Bill Overview
Title: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the requirement to specify an effective period of transfer of Post-9/11 educational assistance to a dependent, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill removes the requirement that an individual transferring a Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance entitlement must specify the period for which the transfer must be effective for each dependent who is designated to receive the transfer.
Sponsors: Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL]
Target Audience
Population: Dependents of veterans and servicemembers eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits
Estimated Size: 1800000
- The bill affects individuals eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance program.
- The key beneficiaries of the transfer provisions of this bill are dependents of these eligible GI Bill individuals.
- The bill impacts dependents who are primarily family members such as children or spouses of servicemembers and veterans.
- As of the latest data, over 1 million people have received educational benefits from the Post-9/11 GI Bill, so the target population includes both the servicemembers/veterans and their dependents who might receive educational benefits.
- The population impacted includes both current and future potential beneficiaries, as this bill affects the procedural requirements of benefit transfer.
- The specific impact is mainly procedural, removing the need for specification of time period during the transfer process.
Reasoning
- The policy is procedural and, while it simplifies the process, may not significantly impact the immediate wellbeing of all dependents. However, for some, it could ease the stress related to planning education funding.
- Given a reasonable number of individuals who might benefit directly from the policy, selecting interviewees with various connections to the GI Bill benefits ensures a range of perspectives.
- Assuming budget constraints, direct monetary impact on educational funding might not be significant, but removing bureaucratic hurdles could have potential long-term benefits for some affected families.
Simulated Interviews
Military Spouse (Jacksonville, NC)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This change will make it a lot easier for us to plan our children's education without worrying about splitting periods between them.
- It removes a layer of stress when making decisions about future education for our kids.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Veteran Services Counselor (San Antonio, TX)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy simplifies the transfer process for many families I work with. It's a mild stress reliever for them.
- It's a procedure that was often confusing for the servicemembers I assisted.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
University Admissions Officer (Boston, MA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This change might not directly affect my wellbeing, but it removes an unnecessary hurdle for families, potentially leading to higher educational uptake.
- I expect to see slightly smoother applications.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
PhD Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- For those starting the process, this could make accessing education funding much less daunting.
- I didn't have an issue before, but it's a welcomed simplification.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Undergraduate Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I haven't had to deal with the transfer process personally, but anything simpler is better.
- My parents seem less stressed about managing these benefits for me and my siblings.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired Military Officer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This seems like it would have been helpful when I was dividing benefits among my children.
- It provides more flexibility for families.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Graduate Student (Denver, CO)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I won't have to worry about dividing time with my siblings when using this benefit.
- Feels like a safety net knowing it won't be as complex.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
High School Counselor (Tampa, FL)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Over the years, I've seen too many families struggle with understanding this process. This should help.
- Although it doesn’t affect my family directly now, it's a good move.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Servicemember (Virginia Beach, VA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This makes it a lot easier when thinking about my kids' future education plans.
- The less paperwork and specifications, the better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
IT Specialist (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While my experience with the benefits transfer wasn't too difficult, I can see this helping others.
- A good change, but I'm personally neutral in its effect.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 10: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Key Considerations
- The bill affects how benefits are administered rather than changing the amount or eligibility, thus has minimal fiscal impact.
- Administrative costs to the Department of Veterans Affairs for procedural adjustments are the primary fiscal consideration.
- Potential indirect economic benefits through increased educational attainment, though speculative.