How to use your GI Bill benefits
- Work toward a degree. Funding for tuition and housing at a school located outside the U.S.
- Train for a specific career, trade, or industry
- Work while you study
- Take classes from home
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 long does it take to transfer GI Bill?
You can receive up to 36 months of benefits, including:
- Tuition and fees. If you qualify for the maximum benefit, we’ll cover the full cost of public, in-state tuition and fees. ...
- Money for housing (if you’re in school more than half time). ...
- Money for books and supplies. ...
- Money to help you move from a rural area to go to school. ...
What benefits do you get for using GI Bill?
Your GI Bill benefits: Everything you need to know
- The GI Bill housing allowance. Your monthly housing stipend depends on the percentage level of benefits you’re eligible for and how many courses you’re taking.
- GI bill status and how to check it. ...
- Transferring GI Bill to your dependents. ...
- Cool/alternative/creative ways to use the GI Bill. ...
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
Can I use my GI Bill after transfer?
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.
How does transferring a GI Bill work?
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 requirements. All of these must be true: You've completed at least 6 years of service on the date your request is approved, and. You agree to add 4 more years of service, and.
Do transferred GI Bill benefits expire?
Bill” and do not have an expiration date to use their education benefits. Dependent children have to exhaust their transferred benefit before their 26th birthday.
How can I use my husband's GI Bill?
Can you transfer your GI Bill to your spouse? If you are approved to transfer your unused Post-9/11 GI Bill to your spouse, your spouse will be able to: Use the benefits immediately. Use the benefits while their spouse remains in the Armed Forces or after separation from active duty.
How can I use both GI Bills?
The Rule of 48 limits the number of months to 48 when holding multiple GI Bills, instead of 36 months from each GI Bill. Having 48 months of education benefits available is enough for a bachelor's degree (four 9-month academic years) with enough left over for a good start on a master's degree.
How do I use my GI Bill after discharge?
Step By Step Guide to Utilizing Your Post 9/11 G.I. Bill BenefitsStep 1: Apply for admission. ... Step 2A (If first time using G.I. ... Step 2B (If used G.I. Bill Previously: Submit a Request for Change of Program or Place of Training) ... Step 3: Submit a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility (CoE)More items...
Can I use my GI Bill to buy a house?
The GI Bill offers veterans, military members, and their loved ones many benefits. But one thing it doesn't cover? That'd be buying a house.
Can you use both TA and GI Bill?
Note: You can use TA and GI Bill benefits in the same fiscal year, as long as you're not using both for the same course. Cons: Just like Top-Up, military members will have their GI Bill benefits reduced, but at an even greater rate with this option.
How many times can you transfer 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.
When can I transfer my GI Bill to my spouse?
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 I use my GI Bill to pay off my spouse's student loans?
A: The GI Bill does not work to pay off any student loans – yours or your wife's. That is a separate program called the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP).
Can my ex wife use my GI Bill?
Servicemembers may transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to a spouse or child, but only after meeting an additional service obligation of four years. Under 38 U.S.C. § 3020(f)(3), Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits may not be treated as marital property and are not subject to division in a divorce action.
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...
Work toward a degree
Help paying for tuition, books, and housing at an institution of higher learning (like a 4-year university, community college, or graduate school)
Train for a specific career, trade, or industry
Reimbursement for the cost of tests to become a licensed or certified professional, or to apply for college or a training course
Work while you study
Help with paying for tuition, books, and housing if you’re part of a college or university co-op training program
Take classes from home
Funding for correspondence training (coursework completed by mail, online, or by some other device) if you want to take classes from home or live far from any schools
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 does it take to transfer GI Bill benefits to spouse?
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. Many folks find that they need to wait until re-enlistment to transfer their benefits. Benefits are transferred using the Transfer of Educational Benefits process at the Milconnect website.
How much does the GI bill pay for school?
The GI Bill pays 100% of tuition and fees, up to the maximum in-state tui tion for public schools and up to $22,805.34 per academic year for private or foreign schools. If you attend a more expensive private school, or you are unable to obtain in-state tuition rates for some reason, you may be eligible for additional benefits under the Yellow Ribbon program.
What is the post 9/11 GI bill?
The Post 9/11 GI Bill is one of the most popular benefits of military service, and many families find that they get maximum benefit by transferring those benefits to the service member’s spouse.
How long does it take to get a VA transfer certificate?
Within about 30 days, you’ll either receive a Certificate of Eligibility in the mail. If for some reason, your eligibility was denied, you’ll also receive the denial via the mail.
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:
What are the changes to the GI Bill?
The changes include: 1. No more waivers for an additional service commitment. One of the biggest changes to transferring the GI Bill is that there will be no more waivers for incurring the additional four-year service commitment. Prior to these changes, if a service member had served more than 10 years and could not commit to a four-year service ...
How long do you have to serve to transfer GI Bill?
The limit imposed on time-in-service to transfer your GI Bill. Prior to July 2018, service members had to serve at least six years before becoming eligible to transfer his or her GI Bill. That regulation still stands, and the Department of Defense has added that as of July 2019, a service member who has been in the military for longer ...
How to look into your eligibility for DMDC?
To look into your eligibility, log into DMDC milConnect. At the top of the page, click on “I want to... Transfer my education benefits.”
How long do you have to serve in the military before you can transfer the GI Bill?
Prior to 2018, there were two main transferability requirements: The member must have served in the military for six years before transferring.
Can I transfer my Purple Heart benefits?
The new changes to do not apply to recipients of the Purple Heart, however. Purple Heart recipients can transfer their benefits at any point in his or her military career. If your GI Bill benefits have already been transferred, the policy changes will not affect your transfer.
Can you transfer GI Bill to dependents?
Service members are able to transfer their GI Bill to dependents if the service member does not want to use the benefit for his or her own education. The Pentagon recently announced new rules on transferring benefits to dependents, however. Learn more about the changes and what you need to do to protect your GI Bill in 2019.
When will the GI Bill be transferred to dependents?
Effective Jan. 12, 2020, only members with less than 16 years of active duty or selected reserve service will be able to transfer their GI Bill to dependents
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.
How to reach out to TEB?
Reach out to your branch specific TEB Representative through MilConnect by going to Education Benefits and finding a link that takes you to Counselor or Contacts
How long does it take for the Army to respond to a request?
The Army’s website quotes one-to-five business days depending on the amount of pending requests.
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.
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.
How long does it take to transfer GI Bill to spouse?
Within about 30 days, you’ll either receive a Certificate of Eligibility in the mail.
Can I transfer my GI Bill to my girlfriend?
GI Bill benefits can only be transferred to eligible spouses or children, who must be enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS). Spouses. Spouses will not receive a monthly housing or book stipend while member is on active duty.
Do you have to reenlist to transfer GI Bill?
The Defense Department requires service members to commit to serve an additional four years in the military in order to transfer GI Bill benefits to a dependent. Prior to last week’s policy change, that requirement could be waived in some cases if it wasn’t possible for a service member to serve another four years.
Do you have to pay back Post-9/11 GI Bill?
By law, you are responsible for any debt incurred while receiving benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. VA is required by law to recoup any debt. You are responsible for keeping track of your tuition and fee account balance.
Can I get my GI Bill back?
In most cases, the answer is no, you cannot get a refund for your GI Bill. But some veterans may be eligible to receive a Montgomery GI Bill refund once they have used their entire Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit.
Is the GI Bill transferable?
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. The Service member must have at least six years of service and commit to an additional four years in order to transfer benefits.
How to contact the VA for benefits?
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.
What does TEB transfer status mean?
Once your TEB Service Representative approves your transfer request, the status shows as Request Approved along with the date your request was approved.
What is TEB in milconnect?
On milConnect's Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) page, eligible Service members can conveniently submit and manage their application for, and distribution of transferable benefits.
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.
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.
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.
Can you extend your dependent's eligibility?
A dependent's eligibility can be extended by the VA under certain conditions allowed by law. However, if an end date is established in the TEB system, the VA cannot grant extensions beyond that date.
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...