Another provision in the law addresses service members who leave active duty before the end of their first term and return later. Previously, these people were precluded from drawing the GI Bill benefit because the program only recognized the initial term of service. The new legislation allows VA to consider any term of service when deciding eligibility, Douglass explained. We're really talking about somebody who committed to the military and this nation. As equity would dictate, these people really are deserving of the benefit.
Service members can now increase their contributions and receive increased benefits later.
Douglass said the law also makes a long-awaited change to the old Veterans Educational Assistance Program, which was available to service members between 1977 and 1985. A 1996 law allowed anybody with money in their VEAP accounts to convert to the more generous Montgomery GI Bill. Many service members had no money in their VEAP accounts because they had previously been allowed to withdraw it, he said. They previously were not. The cost of preparation courses for college and graduate school entrance exams for eligible Dependents Education Assistance Program participants is covered.