Signed into law on January 5th, 2021, the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvements Act of 2020 will make several significant changes to your existing benefits programs. Here are the changes that will affect your GI Bill and veterans education benefits next year.
Earlier this year, the Department of Veterans Affairs published information about the most underused benefits, as reported by each state’s veterans department. The following states reported that these education benefits were the most underused by veterans.
On October 28, 2020, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) sent emails to those of us who have used, are using, or are eligible to use the GI Bill, notifying us of big changes to the “48-Month Rule” that has applied to some veteran students and beneficiaries.
VA FAQ’s: Covid and Education Benefits For many of you, the fall semester has started and you may have some questions regarding conflicts between your school’s response to COVID-19 and your VA education benefits. This is a summary of all the FAQs the VA has answered and posted online. On March 21, 2020, President Trump… Read more »
Find states that offer in-state tuition for non-resident veterans beyond the 3-year discharge cap. The Choice Act requires states to offer in-state tuition to non-resident veterans for 3-years after leaving the military. However, 27 states have passed laws that make veteran students eligible for in-state tuition beyond the Choice Act’s limit. With this change there is now a confusing and inconsistent patchwork of laws across the country.
Update 03/21/2020: The legislation to protect veterans from the impact of campus closures has been signed by President Trump, thus safeguarding GI Bill benefits (Housing Stipend) from being reduced for veterans who were forced to take classes online due to the coronavirus. House and Senate lawmakers have introduced bills that could stop the impact of… Read more »
Considering going to work for the Federal Government after you leave the military? Then knowing how Veterans’ preference points work is a must. The following guide will help you take advantage of this hiring preference program for veterans. Veterans’ Preference Points Fast FAQs: Fast FAQ #1: What do Veterans’ preference points do? Veterans’ preference points… Read more »
Are you thinking about what’s next after the military? Planning your transition and reintegration can be daunting, but there are some steps you can take to make the process less stressful and increase your chances for a successful civilian life. Planning For Change Practically speaking, planning a career change is not unlike a planning military… Read more »
This article will focus on how to deal with the GI Bill process issues you may face. But, before I start, I want to make it clear I am not VA bashing. The VA accomplishes great things with limited funding, short staffing, and often antiquated systems. When I started earning my degree, I encountered several… Read more »
If you are getting out of the military sometime soon, you need to understand what will happen with your healthcare, and what your options are. You won’t be able to keep TRICARE, at least in its current form, forever. Here are your healthcare options after the military. Healthcare After The Military There are different options… Read more »
The Tennessee Promise Scholarship was established in 2014. It was created to help Tennessee’s high school seniors get a college degree by covering two years of tuition-free attendance at a community or technical college in the state of Tennessee. The legislation to expand this specific program to all Tennessee adults in need of an associate’s… Read more »
Maximizing Your Thrift Savings Plan Retirement Fund All government employees are uniquely positioned to set themselves up for a great retirement. How? Through the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). The TSP offers the same type of savings and tax benefits that many private corporations provide their employees under their 401-K plans. (Learn the full ins and… Read more »
** Looking for Military Benefits Changes for 2020. Visit MyMilitaryBenefits for the latest here.** With 2019 just around the corner, there will be some changes to some of the military benefits available to those who are or who have served in the military. Military Benefits Changes for 2019 Here is what you can expect: The… Read more »
One part of being a service member is receiving the right benefits and compensation based on your experiences in the military, any disability you have, and any injuries you sustained. It is important for veterans to know what the VA disability benefits and compensation is all about.
With the Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers Program (UCX) you can qualify for unemployment benefits once your time in the military is over. The program itself is administered by each state, as agents of the federal government. How Do I Qualify for Unemployment Compensation as a Veteran? To qualify you will have needed to have served… Read more »
The state of Texas has their own way to help those who have served in the military pay for college, it’s called the Hazlewood Act. This act was named for the Texas senator, Grady Hazlewood. He led the passage of many amendments to the act in 1944 to help veterans. It dates back to 1929… Read more »
The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program (VR&E – or sometimes commonly referred to as “voc rehab”), was authorized by Congress under Title 38, United States, Chapter 31. What Is The Voc Rehab Program? This program assists veterans with service-connected disabilities and employment handicaps. It is also there to help service members who are in the… Read more »
In addition to those benefits provided by the federal government, such as the Post 911 GI Bill, many of the individual states and territories have programs for veterans and military. Find state veterans’ benefits for your state. State Veterans’ Benefits By state. Includes US Territories. Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia… Read more »
In addition to federal programs such as the GI Bill, there are veterans benefits programs provided by the states. The following are the veterans’ education benefits programs for US territories. Territories of the United States Guam Veteran Education Benefits For information regarding US Virgin Islands veterans’ benefits, please visit – Guam Veterans Affairs Office ____________ Puerto… Read more »
Washington D.C. Veterans’ Benefits In addition to federal programs such as the GI Bill, there are veterans benefits programs provided by Washington, D.C. The following are the Washington, D.C. veterans’ benefits programs for education. Housing Benefits for Veterans Property Tax Relief There is property tax relief for senior citizens or disabled property owners. Property owners… Read more »
Wyoming Veteran Benefits In addition to federal programs such as the GI Bill, there are veterans’ benefits programs provided by the states. Wyoming Veteran Education Benefits Wyoming National Guard Assistance Plan (State Tuition) The plan pays 100% resident rate tuition and mandatory fees (base fees applicable to all students) at state sponsored Community Colleges, the… Read more »
Wisconsin Veteran Employment Benefits In addition to federal programs such as the GI Bill, there are Wisconsin veterans benefits programs provided by the state. Wisconsin Veteran Education Benefits Wisconsin G.I. Bill The Wisconsin GI Bill pays full tuition and segregated fees for eligible veterans and their dependents for up to eight full-time semesters or 128… Read more »
West Virginia Veteran Benefits Programs In addition to federal programs such as the GI Bill, there are West Virginia veteran benefits programs provided by the state. West Virginia Veteran Education Benefits The following are the West Virginia veterans’ benefits programs for education. Guaranteed Veterans Re-Education Act Fund Veterans who have run out of GI Bill… Read more »
Washington State Veterans Benefits In addition to federal programs such as the Post 9/11 GI Bill, there are veterans benefits programs provided by the states. The following are the Washington veterans’ benefits programs for education. Housing Benefits for Veterans Property Tax Relief In Washington state, there are income-based property exemptions and deferrals that may be… Read more »
Virginia Veteran Benefits In addition to federal programs such as the GI Bill, there are Virginia veteran benefits programs to assist veterans in the state. Virginia Veteran Education Benefits The following are the Virginia veterans’ benefits programs for education in 2020. Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program The Military Survivors and Dependents Program provides educational… Read more »
