Transferring VA Education Benefits

Q: Can I transfer my VA education benefits to a dependent?

A: With both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Veterans Educational Assistance Program, a veteran may not transfer any benefits to a dependent or spouse. However, education benefits may be transferred with the Post-9/11 GI Bill under certain criteria.

If you have at least 90 days of aggregate active duty service after Sept. 10, 2001, and are still on active duty, or if you are an honorably discharged veteran or were discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days, you may be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The transferability option under the Post-9/11 GI Bill allows servicemembers to transfer all or some unused benefits to their spouse or dependent children. Once the Department of Defense (DoD) approves benefits for transfer, the new beneficiaries apply for them through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Eligible servicemembers may transfer all 36 months or the portion of unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.

Family members must be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System and be eligible for benefits at the time of transfer to receive the education benefits. The option to transfer is open to military servicemembers who are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and meet the following criteria:

  • Has at least six years of service in the armed forces on the date of approval and agrees to serve four additional years in the armed forces from the date of election; or has at least 10 years of service in the armed forces on the date of approval; or is precluded by either standard policy or statute from committing to four additional years and agrees to serve for the maximum amount of time allowed by such policy or statute.
  • Is or becomes retirement-eligible and agrees to serve an additional four years of service on or after Aug. 1, 2012. A servicemember is considered to be retirement-eligible if he or she has completed 20 years of active federal service or 20 qualifying years as computed.

Transfer requests are submitted and approved while the member is in the armed forces. Family members may apply to use transferred benefits with VA form 22-1990e. The form should only be completed and submitted to VA by the family member after DoD has approved the request for transfer of education benefits.

Denied Benefits?

If you served in the military and now find yourself denied benefits, we can help.

Visit our blog.

Veterans Day

Veterans Day 2024

In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I. In 1938, November 11th became a federal

Read More »
Book veterans benefits on a big flag

VA Benefits and Disaster Relief

When a natural disaster strikes, the last thing you want to worry about is your VA benefits.  Luckily, the VA is aware of the recent spike in extreme weather, including Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton,

Read More »
Vets National Logo White

Request a Free Consultation

Contact Us

Follow Us

PRIOR RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE A SIMILAR OUTCOME. VETSNATIONAL IS OWNED BY MATTAR LLC VETERANS ADVOCATES WHICH IS NOT A LAW FIRM. WE ARE VETERANS ADVOCATES AND WORK WITH DISABILITY HELP GROUP (DHG) WHEN HELPING VETERANS WITH DENIED DISABILITY CLAIMS AND THEY WILL RESPOND TO CONTACTS FROM OUR WEBSITE. NO CLIENT-LAWYER RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED WITH THE COMPANY. THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT. COSTS AND EXPENSES ARE CLAIMANT’S RESPONSIBILITY. SUBJECT TO THE WRITTEN RETAINER AGREEMENT, SERVICES MAY BE PERFORMED BY OTHERS. PRIOR RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE A SIMILAR OUTCOME.

Privacy Policy  |  © 2021 VetsNational. All Rights Reserved