Continued from page 48
But while the Forever GI Bill generally expanded
the benefits available to servicemembers, those who
receive education benefits after January 1, 2018,
will see their housing allowance available under the
program reduced five percent by 2020 from current
baseline levels, as well as a reduction to the Survivors’
and Dependents’ Educational Assistance benefit from
45 months to 36 months.
In advising clients on these generous benefits made
available to our men and women who are selflessly
serving or who have already proudly served in uniform,
practitioners need to remain aware that the individual
armed services, and not the Veterans Administration,
prescribe their own rules for application to and
eligibility for the program. Lawyers should also be
aware of a major policy change expected from the
Department of Defense later this year that will limit
the ability to transfer benefits to those servicemembers
with less than 16 years of total service.
For additional resources, lawyers and servicemembers
should consult their respective service regulations and
administrative guidelines and the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs website dedicated to the Forever GI
Bill, 2 which includes detailed summaries of benefits,
timelines, and fact sheets.
Post-9/11 Veterans Educational
Assistance Act of 2008, included in Title
V of the Supplemental Appropriations
Act of 2009, Pub. L. 110-252.
2 https://www.benefits.va.gov/
GIBILL/FGIBSummaries.asp#110.
1
Are you short
on CLE credits?
Author: Scott G. Johnson – Shutts &
Bowen, LLP
Go to hillsbar.com to order
CLEs on CD, or sign up for
one of our many CLE luncheons.
SUMMER 2018
|
HCBA LAWYER
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