There is good news for those of you out there who bought into the GI Bill when you signed up for the military – you may be eligible to transfer your GI Bill to a spouse or child.
Who can transfer GI Bill benefits
You can only transfer GI Bill benefits if you are eligible for the Post 9-11 GI Bill and you meet one of the following criteria:
- At least 6 years of service on date of GI Bill transfer request, and you agree to serve 4 more years.
- 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 (this can come into play for high year tenure rules).
- Are retirement eligible from August 1, 2009 through August 1, 2012. (Member must sign up for one more year of service starting from the date the GI Bill benefits are transferred).
Who can receive transferred GI Bill benefits
GI Bill benefits can only be transferred to eligible spouses or children, who must be enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (EDERS).
Spouses.
- Can receive benefits immediately (starting August 1, 2009).
- Can use benefits for up to 15 years after the service member separates from active duty.
- May still use the benefits after a divorce if the military member agrees.
- Spouses will not receive a monthly housing or book stipend while member is on active duty.
Children.
- Can use benefits after the service member completes at least 10 years of service.
- Can use the benefits while the service member remains on active duty or after the member separates.
- Is eligible to receive a monthly housing or book stipend while member is on active duty.
- May receive benefits after marriage.
- Cannot use benefits unless they have a high school diploma or equivalent, or reach age 18.
- Cannot receive benefits after age 26.
Other important GI Bill Transfer notes
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. The benefits belong to the service member, and the intent of the GI Bill transfer program is not to change that.
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. This will not affect military members who are eligible for the Post 9-11 GI Bill, but who have already separated or retired from active duty.
Comments
Can I transfer my Montgomery GI bill to daughter who is 17. I retired March 31 2008.
Quentin, Unfortunately, not under the current system. You would still need to be on active duty and commit to extending your service time. Thanks for your service, and best of luck!
How do i apply for my refund on my G.I. Bill?
how do i find out if my gi bill got transferd over to my wife
28 OCT 2010
I want to know if I can transfer my 9/11 GI Bill to a biological daughter that is now 19 and a sophomore in college, was never enrolled in DEERS and was adopted by her step-father years ago and no longer my dependent?
I’m willing to transfer the benefit since I have no other children or spouse who could possibly take advantage of this.
BACKGROUND
I recently received an e-mail from my ex who I haven’t heard from but once in the last 15 years that she expects me to transfer my 9/11 GI Bill benefits to my biological daughter.
I can’t get HRC’s DEERS office to respond to several vm that I’ve left the past couple of weeks.
According to the 9/11 GI Bill website she has to be in DEERS and a dependent.
I’m not sure if I can enroll her now at this point since she was never enrolled in DEERS and my ex left when she was 2 years old [1993] and had her adopted by her new husband when she was 4 or 5 and therefore she’s no longer my dependent.
If anyone can point me to a specific section of the Bill/Law that covers this unique instance that would be great or a POC; e-mail address or phone number so that I can discuss in person vs. autoresponse websites which do nothing except send me back to the GI Bill website video.
Jim, I’m not the final authority – I recommend contacting the VA for more information. But it seems to me like it just isn’t possible if she isn’t your dependent in DEERS and has been adopted. I recommend contacting the VA and getting the rule in writing so you can forward it to your ex – that way she can’t reasonably place the blame on you.
Thanks Ryan – the VA told me to contact DEERS first – which has been a black hole so far. I’ll go online and find the nearest DEERS facility and show up to hopefully work w/someone face-to-face.
I appreciate your reply.
I wanted to find out if I can use the GI BIll that my husband already transferred to me on a certificate program…mainly a paramedic certification, or is it strictly for asscociates degrees.
I have been in the service for 2 years and I was wondering if there was any way of transferring my GI bill to my wife for school before I hit 6 years in the service.
Jose, unfortunately, I am not aware of a way to do so.
Hi, Is the Post 9/11 GI Bill the only one you can transfer? My husband has been in Army Reserve for 20 years but no active duty so would he even be eligible for this?
Shannon, Based on the information I have, the only GI Bill benefits that can be transferred are the Post-9-11 GI Bill benefits. If your husband has spent time on Active Duty since the 9-11 attacks, he may qualify for the Post-9-11 GI Bill. I recommend he look into it by contacting his education or personnel department. Best of luck!
I completed 20 years of service on April 31st of 1998. I originally entered the service on July 31 of 1974, My child is i her second year of college. Can I transfer my GI Bill to her? V/R Joseph Hals
Joseph, Most likely not, as you need to be active duty to be able to transfer your GI Bill. Additionally, if you fall under the Montgomery GI Bill, you would need to use your benefit within 10 years of separation from the service. You may contact the VA if you need more information or clarification. Best of luck, and thanks for your service!
Hello,
My husband only has 6 months left of benefits from his active duty Gi bill. Does he get more money for his reserve gi bill? How does that work?
Sara, Active Duty GI Bill and Reserve GI Bill are very different benefits. It also depends on whether he is using the Montgomery GI Bill, or the Post-9/11 GI Bill. If he is using the Montgomery GI Bill, he may be able to switch to the Post-9/11 GI Bill to gain several more months of benefits. My recommendation is to have him call a GI Bill representative at the VA so they can access his records and give him specific information to his situation.
after marriage can childern use gi bill for nursing school was in army from 69 to 71
Johnny, There is a time limit to use the GI Bill, and in most cases it expires within 10 years of separating from the service. I recommend contacting the VA if you believe you have benefits which you may still be eligible for. The VA can look up your specific case and give you the relevant information you need.
Thanks for your service.
Need to update information or atleast put everything on here it says can’t receive after 26. That is false because you can’t receive the day you are 23.unless already enrolled. Sucks for people that just found it can be transferred and my 23rd birthday was in Nov.
My husband is getting ready to transfer more of his GI Bill to me so I can finish my degree. What happens to the months he transfers me that I do not use/won’t need? Does he have to transfer them back to himself, cancel what I have left so they go back to him, or what? Thanks!