Grandfather Veterans (Discharged prior to 1 Jan 2013) into the "Forever GI Bill"
Situation: Veterans who were last discharged, or released from Active duty prior to Jan 1, 2013 are losing their Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits because of the effective time frame set within the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act (“Forever GI Bill”).
Background: On August 17, 2017 President Trump signed into effect the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Education Assistance Act, also known as the "Forever GI Bill." This law removes the 15-year time limit for the use of Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits for those whose last discharge or release from active duty is on or after January 1, 2013. Veterans who do not qualify for the “Forever GI Bill” remain constrained to the 15-Year expiration outlined within the Post-9/11 GI Bill provisions.
Assessment: Most Veterans consume years readjusting to the civilian life, and often face many challenges (i.e. birth and care of children, financial stress, marital problems, health issues, and mental conditions such as PTSD) before they are aware of the need, or willingness to attend college. Veterans that do become employed face the challenge of balancing full-time work, family time, community involvement (such as serving their local churches and organizations), and other daily challenges, to where they can only take a limited amount of classes a semester. Therefore, most Veterans today that do not qualify for the “Forever GI Bill” will be losing their hard earned, and well deserved educational benefit when they reach the 15-Year expiration of the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Recommendation: Congress, please rise to the call of serving all Veterans who once served for you, and support the following position! Include a provision into the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act (“Forever GI Bill”) that will allow all Veterans with any current amount of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to become grandfathered into the “Forever GI Bill.” Let’s pass the provision before June 1st, 2019, or at the latest August 1st, 2019, so that more Veterans retain their benefits.
Background: On August 17, 2017 President Trump signed into effect the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Education Assistance Act, also known as the "Forever GI Bill." This law removes the 15-year time limit for the use of Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits for those whose last discharge or release from active duty is on or after January 1, 2013. Veterans who do not qualify for the “Forever GI Bill” remain constrained to the 15-Year expiration outlined within the Post-9/11 GI Bill provisions.
Assessment: Most Veterans consume years readjusting to the civilian life, and often face many challenges (i.e. birth and care of children, financial stress, marital problems, health issues, and mental conditions such as PTSD) before they are aware of the need, or willingness to attend college. Veterans that do become employed face the challenge of balancing full-time work, family time, community involvement (such as serving their local churches and organizations), and other daily challenges, to where they can only take a limited amount of classes a semester. Therefore, most Veterans today that do not qualify for the “Forever GI Bill” will be losing their hard earned, and well deserved educational benefit when they reach the 15-Year expiration of the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Recommendation: Congress, please rise to the call of serving all Veterans who once served for you, and support the following position! Include a provision into the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act (“Forever GI Bill”) that will allow all Veterans with any current amount of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to become grandfathered into the “Forever GI Bill.” Let’s pass the provision before June 1st, 2019, or at the latest August 1st, 2019, so that more Veterans retain their benefits.
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