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Education and Training

Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

REAP provides educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency declared by the president or Congress.

REAP Sunset and Conversion to Post-9/11 GI Bill Effective November 26, 2019

Effective November 26, 2019, REAP benefits are no longer payable to claimants. Claimants with remaining entitlement under REAP will be evaluated without the claimant needing to request an election. Conversions will be automatic for claimants who do not have Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement based on another Period of Service (POS).

We are committed to ensuring that Reservists, National Guard members, and Veterans understand this change.  For those claimants who have eligibility to Post-9/11 GI Bill based on another POS, VA will contact them and advise of the potential impact it could have on Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement. In those specific situations, VA will not convert the claimant without the claimant advising they understand.

Eligibility for Post-9/11 GI Bill will be limited to the number of months remaining under REAP at the time of conversion at a minimum 60% benefit level.

National Defense Authorization Act of 2016 and How It Affected REAP Eligibility

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2016 ended REAP on November 25, 2015. Some individuals remained eligible for REAP benefits until November 25, 2019, while others were no longer eligible for REAP benefits.

This change affected beneficiaries differently:

  • Veterans who were attending an educational institution on November 24, 2015, or during the last semester, quarter, or term ending prior to that date, were eligible to continue to receive REAP benefits until November 25, 2019.
  • Veterans who applied for REAP but were not attending an educational institution on November 24, 2015, or during the last semester, quarter, or term ending prior to that date, were no longer eligible to receive REAP benefits. You may have been eligible to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Veterans who had not enrolled in school and applied for REAP benefits prior to November 25, 2015, were no longer eligible for REAP benefits. However, in most cases, were eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill.

The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act and How to Credit REAP Eligibility Towards Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits

The Colmery Act, also known as the Forever GI Bill, enacted August 16, 2017, provides an opportunity for reservists who lost their REAP benefits to elect to credit their REAP eligibility toward the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

These reservists:

  • Must have established REAP eligibility before November 25, 2015, and lost eligibility due to the sunset of that program on November 25, 2015
  • Can elect to credit the active duty service they used to establish chapter REAP eligibility to establish eligibility under the Post-9/11 GI Bill
  • Will receive one month (or partial month) of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for each month (or partial month) of remaining REAP benefits up to a maximum of 36 months
  • Will not be eligible for 48 months of entitlement based on their previous eligibility for REAP and their new eligibility under the Post-9/11 GI Bill
  • Will be entitled to the 60% payment tier under the Post-9/11 GI Bill regardless of the length of their Post-9/11 active duty service
AskVA link

How to Verify Chapter 33 (Post-9/11) Enrollment

Don’t miss out on your MHA/kicker payments! Learn more about verifying your enrollment.