GI Bill Family Benefits

The article in the Post 9/11 GI Bill which allows for up to 48 months of benefits to be transferred to a spouse or child– is a godsend for military families; the structuring of the language in the bill8allows for potential overlap between two bills. For example, if both members in a married couple are enlisted and therefore qualify for GI Bill benefits, yet only one member attends post-secondary schooling, the benefits of both bills overlap for both members. What this means in effect is that one spouse will  be able to potentially pursue a degree as advanced as an eight year doctoral degree, as one partner would be using the educational benefits of the other.

The added benefits of the Post 9/11 GI would also essentially make possible the entire funding of this eight year degree by the military. The VA has stated recently that “this combining of education assistance is not subject to the 48 months limit as the only educational assistance paid is under the Post 9/11 GI Bill [and not the Montgomery GI Bill].” The 48 month limit is therefore also lifted, as it combines with that particular family member’s own post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits.

This overlap does not benefit families that are intermixing the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post 9/11 GI Bill–both family members must qualify for the same GI Bill for this to take effect.