First, let’s start with the basics.

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How Long Is The GI Bill Good For After Retirement?

The validity of your GI Bill benefits depends on when you separated from the military.

If you left the service before January 1, 2013, you have 15 years to use all the benefits you have earned- otherwise, you lose whatever benefits you have left after the 15-year limit.

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But if you separated on or after January 1, 2013, your benefits fall under the Forever GI Bill, which means that there is no expiration to your benefits!

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If you fall under the first category, you might feel the need to start using your benefits as early as possible.

Although you can start using your GI Bill benefits while you are still active duty- that is, as soon as you meet the minimum required time of your active duty service- the best option is still for you to use your benefits after you separate from the military.

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This way, you can make the most of your benefits, as there are certain limitations on what benefits and how much of these benefits you can use while on active duty.

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But, what if you don't have any concrete plans on using your GI Bill benefits, and yet don't want them to go to waste?

Is the GI Bill Transferable?

The good news is that you have the option to transfer your unused benefits to your eligible spouse or children while you are still on active duty.

This became possible in 2009 and currently only applies to the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

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This applies whether you are in the active duty service or the Selected Reserve, and whether you are an enlisted military member or an officer.

You can also transfer your benefits to as many dependents as you want- spouse and/or children.

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To be able to transfer your GI Bill benefits, you must meet certain requirements:

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How Long Do I Have to Be in the Military to Transfer my GI Bill?

The minimum requirement to be eligible to transfer your GI Bill benefits is that you should have served on active duty for at least 6 years on or after August 1, 2009.

But, transferring benefits also comes with an additional obligation to serve for 4 more years.

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Exception To Transfer Policy

Alternatively, you can also qualify to transfer GI Bill benefits if you have served for at least 10 years, but cannot commit to serving 4 more years due to a regulation.

This could be due to mandatory retirement, high-year tenure, or medical reasons such as disability.

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New GI Bill Transfer Rule

It is important to note that there is new legislation regarding transferring your GI Bill benefits, which went into effect on July 12, 2019.

Under this new rule, only active duty service members with less than 16 years of service are allowed to transfer their unused GI Bill benefits to their dependents. Once you pass the 16-year limit, you can only use your benefits yourself.

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One silver lining to this restriction:

Service members who were wounded in combat are automatically excluded to both this 16-year limit and the 4-year service commitment requirement if they wish to transfer their benefits.

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Can I Transfer My GI Bill Benefits After Separation From the Military?

Many service members don't realize (until after separation/retirement) that they would rather transfer their GI Bill benefits to their dependents.

This is especially true for veterans with kids who are going to college; figuring out how to come up with tuition fees payments.

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The problem is, under most circumstances, you can only transfer your GI Bill benefits to your dependents while you are still on active duty service.

What you can do as a veteran is only to reallocate benefits to your dependents who are already receiving transferred benefits.

The best way around this:

Add all your eligible dependents as recipients of your GI Bill benefits while you are still in the service. Transferring even just a month of benefits entitlement will put them in the system.

Later on, you can always reallocate your benefits among yourself and your dependents.

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Having said these things, there are a couple of scenarios where GI Bill benefits may be transferred after leaving the service.

These are:

• If the service member died while on active duty on or after August 1, 2009,
• If a dependent receiving transferred benefits died on or after August 1, 2009, or
• If the service member separated from the service between August 1, 2009 and November 1, 2009

We will go into detail on each of these scenarios in a bit (or you can skip to the section on Exemptions to the Active Duty Rule).

But first, let us answer the most common question with regards to transferring GI Bill benefits:

Who can you transfer them to?

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The basic rule is that only eligible dependents- spouse and children- who are registered in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS) can receive transferred GI Bill benefits.

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There are certain rules and restrictions on dependents using transferred benefits. We'll go into detail on some of these below:

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Can I Transfer the GI Bill to My Spouse?

Yes, you can transfer unused GI Bill benefits to your spouse. Here are the rules and restrictions:

• When can the recipient start using the benefits? 
  • Your spouse can use transferred benefits immediately- as soon as the transfer request is processed and approved.
• Is there a time limit to using transferred benefits?
  • If you separated from the service before January 1, 2013, your spouse has 15 years to use transferred benefits. Otherwise, there is no time limit to using GI Bill benefits.
• Are there restrictions?
  • If your spouse uses transferred benefits while you are still on active duty, he/she is not eligible to receive a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA).
• Other important notes?
  • Your spouse can continue using transferred benefits even after you legally separate or get divorced, as long as the transfer was done while you were still married.

Can I Transfer the GI Bill to My Child?

Yes, you can transfer unused GI Bill benefits to your child. Here are the rules and restrictions:

• When can the recipient start using the benefits?
  • Your child can start using transferred benefits after you have served for at least 10 years on active duty, and once the child secures a high school diploma (or equivalent), or turns 18 years old.
• Is there a time limit to using transferred benefits?
  • A child who is using transferred benefits can only use these benefits until he/she turns 26 years old.
• Are there restrictions?
  • In terms of housing, no. A child receiving transferred benefits can still get MHA if he/she uses the benefits while you are on active duty.
• Other important notes?
  • Transferred benefits can be divided among your children, and they can continue using these benefits even after they get married (as long as they are below 26 years old). 

Can I Transfer the GI Bill to My Siblings, Parents, or Relatives?

No. The option to transfer GI Bill benefits is currently only available to spouses and children dependents.

Can I Transfer the GI Bill to an Unborn Child?

No, simply because anyone receiving transferred benefits must be registered in DEERS.

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But, what if you have a child after you separate from the military? Does that mean you don't have any option to transfer benefits to this new member of the family?

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Sadly, the answer is still no. But this might change soon! 

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The Veteran Education and Transfer Extension Act was recently introduced by Senator Cory Booker, which aims to allow veterans to transfer benefits to their spouse or children if they get married or have children after they retire from the service.

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Exemptions to the Active Duty Rule

Now, let's talk about the scenarios wherein you can transfer GI Bill benefits after your separation from the military. As we mentioned earlier, these are:

• If the service member died while on active duty on or after August 1, 2009,
• If a dependent receiving transferred benefits died on or after August 1, 2009, or
• If the service member separated from the service between August 1, 2009 and November 1, 2009

Here is how you can go about in transferring benefits under these scenarios:

How to Transfer the GI Bill of a Deceased Benefit Recipient

Transferring GI Bill benefits of deceased service members (or dependents using transferred benefits) to their surviving dependents is now possible through the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Assistance Act of 2017.

This works for those who died after August 1, 2009.

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Here is how you can do it:

If you are an active duty service member or a veteran transferring benefits of a deceased dependent to another dependent (or yourself):

Submit a written request to the VA through the Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) website. Through this website, you can designate, modify, and revoke existing transfers. 

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However, this only works if the dependent you want to transfer the benefits to is already enrolled in DEERS.

If not, you and and the dependent will have to process the transfer in person, by going to a Real-Time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS) center. Make sure to bring 2 proofs of identification.

If you are a surviving dependent transferring to another dependent (or yourself):

Reach out to the nearest Regional Processing Office in person, or online through the Submit a Question button on the GI Bill website.

(If you are new to the system, you have to first create a user ID and login) 

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Select the Colmery Section 110 from the list, and provide the following information:

• Your full name and Social Security Number
• The name and date of death of the service member
• The name of the dependent to receive transferred benefits
• The relationship of the dependent to the deceased service member

For more information, you may visit the VA website.

How to Transfer the GI Bill Under the Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer Waiver

Since the option to transfer GI Bill benefits to dependents only became available in 2009, not many are aware of this option. 

The Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer Waiver was created for those who separated from the service between August 1, 2009 and November 1, 2009, who may not have known about the possibility of transferring benefits and left the military before they could do so.

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To request for a transfer of benefits, here’s what you should do:

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Contact the Record Correction Boards and file for a Correction of Military Record.

Fill out the DD Form 149 and explain your case. You can get the form as well as instructions and contact details for your service branch through this link.

The board will determine whether you can be allowed to transfer benefits on a case to case basis.

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When transferring your GI Bill benefits, it’s best to first talk about it with a career counselor in your service branch. If you’re already out of the service, you can still reach out to them through the contact details listed here.

Whether it’s you or your dependents who will be using the GI Bill educational benefits, there are a lot of amazing opportunities just for the taking.

Find out about the 29,000+ opportunities on how to use your GI Bill benefits by visiting milversity.com/explore