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.
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.
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 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 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: