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, 2020) require members to transfer their GI bill no later than the end of their 16th year of service. Additionally, all members must be eligible to serve an additional four years in order to transfer their GI Bill benefits to a family member.
More information on GI Bill transfer eligibility is found below.
Update: Additional changes may be coming soon to transferred GI Bill benefits. Recent legislation would cut the Monthly Housing Allowance in half if the benefit is transferred to children (those who have already made the transfer will be grandfathered into the current system with a 100% housing allowance for children). Those who are thinking about transferring this benefit should do so ASAP to avoid reduced benefits for their children. Read more about the GI Bill transfer changes.
Who Can Transfer GI Bill Benefits
The GI Bill benefits transfer policy is designed as a retention tool to entice mid-career service members to commit to additional military service. Because of this, eligibility rules target those members based on their service time and eligibility to serve an additional four-year service commitment.
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. This change was originally scheduled to go into effect starting July 12, 2019. However, the military recently pushed this back to January 12, 2020, to give more time for military members to make the transfer. This applies to all current military members and their families.
Post-9/11 GI Bill Transfer Eligibility Rules:
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:
- 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).
Note: Each branch can implement the transfer rules based on DoD policy. Please see your Human Resources or personnel office for more information or to start the transfer of your benefits. Your branch will be able to help you start the transfer process, ensure you are eligible to serve an additional 4 years and help you extend your service commitment.
Members Who Are No Longer Eligible to Transfer the GI Bill
Changes to the DoD GI Bill Transfer policy have removed the ability for some service members to transfer their GI Bill to family members. These changes have been made in keeping with the intent of the GI Bill transfer policy, which is to serve as a retention tool.
No Longer Eligible – Retirement Eligible Service Members:
The original law grandfathered in certain service members near retirement if they were not able to serve an additional 4-year service commitment. The original bill allowed those who
- “Are retirement eligible from August 1, 2009 through August 1, 2012 to transfer their GI Bill, provided the member agreed to serve one more year of service starting from the date the GI Bill benefits are transferred.”
Why this provision was removed: This provision was included in the original law to give all current service members the opportunity to transfer their GI Bill to family members. 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. Retirement eligible members can still transfer GI Bill benefits through July 11, 2019, provided they are eligible to extend their service commitment an additional 4 years.
No Longer Eligible – 10+ Years of Service, but Ineligible to Extend 4 More Years:
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.”
Why this provision was removed: This provision was removed with the 2018 policy update. The new policy removed the ability for members to transfer benefits if they cannot extend 4 more years of service. This most frequently impacts those who run into High Year Tenure rules, Time in Grade, mandatory retirement laws, or inability to extend due to medical or administrative reasons. The provision was removed in keeping with the intention of the GI Bill transfer policy, which is to serve as a retention tool.
What to Do if the Transfer Changes Impact You
I’m a big believer in taking advantage of benefits as soon as you are able, just in case policies change. The Post-9/11 GI Bill transfer is a prime example of this.
If you are eligible to transfer the Post-9/11 GI Bill to your family members and are planning on staying in another four years, then don’t wait. This is especially true if you are at or near the 16-year mark (or have already surpassed the 16-year service mark). After July 12, 2019, you will no longer be able to transfer your benefits if you have surpassed 16 years of service.
To top it off, there has been a lot of talk of changing the benefits for dependents who receive the transferred GI Bill benefits. Under current law, children are eligible to receive the monthly housing allowance when they attend school using the GI Bill. There has been discussion of removing that benefit, as it was intended to help the veteran obtain housing after separating from the military; it was not originally intended to pay for housing for dependents. The proposal would eliminate the housing allowance for dependents.
If you are considering transferring the GI Bill to your family members, please do it now.
Remember, you choose how to allocate how your GI Bill benefits are disbursed among your family members and you can revoke or change the allocation at any time. You can even make changes after you separate or retire from the military. You can always change your mind regarding how you will distribute the months of benefits you transfer.
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 (DEERS).
Spouses.
- Can receive benefits immediately (starting August 1, 2009).
- Can use GI Bill 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
This only applies to the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This does not apply to the Montgomery GI Bill program.
Transfers must be made while the member is still serving. Members are not eligible to transfer benefits once they have already retired or separated from the military.
What if You Are Unable to Complete 4 Years After You Transfer the GI Bill?
Members who transfer their benefits and extend 4 years, but are not able to complete 4 years of service, need to seek guidance from the VA. 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. It is recommended each member consult with their Human Resources, Personnel office, or the VA for more information.
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. The benefits belong to the service member, and the intent of the GI Bill transfer program is not to change that.
Transfers Are Revocable and Allocations Can be Changed at Any Time
Members are encouraged to transfer benefits if they are eligible to do so because they can always change their mind. The minimum transfer is one month of benefits.
For example, I am eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. I have 36 months of benefits. I am married with two children. To begin with, I transferred 1 month of GI Bill benefits to each of my dependents, and still have 33 months to use for myself. I can change this allocation of benefits at any time.
To make changes, log into your MilConnect account and update the number of months you are transferring to each individual (up to the maximum allowed). This can be found under:
- MilConnect Home –> Benefits –> Transfer of Education Benefits
Remember, there is no downside to transferring your benefits because you can always go back and change how the transferred benefits are allocated.
Changes Are Limited Once You Separate or 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.
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 is part of the reason why the new law was passed which limits members to transferring their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits no later than their 16th year of service. Once they reach 16 years of service, an additional 4 years will bring them to retirement eligibility and there is no longer a need to entice the members to continue their military service.
These GI Bill transfer rules will not apply military members who are eligible for the Post 9-11 GI Bill, but who have already separated or retired from active duty – all transfers must be made while the member is still in military service.
My Mom transferred her benefits to me before she retired and this is my final year of college. However, I will turn 26 in the middle of the school year. Will I still receive money for the remainder of school year or will it end the month after my birthday?
Because of my medical training, I owe the Air Force 5 more years of residency and then 7 years of service as a physician. If I transfer my benefits to my daughter, does the 4-year commitment get added on to my total or do I complete it concurrently with my other commitments?
Thanks for your help.
Can I leave my GI bill benefits to my stepdaughter even though I plan to divorce her mother
I am no longer active duty. I got medical discharge after serving 3 years and also have received 100% disability. Can I transfer my GI Bill to my daughter?
I am retired from the Military and have been placed in the retired reserve. If I am subject to call back, why can’t I still transfer my post 9/11 educational benefits to my children.
I am currently in the Army, prior service Navy. My LES says that I have 8 years in service. That means that I will need two more years to be eligible. I am being told that after I transfer my education benefits, I will owe the Army 3 years. How true is that?
I have a question about after the benifits are transfered to my daughter from my exhusband for the 911 gi bill. He is retired for a few yeara now. She has been receiving them for 2 years and now he is trying to have the money sent to his bank account instead of hers… its a long story with him but just needing to know if he can do that… thanks
Do I have to pay back the entitlements for the GI bill if I dont finish my additional 4 year commitment in the guard, or if all of those years aren’t “good years”?
Question. I have 2.5 years until my contract ends. I am on the fence if I want to stay in for additional service or join the private sector at that time. I would like to transfer the benefit to my wife (currently I have 9 years in) and then transfer it to my child once we have one (planning to in the next year). My questions are: 1. Can I transfer it to my child once they’re born and not incur additional service after that date? (My wife would have it for ~1 year and then I can transfer it to my child and only have to serve 3 more years, or would that reset the 4 year clock?) 2. If I name my wife as the beneficiary, and I decide to get out at the end of my contract, would the benefit revert to me or would I lose… Read more »
I have been retired for over a year. When I was active, I transferred my Post-911 GI Bill to my dependents. I am now wanting to go back to college to get my Master’s Degree. Is it possible for me to transfer some of my GI Bill back to myself so that I can use it for college?
Hello, I want to transfer my GI Bill back to myself from my dependent, how do I go about completing this? Thanks!
My husband did 22 years in the Army… When he retired, he did not transfer his GI Bill over. Can my kids still use it to go to college? He was in Iraq for 2 years.
I learned the hard way about the changes to the GI Bill and transferring education benefits to spouses. It is a shame to gyp military spouses who sacrificed so much for their husband’s career. In 2012 when my husband was going through TAPS they were still notifying members to transfer their benefits just before retirement. However, the rules were being changed requiring 2 more years of service, which was not possible already being at 22 years as a MSgt in the AF. We learned of this change last year when I started my graduate degree and was denied his benefits. I have enjoyed the $20,000 price tag of my master’s on a teacher salary. Quite a shame that this is how we treat spouses, especially after 22 years of service to the military. It would have been different if he had not been incorrectly briefed and we had known.
Hello, My father retired after 24 years in the Army at E09, and I am currently using his GI Bill benefits. I have ~2 months of eligibility left, and initially there was to be a full payment for my schooling and monthly stipend in the upcoming fall semester. I received an EOC stating that this full amount would be covered, but shortly after I received another stating that this had been shortened and my eligibility would only range from 08/26/19 – 09/28/19. I have read that the VA will honor the semesters benefits no matter the length of edibility left, as long as it does not exceed 40 months. My school is not participating in the Yellow Ribbon program at this time. My father passed away three years ago and can no longer help me with this matter. I have also sent in an appeal to this, but have not… Read more »
Ryan,
My husband retired from AD after almost 21 years of service ( Nov 2010) Our youngest son graduates in May of 2020 from high school. Is what I’m reading true that my husband can not transfer any of the GI to our youngest?
My husband has been in the navy reserves since 2007, he wanted to Transfer 12 months of his eligible benefits to me. His transfer was approved but then when I applied for them, they denied it saying he doesn’t have 90 days worth of active duty. I don’t see how that’s possible with him completing two weeks of AT a year for the past 11 years? And also why would his transfer be approved at all. This doesn’t many sense to me and now I don’t know what to do for school.
I have applied for post 911 GI bill benefits and have received an acceptance for 36 months. I was prior active duty for 11 years and got out in 2005. I have recently joined the National Guard and have applied to transfer my benefits to my children. My question is, on my acceptance letter, it states my benefits will expire 15 years after my last active duty date, which will be July 2020. I called the VA and they informed me I would have to get active duty Title 10 orders to “reset the clock”. I was also told by my command that once I transfer benefits, there will be no expiration date as long as I serve for an additional 4 years. The expiration date only applies to me using the benefits, not my children. Do I need to get some active duty days (Title 10 or Title 32… Read more »
Hi
I have transferred my GI Bill to my daughter and have been approved. Right now she is 6 years old. Is there a time that this benefit will expire after I retire? I will be eligible to retire in 2021, she will be almost 8 at the time. I guess my question is, will she be able to use the GI Bill after almost 10 years of my retirement? Thanks
Hello Ryan,
My husband was medically discharged from the Army and is now 100% disabled. He has used some of his GI bill but it is not easy for him to go to school and likely will not be able to use the rest of his GI Bill. I do receive Chapter 35 but was wondering if it was possible to have him transfer his Post 9/11 GI Bill to me?
Hello. I am a reservist and I have already transferred my benefits to my kids. My question is that I may not be allowed to re-enlist but still need to serve two more years for my 4 year obligation. I have 21 years and can retire. The reason I may not be able to re-enlist is potentially because I am unable to deploy due to a heart condition, even though I informed my command several years ago about my condition, but now that a deployment is looming, and my end of contract is approaching, it doesn’t seem likely they will allow me to re-enlist. Would this mean my kids cannot use the GI Bill now? And should I transfer it back to myself before I get out? Thanks.
Hello! Can my husband transfer his GI Bill to my son, his stepson? He lives with us and is in DEERS as a dependent of my husband, but has not been adopted.
I am a military officer that just hit the 6 year mark and I am interested in transferring to my child. Does the “agreement to serve 4 additional years” lock you into service? Does it mean you are signing up for 4 more years that you MUST serve, or does it mean you must serve 4 additional years to complete the transfer but you could leave sooner than the 4 years if you want.
In other words, if I elect to transfer education benefits and then decide to separate in a year or two does the transfer then become void? I am on the fence right now about staying in for another tour, but I could start the 4 year clock now. I cannot commit to the whole 4 years until I find out if I promote and see the lay of the land for my career.
I tried to transfer my GI Bill to my spouse and was told no because I don’t have time left to fulfill since it has now became a tool to get Soldiers to reenlist which is not how it should be. but with that it say “. This is especially true if you are at or near the 16-year mark (or have already surpassed the 16-year service mark). After July 12, 2019, you will no longer be able to transfer your benefits if you have surpassed 16 years of service.’ So I should be able to transfer still until that date correct?
Hello , I retired and received 100% disability from the Navy Feb-2019 and I am looking to transfer my post 9-11 to my daughter. I couldn’t transfer before but now I am 100 percent I need help. what is the steps I need to do?
I served Active Duty during 911 and retired after 22 years 2003 and was told I could not transfer to my children as this was set up for retention! Why wasn’t everyone who was active duty grandfathered and could do whatever they wanted with the bill? I asked my Senator and Congress about this and they promised to get back with me. I knew that was smoke being blown up my rear! I served when you had to wait for a letter and now active duty military have internet everywhere, cell phones and I lose my GI bill because I only had 15 years to use it and could not transfer to my children. I served during the Gulf war 1990, so my mental state was not into college again. This is a stinking rotten example of how veterans are treated. I understand why so many commit suicide! I contacted… Read more »
Hello,
My wife is a veteran and has used all of her post 9/11 GI Bill. I am eligible to transfer my remaining GI Bill benefit since I have 10+ years in service, and have already re-enlisted for five years. Is my wife able to receive my GI Bill transfer, or is she ineligible since she has already used her own GI Bill? I’ve looked everywhere online for info on this, but have not seen this situation anywhere. Thanks,
If my husband is seperated from the National Guard due to forced Medical Retirement due to disabilities is he still able to transfer his GI benefits?
Currently in the middle of divorce from a service member. If member is active duty, and is able to transfer GI Bill benefits to spouse, as part of the divorce settlement. Will former spouse receive the housing allowance and the book stipend while member is active duty? Retired?
My husband transferred his education benefits to me (spouse) before separation. Now that he is. I cannot find out if the benefits transferred or not. He served six years of the Army National Guard with a deployment. There is no record of it anywhere and I have nursing school coming up. What do we need to do?
I am an Academy grad and will hit my 8 year mark next month. My understanding is that my 5-year payback for the Academy does not count towards the accrual of GI Bill Benefits. However, am I correct in thinking that 3 years beyond my initial 5-year commitment makes me eligible for 100% GI Bill Benefits?
Secondly, as it pertains to transferring these benefits. I have my spouse and son in DEERS, and want to transfer my benefits to them. However, we have a baby on the way due in October and want to transfer benefits to the baby as well. If I transfer my benefits now to my wife and son prior to the baby being born, and being enrolled in DEERS, will I be able to allocated benefits to the baby once they are eventually enrolled in DEERS?
Hello Ryan, Thank you for all of the valuable information. My husband generously transferred me 24 months of his Post 911 GI bill. I have been working hard at completely a dual BSN/MSN program and graduate my BSN in August and MSN in December. He has 4 months and 4 days remaining in his name. He is retiring after 30 years this December. The plan was for him to return to school after I graduate and am employed FT. He has a BS in Healthcare Management and has found an online MBA program he’d like to start next month. His online program BAH is considerably less than my FT in-class program in San Francisco. We have two questions: 1. If he were to transfer me an additional 4 months, would his first-semester tuition be paid with him only having 4 days left? The SF BAH could offset a lot more… Read more »
Hello, I am at 17 years as a E-6 and still can meet the new HYT of 22 years in order to get the 4 year commitment. My issue is that I am currently on an extension until November. Wouldn’t I be allowed to re-enlist in order to meet that commitment and transfer my benefits before the July deadline?
My son n law is active duty Army. He transferred his GI Bill to my granddaughter who is away at college in student housing. She uses her monthly stipend for this and her car and insurance, orthdonist and cell phone, none of which my daughter or sil pay. The school recently refunded some money due to the Gi monies coming late and the school used her pell and scholarship monies first. Normally they would refund those monies after gi bill was applied. Anyway my daughte wants my granddaughter to give them this refund stating its her stepfathers benefits and he has a right to it. So they took it and they are not saving it for her. They are planning to use it on their bills and an upcoming vacation. i confirmed this and i do not think this is right. Does she have recourse or does she have to… Read more »
My son dropped from my DEERS account when he turned 21, as he was not a full time student. He is now 22 years old and enrolling in college full time. He is also in the Marine Corps (Reserves).
Can I add him back to my DEERS account before his 23rd birthday under the student/education status ONLY and transfer my benefits to him?
Hi Ryan,
Thank you for all the great info on your website. One question on this. I transferred my GI bill benefits to my children back in 2014 and my 4 year mark was Jan 18. I was medically discharged as service connected at 100% in Dec 17 (two weeks short of 4 years). Am I able to do a waiver since it was a service connected medical discharge? I appreciate any info.
I started drawing on my Post 9/11 in Spring 2018 for one class one semester. I have have not been back to get my Masters since. I now have a baby on the way and would like to transfer my Post 9/11 benefit. He will be born in July, is this possible with no required end date to use the benefit too?
Hi,
I have the same question as Keith. I am recently married and have ~19 years of service. According to the new rules, I have to transfer my Post 911 GI bill benefits before 12JUL2019. If I transfer all my benefits to my wife today because I have no children, can I re-allocate my benefits to any children if/when they are born?
My grandchild is 19 years old and lives with us. She wants to attend college but her dad won’t let her have any of his GI bill. He is active duty now. Isn’t he responsible for educating his child? She has tried to get a grant to go to school but he won’t give his tax information to the college. Any help would be appreciated.
Would my child receive BAH even though she lives with me while attending college? I’m still active duty, therefore, I’m getting my own BAH.
Thanks,
-Rod
If I transfer all my benefits to my wife today because I have no children, can I re-allocate my benefits to any children once they are born? Does it incur more service time (i.e. 4 years after the most recent transfer)?
I just started the final class of my Masters program and am going to transfer the remainder of my benefits to my son. Do I need to wait until I finish the class and graduate in May or can I do it now? Thank you.
If benefits were transferred to a dependent child and that child subsequently joins active duty, are the transferred benefits still available to the newly active duty Service Member? What about when he meets eligibility criteria for his own Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit?
I just need to know, when one who is eligible to receive the GI Bill, can they transfer said bill to an ex-spouse even though the former service member has chosen the bill for themselves, and do both parties then lose out on this benefit?
So my daughter lives with her mom who is active duty and obviously has her in DEERS. I am a air national guard member, who is eligible to transfer post 9/11 GI bill. However my wife is my dependent in DEERS and my daughter is with her mom in DEERS. I am not sure how to transfer the GI Bill to my daughter. If I go ahead and make the transfer to my wife’s name since she is already my dependent maybe that will help and later on is there a way to give it to my daughter?
Non of my children were interest in using my Post 911. I’m wondering, could I transfer my school benefits to a Daughter In-Law or is it bound to the definition of Family…i.e. blood, adoption, under the age of 26 etc.?
I transferred my benefits got approved but retired earlier than intended. Is there a waiver I can try to run to keep my transferred eligibility to my dependents that was approved since I stayed for more than 24 years?
My father was 100% disabled and I received chapter 35 benefits from him. Later on in life I married is was eliblige for benefits through my spouse. But the VA send my 45 months were up. How is this when it was my first time using the benefits through my spouse?
Hello, I have a student whose dad served in the marines from ’78 to ’86 in Vietnam. He never used any benefits to go to college. Now, his son is going to be going to college next year. Are there any transferrable college scholarship benefits that his son can use.
Thanks for the advice.
Kenneth
It says the GI Bill can be used by dependents up until they are 26 years old. But I was told I can’t transfer it to my son because he is older than 23? Why is there this discrepancy? Why not let them use as much as they can until they reach 26.
I transferred my GI benefits to my wife at the time back in 2011, and in 2015 she used it for 2 classes. Since then we were divorced as of 2017. Am I able to transfer those benefits to my kids instead, now that she is no longer my spouse? Also, if I were to get remarried to a different to someone else, would I be able to transfer those benefits to my new spouse? I am still active duty in the USAF, 13/20yrs. Thanks