Washington, D.C. — Monthly education payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to veterans and dependents enrolled in VA education programs, including the active duty and reserve components of the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), increased by 20 percent today.
In announcing the increase, Under Secretary for Benefits Joseph Thompson said, “Beginning with The Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944, better known as the GI Bill of Rights, education benefits for veterans have been part of this nation’s comprehensive and generous veterans’ benefits programs. They have helped better the lives of millions of veterans and their families and helped make higher education more available to all American citizens as a result of the dynamic expansion of American educational institutions following the passage of the original GI Bill.”
The full-time monthly rate for MGIB-Active Duty enrollees with three years service increases to $528 from $439.85. For a full 36 months, the total amount goes from $15,834.60 to $19,008. The full-time rate for those with two years service increases to $429 a month from $357.38, or a total of $15,444 from $12,865.68.
Also, Vietnam Era GI Bill enrollees who converted to the MGIB-Active Duty program will see their monthly rates increase to $716 from $627.85, or a total of $25,776 from $22,602.60. MGIB-Selected Reserve trainees will get a monthly rate increase to $251 from $208.93, or a total of $9,036 from $7,521.48.
Payments for correspondence training, on-the-job training, flight instruction, farm cooperative training, special restorative training and independent study under respective VA education programs also increased by 20 percent.
Payments for participants VA’s Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program will increase for the first time since 1990. The full-time monthly rate goes to $485 from $404. DEA benefits are available to spouses, survivors and dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled from service connected conditions or who have died from those disabilities.
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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
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