Military Dependents’ Benefits of the GI Bill Finalized
Family transferability rulings legislation for the Post 9/11 GI Bill is certainly among the most confusing that readers the new GI Bill will likely encounter . While the Department of Defense made announcements on their intended rulings for family transferability in May, these plans have not been fully implemented, despite this widely being recognized as one of the most anticipated amenities the new GI Bill has to offer.
Fortunately, the Veterans Benefits GI Bill blog has good news. The Department of Defense has at last announced that family members can register for transferability to their dependents on June 29.
Most benefactors of this provision to the Post 9/11 GI Bill will receive $75,000 to $90,000, the Pentagon estimates.
Bob Clark, the Defense Department’s assistant accession policy director and the official working on this benefits plan, quotes transferability as being “for the specific purpose of recruitment and retention of a career force.”
Applying for GI Bill Education Benefits
Service members will be able to apply beginning June 29 through the Transferability of Educational Benefits (TEB) website, which will be located at: http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/TEB/.
They are offering re-enlistments and voluntary service extensions to make this available to early retirees. They guarantee that applicants will have an effective date of August 1st, regardless of their application date. This will obviously have the DoD’s hands full.
Once service members process their dependents through the Department of Defense, their dependent’s applications are handed over to the Department of Veteran Affairs as if they were active duty, reserve, or veterans under the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
The following rules from the Pentagon are as follows:
The final transferability rules allow a portion or all of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for any member of the armed forces (active duty or Selected Reserve, officer or enlisted) on or after August 1, 2009, who is eligible for the benefit, and:
- Has at least six years of service in the armed forces on the date of election and agrees to serve four additional years in the armed forces from the date of election.
- Has at least 10 years of service in the armed forces (active duty and/or Selected Reserve) on the date of election, 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, or is or becomes retirement-eligible during the period from Aug. 1, 2009, through Aug. 1, 2013.
For those eligible for retirement on Aug. 1, 2009, no additional service is required.
For those who have an approved retirement date after Aug. 1, 2009, and before July 1, 2010, no additional service is required.
For those eligible for retirement after Aug. 1, 2009, and before Aug. 1, 2010, one year of additional service after approval of transfer is required.
For those eligible for retirement on or after Aug. 1, 2010, and before Aug. 1, 2011, two years of additional service after approval of transfer are required.
For those eligible for retirement on or after Aug. 1, 2011, and before Aug. 1, 2012, three years of additional service after approval of transfer required.
Read the full Pentagon policy here.
The Yellow Ribbon Program list of participating schools will be released tomorrow. Stay posted!
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Andria–This is a specific situation that you should have addressed by a government official. The Veterans Benefits GI Bill blog is not sponsored by the government. Please contact them with this online contact form or call 1-888-GIBILL-1 to have your questions addressed. Hope this contact information helps!
Michelle–I believe the National Guard qualifies. An article on Post 9-11 GI Bill transferability is posted on the National Guard’s official website. Hope this helps!
I know of some soldiers that are getting extra money for living expenses just with the GI Bill, will it still be avalible to our spouse or kids? Will it still work the same as far as the money coming to the student and not the college?
In the state of Texas, if you have served in a combat zone you are entiled to the Hazelwood act which gives the service member a certain amount of free college credit hours. Is this also transfered to the spouses if we have transfer the GI Bill?
SSG Chaney–The Hazelwood Act is something I have briefly read about on the VA’s website. I believe this is considered a separate financial aid program (and therefore would not transfer), but it is best for you to contact the VA for specific information on this, as well as your BAH questions. Hope that helps!
I was told by AFPC that even if you applied for transferring your benefits on the date the DMDC website came online that nothing will happen with those applications until 1 August. Anyone else heard this?
Am I understanding this correctly, a service member who retired in Jan of 2006 is not eligible to transfer his GI benefits to a dependent?
What is the difference between the GI Bill transfer and the Yellow Ribbon transfer?
I retired in 2006, can I transfer my benefits to my dependent?
BJ–Unfortunately, you cannot transfer your benefits to your dependent if you retired in 2006. Sorry for the bad news!
i heard the gi will pay back student loans for soldiers. will it also be available for student loans accrued by spouses? if you know where i can find the answer, please let me know!
Hi Bj,
This is the comment that i posted,
I am Navy Retired as of 2005, with 20 years combined active and reserve service. After 9/11 my unit a Helicopter Combat Search & Rescue Unit was activated for 12 months and sent to Iraq.
I had been trying to get information on how to tranfer the Post 9/11 educational benefits to my 20yr old daughter who wants to tranfer to the university. After many calls and run around. The navy office said that this is the message they came up with.
This message was just put out on the Navy website http://www.npc.navy.mil. Regarding transferability, the message reads as follows:
The transferability option must be elected while the member is serving in the armed forces. Active memebers who Separate,Retire,Transfer to the fleet reserve or who are discharged prior to 1 August 2009, are not eligible to elect transferability. SELRES(Selective Reserves) members who transfer to the Retired Reserves (with or without pay),tranfer to the Individual Ready Reserve or who are discharged prior to 1 Aug 2009, are “Not Eligible” to elect transferability: end of mssge.
I have been a single dad since i got custody of my daughter when she was 5years old. When i was sent to Iraq my daughter was 15yrs old. I had to have my brother and his family watch my daughter while i was in Iraq. I had to pull her out of one school and enroll her in another while she was with my brother.
The point i am trying to make is that why is the DOD picking and choosing as to what kids can recieve the educational benefits. My daughter sacraficed just the same as all other kids whos parents went to Iraq.
I am interested in starting a petition on this matter, if there is not already a petition currently out.
Would like to hear back from vets who feel the same way on this issue.
Thanks,
Alfred
Desiree–That’s an interesting question. The VA has encouraged military members to call 1-888-GIBILL-1 to get specific questions answered regarding the Post 9/11 GI Bill. I would contact them and see what they have to say. My understanding is that the Post 9/11 GI Bill does not pay retroactively/for student loans, but only for current education; however, this is not a government source, and it would be in your best interest to speak to a government official on the matter. Hope this helps!
My husband is currently active duty and has over 7 years active duty time. He also has 3 years army air national guard. According to the post 9 11 gi bill transferability of benefits to children, he needs to have served “10 years of service”. I can’t seem to find out whether his reserve time will count towards the 10 years of service needed. His PEBD is 11/1998. We have two kids in college right now and it certainly would help.
Kim–Your husband will have to serve a minimum of ten years of service. This includes agreeing to serve an additional four years of service after signing up for the family transfer program offered by the DoD. Family transfer is used as a method of military retention, so active duty that have been in the military for the last twenty years still must participate in four more years of agreed service. Reserve time counts, but you’re looking at him serving in the military until 2013. Hope this helps!
My husband has met the requirements- he is currently an Officer in the Reserves and is eligible for retirement (he has his 20 years).
He was notified that the application is rejected..something about not being committed for another 4 years. He is already elible to retire..I don’t get it.
He has called and called…just keeps getting turned in circles. Who does he need to call? to get answers? Please help….
Kristine–You will want to contact the DoD regarding family transferability. You do have to be committed for an additional four years to be eligible for transferability, but the DoD may be able to assist you with exceptions that have been made for active duty members already scheduled for retirement. Hope this helps!
I am going to school on august 5th. My mother is in the army which makes me a dependent. Can she transfer her GI bill over to me, because all i see is things for the national guard.
According to the DoD website, anyone who is already elegible for retirement requires NO more years.
Even so, Officers do not make 4 years committments.
This is why this is confusing. he has contacted the VA and DoD.
They have not set up an easy way for anyone to get in touch with someone that can help.
Freddie–Yes, your mother can transfer her benefits to you, if she has had six years of service and agrees to an additional four years of service.
OK- my husband received a return call this morning and the application must have been reviewed and the error was corrected, it is now approved! yay!
Kristine–Awesome! Thanks for the update!!
Question: My father is a Vietnam veteran do I qulify for his unsed education credits? The Transfer of Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits to Dependents
Thank you for your time.
Twilight– Family transferability is only available for active duty that agree to additional years. Veterans do not qualify. Sorry for the bad news!
We submitted our application to TEB on June 29 (husband is in Air National Guard) and it is still pending review. We have tried to talk to someone at the Guard Bureau, but keep getting passed around. I have heard from many people who applied after June 29th and already been approved. Has this happened to anyone else?
The Transfer of Benifits is a Joke all it is more of the same. we give you all these benfits that only a few individuals can use. It should be avsiliable to all retirees,that retired on or before 1 Aug 09 I retired may 2006 and have my only son serving currently in the Army he did 15 ,month tour in Iraq and a daughter who is a junior in high school. I was really hoping too give my benifits to my daughter. I think DOD should not have been given the athuority to deside who can tranfer there benifits. I am 44 yrs old and would prefer to give this benifit to my daughter. but I will tell you this if this is not changed In 2yrs I will be vested with my state job which pays nothing, I”ll quit my job. and I will use my benifits and with my reduced income my daughter will recieve goverment aid and the goverment will pay for her school anyways. Please Everyone contact Your elected Officals to get this changed.
I am currently on active duty with 27 years continual service. I used VEAP while attending school as part of the Enlisted Commissioning program. I am not sure how much I used.
I would like to find out if I regained any eligibility under the Post 9/11 GI Bill and if I have any benefits to transfer to my children.
SRW,
Your best bet is to contact the Department of Veteran Affairs. A representative there will be able to find your history of the education benefits you used and let you know about your remaining benefits. If you are still on active duty, you should qualify for family transferability; the family transferability option of the Post 9/11 GI Bill is used as a method of military retention and is open to active duty personnel.
Hello, I retired Jan 2006 and I was wondering if they had made any changes to the GI Bill transfer policy pertaining to dependants. Can anyone please advise?? So far I have called a few numbers and nobody seems to know or care. I believe I have earned the right to at least ask!
R/Richie Tirado
Richie–They have not made changes to the dependent transfer guidelines. Sorry for the bad news!
i served in desrt storm from 1987 to 1991 can my children use my gi bill i never used?
I was Honorably discharged from the Navy in 2007 with 11 yrs of service. Am I eligible to transfer my G.I. Bill to my spouse?
My dad just signed up for the additional years required to transfer his education benefits to me. But when he applied on the TEB (of which he is eligible) website, he still got rejected! I know Kristine had an error with her husband’s application. So I am assuming that is what had happened with my dad’s situation. Does anyone know of a specific phone number I can call about it? VA and the education office here keep passing me back and forth. Thanks!
My husband retired after serving 23 years in the AF and retired in 2006. We had hoped for this day to come and had saved his Gi Bill Money for our daughter who will be graduating this year!!! We are so disappointed. I think this is a crock and it really angers us. I know too many people who have served a very short time reaping these benefits. My children sacrificed and deserve this benefit if my husband wants to transfer . I support our military through and through and think this is a great educational perk for joining the military. This is often a reason to join. What is the difference if my husband uses it or my daughter? They are still paying out.
I server over 22 years retiring from active duty in April of 2009. Is there not a way to transfer my G.I. Bill to my children? Is there not a waiver that allows us to transfer after we retire. My eldest was unsure if he wanted to go military or continue his education. After I retired, he was accepted to a university. Is there anything I can do now to pass my GI Bill to him and his sister?
James,
Unfortunately, family transferability is an option they only opened to the Post 9/11 GI Bill as a means for military retention. The MGIB does not offer it. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!
My husband is a retired Sgt. Maj in the Marine Corps. He retired approx 10 or 11 years ago agter 30 years active duty. We have had legal custody of our now 16 yr old granddaughter since she was born. Can my husband transfer any eduactional GI benefits to her as she graduates high school next year. My husband has never used his benefits.
I retired from the Navy November 2006. Was planning on transferring to my youngest, after hearing all the hype about how great the Post 9/11 GI Bill is. Now I am appalled about how selective it is. It should be called the Active Duty GI Bill. I’ve never written my congressman before, but us retirees need to. The people that made these rules don’t seem to be veterans. If I’m wrong, they forgot where they came from. Lets get this changed!
I find it hard to believe that a veteran who retired in November 2008 with 25 years of active service is not elligible to transfer his education benefits to his dependents. I would like to see something done for honorably discharged soldiers who happened to retire nine months too soon to take advantage of this great benefit.
Where do I sign. Your right..it is bunk that I can’t transfer my benefits to my daughter!
I retired 1 Jan 2005. I made a mistake signing up for the new GI Bill. I sent a message to my congressman the day after asking to get out of it. That was in June 09…still haven’t heard anything. Probably never will. I was signed for an in-house class, (requirement of new GI Bill), and two on-line classes. First night of in-house class I knew that I couldn’t handle. I had two drop out of all three. I’m not proud to say I have an 80% disability rating. The (at least one in-house class rule) is somewhat inconvenient and causes undue pain in my opinion. I have pretty much given up any hope at this point. I’ll be sending my representatives my input. Hell I’ll send it to the entire US and State Senates and Congress!!
My dad served in WW -2….was told perhaps my daughter could use his un-used credits for her education?
Is that true…I doubt from what I read above….could someone pls clarify.
Sounds like maybe if she is in active duty, and stays on for additional years…..she may
benefit from his un-used credits?
I transfered my benifits to m kids but I can’t find anything saying what they will get. Can you point me in the right direction. My oldest will start college this fall and I would like to know what she is intitled to.
My father retired in 2007 and served active duty after 9/11 till he retired in 07, he has been in the army for like 30 years. Does he qualify to transfer his post 9/11 GI Bill to me (daughter-dependent)? Please explain. What other educational benifits can i be qualified to recieve?
ok once the gi bill is appointed to the dependent, is there anyway the dependent can loose the benefits of the bill, or can it be taken away.
This all sounds really unfair. My husband was active army for 8 years. He would have made it past 10 years if they hadn’t medically/honorably chaptered him out because of his problems with his ears. He was Chaptered out September 2006, and he was thinking about trying to transfer his GI Bill benefits to me because I am currently going to school. That would be great because honestly school costs so much and I need to go to school because we haven’t found a job that makes what we made in the military since we’ve been out. We do a lot worse now that we are out. How is it that they can put such restrictions on who can transfer their benefits and who can’t. My husband would have been in the army for his whole career if he hadn’t had to be medically chaptered. He didn’t even want the chapter… he asked to be put in a different MOS but it didn’t work. I stuck by his side the whole time he was active duty and I am proud of the military and all of our soldiers… I even miss the life at times, but he can’t pass on his benefits to me because he didn’t make it to 10 years and can’t sign up for another 4? That is just stupid!!!!