VA Announces Extended G.I. Bill Benefits for Some Veterans
May 05, 2025
The VA recently announced an update to its process for awarding benefits under the G.I. Bill. Due to these updates, veterans who served two or more periods of military service may be eligible for additional G.I. Bill benefits.
If you’re a veteran who reenlisted, you may be able to claim additional G.I. Bill benefits for yourself or your beneficiaries.
Extension of G.I. Bill Benefits
Under the former rules, veterans who served two or more periods of service had to choose whether to take benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill or the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Their benefits were capped at 36 months or three years’ worth of benefits.
Under the VA’s updated policies, veterans no longer have to choose between the two options. Instead, they can qualify for up to 48 months or four years of benefits under the G.I. Bill, according to the VA.
For some veterans, benefits apply retroactively. For example, a veteran who served one term that qualified them under the Montgomery GI Bill and a second that qualified them under the Post 9/11 GI Bill can now receive G.I. Bill benefits under both rules, bringing them to a total of 48 months of benefits. Qualifying veterans can seek the balance of their benefits even if they’ve already used 36 months of benefits.
Why Did This Change Occur?
Under previous rules, veterans who qualified for Montgomery GI Bill benefits and later qualified for Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits could elect to “swap” their Montgomery benefits. The VA required these veterans to make a choice. Because veterans could choose only one or the other, their total GI Bill benefits were limited to 36 months.
In an April 2024 decision, the United States Supreme Court determined that this “swap” system was inconsistent with the wording of the two laws. Rather, veterans who qualified for both Montgomery GI Bill benefits and Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits had to be allowed to access both sets of benefits.
As a result, veterans can now access a total of 48 months of GI Bill benefits if they qualify under both the Montgomery and Post 9/11 GI Bills.
The Supreme Court case is Rudisill v. McDonough. The rules for qualifying for these benefits are sometimes called the “Rudisill criteria.”
Qualifications for Extended G.I. Bill Benefits
Veterans qualify for extended GI Bill benefits if they served at least two periods of service. At least one period must qualify for Montgomery GI Bill benefits, and the other must qualify for Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. The VA provides a flowchart for helping veterans determine whether they qualify.
Some veterans are eligible for extended benefits even if their GI Bill benefits have expired. To access the extended benefits, these veterans must apply by October 1, 2030.
The beneficiaries of veterans who qualify for extended GI Bill benefits may also access these benefits. The normal rules for transferring benefits to a spouse, dependent, or survivor apply to the extended benefits.
Do You Qualify for Benefits?
The VA states that veterans may be eligible for additional GI Bill benefits if:
- The veteran completed more than one eligible period of service, and
- The veteran waived all or part of their Montgomery GI Bill benefits to access Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to automatically resolve the claims and adjust the status of approximately 660,000 veterans who qualify for extended G.I. Bill benefits. These veterans include those who received an education claim decision on or after August 15, 2018.
If you received an education claim decision before August 15, 2018, you will need to submit a claim for your additional benefits. Claims must be submitted using VA Form 22-1995. The form can be filled out and submitted online. Make sure you specify on page two that you need a Rudisill review of your claim. The VA will review claims and send official decisions.
Claims that request a new expiration date must be submitted by October 1, 2030. Any claims submitted after October 1, 2030 fall under the normal expiration date rules.
Approximately 1.04 million veterans will be affected by the policy change, according to VA estimates. If you think you’re one of them and you need help, speak to an experienced veterans’ rights attorney. Your lawyer can help you understand the paperwork and navigate the process to protect your benefits.