# 38 C.F.R. § 21.5022 (2026): Eligibility under more than one program

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P21_S21_5022

## Section

- **Citation:** 38 C.F.R. § 21.5022 (2026)
- **Heading:** Eligibility under more than one program
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Title 38 CFR: Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief / Chapter I: DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS / Part 21: VETERAN READINESS AND EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION / Subpart G: Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 32 / § 21.5022: § 21.5022   Eligibility under more than one program.

## Text

(a)
Concurrent benefits under more than one program.
(1) An individual cannot receive educational assistance under 38 U.S.C. chapter 32 concurrently with benefits under—
(i) 38 U.S.C. chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill—Active Duty);
(ii) 38 U.S.C. chapter 31 (Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E));
(iii) 38 U.S.C. chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill);
(iv) 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 (Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance);
(v) 10 U.S.C. chapter 1606 (Montgomery GI Bill—Selected Reserve);
(vi) 10 U.S.C. chapter 1607 (Reserve Educational Assistance Program);
(vii) 10 U.S.C. chapter 106a (Educational Assistance Test Program);
(viii) Section 903 of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1981 (Pub. L. 96-342, 10 U.S.C. 2141 note);
(ix) The Hostage Relief Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-449, 5 U.S.C. 5561 note);
(x) The Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-399); or
(xi) Effective August 1, 2011, 10 U.S.C 510 (National Call to Service).
(2) If an individual is eligible for benefits under 38 U.S.C. chapter 32 and one or more of the programs listed in (a)(1)(i) through (a)(1)(x) of this section, he or she must specify under which program he or she is claiming benefits. The individual may choose to receive benefits under another program (other than 38 U.S.C. chapter 33) at any time, but not more than once in a calendar month. The individual may choose to receive benefits under 38 U.S.C. chapter 33 at any time, but not more than once during a certified term, quarter, or semester.
(b)
Total eligibility under more than one program.
(1) No one may receive a combination of educational assistance benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 32 and any of the following provisions of law for more than 48 months (or part-time equivalent):
(i) 38 U.S.C. chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill—Active Duty);
(ii) 38 U.S.C. chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill);
(iii) 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 (Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance);
(iv) 10 U.S.C. chapter 1606 (Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve);
tional assistance benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 32 and any of the following provisions of law for more than 48 months (or part-time equivalent):
(i) 38 U.S.C. chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill—Active Duty);
(ii) 38 U.S.C. chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill);
(iii) 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 (Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance);
(iv) 10 U.S.C. chapter 1606 (Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve);
(v) 10 U.S.C. chapter 1607 (Reserve Educational Assistance Program);
(vi) 10 U.S.C. chapter 106a (Educational Assistance Test Program);
(vii) Section 903 of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1981 (Pub. L. 96-342, 10 U.S.C. 2141 note);
(viii) The Hostage Relief Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-449, 5 U.S.C. 5561 note); or
(ix) The Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-399).
(2) No one may receive assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 31 in combination with assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 32 in excess of 48 months (or the part-time equivalent) unless VA determines that additional months of benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 31 are necessary to accomplish the purposes of a rehabilitation program.
(c)
Authority.
(1) Paragraph (a)(1) of this section issued under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 3322(a), 3681(b), 3695;
(2) Paragraph (a)(2) of this section issued under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 3033(a), 3322(a); and
(3) Paragraph (b) of this section issued under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 3034(a), 3231, 3323(a).
[51 FR 12852, Apr. 16, 1986; 51 FR 16517, May 5, 1986, as amended at 53 FR 34495, Sept. 7, 1988; 57 FR 38614, Aug. 26, 1992; 61 FR 29029, June 7, 1996; 74 FR 14670, Mar. 31, 2009; 87 FR 8744, Feb. 16, 2022; 90 FR 5333, Jan. 16, 2025]

## Nearby sections

- [38 C.F.R. § 21.5001 (2026) § 21.5001   Administration of benefits: 38 U.S.C. Chapter 32.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P21_S21_5001.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 21.5020 (2026) § 21.5020   Post-Vietnam era veterans' educational assistance.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P21_S21_5020.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 21.5021 (2026) § 21.5021   Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P21_S21_5021.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 21.5022 (2026) § 21.5022   Eligibility under more than one program.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P21_S21_5022.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 21.5023 (2026) § 21.5023   Nonduplication; Federal programs.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P21_S21_5023.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 21.5030 (2026) § 21.5030   Applications, claims, and time limits.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P21_S21_5030.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 21.5040 (2026) § 21.5040   Basic eligibility.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P21_S21_5040.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 21.5041 (2026) § 21.5041   Periods of entitlement.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P21_S21_5041.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 21.5042 (2026) § 21.5042   Extended period of eligibility.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P21_S21_5042.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 21.5050 (2026) § 21.5050   Application requirements for participation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P21_S21_5050.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 21.5052 (2026) § 21.5052   Contribution requirements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P21_S21_5052.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 21.5053 (2026) § 21.5053   Restoration of contributions (Persian Gulf War).](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P21_S21_5053.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 21.5054 (2026) § 21.5054   Dates of participation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P21_S21_5054.md)
- [38 C.F.R. § 21.5058 (2026) § 21.5058   Resumption of participation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P21_S21_5058.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T38_P21_S21_5022. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.