There are three steps to transfer your GI Bill benefits:
- Register your family members already enrolled in DEERS.
- Visit the Transfer of Education Benefits official website to begin the process
- When approved, your spouse and children can apply to the VA to use transferred benefits. Your family members can apply...
Full Answer
How to transfer your GI Bill benefits?
Request changes to your benefit if you:
- Are transferring to a different school, or
- Are changing your educational, professional, or vocational goal, or
- Left your school or training program due to poor attendance, progress, or conduct, and you’re now reentering the same program, or
- Were receiving VA education benefits as a Veteran, and now you want to receive benefits while on active duty
How to transfer my GI Bill benefits?
xVisit http://www.defense.gov. Search “Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.” (non-VA Link) x Transfer Process - While in the armed forces, transferors will use the milConnect website to designate, modify, and revoke a Transfer of Entitlement request. https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/ (non-VA Link). Eligible Individuals . You must first be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. You must also be a member of the
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.
What are the rules for transferring a GI Bill?
- 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.
- Have not yet completed your 16th year of military service (beginning July 12, 2019).
How do I transfer GI Bill benefits?
Have your family members apply to use their transferred benefits by submitting VA Form 22-1990E to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). They can complete the form online, or to complete it on paper, download the PDF. Or they can call the VA for education benefits information at 1-888-GIBILL1.
Can you transfer remaining GI Bill 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.
Can I transfer my remaining GI Bill to my spouse?
Benefit Information The transferability option under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® allows Service members to transfer all or some unused benefits to their spouse or dependent children.
When can you transfer education benefits?
Transfer Education Benefits (TEB) General Overview You can transfer months to family members as long as you are still in the Service, but not after separating retiring, retiring, or transferring to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR).
Can I transfer my GI Bill after I get out?
Unfortunately for every person who has asked if they can transfer the post-9/11 GI Bill after getting out of the military, the answer is "no." For now, the transferability option is available only while the service member is still on active duty, and it comes with additional service obligations for most applicants.
Can I give my GI Bill to my son?
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.
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 long do you have to serve to transfer your GI Bill?
Previously, DoD required troops to have served at least 6 years in order to request a GI Bill transfer. That requirement remains, and the Pentagon's new policy will also require that service members not have served more than 16 years. So you'll need between six and 16 years in uniform.
How long do you have to be married to a Veteran to get benefits?
a yearTo qualify for most benefits, the spouse must have been married to the veteran for at least a year. In some cases, if the spouse of a veteran remarries, benefits may be terminated.
How many times can I transfer my GI Bill?
How Much of the GI Bill Benefits Can I Transfer? 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.
Can I transfer my Montgomery GI Bill?
Can I Transfer The Montgomery GI Bill? No, unfortunately, unlike the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill does not have a transfer-to-dependents option to it. Additionally, the Montgomery GI Bill for Selected Reserve is also non-transferrable.
Can I use my husband's GI Bill to go to school?
In some cases, the dependent or surviving spouse and children of a Veteran can get educational assistance through a GI Bill program. Also, if you haven't used all of your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, you may be able to transfer up to 36 months of benefits to your spouse or a dependent child.
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...
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:
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.
Other Factors to Consider
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.
When did the GI Bill change?
The Department of Defense (DoD) announced the new GI Bill transfer changes. The policy focused on when you could transfer your benefits to your family members (dependents). Starting from July 12, 2018, you had a whole year to transfer your benefits. Failure to do so would prevent you from moving your GI Bill benefits to your family members in the future.
How long does a spouse have to be married to receive VA benefits?
As a spouse, your benefits end ten years from the date the VA approved your eligibility or the time of the veteran’s death. But, if you’re a surviving spouse of a military member who died on active duty, your benefits end 20 years from the date of death. If you divorce a service member, your benefits end on the divorce date. If you marry again before the age of 57, your eligibility ends on the remarriage date.
Can a spouse of a military member be a guarantor?
Spouses of military members who are on active duty in pay grades E-1 to E-5, W-1 to W-2, and 0-1 to 0-2 can begin their coursework while their military guarantor is on Title 10 military orders. Spouses of military members above 0-2 can still be eligible if they are already enrolled in an education program before a promotion.
Can I use GI Bill benefits for military spouse?
Aside from the transfer of GI Bill benefits, there are other grants, scholarships, and opportunities for military spouses and dependent children. You can use some in addition to the GI Bill benefits. In this case, you have to plan your finances well and ensure that you get the most benefit possible.
Can I transfer GI Bill benefits to my spouse?
With student loan debt constantly on the rise, service members and veterans can transfer GI Bill benefits to their children and spouse to provide education benefits, if they meet all the requirements .
What is the GI Bill?
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Related Resources. AFI 36-2606 , Reenlistment in the United States Air Force.
How long does it take for a TEB to appear in a VMPF?
The TEB SOU will only appear in an Airman's vMPF (Self Service Actions/Transfer of Education Benefits) once 72 hours have passed since submitting the application in MilConnect AND the Airman meets retainability requirements.
What is GI Bill transferability?
The GI Bill Transferability Program gives Servicemembers the opportunity to transfer unused educational benefits to their spouse or children. To take advantage of this program you must meet select requirements set by the Department of Defense in addition to qualifying for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Can you transfer GI benefits to family members?
You have control over your benefits, even after you’ve transferred them to a family member. This means you can reallocate the benefits among family members, revoke those benefits at any time, and return them to yourself. When you share your GI Benefits with a family member, they are subject to the following guidelines:
About Brandon Swenson
Brandon Swenson, Senior Communications Specialist, is on Grantham's editorial board. He understands the benefits of educationally-oriented programs such as the Post 9/11 GI Bill having earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City toward the end of his nearly two decades of service in the United States Marine Corp.
About the Author
Brandon Swenson, communications manager, is on Grantham University’s editorial board. A veteran and college graduate himself, he understands the benefits and intricacies of government education programs, such as veteran education benefits.
How to contact the DVA for education benefits?
Or they can call the DVA for education benefits information at 1-888-GIBILL1. Once the DVA matches your family member's VA Form 22-1990E to your approved transfer request, the VA will send certificates of eligibility. Have your family members provide their certificates of eligibility to the school.
What does a green TEB sign mean?
While the status is Request Approved, the TEB page shows your progress on your qualifying commitment: A green message means you have fulfilled your service obligation. A yellow message means you have not yet fulfilled your service obligation.
Do you have to get a certificate of eligibility from the DVA before you enroll in school?
Your family members may not receive their certificates of eligibility from the DVA before they enroll in school. If so, they must ask the veterans' certifying official at the school to submit to the DVA an enrollment certification for the academic term. The DVA sends tuition funds directly to the school.
Benefit rates and ways you can use your benefits
Learn more about education benefit rates for tuition and books for qualifying Veterans and their family members.
Other GI Bill programs you may qualify for
If you served at least 2 years on active duty, find out if you qualify for benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty program.
More GI Bill benefits and information
Find out if your school participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which can help pay tuition costs that the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn’t cover.
How long can you serve on the GI Bill?
So who is eligible for the GI Bill and how do they transfer it? As a general rule, active-duty service members who have served for at least six years can transfer their benefits to a spouse or child if they agree to serve an additional four years.
Can I transfer my GI bill while on active duty?
The first bad news is that you can transfer your post-9/11 GI Bill only while you're on active duty, and then only if you meet the minimum service requirements and are willing to serve an additional service obligation. The good news, if you want to stretch for it, is that you didn't actually miss the boat on transferring it while you were in.
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...