Veterans discharged for refusing COVID vaccine may qualify to have GI Bill benefits restored
Thousands of U.S. service members who were discharged from service for refusing the COVID vaccine may regain eligibility for GI Bill education benefits. ((U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mark Colmenares)
Thousands of U.S. service members who were discharged from service for refusing the COVID vaccine may regain eligibility for GI Bill education benefits.
The backstory:
More than 8,000 service members were separated during the Biden Administration for refusing to comply with the Department of Defense (DOD) COVID vaccine mandate. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) says more than half of the Veterans received a discharge that was characterized as less than fully honorable, which may have made them ineligible for GI Bill education benefits.
Dig deeper:
Following a records review, the DOD says 899 of the seperated Veterans are now eligible for GI Bill education benefits, and thousands more could also regain GI Bill eligibility following President Trump’s Executive Order 14184, Reinstating Service Members Discharged Under the Military’s COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate.
The VA says in September, letters were sent to Veterans who have already received upgraded discharges to inform them of their potential eligibility for GI Bill education benefits.
About GI Bill eduction benefits
Since 1944, the GI Bill has helped eligible service members and Veterans pay for schooling, training, and certifications to support career goals both during and after their time in service. It provides qualifying Veterans and their family members with money to cover all or some of the costs for school or training.
What you can do:
VA encourages Veterans discharged for refusing COVID vaccine to seek upgraded status
The VA is encouraging all Veterans who were discharged from service for refusing the COVID vaccine to seek an upgraded status and apply for GI Bill benefits.
What Veterans should know:
- Veterans who believe they were discharged inappropriately or believe their military personnel records still reflect an error or injustice (for example, separation under the COVID-19 mandate) may request review from a Discharge Review Board or Board for Correction of Military or Naval Records. For more information, visit the Military Department Review Boards website at www.milreviewbds.mil.
- Once Veterans receive official notification that their discharge status has been upgraded to fully honorable, they can submit a new education benefits claim to VA.
For more information on VA education benefits, visit www.va.gov/education or call 888-GIBILL-1.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This story was reported from Orlando.