Can I transfer my GI Bill benefits after I retire?
You can add and remove dependents to your GI Bill benefits transfer while you are still serving in the military. However, you can no longer add dependents to your transfer once you have retired. You can only remove benefits or change the allocation between them. Keep this in mind before you separate or retire from the military.
How long does it take to receive GI Bill benefits?
How long does it take for GI Bill transfer? Start the process by filling out VA Form 22-1990E (Application for Family Member to Use Transferred Benefits) or by using the much easier online form. Within about 30 days, you'll either receive a Certificate of Eligibility in the mail.
How do I transfer my GI Bill?
If you're eligible, you may transfer benefits to the following individuals:
- Your spouse
- One or more of your children
- Any combination of spouse and child
Do I need to pay taxes after retirement?
You will likely pay sales taxes on many items you purchase in retirement. Retirement will not get you out of paying sales taxes. While the amount you will pay depends on your shopping habits and state of residence, it is something that can’t be ignored. Similarly, homeowners will still be subject to property taxes.
Is there a time limit for GI Bill transfer?
There is no maximum time in service requirement as long as the service member is eligible to obligate 4 additional years of service from date of TEB execution. All eligible dependents must be enrolled in DEERS prior to requesting TEB. 2. If I transfer my Chapter 33 Post-9/11 G.I.
Can I transfer GI Bill after 16 years?
You must have served at least six years to transfer your education benefit. If you plan to serve more than 16 years, you must transfer your benefit before the start of your 16th year. You may ask to transfer part or all of your education benefit to your spouse and/or children.
Is the GI Bill transferable?
Eligible Service members may transfer all 36 months or the portion of unused Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits (unless DoD or the Department of Homeland Security has limited the number of transferable months). If you're eligible, you may transfer benefits to the following individuals: Your spouse.
Do transferred GI Bill benefits expire?
There's no longer an expiration date. Previously, veterans had to use their Post-9/11 GI Bill within 15 years of their last 90-day period of active-duty service.
How long do you have to use GI Bill after retirement?
This depends on when you were discharged from active duty. If your service ended before January 1, 2013, your Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) benefits will expire 15 years after your last separation date from active service. You must use all of your benefits by that time or you'll lose whatever's left.
Can I give my child my GI Bill?
A: As an eligible Service member, you can transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to your spouse, your children, or any combination of eligible family members. Children enrolled in DEERS can receive transferred benefits: From age 18 through 20. From age 21 through 22, if they have full-time student status.
Can veterans transfer education benefits?
WHAT IS TRANSFERABILITY? The Post-9/11 GI Bill allows Service members to transfer unused education benefits to immediate family members. This applies to officer or enlisted, active duty and Selected Reserve. Qualifying immediate family members are spouses and children.
When can I transfer my GI Bill to my wife?
Transferring Benefits Transferring Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to a spouse is permitted when the service member has six years of service and requires that the service member serve another four years. In practice, this means that their current enlistment must take them to at least four years from the date of transfer.
How do I lose my GI Bill benefits?
Attending classes is one of the requirements for receiving GI Bill benefits. If you don't attend, you don't get any money. If you stop attending class, the VA will stop your GI Bill payments retroactive to the beginning date of the term. You will most likely end up owing a lot of money to both the VA and the school.
Can you get the GI Bill twice?
Answer: Yes, like the MGIB you are generally entitled to 36 months of educational assistance. If you are entitled to more than one GI Bill program you may be eligible for a maximum of 48 months of entitlement when using benefits under two or more GI Bill programs.
Can I transfer my Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits?
You may be able to transfer your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits if you’re on active duty or in the Selected Reserve and you meet all of these requireme...
Who’s covered?
Qualified dependents
What benefits can my qualified dependents get?
If the DoD approves the Transfer of Entitlement (TOE), your spouse or dependent children can apply for up to 36 months of benefits, and may be able...
When can they use the transferred benefits?
These conditions apply to family members using transferred benefits: Spouses May use the benefit right away May use the benefit while you’re on act...
How do I transfer the benefit?
While you’re still on active duty, you’ll request to transfer, change, or revoke a Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) through milConnect. You can’t appl...
Get more information
Go to the milConnect website To find out if you qualify, the status of your transfer request, and how to use the Transfer of Education Benefits (TE...
How long do you have to be on active duty to get a military benefit?
May start to use the benefit only after you’ve finished at least 10 years of service. May use the benefit while you’re on active duty or after you’ve separated from service. May not use the benefit until they’ve gotten a high school diploma (or equivalency certificate), or have reached 18 years of age.
Can you get housing allowance if you are on active duty?
Don’t have to use the benefit within 15 years after your separation from active duty, but can’ t use the benefit after they’ve turned 26 years old. Your dependents may still qualify even if a child marries or you and your spouse divorce.
How long do you have to be a military spouse to receive a transfer?
The service member has to have completed at least 10 years of service first.
Does the VA send a COE letter?
The VA will send a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or award letter in the mail explaining all benefits. If you live OCONUS, this may take too long to receive. While the VA indicates the COE letter must be presented to the school before enrolling, most schools have the ability to determine your status without it.
Can dependents get financial assistance?
Eligible dependents can potentially seek financial assistance for the typical Associate, Bachelor, Master, or Doctorate Degree programs. However, benefits can also be used for non-college degree programs, like vocational or technical training for jobs in computer networking or dental hygiene.
Can a spouse receive housing benefits while on active duty?
If a spouse is utilizing transferred benefits, and the service member is still active duty, he/she is NOT eligible to receive housing allowance. However, children utilizing transferred benefits while their parent is still active duty CAN receive the allowance. Benefits don’t have to be used for only one type of program.
Can a service member return unused benefits to themselves?
The service member can return unused benefits back to themselves. For example, a spouse enrolls in an 11-month Master’s program. Afterwards, the service member may transfer the unused 25 months back to him/herself or transfer to another eligible dependent.
Can dependents check their VA benefits online?
Unfortunately, the website does not allow dependents access to check their status online.
How long can you transfer GI Bill benefits?
The military member can transfer up to 36 months of GI Bill benefits and can allocate them among eligible recipients at any time (but only once per month). The service member may also cancel a family member’s use of the benefits at any time.
When do you have to transfer your GI bill?
New military rules, passed in 2018, require eligible members to transfer their GI Bill no later than the end of their 16th year of service.
Why was the GI Bill removed?
This eligibility option has been removed because the GI Bill transfer benefit is a retention tool and all currently serving members will have had the option to transfer their benefits leading up to their retirement eligibility. This provision is no longer necessary.
How long can you serve on the GI Bill?
The first version of the law allowed members to transfer their GI Bill if they. “Have at least 10 years service and cannot serve 4 more years because of policy or law, but you agree to serve as long as you are able by law or policy.”.
What is the purpose of the GI Bill transfer program?
The Purpose of the GI Bill Transfer Program. The goal of the GI Bill transfer program is to keep mid-career military members in uniform, which is why there are minimum service requirements and why the GI Bill transfer program requires military members to incur more service time.
Can I transfer my GI bill to my spouse?
There is good news for those of you out there who are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill — you may be eligible to transfer your GI Bill to a spouse or child if you meet the minimum service requirements and agree to extend your military service obligation. There are certain limitations, and new rules passed in July, 2018 (effective starting Jan 12, ...
Can you keep your military benefits if you are separated?
Policy allows the member to keep their benefits if they are separated due to a medical retirement, disability, or Force Shaping. However, there may be some instances in which the member may no longer be eligible to transfer the benefits if they are not able to complete 4 years of service.
How long do you have to serve to transfer GI Bill benefits?
New eligibility rules, passed in July 2018, changed who is eligible to transfer their GI Bill benefits. The following is now the DoD policy: Have at least 6 years of service on date of GI Bill transfer request, and you agree to serve 4 more years. Are eligible to serve an additional 4 years of military service.
How long after a spouse leaves the military can they get the GI bill?
Spouses, who are eligible to use the GI Bill benefit immediately, or up to 15 years after the member separates from the armed forces. Spouses are not eligible to receive the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) or book stipend while the service member is on active duty (BAH covers the MHA).
How long can you transfer military benefits?
Members must now be eligible to extend 4 years in order to transfer their benefits. Starting January 12, 2020, members must not have completed their 16th year of service in order to transfer benefits. Important note: All transfer requests must be submitted and approved while the member is still in the military.
How long does it take to grandfather a person into the current system?
The good news is people who have already transferred their benefits will be grandfathered into the current system (and up to 180 days after the bill passes). So there is time for most people to take action if they are already eligible.
What was the post-9/11 GI bill?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill was Created as a Retention Tool. The Post-9/11 GI Bill was designed as a retention tool for military members in the early years of the post-9/11 era. When it was created, the military was struggling to maintain its end strength. The new GI Bill was a carrot dangled in front of troops—serve a few more years, ...
Can I transfer my GI bill to my spouse?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is one of the most valuable veterans benefits. Being able to transfer your GI Bill to your spouse or children makes it even more valuable. But there are some changes on the horizon that might impact how much those benefits will be worth if you do transfer them.
Type of Assistance
- Eligible Servicemembers may transfer all 36 months or the portion of unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits (unless DoD or the Department of Homeland Security has limited the number of transferable months). If you're eligible, you may transfer benefits to the following individuals: 1. Your spouse 2. One or more of your children 3. Any combination of spo...
Available Benefits and Eligibility
- Family members must be enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS) and be eligible for benefits at the time of transfer to receive transferred benefits. The option to transfer is open to any member of the armed forces active duty or Selected Reserve, officer or enlisted who is eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and meets the criteria established by the Depart…
Other Factors to Consider
- Marriage and Divorce 1. A child's subsequent marriage will not affect his or her eligibility to receive the educational benefit; however, after an individual has designated a child as a transferee under this section, the individual retains the right to revoke or modify the transfer at any time. 2. A subsequent divorce will not affect the transferees eligibility to receive educational benefits; how…
More Information
- View the official DoD website for information on transferability(non-VA link)
- Get the fact sheet on transferability of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits
- For specific questions about your eligibility, the status of your transfer request, and service specific questions about the TEB Portlet, please contact the appropriate career counselor or personne...