Transferring your Post-9/11 GI Bill to your spouse or children

What it is

The Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) lets a service member give unused Post-9/11 GI Bill months to a spouse or dependent children. Up to 36 months of unused benefits can be transferred.

Who qualifies

• You have completed at least 6 years of service on the date your request is approved, and you agree to add 4 more years of service.
• Purple Heart recipients do not need to meet a service requirement, but must still request the transfer while on active duty.
• Your family members must be enrolled in DEERS.
• Children must have a high school diploma or equivalent, or be at least 18, and be younger than 26.

What it gives your family

• Spouses can use transferred benefits right away, with no time limit if you separated on or after January 1, 2013.
• Children can use them only after you have finished at least 10 years of service.
• While you are on active duty, a spouse gets the books and supplies stipend but not the monthly housing stipend. A child gets both. After you leave active duty, both get both. See the DoD page below.

How to do it, step by step

1. While you are still on active duty, request a TEB from DoD through milConnect. You cannot request it from VA.
2. Watch the status in milConnect.
3. When it is approved, your family member fills out VA Form 22-1990E.
4. VA issues a Certificate of Eligibility, and your family member gives it to the school.

You can cancel or change the transfer of any benefits VA has not yet awarded, through milConnect.

Deadlines and traps

• Start the request early. It has to be approved before your separation date.
• You must complete any added service commitment your branch requires.
• Dependents stay eligible if you separate because of illness, injury, a hardship discharge or a medical condition, but not for other reasons, according to VA.

Where to call and where to go

Phone

• VA questions on the transfer: GI Bill hotline 1-888-442-4551, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET (TTY: 711). Source: benefits.va.gov GI Bill. The transfer request itself is made in milConnect, not by phone to VA.
• Ask VA (send VA a question online)

Official pages

• milConnect (DoD): where you request the transfer
• VA: Transfer your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits
• VA: Transferred benefits for family members
• Apply for GI Bill benefits (family members)

Free accredited help

• Find an accredited representative (attorney, claims agent or Veterans Service Organization representative)