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.
