Education Benefits for Veterans — and Their Families

For those discharged on or after Jan. 1, 2013, there is no longer a 15-year time limit to use these benefits, as a result of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, also known as the Forever GI Bill.

What’s new:

• Purple Heart recipients who were awarded the medal on or after September 11, 2001, are now entitled to 100% of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, regardless of their length of service.
• Monthly housing allowance (MHA) calculations now reflect the zip code of the campus where students physically attend most classes.

Transfer of Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Active duty personnel who are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill may also transfer up to 36 months or any unused education benefits to their spouse, children or a combination of both.

The Department of Defense (DoD) determines eligibility for transferring benefits. Beneficiaries must be enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS) and be eligible for benefits at the time of transfer.

Key eligibility requirements include:

• Have at least six years of military service at the time of DoD’s approval for benefits transfer, and agree to an additional four years of service.
• Have at least 10 years of military service at the time of DoD’s approval and be precluded from serving that additional four years due to a policy or statute set forth by your service branch, and agree to serve for the maximum time allowed.
• Submit and approve transfer requests whie still in the armed forces.

Additional details:

• Veterans who left active duty before January 2013 may transfer their benefit to a spouse, with eligibility lasting up to 15 years.
• Child dependents may access the benefit only after the veteran has completed 10 years of service.

Survivors’ and Dependents Education Assistance (DEA) Program

Dependents of veterans who have passed away, are missing in action or permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition may qualify for education and job-training opportunities through the DEA program.

Key details:

• DEA benefits can be used for a variety of postsecondary-degree or certificate programs, apprenticeships and on-the-job training.
• The program may also cover remedial, deficiency and refresher courses.  
• Eligible students can receive DEA payments for up to 45 months, with full-time institutional training payments of $1,536 per month. 
• Spouses may take classes from home.

To be eligible for the DEA benefit, a dependent children must be between the ages of 18 and 26. However, dependent children over 18 using DEA are not eligible to also receive Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments from the VA. Spouses may be eligible to receive both DEA and DIC payments.

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program

Formerly known as the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program, VR&E provides services to veterans with service-connected disabilities and their dependents who are already receiving VA education benefits.

Services include:

• Career counseling.
• Guidance on on accessing VA education benefits.
• Resources towards education and employment opportunities.

Note, veterans covered under a GI Bill or the VR&E program, may qualify for in-state tuition rates at a public school, even if they haven’t lived in the state where the school is located. Certain exceptions apply and applications may be sent online.