Serve in the U.S. armed forces, then pursue a college degree afterward. That promise has long been made by the government, and recent modifications that make this advantage permanent continue under the Forever GI Bill.
The legislation now directs additional funding toward eligible veterans who pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) fields.
The Forever GI Bill broadened the scope of the original 1944 GI Bill (which itself was expanded in 2001 as the Post-9/11 GI Bill), delivering access to tuition assistance for most veterans and their families and lengthening the window to use those benefits.
Where once veterans had 15 years from their discharge or release to make use of GI Bill benefits, those benefits now remain available for the veteran’s lifetime.
President Donald Trump championed the passage of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, commonly referred to as the Forever GI Bill, in 2017, and President Joe Biden has continued that backing.
What the Forever GI Bill Provides
The Forever GI Bill eliminates the former 15-year limit, allowing veterans a longer period to utilize the educational program. It applies to veterans with at least 90 consecutive days of active duty and now removes any deadline for accessing the program.
The updated law covers veterans who left the service on or after Jan. 1, 2013, and it also extends certain benefits to service members’ families. Veterans discharged before Jan. 1, 2013, still have educational options under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
To enhance the reach of the new statute, it provides veterans enrolled in qualifying STEM (science, technology, engineering or math) majors with funds to pursue an additional year of education, though those extra funds are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
The federal government has earmarked $100 million for STEM scholarship assistance, and qualifying veterans can obtain up to $30,000 on top of standard benefits.
That support also covers opportunities like coding bootcamps, short-term training programs that prepare participants for roles in mobile app development, programming languages, and other tech positions.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics outlines numerous career paths for individuals with coding skills across both public and private sectors. Hourly wages for these roles typically range from roughly $40 to about $64 an hour.
What Benefits Does the GI Bill Offer?
Although the “forever” aspect extends the period for which benefits are available, the core advantages of the bill remain intact.
Originally enacted in 1944, the law was created to offer educational assistance to qualifying service members and their spouses. It covers tuition and fees, provides a housing stipend for attending college, and offers funds for books and supplies.
Beyond just lengthening the timeframe to access benefits, the updated law revises how monthly housing allowances are determined. Housing payments are now based on where the student attends most of their classes instead of the physical campus location. If the service member studies remotely from home, the housing allowance will reflect their home area costs.
The bill also expands its Yellow Ribbon Program coverage (updated as of February 2022) to include active-duty members after Aug. 1, 2022. The Yellow Ribbon Program helps cover out-of-state tuition, private school, or graduate school costs that weren’t fully included under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Purple Heart recipients can now receive full benefits under the updated law regardless of time served. Under the previous Post-9/11 rules, Purple Heart recipients typically had to serve at least 36 months to qualify for 100% benefits.
The Forever GI Bill also broadens eligibility for National Guard members and Reservists, and it extends benefits to eligible family members and dependents.
How to Apply for GI Bill Benefits
To verify your eligibility for GI Bill benefits, consult the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
You may apply for education benefits online or in person at a local VA office.
Additionally, service members and veterans should explore other savings and support available throughout their education journey, such as military discounts on travel, which can help reduce overall costs while attending school or relocating for educational purposes.
Jordan Blake is an experienced reporter who covers personal finance and veterans’ affairs. He contributes regularly to Savinly.
