Transfer Your Post-9/11 GI Bill to Family
You earned a full education benefit. If you do not need all of it, you can give it to your spouse or children — covering their college tuition, housing, and books.
If you earned the Post-9/11 GI Bill but do not plan to use all of it yourself, you can transfer some or all of your remaining months to your spouse or children. The transferred benefit carries the full Post-9/11 value — tuition, a monthly housing allowance, and up to $1,000 per year for books and supplies.
This is the only way to share your GI Bill with your family, and there is a critical catch: you must request the transfer while you are still serving on active duty (or, in limited cases, within the window set by your branch). Once you separate from the military, the transfer window closes.
Planning this before you leave the service is one of the most valuable financial decisions you can make for your family.
What This Benefit Is
The same benefit, for your family
When you transfer your Post-9/11 GI Bill, your dependents receive the same benefits you would: full in-state public tuition paid to the school, up to $29,920.95 per year at private or foreign institutions, a monthly housing allowance based on the school's location, and up to $1,000 per year for books and supplies. It is not a lesser version — it is the real thing.
You choose who gets how many months
You can divide your remaining months among your spouse and children however you like: all 36 to one child, 18 to your spouse and 18 to a child, or any combination. You can change the allocation later as long as you still have remaining entitlement.
You must be serving when you request it
The transfer must be requested through the DoD milConnect portal while you are on active duty (or in the Selected Reserve). Once you separate, you generally cannot initiate a new transfer. This is the rule that catches the most families off-guard — do not wait.
Who Qualifies
You must have at least 6 years of service in the Armed Forces (active duty and/or Selected Reserve) on the date of your transfer request.
You must agree to serve an additional 4 years from the date of transfer approval (some branch-specific exceptions and hardship waivers exist).
If you are retirement-eligible (20+ years), the additional service requirement may be reduced or waived — check with your branch.
Your dependents must be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).
A spouse can begin using the benefit immediately. Children must generally wait until you have completed 10 years of service and must use it before age 26.
If you were medically retired or separated due to a service-connected disability, the 4-year service commitment may be waived.
What It Covers
Full tuition for your dependent
100% of in-state public tuition, or up to $29,920.95/yr at private schools — paid directly to the school, just as if the dependent had earned it.
Monthly housing allowance
Your spouse receives the E-5 BAH rate for the school's zip code. Children receive the housing allowance only if you have separated from the military; if you are still serving, children do not receive BAH.
Books & supplies stipend
Up to $1,000 per year for textbooks and course materials — paid directly to the student each term.
Yellow Ribbon eligibility
Transferred benefits qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program at participating private schools — potentially covering the entire tuition gap at expensive universities.
How to Apply
Log into milConnect
Go to milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil and navigate to the Transfer of Education Benefits section. This is a DoD system, not a VA one — you request the transfer through the military, not through VA.gov.
Select your dependents and allocate months
Choose which family members receive how many months. You can adjust this later. Make sure each dependent is enrolled in DEERS before you start.
Agree to the additional service obligation
You will acknowledge the 4-year additional service commitment (unless an exception applies). Your branch approves the request, usually within 2–4 weeks.
Your dependent applies for benefits
Once approved, each dependent submits VA Form 22-1990e at VA.gov to activate the benefit. They then give their Certificate of Eligibility to their school's certifying official.
For women veterans
If you are a woman veteran planning to separate in the next few years, this is the single most time-sensitive benefit on this page. Once you are out, the transfer window is closed. If there is any chance your child or spouse could use your GI Bill, request the transfer now — even if your child is a toddler. You can always adjust or revoke it later, but you cannot initiate it after you leave.
Mistakes That Cost Families the Most
Waiting until after separation to request the transfer — this is the most common and most devastating mistake. The transfer window closes when you leave the military.
Forgetting to enroll dependents in DEERS first — the system will not let you transfer to someone not in DEERS.
Not understanding the 4-year service commitment — talk to your branch career counselor before requesting the transfer so you are not surprised by the obligation.
Assuming children can use it at any age — children must generally use the benefit before turning 26, and may need to wait until you complete 10 years of service.
Transferring all months to one dependent without considering other children — once transferred, getting months back requires that the dependent has not yet used them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I am already separated?
Unfortunately, you generally cannot initiate a transfer after separation. However, if you were medically separated or retired for disability, some branch-specific waivers may apply. Contact your branch's education office to explore options.
Can I take months back after transferring them?
Yes, as long as the dependent has not yet used those months. You can reallocate months through milConnect. Once a dependent has used months, those are spent.
Does my child get the housing allowance?
Your child receives the monthly housing allowance only if you (the veteran) have separated from service. While you are still on active duty, children receive tuition and books but not the BAH payment.
Can my spouse use the benefit while I am still serving?
Yes. Your spouse can begin using transferred benefits immediately upon approval, even while you are still on active duty, and does receive the housing allowance.
What happens to transferred benefits if we divorce?
A divorce does not automatically revoke transferred benefits. Once transferred, you must actively revoke or reallocate the months through milConnect. Courts cannot order the VA to transfer or revoke GI Bill benefits — that decision stays with the service member.
Transfer GI Bill — Official VA Links
Everything is explained on this page. These official links take you straight to the source.
Other education programs
Think this applies to your claim?
We focus on veterans the VA has already denied or under-rated. We do not take brand-new (initial) claims, and we do not take every case.
Guidance from a VA-accredited claims agent (#45147). Any figures are estimates that depend on your situation and the VA's decision — not legal or medical advice, and not the VA.