The Expiration Dates of GI Bill Benefits

Once a military personnel transitions from active duty to veteran, they have ten years to take advantage of their Montgomery GI Bill benefits. Ten years might seem like a long time, but over 40% of the Montgomery GI Bill benefits available were not used due to the fact that military personnel either (1) never intended to go to school or, (2) had no idea that their benefits would expire. More than one military benefits forum/comments section tells the story of a veteran that waited to use their benefits until graduate school, only to find out they were no longer available.

Does the same hold true for the Post 9/11 GI Bill? According to the Q&A and the V.A.’s website, the answer is thankfully no! Military members that qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill have 15 years until the benefits expire, a 150% increase to the Montgomery GI Bill’s time of forfeit.

What about spouses and children that qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill transferability of benefits? (For a spouse to qualify, the active duty military member must have completed six years of service; and for a child to qualify, the active duty military member must have completed ten years of service. Read more here.) The Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits are available until the earliest of the dates below.

For spouses:

• The transferor’s end-of-eligibility date (essentially, the same fifteen year mark); or
• The ending date specified by the transferor; or
• The date the transferor revokes transfer entitlement; or
• If the transferor dies during active duty, fifteen years after the transferor’s death.

For children:

• Your 26th birthday; or
• The ending date specified by the transferor; or
• The date the transferor revokes transfer entitlement.

Why 26? Doctoral degrees typically take a minimum of eight years to complete, meaning an 18-year-old high school graduate will finish the highest form of education by 26 years of age.

Typically, the date of expiration of Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits for spouses and children will be the fifteen year mark for the spouse, and the 26th birthday mark for the child. The other options available are so that the active duty military member retains the right to use his or her benefits at any time if there are discrepancies.

Feel free to comment with questions or additional advice regarding the expiration of benefits for the Montgomery GI Bill or Post 9/11 GI Bill!