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Department of Defense Announces GI Bill Family Transfer Rulings

21 May, 2009 GI Bill
Department of Defense Announces GI Bill Family Transfer Rulings

The Department of Defense has come to a final conclusion regarding the rulings of how family transfer will work for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, effective August 1, 2009.

The general gist of the ruling is that all service members, whether officer, warrant officer or enlisted personnel, must be on active duty on August 1st and must have completed six years of service, with the commitment to serve four more years. If these requirements are met, the military member may share their Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits with their spouse or dependent.

However, special rules have been passed for people who are eligible to retire before August 1, 2012, or who have already completed 10 years of service and are prevented by high-year tenure, mandatory retirement or other rules or laws preventing the completion of four years of additional service.

These special rules were put into effect so that retirement-eligible service members who find themselves with this new benefit do not clog up the ranks by delaying retirement so that they can pass their Post 9/11 GI Bill to their spouse or dependent. It also is meant to protect service members from losing their transfer rights over situations that are out of their control.

Bob Clark, the Department of Defense’s assistant accession policy director and the chief official working on the Post 9/11 GI Bill, says that the ability to share educational benefits “is one of hte most requested benefits we have heard about from the field and fleet for the last several years.” He is determined to make sure these rulings remain finalized and make sure that this service remains available. The ability to transfer the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to family members is considered one of the most popular military recruiting and retention benefits available.

Service members will be able to transfer up to 36 months of benefits to their spouse and/or child(ren). Changes in how this arrangement is dispersed among family members can be made once per month.

Here’s some additional information on how the rulings will work:

  • Anyone eligible for retirement on August 1, 2009, will be permitted to transfer their benefits without additional service. Additionally, no service will be required for anyone who has an approved retirement date after August 1, 2009, but before July 1, 2010.
  • Those who become eligible for retirement after August 1, 2009, and before August 1, 2010, must serve one year in the military after transferring the benefits to their family. (However, those that have an approved retirement date after August 1, 2009, and before July 1, 2010, will require no additional service.)
  • Those who become eligible for retirement after August 1, 2010, and before August 1, 2011, must serve two years in the military after transferring the benefits to their family.
  • Those who become eligible for retirement after August 1, 2012, will be required to serve the standard four years after transferring benefits.

Updated: The finalized rulings have been released.

Comments from Facebook

  • JQ

    I have seen in two different versions of the wording on the exception for those retiring on 1 Aug 2009 with one version at military.com stating “retirement ON OR AFTER 1 Aug 2009″ and the version in your article retirement AFTER 1 Aug 2009″. Do you know which is correct?

    • Kourtnie McKenzie

      JQ, thank you for noting this. The nitty-gritty details from the Department of Defense:

      For those individuals who have an approved retirement date after August 1, 2009, and before July 1, 2010, no additional service is required.

      For those individuals eligible for retirement after August 1, 2009, and before August 1, 2010, 1 year of additional service after approval of transfer is required.

      So there is a narrow window where you can actually be eligible for retirement after August 1, 2009 and require no service, but the window is small, and in fact in the middle of the transition from 2009 and 2010, the change requiring one year of service occurs. Also, that retirement date must be approved on a case-by-case basis in that narrow window in order to waive the 1 year of additional service.

      You can see the official information released from the Department of Defense here.

      Hope this helps!

  • Jason Hunt

    I have been enlisted since 1999 and resigned for 5 years on December 2006. Do I have the option to transfer? the “enlisted for another 4 year” thing is confusing. I am not up for another enlistment until 2011. Can my spouse use my benefits NOW or does she have to wait?

  • Kourtnie McKenzie

    They have been approving these situations on a case-by-case basis, so I do not want to provide a solid “yes” or “no” for you. The Department of Defense reserves the right to be the sole decision maker for transferability.

    However, from the research I have done thus far, your situation seems to fall under the case of not being able to offer an additional four years of service due to retirement (since you are not up for enlistment until 2011). This means that there is a high possibility that you can offer your benefits to your spouse. You may be asked to serve an additional four years after 2011. Read the following from the Department of Defense’s website:

    Most servicemembers who have at least six years of military service as of Aug. 1 and agree to serve an additional four years qualify, he said. But the Defense Department has proposed measures to cover several categories of servicemembers whose circumstances don’t fit neatly into this formula. (Source)

    I would recommend contacting the Department of Defense to discuss your specific case. You can visit the Department of Defense’s GI Bill page here as well.

  • Marvin

    I understand these rules, but is there anyone who can direct me on how and what to fill out to share my benefits. My daughter starts college this August and I would love to utilize these benefits.

    • Kourtnie McKenzie

      Dependents have to fill out the same Post 9/11 GI Bill application form that veterans, reserve, and active duty fill out in order to receive the benefits of the Post 9/11 GI Bill from their military family member. The VONAPP (Veterans Online Application Website) can be found here.

      This answer is provided from the Q&A section of the Department of Veteran Affairs Post 9/11 GI Bill page.

      This is under the pretense that your dependent has been approved/qualifies for Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits. This approval process is handled by the Department of Defense.
      Approval is done by a case-by-case basis by the Department of Defense, so it is best to contact them if you are unsure whether your child should fill out the VONAPP.

  • Marvin

    Thank you. I guess my real question is how to get her approved. The VA website directed me to my Educational Services Officer and that was a dead-end. Thanks anyway.

    • Kourtnie McKenzie

      Marvin, I would try to contact the Department of Defense instead of the VA. They seem to be doing the rulings for all of the cases. I have not located a form for parents to fill out for their children so far; I believe approval is done directly through the Department of Defense, and then after the approval process, your daughter would fill out the VONAPP. Hopefully this helps!

      JQ– if your retirement date was approved before this ruling of the Post 9/11 GI Bill was released, chances are you still qualify if you are in the narrow window. That window was made specifically for people that had already filled out their retirement paperwork before the ruling was released, to try to make as many opportunities available as possible. If you are uncertain, I would definitely contact the Department of Defense.

      “Official rulings” continue to be released/updated, but one of the frustrating aspects of the Post 9/11 GI Bill is that it is evolving constantly to try to fit the needs of as many veterans as possible. I imagine many of the wrinkles will be pressed out in June and July, as the benefits are actually kicking in during August.

  • JQ

    Kourtnie,
    Thank you for the clarification. My retirement date is 1 Aug 2009 so by the clause you clarified I am not eligible but am I eligible under the “those eligible to retire on 1 Aug 2009, no additional service will re required” – (I must be eligible to do it, because I did would be my thought/hope) or am I just out of luck? Also, when will the details be final and published?
    Thanks,
    Jim

  • Michelle

    My husband is active duty CG. They only have one person who can approve transferability and he has been given no information or help. He states that he can’t do anything until DOD finalizes the transferability rules….however, the above states that they have been approved. Can you help clarify this? At this point, we have been told that we will more than likely have to pay for the fall semester of 09 because it won’t be approved in time.

    Also, I found a form that the dependents are supposed to use to apply for the benefit but it is not an on-line form – VA requires these to be sent through regular mail.

    Thanks,

  • Marvin

    Kourtnie,

    I contacted a representative from BUPERS GI Bill section today and he told me that DOD is currently working on a web based transfer of benefits application. He did not know the time frame for release, but did state that once approved and ready for release that a NAVADMIN would be sent detailing the process. I hope it is soon. Thanks.

  • Kourtnie McKenzie

    Marvin, thank you so much for sharing your experiences about that! It would help tremendously to have an online form available. I’ll try to follow when that is released so I can keep everyone posted.

    Michelle, the above rulings are in the final stages of approval right now, but your source is right, they are not complete. It’s pretty much set in stone that these are the rulings for transferability, but it has to go through the lengthy legislature process. Unfortunately, while they have announced these rules will be put into effect, a sure-fire date has not been given. I apologize for the confusion. Let me provide you with my resources in hope this helps out:

    Here you can find the official release from the Department of Defense that discusses how these rulings are in final review but have not gotten the approval signatures required. There’s also a source from the Air National Guard here. Hope this helps, and good luck on getting your financial aid by the August 1, 2009 starting date!

  • Jeff Tappan

    Greeting, was just told by the VA that the DOD has not come to a final decision on tranfer rules, but would prior to 1 Aug. Can anyone confirm this?

    • Kourtnie McKenzie

      Jeff– The rules of the Post 9/11 GI Bill are ever-changing, and legislative officials are in a scramble making sure everything is set in stone by August 1, 2009. This is what I have read as well in my research; no definitive date, but they’re aiming to get it done before benefits start!

  • John Perrone

    Can you give me the name and or number of a person or persons who to contact so I can validate my transfer rights to my children. Hopefully, before the Fall semester?

    • Kourtnie McKenzie

      The Public Communication branch of the Department of Defense can be reached at: 703-428-0711. They ask for up to five days to call you with a response.

      For more immediate response, the VA has a helpline at 1-888-442-4551 that could direct you to a specific source based on your situation. Keep in mind that while this might give a same day response, it will have lengthy wait times.

      If you wish to contact the office in charge of applications for your area, the VA provides a virtual map that allows you to determine which office is assigned to your region.

  • John Perrone

    Thanks for your response Kourtnie but the VA still has no information other than DoD should be coming out with the process soon. I left a phone message at the Public Communication Branch of Dod and still awaiting a return call

    • Kourtnie McKenzie

      John–Thanks for letting us know where you are in the process. Hopefully contacting the DoD yields better results; I know they’re responsible for family transferability rulings for the new GI Bill.

      Since August 1, 2009 is just around the corner, and family transferability was one of the highlights of this GI Bill, I am sure that they are on top of it. I’ll keep everyone posted on the latest happenings.

  • Michelle Walker

    My husband is active duty Navy he has currently be in 8 years. We want to transfer the GI Bill to me for fall semester. Every where i look on the internet it says that the DoD is going to set up a web based portal to all for members to transfer the GI Bill however it does not have any date. I have seen around June 15 to sometime in July. Is this correct? What steps do we need to take to start working on getting this transfered over to me? His command has been of no help what so ever and every time we call the VA they refer us back to his command. Help!!

    • Kourtnie McKenzie

      Michelle- From other articles I’ve read on this subject, the Department of Defense seems to be exclusively handling family transferability. You can reach them at:

      The Public Communication branch, 703-428-0711.

      However, the information you have read thus far is accurate. They intend on letting benefits get transferred, and they’ve assured it will be before the August 1, 2009 start date for the new GI Bill, but they have not given a definitive release date for when they will have an online form that can handle all of these concerns. For now, you can contact the DoD on a case-by-case basis review, or hang tight for something else to come out!

      We’re all crossing our fingers it’s soon, since schools are already taking applications for the fall semester.

      Hope this helps!

  • Timothy Jansons

    If a person retired from the military in Oct 2006, can their benefits be transferred to their spouse or is this program just for active duty members? Regards

    • Kourtnie McKenzie

      Timothy- Unfortunately, you have to be active duty or had a retirement within the narrow window of stipulation surrounding 2009. Family transferability is being used as a method of retention and that’s why it also has the added stipulation of four years of service.

      The only reason they’re allowing certain members scheduled for retirement around 2009 get the transferability benefits is because those members would not have retired had they known it would have affects on the Post 9/11 GI Bill like this. However, their retirement dates are set in stone.

      Hopefully this information helps!

  • John Perrone

    Kourtnie

    Heard back from the PAO at DoD and they still had no information about it. They stated DoD is still working on the process and haven’t advised the PAO as of any specific date….Again, dead end at this point

    • Kourtnie McKenzie

      That’s unfortunate. I know it’s a hot topic that’s on the priority list. I’ve read they would like to get this situation handled before the August 1, 2009 date. I’ll try to keep us all posted if I see more legislation or a definite date come up!

  • Michelle Walker

    Yeah that does help at least i know i am on the right track. I just wish they would hurry up already!! Thank you

  • Cheryl Ites

    If I served the required time on active duty as a Reservist- served in Iraq as a mobilized reservist for a period in excess of the requirement and have 10 years of active duty do I qualify for transfer of benefits to my dependent?

    I will be retiring on 1 Nov 2009- but will be off of active duty orders in July.

  • Kourtnie McKenzie

    Cheryl- From what I understand, the member must be active duty up until August 1, 2009 in order to receive transferability benefits, but the best people to contact about this would be the Department of Defense (Public Communication branch, 703-428-0711.) I know there are individual cases where a person was forced to retire early (because their retirement date had already been set and approved) and they allowed transferability for these people per individual approval. You might be one of these exceptions.

    The feedback I have received from other readers that have tried to contact the DoD at this time, however, is that it has been a brick wall. The DoD and VA are working at the moment on definitive rulings for transferability, but none has been released, nor has a date been given. Things have only been proposed. This has kept them occupied. I would still try calling them and see where you get.

    Hopefully this helps, and sorry I could not give a definitive answer on your situation!

  • Susan Switalski

    My husband retired August of 1996 from 20 years active duty United States Marine Corps. He never used his GI bill. We have 4 children, 2 of which recently graduated from college with hugh loans needing to be repaid. Our daughter starts college this fall and is looking at close to 60K for college loans. Our youngest son was born right after my husband retired in 1996. Any chance we can get some help for college. We had to give up so much being in the miltary and now when it comes to sending our children off to college, it would be nice to get some help.

  • Theresa

    my husband will have 20 yrs Sep 2010 and will retire 30 Sep 2010. Can he transfer his benefits to his daughter.

  • Mark W

    So even though my mother served 20 years and was forced to retire in Feb 09, she wont be able to transfer the benefits to me?

  • Kourtnie McKenzie

    Susan– Benefits for the Post 9/11 GI Bill are offered to those that served after September 11, 2001. A veteran from 1996 would qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill, which I believe does not offer transferability.

    Theresa– From the current rulings that are passing through Congress, he would have to serve two additional years. I would advise contacting the Department of Defense regarding specific cases or wait until legislation makes it through Congress. They are still in the process of making family transferability available as a general form online. The number for the DoD is: Public Communication branch, 703-428-0711.

    Mark– At the moment, the rulings do not offer transferability to anyone who retired before August 1, 2009. This is because it was meant to be a method of retention for the military and the Post 9/11 GI Bill was still in very early stages in the first quarter of this year. You may, however, contact the Department of Defense to speak to someone about your individual case if you like. From the reports I’ve received, it takes a few days to hear back from DoD, but the number is: Public Communication branch, 703-428-0711.

    Hope this helps everyone out!

  • Kourtnie McKenzie

    Everyone– The finalized rulings have been released. Watch for the application on June 29th!

  • Greg Marchlinski

    Found this DMDC link and can log-in, but cannot use the tools provided to successfully transfer benefits. Doesn’t make sense that it would be accessible if not fully functional. Any one else have any luck?

    https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/agentsso/LoginSelect.jsp?gotourl=%2FTEB%2Findex.jsp&modules=DFAS,FAM,CAC

    • Kourtnie McKenzie

      Greg– If you have not tried it yet today, try it again and see if it works. It seems others were having problems with the preliminary attempts, but things should be fixed now that it’s June 29th. Hope that helps!

  • Andrea Nowlin

    I have attempted to transfer benefit to my dependents for the past two days unsuccessfully too. I have called the DMDC tech support personnel, DEERS customer service and the personnel customer support center and none of these services are offering answers. I will try the DoD public communication line for any information they may have.

  • Greg Marchlinski

    It appears I’ve succesfully requested transfer of a portion of my benefits to my children on the DMDC Transfer of Benefits portal. Does anyone know how I will be notified by the DoD that my requested is approved/rejected?

  • REN

    Greg Marchinski
    Check you application again on the DMDC website and in the “STATUS:” section up top by your name it should show “Request Approved” if it has been approved.

  • BJ

    I think it is absolutely wrong that service members who gave so much to our country before and after 9/11 are not eligible to transfer their benefits to their family based on the fact that they had retired before August 1, 2009!

  • BJ

    Congress and the VA have taken care of those who entered service at or about 9/11/02. What about all those men and women who served years before during Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom – they don’t get the opportunity to transfer benefits to their family if they retired after Aug. 1, 2009.

    Not all were forced to retire because of years in service or medical – some just quiety retired because they gave all they had.

    Others could have retired medically but if done so there would have been restrictions of re-employment.

    I truly hope those who are eligible for the transfer appreciate the service member and their families who came before them and gave so very much! My husband is 90% disabled and does not qualify because he was not medically discharged and retired before 2007. Remember that when you are collecting your benefits.

    Once more our government shows how very much they care about the men and women who provide freedom to all of us!

  • Doug Homrich

    Hello, I have requested to transfer my benefits to my children. The status of my request on the TEB website says, “request approved.” Is that all there is to it? Or will there be official documentaion sent out confirming the transfer of benefits is approved? Thank you

  • Doug Homrich

    Or is there someone or some DOD entity we can contact to verify the transfer of benefits? Thanks

  • paula h

    My husband retires on 1JUL2010, does this mean he can not transfer his benefits to us? Please help, no one I ‘ve spoke to can answer this.

    • Kourtnie McKenzie

      Paula–You will want to call the DoD regarding this. Active duty that are scheduled for retirement sometimes qualify for family transferability just because it is out of their control to serve an additional four years, but the window of exception is narrow. You can find the finalized rulings here along with comments from others going through similar situations. Hope this helps!

  • Ashley Domina

    My husband just recently got discharged from the army but he still has use of his GI Bill. He served for 5 years and 7 months I’m going to school starting in Sept and we are wondering if he can transfer part of his GI Bill to me to use for schooling?

    • Kourtnie McKenzie

      Ashley–Family transferability is only available to active duty. It is used as a form of military retention. Sorry about the bad news!

  • Angela Newsum

    My husband was in during April 2001 to April 2005. He was suppose to be in for two more years but he was medically discharged with a 10% disability. My question is he was told in 2001 that the MGI bill would be transferable one day so he got it knowing I was going to college. He was unable to finish his service due to the medical discharge so does that exclude him from being able to transfer his well earned benefits….?

    • Kourtnie McKenzie

      Angela– Under the current rulings of family transfer for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, your husband does not qualify. It requires active duty and a commitment to additional service. Since this blog is not government sponsored, I always encourage our readers to contact a government affiliation in regards to specific concerns. You may contact the DoD (they’re in charge of family transferability) regarding your individual case to look further into this issue. Hope this helps!

  • http://ROADRUNNER David ORTIZ

    I SERVED 21 YEARS IN THE ARMY.10 ACTIVE AND THE REST IN THE RESERVE WITH NO BREAK IN SERVICE.I ENTERED ON AUGUST OF 1982,SERVED 14 MONTH IN THE FIRST GULF WAR.SERVED AGAIN DURING THE INITIAL START OF THE SECOND GULF WAR.WAS APPROVED FOR RETIREMENT PRIOR TO THE WAR BUT WAS DENIED DUE TO THE STOP LOSS.SPENT 18 MONTH ACTIVE DUTY OF WHICH 15 MONTH OF IT IN IRAQ DURING THE INITIAL INVASION.AM I ELIGIBLE FOR ANY BENEFIT FROM THE POST 911 GI BILL?I AM A 40% DISABLE VET.ANY INFO WILL BE HELPFUL.

    • Kourtnie McKenzie

      David– You should qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. It is best to contact government representatives directly regarding specific cases. If you are interested in the Post 9/11 GI Bill for yourself, consult the VA. If you are interested in transferring your benefits to your dependents, consult the DoD. Hope this helps!

  • Amanda Campbell

    My dad retired in November 05 with 20 years in the service. Because he’s retired does this mean that he cannot transfer his benefits to me, his daughter?

    • Kourtnie McKenzie

      Amanda–That’s correct. Sorry for the bad news!!

  • Jillian Hill

    I am a dependant of my father. he is a cheif in the navy and is coming up on his 20th year. I am a senior in high school and we are wondering how we go about transfering his G.I. Bill to me so that I can attend college next fall.

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