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.
The National Defense Authorization Act of 2016 ended REAP on November 25, 2015. Some individuals will remain eligible for REAP benefits until November 25, 2019, while others are no longer eligible for REAP benefits.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill in many ways has replaced REAP because it also provides educational assistance benefits for Reserve and National Guard members called to active duty on or after September 11, 2001, and in many cases provides a greater benefit than REAP.
We are committed to ensuring that Reservists, National Guard members, and Veterans understand this change, and we are working to identify individuals who no longer have eligibility for REAP and inform them of potential eligibility to other benefit programs.
This change affects beneficiaries differently:
You may be eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits depending on the dates of your periods of service. If we receive a new application for REAP on or after November 25, 2015, we will evaluate your eligibility for all programs, including Post-9/11 GI Bill, and may award you benefits under a different program.
If you’re using REAP but would like to learn how to make an irrevocable election to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill instead, please call us at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (7 a.m. – 6 p.m. CST Monday – Friday) to speak with an Education Call Center Agent.
Keep receiving education and training benefits from VA by verifying your attendance.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington DC 20420
Last updated January 21, 2016