Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act of 2022

Jan 5, 2023
Jan 5, 2023

Summary

Makes emergency education benefit protections for veterans permanent and improves other benefits like car grants and professional license transfers.

What problem does this solve?

Emergencies like pandemics can stop veterans from going to school, causing them to lose their education money. This law protects their benefits during a crisis and extends their time to use them.

What does this law do?

Keeps education benefits safe in emergencies
Makes permanent the rules that let veterans keep getting education and housing payments if their school closes or moves online because of an emergency.
Helps military spouses keep their jobs
Allows professional licenses for military members and their spouses to be valid in a new state when they move for military orders, making it easier to find work.
More frequent grants for adapted cars
Allows severely disabled veterans to get a grant for a specially equipped car every 10 years, instead of just once in their lifetime.
Gives military families tax flexibility
Lets military spouses choose to file state taxes in the service member's home state, their own home state, or the state of their duty station.
Extends time to use education benefits
Pauses the 10- or 15-year time limit for veterans to use their GI Bill benefits if an emergency stops them from going to school.
Lets service members end contracts during emergencies
Allows service members and their families to cancel contracts like gym memberships or internet service if a 'stop movement' order prevents them from using the service.
Expands GI Bill for sole survivors
Gives Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to service members who are discharged as a 'sole survivor' after a family member dies in service.
Expands what car grants cover
Allows VA grants to pay for trailers to carry wheelchairs or scooters and treats certain vehicle modifications like van lifts as medical services.

Who does this affect?

  • Veterans
  • Servicemembers
  • Military Spouses

What is the real world impact?

Protects benefits during crises
Makes sure veterans don't lose their education money or housing allowance if an emergency, like a pandemic, closes their school or forces classes online. This makes temporary COVID-19 rules permanent.
Improves quality of life for military families
Helps military spouses keep their professional licenses when they move to a new state for military orders. It also gives them more choices for which state they pay taxes to.
Updates old benefit rules
Updates the rules for vehicle grants for disabled veterans, allowing them to get a new adapted car every 10 years instead of only once.

When does this start?

This law became effective on January 5, 2023, but some parts have different start dates or apply to past events.
Canceling contracts during 'stop movement' orders
Applies retroactively to stop movement orders issued on or after March 1, 2020.
New application for school approvals
A new standard application for schools wanting to accept GI Bill students must be created by October 1, 2023.
Report on key terms
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must submit a report with possible definitions for terms like 'marketing' and 'student services' within 180 days of the law's passage.
Updated car grant eligibility
The rule allowing eligible veterans to get a new adapted vehicle every 10 years will start 10 years after the law was enacted.