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How Do I Get an Extension to the GI Bill?

March 10th, 2010
by GIBillExpert
I completed my active duty in 1999 and I tried to go back to school in 2000 but my daughter became ill and I had to drop out of school. I suffered from depression and anxiety. I finally in 2008 had my depression and anxiety put under control and I went back to school, but I ran out of my GI Bill. Does depression and anxiety fall under a disability? I would like to know how I would go about appealing and and asking for an extension. — Autumn L.

The Veterans Affairs department is able to offer extensions of the Montgomery GI Bill’s 10 year delimiting period to veterans only in limited circumstances. One of these is if the veteran was prevented from attending school due to a disability. Because of your medical problems (depression and anxiety), you may qualify for this purpose.

In order to consider granting you an extension, the VA will need to have a physician’s statement that you were prevented from attending school due to a disability. A letter from your doctor will help in this regard. You should be aware that the VA may or may not grant the extension, based on their examination of your situation.

The same rule applies to the new Post 9/11 GI Bill, although it will be 2016 before anyone runs into the new 15-year time limit for that bill.

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Posted in Education, Montgomery G I Bill, New GI Bill, Veterans Education Benefits | 6 Comments »

6 Responses to “How Do I Get an Extension to the GI Bill?”

  1. Jeremy Bolek says:
    October 13, 2010 at 6:16 am

    I was also wondering if there is any kind of appeal form or such that needs to be filled out to file for an extension of GI Bill benefifits. Please advise. Thanks you

  2. GIBillExpert says:
    October 13, 2010 at 8:45 am

    The process is more complex than just filling out a form. You’ll need to put together a packet with all the evidence (letters from physicians, etc.) that supports your case, and it will be evaluated by the VA. Contact your local VA benefits office to find out how to get the process started.

  3. theresa berry says:
    October 14, 2010 at 4:29 pm

    dear Sir, I theresa Berry am requesting a delimiting date Extension starting in 2006-present date; year 2006 I was involved in a horrific accident that caused me to be disabled. I have registered for online school with AIU. I decided to go online due to my mental and physical disabilities. My phone number is 323-303-8991 Thank you
    theresa berry

  4. GIBillExpert says:
    October 15, 2010 at 6:59 am

    Ms. Berry: I’m afraid you will have to contact the VA directly to request an extension. You can find your local benefits office via the VA web-site, using the facility locating page at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=3

  5. Ron Kness says:
    October 15, 2010 at 4:36 pm

    Theresa, I would like to help you if I could, but we are not the VA. You will have to contact them directly. A good place to start would be at the Regional Offices that takes care of your state. Many times the smaller offices are more responsive.

    Ron

  6. Ron Kness says:
    October 20, 2010 at 12:10 pm

    I’m assuming you are talking about appealing the delimiting date? Generally the VA will only extend your delimiting date in three situations:
    - detained by a foreign power;
    - recalled to active duty or;
    - long-term illness, disease, or temporary disability that prevented you from attending class.

    If you are talking about getting more months of entitlements, there is only one way that I know of. If you currently have the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) and you qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you can get 12 additional months of benefits by using up your Montgomery GI Bill entitlement first and then switching to the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
    If you switch to the Post 9/11 GI bill with months MGIB entitlement left, then you only get that same number of months of Post 9/11 GI bill entitlement and not the additional 12 months. Quircky I know, but those are the rules.

    Ron

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