The Department of Veterans Affairs has processed more than 3 million enrollments in its Digital GI Bill system, a milestone the department reached in April. It points to the tool’s use as evidence that a years-long overhaul of education benefits technology is paying off for veterans and their families.
The Digital GI Bill system allows the department to process claims faster, in an automated fashion, processing over 1 million claims so far this fiscal year.
Read More: Post-9/11 GI Bill Overview
According to the VA, in addition to Post-9/11 GI Bill recipients, other education beneficiaries who make use of the system include recipients of Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance and both the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty and Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve.
In August 2025, VA introduced Benefits Manager, a modern system for processing GI Bill claims, as part of its broader replacement of its legacy systems.
New Monthly Verification Requirement
The announcement comes alongside another significant change that affects all GI Bill recipients. As of Jan. 1, 2026, all VA education beneficiaries must verify their enrollment every month to continue receiving payments. If a beneficiary misses two consecutive months, VA pauses payments until verification is completed. The 2026 expansion specifically affects Post-9/11 GI Bill students and Chapter 35 beneficiaries who were not previously required to verify monthly.
Read More: Post-9/11 GI Bill Rates
VA offers four ways to verify enrollment each month: by text message if you have opted in; online at VA.gov; by email; and through the Ask VA portal.
Montgomery GI Bill students should note that VA does not process payment until after verification is complete — no verification, no payment.
Cost Overruns Draw Congressional Scrutiny
The positive performance numbers exist alongside significant scrutiny over the project’s cost. Modernizing the platform for GI Bill claims was originally projected to cost $500 million in fiscal year 2021 but has swelled to a projected $2.3 billion through fiscal 2031. Smith acknowledged at a House Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee hearing in February 2026 that the agency initially underestimated the project’s scope and complexity, which led to higher costs and delays.
Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., said the system redevelopment has been hurt by poor contract oversight, adding that “there hasn’t been a successful launch of an IT system at the VA for as long as we can remember.”
The human impact of the milestone is real. Army veteran Sarah Martinez-Hanson, a mother and surviving spouse, began her education journey using the Post-9/11 GI Bill to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Planning and is now pursuing a master’s degree in financial planning using the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, which she qualified for through her late husband. “If it wasn’t for the GI Bill benefits, I don’t think I would have found my purpose in life,” she said in a VA news release.
How to Verify Your Enrollment
Missing two consecutive months pauses your housing allowance and kicker payments
Text message: Opt in to receive a monthly text from VA.
Online: Sign in at VA.gov and complete verification on the enrollment page.
Email: VA will send a monthly prompt if text is not enabled.
Ask VA portal: Submit at ask.va.gov or call 888-442-4551, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. Eastern time.
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