How to Transfer the GI Bill
If you’re planning for college and one of your parents or guardians is currently serving in the military, you’ve probably heard about the Post-9/11 GI Bill. It’s one of the most generous education benefits out there, helping cover tuition, housing, books, and other college costs. As you may already know, college can come with a hefty price tag, but having GI Bill benefits could help lower the costs significantly, making higher education more accessible.
But here’s the catch: transferring the GI Bill isn’t an automatic process, and there are some pretty strict eligibility requirements.
If you’d like to use GI Bill benefits to fund your college education, it’s important to understand exactly how the process works (and how to avoid common mistakes).
Let’s break it all down, step by step.
Who can receive transferred GI Bill benefits?
Before any benefits can move your way, two sets of requirements have to be met; one for the service member and one for the dependent.
Service member eligibility (the person who owns the benefit)
To transfer GI Bill benefits, your parent or guardian must:
- Be on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.
- Have completed at least six years of service.
- Agree to serve four more years (or meet updated Department of Defense rules).
- Be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
- Submit the transfer request before separating from the military.
That last point is not something to overlook. Once a service member leaves the military, they cannot start a transfer. This is actually one of the most common reasons why GI Bill transfer requests get denied.
Dependent eligibility (you)
To receive transferred GI Bill benefits for college, you must:
- Be enrolled in DEERS (the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System)
- Be under 26 years old when using the benefit.
- Wait until your parent or guardian has completed the required service commitment.
Now, there are a few differences that depend on whether the GI Bill benefit goes to the spouse or child, but for students, here are the key points to be aware of:
- You can begin using transferred benefits at age 18 (or high school graduation).
- You’ll also qualify for the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) while enrolled.
What exactly can be transferred?
A service member can transfer up to 36 months of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, which is enough for about four years of undergrad depending on the school you go to and enrollment status.
Transferred benefits may include:
- Tuition and fees
- Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)
- Yearly book and supply stipend
Families can also reassign or split months later, as long as the service member is still eligible to make changes.
How to transfer the GI Bill
Now that you have all the background information on the eligibility rules and what can actually be transferred, we can examine the process of obtaining them.
It’s essential to note that this process doesn’t actually begin with the Veterans’ Affairs (VA)—it starts with the Department of Defense (DoD) using a portal called milConnect.
Here’s the step-by-step breakdown:
Step 1: Check eligibility
You’ll want to ensure that your parent or guardian, who’s a service member, meets all the eligibility requirements upfront. They’ll also need to double-check that all dependents are correctly listed in DEERS. If you’re missing from that list, the transfer won’t work.
Step 2: Submit a transfer request in milConnect
The service member will log in to their milConnect account and navigate to the Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) portal.
Here’s what’ll happen there:
- Choose which dependents will receive benefits.
- Assign at least one month of benefits to each benefit to activate the request.
- Agree to additional service obligations (if required).
Step 3: Wait for approval
The DoD will review the request, which can take several days, weeks, or even longer, depending on the branch and pending service obligations. It’s best for the service member to regularly check milConnect to ensure that there are no additional steps required.
Step 4: Dependent applies with the VA
Once the DoD approves the transfer, it’s now your turn to take action. You’ll have to apply for the GI Bill benefit with the VA to receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Be sure to keep up with it—you’ll need it when you enroll in college.
You can apply online through the VA or by submitting Form 22-1990E.
After your COE is issued, you can send it to your college’s financial aid office and start using your benefits.
Important rules to keep in mind
Before you plan your entire college experience around these benefits, here are some key rules to know:
- You can only use benefits after the service obligation has been completed.
- If your parent or guardian still owes additional service time for the transfer, you’ll likely need to wait to use the benefit.
- Benefits don’t automatically extend to graduate school.
- If you decide to apply all 36 months towards an undergraduate degree, you may not have anything left over for a master’s program unless your family splits or reallocates months.
- Life changes typically do not affect eligibility.
- If you move, choose an out-of-state college, or get married later on, your benefits won’t disappear.
Common transfer issues—and how to avoid them
Here are the most significant reasons GI Bill transfer requests don’t go through:
- Trying to transfer after separation: This is a big one. Transfers must happen while the service member is on active duty.
- Missing or incorrect DEERS information: If you’re not correctly listed, you can’t receive benefits—even if everything else is correct.
- Forgetting to allocate months: If the service member fails to assign months to a dependent, the transfer won’t be valid.
- Misunderstanding age rules: You cannot transfer benefits after age 26. Planning early can prevent issues later.
Start the conversation early.
Receiving transferred GI Bills to support your college education can be extremely helpful, but the process has strict rules, and timing is crucial. The sooner your family starts planning, the smoother the transfer can be. So, whether you’re considering a community college, a four-year university, or a technical school, transferred GI Bill benefits can make your educational journey more affordable and accessible.
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GI Bill Transfer FAQs
Who can transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits?
Only eligible active-duty service members or Selected Reserve members can transfer GI Bill benefits. They must meet service requirements, agree to additional years of service, and submit the transfer request before separating from the military.
Can parents transfer the GI Bill to their children?
Yes. Children can receive transferred GI Bill benefits as long as they’re listed in DEERS, under age 26 when using the benefits, and meet all VA requirements.
Can you transfer the GI Bill after leaving the military?
No. This is one of the most important rules. The transfer request must be submitted and approved before the service member separates from the military.
How do you transfer the GI Bill benefits?
The process begins in milConnect, not the VA. The service member selects eligible dependents, assigns benefit months, accepts service obligations, and submits the request. Once approved by DoD, the dependent applies for benefits through the VA using Form 22-1990E.
How long does GI Bill transfer approval take?
Approval timelines vary by military branch. It can take anywhere from several days to several weeks. The service member should check the milConnect TEB portal regularly for updates or required actions.
What benefits can be transferred to dependents?
Dependents may receive:
- Up to 36 months of education benefits
- Tuition and mandatory fees
- A Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)
- A yearly book and supply stipend
