Post-9/11 users often earn $900 less annually than comparable non-users, suggesting limited . These issues highlight systemic vulnerabilities, including lax oversight of low-value programs, prompting calls for stricter accountability to align expenditures with verifiable veteran gains.

Fraud Prevention and Program Integrity Measures

The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, known as the Forever GI Bill, introduced risk-based compliance surveys as a core program integrity measure to enhance oversight of educational institutions receiving GI Bill funds. These surveys, conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in collaboration with State Approving Agencies (SAAs), target institutions exhibiting indicators of potential fraud, waste, or abuse, such as unusual enrollment patterns or high dropout rates among veterans. Unlike traditional compliance surveys, which apply broadly, risk-based surveys prioritize high-risk entities to mitigate improper payments, with VA data indicating their increased use since 2017 to address vulnerabilities exposed by expanded benefit access. The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) plays a pivotal role in detection through s and investigations, identifying systemic issues like inadequate SAA monitoring that could lead to billions in improper payouts. For instance, a 2018 OIG review estimated $2.3 billion in potential improper payments for Post-9/11 students due to oversight gaps, prompting reinforced verification of enrollment and attendance data. Compliance surveys, mandated under VA guidelines, examine areas such as accurate reporting of attendance, financial aid disbursement, and program quality, with unannounced visits authorized in suspected cases to prevent advance preparation by institutions. These efforts have led to corrective actions, including benefit suspensions for non-compliant schools and recovery of overpaid funds. To empower beneficiaries and deter institutional misconduct, the VA maintains the GI Bill Comparison Tool, which evaluates schools on metrics like completion rates, debt burdens, and veteran outcomes, flagging high-risk providers to guide informed choices and indirectly curb fraudulent enrollment schemes. Reporting mechanisms further bolster integrity, with the VSAFE Fraud Hotline (1-833-38V-SAFE) dedicated to GI Bill-related tips and the OIG hotline for broader investigations into scams, such as fake credentials or benefit diversion. In 2024, VA implemented payment safeguards requiring verification of single bank accounts for benefit deposits, aiming to block fraudulent rerouting of funds amid rising identity theft attempts targeting veterans. Ongoing OIG scrutiny, including probes into specific fraud rings defrauding millions in GI Bill payments, underscores persistent challenges but also the efficacy of data-driven enforcement in recovering assets and prosecuting offenders.

Recent Policy Developments

2024-2025 VA Recalculations and Extensions

In April 2024, the U.S. ruled in Rudisill v. McDonough that veterans eligible for both the Montgomery Active Duty (MGIB-AD) and the Post-9/11 could receive up to 48 months of combined education benefits without being required to permanently elect one program over the other, overturning prior VA interpretations that forced such a choice. This decision, stemming from a case involving Army Reserve veteran James Rudisill who had separate qualifying service periods, eliminated the need for irrevocable waivers of MGIB-AD entitlement to access Post-9/11 benefits, allowing aggregation up to the statutory 48-month cap across programs. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began implementing recalculations in early 2025, effective January 3, 2025, to align with the ruling, affecting an estimated 1.04 million veterans with multiple qualifying service periods. For approximately 660,000 veterans whose prior VA decisions were issued on or after , 2018, recalculations of remaining entitlement and delimiting (expiration) dates occur automatically upon review, potentially restoring previously waived MGIB-AD months and extending Post-9/11 benefits to reach the full 48 months. Eligible veterans may receive up to 12 additional months retroactively if they had exhausted one program's benefits after waiving the other, with payments issued for prior enrollments where applicable. Recalculation involves VA reviewing service records to aggregate unused entitlement from both programs, capping at 48 months total, and issuing a new Certificate of Eligibility (COE) with an updated delimiting date calculated as the remaining entitlement period plus 90 days from COE issuance. For veterans with earlier decisions, applications must be submitted via VA Form 22-1995, selecting the Rudisill review option, by October 1, 2030, to qualify for delimiting date extensions; claims filed after this date follow standard expiration rules without retroactive adjustment. These extensions apply specifically to veterans with at least two distinct qualifying service periods—one for MGIB-AD (e.g., pre-9/11 active duty) and one for Post-9/11 GI Bill (post-September 10, 2001, service)—and do not alter the underlying Forever GI Bill provisions but enhance access by resolving prior election barriers. Separate from Rudisill-related adjustments, VA conducted annual rate updates for Post-9/11 benefits effective August 1, 2024, through July 31, 2025, recalculating monthly housing allowances (MHA) and tuition payments based on the latest Department of Defense Basic Allowance for Housing data, though these are standard inflationary adjustments rather than entitlement expansions. General extensions for other reasons, such as subsequent 90-day service or preventing prior use, remained available via written request to regional offices but were not tied to the 2024-2025 recalculations.

Judicial Influences and Eligibility Expansions

In Rudisill v. McDonough, decided on April 16, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that veterans eligible for both the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) and the Post-9/11 GI Bill—enacted under the Forever GI Bill framework—may utilize benefits from each program sequentially or concurrently, up to a statutory cap of 48 months total entitlement, without forfeiting one program's benefits upon electing the other. The decision overturned the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) prior interpretation, which had required veterans with overlapping eligibility from separate service periods to irrevocably elect one program, often resulting in the loss of up to 12 months of potential benefits. This ruling clarified statutory language in 38 U.S.C. § 3695, emphasizing that separate accruals of entitlement under distinct GI Bill programs do not trigger automatic coordination or forfeiture absent explicit congressional mandate. The Rudisill decision directly expanded eligibility for veterans with multiple qualifying service periods, such as those who contributed to MGIB during active-duty service before September 11, 2001, and later accrued Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement through post-9/11 deployments or activations. Qualifying veterans, including those under MGIB-Active Duty (MGIB-AD) or MGIB-Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR), could now access up to 36 months from the Post-9/11 GI Bill plus an additional 12 months from MGIB, provided they meet service thresholds like two separate periods of active duty or qualifying reserve activations. The VA implemented policy changes effective January 3, 2025, automating eligibility reviews and enabling retroactive awards for previously denied claims, potentially benefiting thousands of veterans who had exhausted one program's benefits under the old election rule. Subsequent judicial actions have reinforced these expansions amid VA implementation disputes. In August 2025, the Commonwealth of filed suit in federal court against the VA, arguing that the agency must fully honor Rudisill by granting unreduced benefits to eligible in-state veterans without undue administrative barriers, highlighting concerns over delayed recalculations. Similarly, on October 2, 2025, the (VFW) initiated litigation demanding enforcement of the full 48-month cap for all qualifying beneficiaries, including dependents, and criticizing VA delays in processing claims as contrary to the Court's intent. These cases underscore ongoing tensions between judicial mandates for maximal benefit access and VA's administrative constraints, with no further clarifications as of October 2025.

References

  1. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/3218
  2. https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/docs/FGIB_comms_toolkit.pdf
  3. https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/
  4. https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R45205.html
  5. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/3218/text
  6. https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/presentations/SCO_Webinar_07_17_2018.pdf
  7. https://www.veterans.senate.gov/download/harry-w-colmery-veterans-educational-assistance-act-of-2017
  8. https://www.acenet.edu/News-Room/Pages/Forever-GI-Bill-Set-to-Go-Into-Effect-in-August.aspx
  9. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/3777
  10. https://veteran.com/forever-gi-bill/
  11. https://department.va.gov/history/history-overview/
  12. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/servicemens-readjustment-act
  13. https://news.va.gov/132445/celebrate-80-years-of-the-g-i-bill/
  14. https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate/gi-bill.pdf
  15. https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Education/GI-Bill/GI-Bill-History/
  16. https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/montgomery-active-duty/
  17. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R42755
  18. https://www.va.gov/resources/getting-a-gi-bill-extension/
  19. https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/presentations/SCO_Webinar_09_12_2018.pdf
  20. https://veterans.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1817
  21. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRPT-115hrpt247/html/CRPT-115hrpt247-pt1.htm
  22. http://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2017/07/lawmakers-to-unveil-bipartisan-bill-to-expand-gi-bill-education-benefits-159563
  23. https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/legislative/2017/august/gi-bill-officially-becomes-a-forever-benefit
  24. https://www.vfw.org/advocacy/national-legislative-service/congressional-testimony/2017/07/harry-w-colmery-veterans-educational-assistance-act-of-2017
  25. https://www.wicker.senate.gov/2017/8/wicker-cochran-vote-to-expand-g-i-bill-benefits
  26. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/07/24/house-moves-toward-easy-passage-new-forever-gi-bill.html
  27. https://www.cbo.gov/publication/53074
  28. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2017/07/25/new-gi-bill-unanimously-passes-house-heads-to-senate/
  29. https://www.veterans.senate.gov/2017/8/icymi-senate-approves-three-major-va-reform-bills-confirms-six-va-us-court-of-appeals-nominees
  30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4XP-m0Ef9I
  31. https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2017/08/trump-signs-forever-gi-bill-law/140317/
  32. https://veterans.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1847
  33. https://www.vfw.org/media-and-events/latest-releases/archives/2017/8/forever-gi-bill-now-law
  34. https://www.veterans.senate.gov/2017/8/president-trump-signs-fifth-tester-bill-into-law
  35. https://www.wilmingtonma.gov/veterans/files/forever-gi-bill
  36. https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-unanimously-passes-sullivan-backed-forever-gi-bill-legislation
  37. https://www.moguard.ngb.mil/Portals/48/11-GI-Bill-Forever-GI-Bill-Law-Changes-FY19.pdf
  38. https://www.gs.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/content/Documents/fall-2019-forver-GI-bill-fact-sheet.pdf
  39. https://veterans.house.gov/uploadedfiles/section_by_section_of_gi_bill.pdf
  40. https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/vmrc/forever-gi-billr
  41. https://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/forever-gi-bill/
  42. https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/docs/fgib/mha_student_guide.pdf
  43. https://www.dav.org/learn-more/news/2020/gi-bill-changes-now-in-effect/
  44. https://news.va.gov/51378/forever-gi-bill-changes-way-va-reimburses-tests-certifications-licensing-exams/
  45. https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/licensing-and-certification-tests/
  46. https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/flight-training/
  47. https://news.va.gov/51050/forever-gi-bill-expands-va-educational-benefits/
  48. https://www.va.gov/education/transfer-post-9-11-gi-bill-benefits/
  49. https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/enUS/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000121088/Forever-GI-Bill-Sections-107-and-501-Frequently-Asked-Questions-FAQs
  50. https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/presentations/June2021_Office_Hours_Presentation.pdf
  51. https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-colmery-act-it-implementation-complete/
  52. https://news.va.gov/58043/va-takes-next-step-in-reset-of-gi-bill-housing-payment-implementation/
  53. https://www.military.com/paycheck-chronicles/2018/09/20/va-having-problems-implementing-forever-gi-bill.html
  54. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/education/2018/12/05/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-the-forever-gi-bill/
  55. https://www.congress.gov/116/meeting/house/109397/witnesses/HHRG-116-VR10-Wstate-MissalM-20190509.pdf
  56. https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/legislative/2019/november/further-examining-forever-gi-bill-implementation-efforts
  57. https://democrats-veterans.house.gov/news/press-releases/ranking-member-walz-statement-after-va-announces-changes-post-911-gi-bill
  58. https://fedscoop.com/veterans-affairs-finishes-it-overhaul-for-gi-bill-education-benefits/
  59. https://www.air.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/First-Look-Post-9-11-GI-Bill-Outcomes-Enlisted-Veterans-February-2024.pdf
  60. https://www.benefits.va.gov/REPORTS/abr/docs/2023-education.pdf
  61. https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/first-of-its-kind-report-explores-impact-of-the-post-9-11-gi-bill/
  62. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/07/11/new-gi-bill-study-shows-institution-type-shapes-vet-outcomes
  63. https://www.tamus.edu/veterans/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2020/08/GI-Bill-Impact_Jared-Lyon.pdf
  64. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/vet.pdf
  65. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/transitioning-from-war-to-workforce-under-the-new-forever-gi-bill/
  66. https://recruitmilitary.com/resource/what-employers-should-know-about-the-forever-gi-bill/
  67. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2024/02/16/new-depth-report-highlights-outcomes-post-911-gi-bill
  68. https://www.air.org/news/press-release/depth-study-post-911-gi-bill-finds-better-completion-rates-and-higher-earnings
  69. https://vetsedsuccess.org/lessons-for-title-iv-from-an-analysis-of-gi-bill-outcomes/
  70. https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA1363-4.html
  71. https://www.cbo.gov/publication/52988
  72. https://www.hillandponton.com/resources/gi-bill-education-and-employment-study/
  73. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/3218/text/pl
  74. https://www.congress.gov/115/plaws/publ48/PLAW-115publ48.pdf
  75. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R45205
  76. https://www.afba.com/military-life/new-study-finds-federal-spending-on-veterans-education-is-up/
  77. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/veterans/forever-gi-bill-faced-issues-2018-here-s-how-it-n951266
  78. https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-16-42.pdf
  79. https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-enforcement-action-involving-over-100-million-losses-department
  80. https://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/veterans-education-for-profit-colleges-219758
  81. https://www.richmondfed.org/publications/research/econ_focus/2022/q2_feature_1
  82. https://vetsedsuccess.org/our-written-testimony-on-gi-bill-modernization-before-the-house-veterans-affairs-committee/
  83. https://www.naicu.edu/news-events/washington-update/2023/september-8/va-risk-based-surveys-on-the-rise/
  84. https://www.oversight.gov/reports/audit/vas-oversight-state-approving-agency-program-monitoring-post-911-gi-bill-students
  85. https://nylag.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/VA-M22-4-Compliance-Survey-Manual.pdf
  86. https://www.investopedia.com/gi-bill-benefits-free-tool-11760815
  87. https://vsafe.gov/va-toolkit/va-fraud-prevention-kit/education/
  88. https://calegion.org/new-anti-fraud-measures-will-affect-gi-bill-benefit-distributions-for-veterans-with-multiple-bank-accounts/
  89. https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/six-charged-conspiracy-defraud-veterans-and-va-nearly-20-million-gi-bill-benefits
  90. https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/rudisill.asp
  91. https://news.va.gov/137500/veterans-may-eligible-one-year-g-i-bill-benefits/
  92. https://www.va.gov/education/benefit-rates/post-9-11-gi-bill-rates/past-rates-2024-2025/
  93. https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/veterans-benefits/2025/january/va-acting-on-supreme-court-decision-to-allow-veterans-expanded-gi-bill-benefits
  94. https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-expands-access-to-gi-bill-benefits-for-veterans-who-served-multiple-periods-of-service/
  95. https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/2897-august-14th-2025-virginia-takes-action-in-u-s-federal-court-to-guarantee-veteran-education-benefits
  96. https://www.vfw.org/media-and-events/latest-releases/archives/2025/10/vfw-calls-on-va-to-honor-supreme-court-ruling-on-gi-bill-benefits
  97. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/01/06/after-supreme-court-victory-some-veterans-receive-additional-months-of-gi-bill-eligibility.html
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.