How to Transfer Your GI Bill Benefits to a Child
Understand how to transfer your Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits to your child. Learn the eligibility, transfer steps, and dependent usage.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides educational benefits for service members, allowing many to pursue higher education or vocational training. Eligible service members can transfer unused education benefits to their immediate family members, including children. This transferability can ease the financial burden of college tuition and other educational expenses for military families. This article provides guidance through the process of transferring Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to a child, covering eligibility, the transfer process, and how the benefits can be used.
Service Member Eligibility and Obligations
Service members must meet specific Department of Defense (DoD) criteria to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to a child. This benefit is a retention incentive. Service members must be on active duty or in the Selected Reserve at the time of the transfer request.
They must complete at least six years of service by the transfer request approval date. They must also agree to serve an additional four years from the transfer request date. If a service member fails to fulfill this additional service obligation, any benefits already paid on behalf of a transferee may need to be reimbursed to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Limited exceptions exist for the four-year additional service commitment. Purple Heart recipients may transfer benefits regardless of their years of service, though the request must still be made while on active duty. If a service member is unable to complete their service obligation due to certain force-shaping events, such as involuntary separation, they may retain their eligibility to transfer benefits. The dependent receiving the benefits must be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) at the time of the transfer request.
Designating and Transferring Benefits
After meeting eligibility, service members designate and transfer benefits through the Department of Defense’s online portal. The milConnect website is the primary platform for initiating a Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) request. Here, the service member formally designates which eligible dependent, such as a child, will receive the transferred entitlement.
Within milConnect, service members specify the number of months of entitlement to transfer to each selected dependent. Service members can transfer all or a portion of their unused Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement, up to a maximum of 36 months if no benefits have been used. The service member retains the ability to revoke or modify transferred benefits through milConnect, provided the dependent has not yet begun using them.
After submission through milConnect, the Department of Defense reviews and approves the transfer request. This confirms the service member has met all necessary service obligations and criteria. Service members should monitor their request status within milConnect for updates and approval confirmation. Once DoD approves, the child can apply to the Department of Veterans Affairs to use the benefits.
Child’s Application for Benefits
After DoD approves the service member’s transfer request, the child must apply directly to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to use the transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. The application form is VA Form 22-1990e, “Application for Family Member to Use Transferred Benefits.” This form can be found and submitted online through the VA website, or downloaded and mailed. If the child is under 18 years old, the service member will need to apply on their behalf using the PDF version of VA Form 22-1990e. The application requires information about the child and the service member, confirming the approved transfer.
The VA may require supporting documentation, such as proof of enrollment in an approved educational program, along with the completed VA Form 22-1990e. After processing, the VA issues a Certificate of Eligibility to the child. This document confirms eligibility and outlines remaining entitlement, which is important for their educational institution.
Understanding Benefit Usage and Limitations
Transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits have specific rules and limitations for child usage. A child cannot begin using benefits until they obtain a high school diploma or equivalent, or reach 18 years of age. The service member must also have completed at least 10 years of service for the child to begin using benefits. Children must use the benefits before turning 26 years old.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers tuition and fees paid directly to the educational institution, a monthly housing allowance based on the school’s location, and a stipend for books and supplies. The monthly housing allowance and books and supplies stipend can be received by the child even while the service member remains on active duty. Tuition and fees are paid directly to the school, while the housing allowance and book stipend are sent directly to the student. Students should maintain continuous enrollment, as breaks can impact the monthly housing allowance. The student can verify their remaining benefits and status through the VA’s online systems.