Yes, you can transfer your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to your spouse or children if you meet certain service requirements. The Department of Defense sets the rules for who can transfer, and the Department of Veterans Affairs pays the benefits once a transfer is approved.
Quick facts:
- You must serve at least 6 years and agree to serve 4 more to transfer your benefits, with an exception for Purple Heart recipients
- You can only transfer to a spouse, a child, or a combination of both, not to parents, siblings, or grandchildren
- A spouse cannot get a housing allowance while you’re still on active duty, but a child can
- The dollar amounts for transferred benefits are the same as those for the standard Post-9/11 GI Bill. What changes is who qualifies and how the benefit is calculated
- You must request the transfer while you’re still serving. You cannot start a transfer after you separate or retire
- If you’re the dependent of a 100% disabled veteran rather than a transferee, you likely want Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) instead
Who Can Transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits
According to DOD, any active duty, Selected Reserve, or National Guard member, officer, or enlisted, can transfer their benefits if all of these are true:
- They served on or after Aug. 1, 2009
- They’re eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill
- They have at least 6 years of service on the date they request the transfer, and they agree to serve 4 more years from that date
Exception for Purple Heart recipients: If you received a Purple Heart on or after Sept. 11, 2001, you can transfer your benefits without meeting the 6-year and 4-year service requirements above.
A 2020 law repealed an older rule that barred servicemembers with more than 16 years of service from transferring their benefits. You can still transfer after 16 years, as long as you agree to serve 4 more years from the date of your request.
Who Can Receive Transferred Benefits
You can transfer your unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, up to 36 months if you haven’t used any of it, to:
- One or more of your children
- Your spouse
- Any combination of your spouse and children
You cannot transfer benefits to parents, siblings, grandchildren, or any other family member. Your spouse or child must also be listed in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) to receive your benefits.
You can change or cancel a transfer at any time while you’re still eligible to make transfers. This is explained in the “How to Change or Cancel a Transfer” section below.
How Much of the Benefit Your Family Gets
This is one of the biggest differences between using your own GI Bill and using a transferred one. When you use your own benefit, your percentage is based on your own service. When a family member uses a transferred benefit, their percentage is based on how long you served, not their own record.
| Days on Active Duty | Benefit Percentage |
|---|---|
| 1,095 or more (about 36 months), or you received a Purple Heart on or after Sept. 11, 2001, or you were discharged for a service-connected disability after 30 or more continuous days | 100% |
| 910 to 1,094 (30 to 35 months) | 90% |
| 730 to 909 (24 to 29 months) | 80% |
| 545 to 729 (18 to 23 months) | 70% |
| 180 to 544 (6 to 17 months) | 60% |
| 90 to 179 (about 3 to 5 months) | 50% |
Your family member’s payments are calculated using this percentage, so two people with transferred benefits can receive very different amounts depending on how long the transferring servicemember served.
Housing Allowance For Transferred GI Bill Benefits
Monthly housing allowances (MHA) for benefit recipients are the other major difference. It depends on whether you’re a spouse or a child using the transferred benefit, and whether the servicemember is still on active duty.
Spouses: You cannot receive a monthly housing allowance while the servicemember is still on active duty. Once the servicemember leaves active duty, you can start receiving a housing allowance if you’re enrolled more than half-time.
Children: You can receive a monthly housing allowance even while the servicemember is still on active duty, as long as you’re enrolled more than half-time and you’re not taking correspondence or flight training only.
When you are eligible, your housing allowance is based on the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate for an E-5 with dependents, using your school’s zip code, and prorated by both the servicemember’s benefit percentage and how many credits you’re taking.
Transfer Benefit Rates
The tuition, housing, and books and supplies rates for transferred benefits are the same as the standard Post-9/11 GI Bill rates. VA does not keep a separate rate table just for transferred benefits. The only real differences are the eligibility and calculation rules covered above.
For the current dollar figures, see our full Post 9/11 GI Bill payment rates guide, or use our monthly housing allowance calculator (above) to estimate a housing payment.
How to Transfer Your Benefits
Transferring your benefits is a two-step process. You have to request the transfer, and your family member has to separately apply to use it.
Step 1: Request the transfer. While you’re still on active duty or serving in the Selected Reserve, sign in to MilConnect and choose “Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB)” from the benefits menu. Select which family members will receive benefits and how many months you want to give each one. MilConnect recommends leaving the end date blank so your family member can use the benefit up until the latest allowed date. Choose the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), review the transfer terms, and submit your request.
Step 2: Your family member applies to use the benefit. Once DOD approves your transfer, your spouse or child must apply online through VA.gov or submit VA Form 22-1990e to actually start using the benefit at their school.
How to Change or Cancel a Transfer
You can adjust the number of months you’ve given each family member, or cancel a transfer entirely, at any time. While you’re still on active duty or in the Selected Reserve, submit an updated TEB form through MilConnect. If you’ve already retired or separated, contact the VA directly to make changes.
Transferred Benefits If the Servicemember Dies
If a servicemember dies before transferring all of their entitlement, VA will distribute the remaining untransferred months among the family members already approved to receive benefits.
Can You Transfer Benefits After You Retire or Separate?
No. You can only request a transfer while you’re still on active duty or serving in the National Guard or Selected Reserve. If you already transferred benefits before separating, your family member can still use them after you leave the military.
Can You Transfer the Montgomery GI Bill?
No. The Montgomery GI Bill, including the Selected Reserve version, cannot be transferred to a spouse or child. If you entered the military before Sept. 11, 2001, but kept serving after that date, you may be eligible for the Forever GI Bill instead. Contact the VA to find out if you qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does transferring my GI Bill affect my VA disability compensation? No. Transferring your education benefits has no effect on your VA disability compensation. They’re separate programs.
Can I transfer my GI Bill to my parents, siblings, or grandchildren? No. You can only transfer benefits to a spouse or your own children.
Can I transfer my GI Bill to a stepchild? Yes, as long as your stepchild is listed as your dependent in DEERS.
Can I use my GI Bill to pay off my spouse’s existing student loans? No. Transferred benefits pay current tuition and fees, plus housing and supplies while your spouse or child is enrolled. They cannot be used to pay off loans from past schooling.
Can a 100% disabled veteran transfer the GI Bill? Being rated 100% disabled does not by itself let you transfer benefits. You still need to meet the standard service requirements above before you separate. If you’re looking for education benefits for the dependents of a veteran who is permanently and totally disabled, see our guide to Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) instead.
Are transferred benefit rates different from regular GI Bill rates? No. The dollar amounts are the same. What’s different is how the percentage is calculated (based on the servicemember’s service, not the recipient’s) and the housing allowance rule for spouses on active duty.
Other Ways to Pay for School
Some states offer tuition and fee waivers for veterans and their dependents. Check out our list of states that offer free tuition to veterans to see what’s available where you live. If you’re choosing a school for your spouse or child, our military-friendly colleges guide can help you compare options.
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Jon Rehagan is a 2-time Emmy Award-winning journalist who covers financial topics and military news for the veteran community. With 16 years in broadcast media (including roles in radio and television) Jon has spent his career writing, shooting, editing, and producing everything from long-form investigative specials to daily news broadcasts and digital content. His work has been recognized by the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, and he brings that same commitment to accurate, accessible reporting to helping service members, veterans, and military families navigate complex benefits and financial decisions.