New information technology changes expand education benefits for Veterans

The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 includes 32 new education provisions that enhance opportunities for GI Bill® students and extend oversight of GI Bill programs and operations. In just eight months, VA has implemented 27 of these provisions, with the five remaining provisions planned to go into effect in 2022 and beyond. This implementation required multiple complex information technology (IT) updates during an unprecedented pandemic.

Twelve new provisions went into effect on Aug. 1, including program expansions and institutional updates, which lead to faster processing times and reduced overpayments, allowing VA to protect and deliver GI Bill benefits more quickly and accurately.

Education Service and the Office of Information Technology (OIT) have been hard at work implementing these changes in under a year. The quick implementation of Isakson and Roe allows GI Bill beneficiaries to achieve their vocational and career goals sooner, on their own time.

How do these IT changes affect GI Bill students?

The fast implementation of these IT changes means that GI Bill students can receive timely payments, explore new programs and scholarship opportunities, and take immediate advantage of the expanded benefits.

A few highlights include:

• Expanded eligibility for the Fry Scholarship;
• Removal of the three-year limitation for students to receive in-state tuition post-service;
• Additional safeguards that protect students from misrepresentative advertising;
• Enhanced educational assistance for students who were unable to transfer credits from closed or disapproved programs of education; and
• New requirements for GI Bill students, including monthly enrollment verification.

Students will continue to reap the rewards of IT implementations as VA continues its Digital GI Bill modernization effort. The transformative IT enhancements will provide a one-stop centralized platform for beneficiaries, paving the way for GI Bill students to maximize their education benefits experience. The future is bright, and these Isakson and Roe enhancements are just the first step in allowing VA to better serve Veterans, service members and their families in pursuit of their education and career goals.

Have questions? Learn more about the Isakson and Roe Act here: https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/isaksonroe.asp.