# VA Work-Study Improvement Act: What It Means for Veterans

The VA Work-Study program helps veterans who are using their GI Bill benefits to pay for school by offering them part-time jobs while they study. This bill makes several changes to make the program more flexible and better for the veterans involved.

Right now, veterans in the program can only work up to 25 hours per week. This bill increases that limit to 40 hours per week, meaning veterans could potentially earn more money while in school. The bill also expands what kinds of jobs qualify for the program. Previously, work-study positions were limited to specific types of roles at VA facilities and schools. Now, veterans can also do work-study jobs at state and local government agencies or nonprofits, as long as the work somehow benefits veterans or active-duty military members. This opens up opportunities in areas like veteran support organizations, military family services, or government agencies that serve veterans.

The bill also ensures veterans get paid fairly by requiring employers to pay the highest minimum wage that applies—whether that's the federal minimum wage, the state minimum wage, or the local minimum wage where the work happens. Additionally, the bill modernizes how work hours are tracked by allowing veterans to record their hours electronically and have supervisors approve them online, rather than using paper timesheets. Finally, the VA will now publish annual reports showing how many veterans participated, what they earned, what kinds of work they did, and which schools were involved. These changes take effect on January 1, 2025, and are designed to give veterans more earning opportunities and make the program easier to use.

VA Work-Study Improvement Act

Cartwright, Matt

VA Work-Study Improvement Act This bill updates the Department of Veterans Affairs work-study program, including by increasing the number of hours an individual may work, modifying the minimum wage requirements, and implementing an electronic timesheet.