38 U.S.C. § 3031 (VETERANS’ BENEFITS)
§ 3031. Time limitation for use of eligibility and entitlement
(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) through (g), and subject to subsection (h), of this section, the period during which an individual entitled to educational assistance under this chapter may use such individual’s entitlement expires at the end of the 10-year period beginning on the date of such individual’s last discharge or release from active duty, except that such 10-year period shall begin—
(1) in the case of an individual who becomes entitled to such assistance under clause (A) or (B) of section 3012(a)(1) of this title, on the later of the date of such individual’s last discharge or release from active duty or the date on which the four-year requirement described in clause (A)(ii) or (B)(ii), respectively, of such section 3012(a)(1) is met;
(2) in the case of an individual who becomes entitled to such assistance under section 3011(a)(1)(B), on the later of the date of such individual’s last discharge or release from active duty or January 1, 1990; and
(3) in the case of an individual who becomes entitled to such assistance under section 3011(a)(1)(C) or 3012(a)(1)(C) of this title, on December 27, 2001.
(b) In the case of any eligible individual who has been prevented, as determined by the Secretary, from pursuing a program of education under this chapter within the 10-year period prescribed by subsection (a) of this section because such individual had not met the nature of discharge requirement of this chapter before the nature of such individual’s discharge or release was changed by appropriate authority, such 10-year period shall not run during the period of time that such individual was so prevented from pursuing such program of education.
(c) In the case of an individual eligible for educational assistance under the provisions of this chapter who, after such individual’s last discharge or release from active duty, was detained by a foreign government or power, the 10-year period described in subsection (a) of this section shall not run (1) while such individual is so detained, or (2) during any period immediately following such individual’s release from such detention during which such individual is hospitalized at a military, civilian, or Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility.
(d)
(1) In the case of an individual eligible for educational assistance under this chapter who is prevented from pursuing the individual’s chosen program of education before the expiration of the 10-year period for the use of entitlement under this chapter otherwise applicable under this section because of a physical or mental disability which is not the result of the individual’s own willful misconduct, such 10-year period—
(A) shall not run during the period the individual is so prevented from pursuing such program; and
(B) shall again begin running on the first day after the individual’s recovery from such disability on which it is reasonably feasible, as determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, for the individual to initiate or resume pursuit of a program of education with educational assistance under this chapter.
(2)
(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), in the case of an individual eligible for educational assistance under this chapter who is prevented from pursuing the individual’s chosen program of education before the expiration of the 10-year period for the use of entitlement under this chapter otherwise applicable under this section by reason of acting as the primary provider of personal care services for a veteran or member of the Armed Forces under section 1720G(a) of this title, such 10-year period—
(i) shall not run during the period the individual is so prevented from pursuing such program; and
(ii) shall again begin running on the first day after the date of the recovery of the veteran or member from the injury, or the date on which the individual ceases to be the primary provider of personal care services for the veteran or member, whichever is earlier, on which it is reasonably feasible, as so determined, for the individual to initiate or resume pursuit of a program of education with educational assistance under this chapter.
(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to the period of an individual as a primary provider of personal care services if the period concludes with the revocation of the individual’s designation as such a primary provider under section 1720G(a)(7)(D) of this title.
(e)
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, in the case of an individual described in section 3011(a)(1)(B), 3011(a)(1)(C), 3012(a)(1)(B), or 3012(a)(1)(C) of this title who is entitled to basic educational assistance under this chapter, the 10-year period prescribed in subsection (a) of this section shall be reduced by an amount of time equal to the amount of time that such individual was not serving on active duty during the period beginning on January 1, 1977, and ending on June 30, 1985.
(2) In the case of an individual to which paragraph (1) of this subsection is applicable and who is described in section 3452(a)(1)(B) of this title, the 10-year period prescribed in subsection (a) of this section shall not be reduced by any period in 1977 before the individual began serving on active duty.
(f)
(1) If an individual eligible for educational assistance under this chapter is enrolled under this chapter in an educational institution regularly operated on the quarter or semester system and the period of such individual’s entitlement under this chapter would, under section 3013, expire during a quarter or semester, such period shall be extended to the end of such quarter or semester.
(2) If an individual eligible for educational assistance under this chapter is enrolled under this chapter in an educational institution not regularly operated on the quarter or semester system and the period of such individual’s entitlement under this chapter would, under section 3013, expire after a major portion of the course is completed, such period shall be extended to the end of the course or for 12 weeks, whichever is the lesser period of extension.
(g) In the case of an individual described in section 3011(f)(3) of this title, the period during which that individual may use the individual’s entitlement to educational assistance allowance expires on the last day of the 10-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act if that date is later than the date that would otherwise be applicable to that individual under this section.
(h) For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, an individual’s last discharge or release from active duty shall not include any discharge or release from a period of active duty of less than 90 days of continuous service unless the individual involved is discharged or released for a service-connected disability, for a medical condition which preexisted such service and which the Secretary determines is not service connected, for hardship, or as a result of a reduction in force as described in section 3011(a)(1)(A)(ii)(III) of this title.
(i) In the case of an individual eligible for educational assistance under this chapter who is prevented from pursuing the individual’s chosen program of education before the expiration of the 10-year period for the use of entitlement under this chapter otherwise applicable under this section because the educational institution or training establishment closed (temporarily or permanently) under an established policy based on an Executive order of the President or due to an emergency situation, such 10-year period—
(1) shall not run during the period the individual is so prevented from pursuing such program; and
(2) shall again begin running on the first day after the individual is able to resume pursuit of a program of education with educational assistance under this chapter.
(Added Pub. L. 98–525, title VII, § 702(a)(1), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2560, § 1431; amended Pub. L. 99–576, title III, §§ 307(b), 321(7), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3270, 3278; Pub. L. 100–689, title I, § 111(a)(6), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4171; Pub. L. 101–237, title IV, §§ 420(a)(1), (b), 423(a)(4), (b)(1), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2087, 2088, 2091, 2092; renumbered § 3031 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406; Pub. L. 102–568, title III, § 302(a)(3), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4327; Pub. L. 106–117, title VII, § 702(b), Nov. 30, 1999, 113 Stat. 1583; Pub. L. 107–103, title I, § 105(c), Dec. 27, 2001, 115 Stat. 983; Pub. L. 107–330, title III, § 308(g)(10), Dec. 6, 2002, 116 Stat. 2829; Pub. L. 111–377, title II, § 201(a), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4122; Pub. L. 117–333, § 3(a), Jan. 5, 2023, 136 Stat. 6126.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: The date of the enactment of the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act, referred to in subsec. (g), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 106–117, which was approved Nov. 30, 1999.
heading: Amendments
text: 2023—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 117–333 added subsec. (i).
2011—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 111–377 amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (d) related to application of the 10-year entitlement period to eligible individuals prevented from pursuing a program of education before the period’s expiration because of a physical or mental disability which was not the result of the individual’s own willful misconduct.
2002—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 107–330 substituted “December 27, 2001” for “the date of the enactment of this paragraph”.
2001—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 107–103, § 105(c)(1), added par. (3).
Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 107–103, § 105(c)(2), substituted “section 3011(a)(1)(B), 3011(a)(1)(C), 3012(a)(1)(B), or 3012(a)(1)(C)” for “section 3011(a)(1)(B) or 3012(a)(1)(B)”.
1999—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–117, § 702(b)(2), in introductory provisions, substituted “through (g)” for “through (e)” and “subsection (h)” for “subsection (g)”.
Subsecs. (g), (h). Pub. L. 106–117, § 702(b)(1), (3), added subsec. (g) and redesignated former subsec. (g) as (h).
1992—Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 102–568 substituted “June 30, 1985” for “October 18, 1984”.
1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 1431 of this title as this section.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “3012(a)(1)” for “1412(a)(1)” in two places in par. (1) and “3011(a)(1)(B)” for “1411(a)(1)(B)” in par. (2).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “3011(a)(1)(B) or 3012(a)(1)(B)” for “1411(a)(1)(B) or 1412(a)(1)(B)” in par. (1) and “3452(a)(1)(B)” for “1652(a)(1)(B)” in par. (2).
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “3013” for “1413” in pars. (1) and (2).
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “3011(a)(1)(A)(ii)(III)” for “1411(a)(1)(A)(ii)(III)”.
1989—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–237, § 420(a)(1)(B), inserted “, and subject to subsection (g),” before “of this section”.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–237, § 423(b)(1)(A), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–237, § 423(b)(1)(B), substituted “Department of Veterans Affairs” for “Veterans’ Administration”.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–237, § 423(b)(1)(A), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 101–237, § 420(b), designated existing provisions as par. (1), and substituted “Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, in” for “In”, and added par. (2).
Subsec. (f)(1), (2). Pub. L. 101–237, § 423(a)(4), substituted “, under section 1413,” for “, under this section,”.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 101–237, § 420(a)(1)(A), added subsec. (g).
1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–689 substituted “beginning on the date of such individual’s last discharge or release from active duty, except that such 10-year period shall begin—” and pars. (1) and (2) for “beginning on (1) the date of such individual’s last discharge or release from active duty, or (2) the last day on which such individual becomes entitled to such assistance, whichever is later”.
1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–576, §§ 307(b)(1), 321(7)(A), made identical amendments, substituting “(e)” for “(d)”.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–576, § 321(7)(B), struck out “subchapter II or III of” after “program of education under”, substituted “requirement of this chapter” for “requirement of such subchapter”, struck out the cl. (1) designation before “the nature of such individual’s discharge” and struck out “or (2) with respect to educational assistance under subchapter II of this chapter, the Administrator determined, under regulations prescribed by the Administrator, that such discharge or release was under conditions described in section 1411(a)(3) or 1412(a)(3) of this title,” after “appropriate authority,”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 99–576, § 307(b)(3), added subsec. (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (f).
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 99–576, § 307(b)(2), redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f).
Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 99–576, § 321(7)(C), which directed that subsec. (e)(2) be amended by inserting “not” after “educational institution” was executed to subsec. (f)(2) to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the intervening redesignation of subsec. (e) as (f) by section 307(b)(3) of Pub. L. 99–576.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of 2011 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 111–377, title II, § 201(d), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4124, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 3319 and 3512 of this title] shall take effect on August 1, 2011, and shall apply with respect to preventions and suspension of pursuit of programs of education that commence on or after that date.”
heading: Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 102–568 effective Oct. 28, 1986, see section 302(b) of Pub. L. 102–568, set out as a note under section 3011 of this title.
heading: Extension of Time Limitations for Use of Entitlement: Montgomery GI Bill
text: Pub. L. 116–315, title I, § 1105(a), Jan. 5, 2021, 134 Stat. 4964, as amended by Pub. L. 117–76, § 5(a), Dec. 21, 2021, 135 Stat. 1520, amended text temporarily added by Pub. L. 116–140, § 6(a), formerly set out below.
Pub. L. 116–315, title I, § 1107(d)(1), Jan. 5, 2021, 134 Stat. 4966, amended text temporarily added by Pub. L. 116–140, § 6(a), formerly set out below.
Pub. L. 116–140, § 6(a), Apr. 28, 2020, 134 Stat. 632, which temporarily allowed for the tolling of the 10-year period to use educational assistance due to closure of an educational institution, was repealed by Pub. L. 117–333, § 3(f), Jan. 5, 2023, 136 Stat. 6128. See subsec. (i) of this section.
heading: Delimiting Period
text: Pub. L. 106–419, title I, § 102(e), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1825, provided that:
“(1) In the case of an individual described in paragraph (2), with respect to the time limitation under section 3031 of title 38, United States Code, for use of eligibility and entitlement of basic educational assistance under chapter 30 of such title, the 10-year period applicable under such section shall begin on the later of—
“(A) the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 1, 2000]; or
“(B) the date of the individual’s last discharge or release from active duty.
“(2) An individual referred to in paragraph (1) is an individual who—
“(A) before the date of the enactment of this Act, was not eligible for such basic educational assistance by reason of the requirement of a secondary school diploma (or equivalency certificate) as a condition of eligibility for such assistance as in effect on the date preceding the date of the enactment of this Act; and
“(B) becomes entitled to basic educational assistance under section 3011(a)(2), 3012(a)(2), or 3018(b)(4) of title 38, United States Code, by reason of the amendments made by this section [amending sections 3011, 3012, 3017, and 3018 of this title and section 16132 of Title 10, Armed Forces].”
Pub. L. 106–419, title I, § 103(e), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1826, provided that:
“(1) In the case of an individual described in paragraph (2), with respect to the time limitation under section 3031 of title 38, United States Code, for use of eligibility and entitlement of basic educational assistance under chapter 30 of such title, the 10-year period applicable under such section shall begin on the later of—
“(A) the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 1, 2000]; or
“(B) the date of the individual’s last discharge or release from active duty.
“(2) An individual referred to in paragraph (1) is an individual who—
“(A) before the date of the enactment of this Act, was not eligible for basic educational assistance under chapter 30 of such title by reason of the requirement of an initial obligated period of active duty as condition of eligibility for such assistance as in effect on the date preceding the date of the enactment of this Act; and
“(B) on or after such date becomes eligible for such assistance by reason of the amendments made by this section [amending sections 3011 to 3013 and 3015 of this title].”
heading: Covered Period Defined
text: Pub. L. 116–140, § 2, Apr. 28, 2020, 134 Stat. 631, as amended by Pub. L. 116–159, div. E, title II, § 5202(a), Oct. 1, 2020, 134 Stat. 749; Pub. L. 117–76, § 2(a), Dec. 21, 2021, 135 Stat. 1517, defined the term “covered period”, for purposes of Pub. L. 116–140, as the period from Mar. 1, 2020, to June 1, 2022.