More than 1 million veterans may qualify for more VA educational assistance, but many of those veterans will not receive notification or instructions regarding this benefit expansion.

Under a 2024 Supreme Court decision, veterans no longer must waive Montgomery GI Bill eligibility to use Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, and previous Montgomery GI Bill waivers can be revoked. This means some beneficiaries can claim additional benefits, up to a 48-month limit.

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VA beneficiaries who received an education claim decision on or after Aug. 15, 2018, will have their claim reviewed and be notified of any new benefit eligibility, according to the VA’s webpage outlining the benefit change. But veterans who have never filed a claim, or who last filed a claim before that date, must act if they want to secure their new benefits.

• Those using VA education assistance for the first time can apply at this link and will have their application reviewed regarding expanded eligibility.
  
  
• Those who last received a VA education claim ruling before Aug. 15, 2018, should file VA Form 22-1995 online and request a “Rudisill review” via the online application.

There is no time limit to access the expanded benefits, but claims must be submitted by Oct. 1, 2030, if a veteran is seeking a recalculation for their delimiting date (when their benefits expire).

Veterans using the Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) program, or who used the program after Aug. 15, 2018, who are eligible for expanded benefits may be eligible for a retroactive Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) payment. Those in the program should receive an automatic adjustment; others can call 1 (800) 827-1000 for more information.

Montgomery GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits cannot be used at the same time. VA’s webpage offers answers to frequently asked questions about the benefit change, to include transfer rules and waiver protocols.

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Further Support

Additional questions about the benefit expansion can be directed to the VA via multiple platforms:

• AskVA (VA account required)
• Phone: 1 (888) 442-4551 (domestic); 1 (918) 781-5678 (international)
• Email: Subscribe to VA email updates