If you’ve earned Post-9/11 GI Bill® education benefits, you may be able to share them with your family. The process isn’t hard, but the rules are specific, and timing matters. Here’s a clear, up-to-date walkthrough of how GI Bill® transferability works, who qualifies, common pitfalls to avoid, and how your spouse or children can use the benefits once you transfer them.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Understanding “Transferability”
“Transferability” lets eligible service members move up to 36 months of unused Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits to a spouse, a child, or split across multiple dependents. You choose how many months each person gets and can adjust those months later (with limits). Keep in mind that the Department of Defense (DoD) approves transfer requests, while the VA (U.S Department of Veterans Affairs) pays the benefits after approval.
Core Eligibility Rules
To transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits, all of the following must be true on the date the DoD approves your request:
- You’ve completed at least 6 years of service (active duty or selected reserve).
- You agree to serve 4 more years from the approval date (must be “retainable” for those 4 years).
- Every beneficiary you list is enrolled in DEERS (Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System).
Important exception for Purple Heart recipients: The DoD allows them to transfer without the 6-years-plus-4 requirement, but they still must make the transfer while on active duty.
The “16-Year Cap” is Obsolete
If you heard you can’t transfer after 16 years of service, that’s outdated. The FY2020 NDAA removed the 16-year cap across all services, so you may transfer even if you’ve served beyond 16 years (as long as you can obligate four additional years at the time you request transfer).
Who Can Receive Transferred Benefits?
Spouses and dependent children (as defined in DEERS) are eligible recipients. You can assign months to one or more dependents in whole-month increments. While you’re still serving, you can add beneficiaries or move months around through milConnect. After separation, you generally can reallocate only the months you already transferred while in service (and only among eligible dependents).
When Your Spouse or Child Can Use the Benefits
Spouses
- Your spouse can use transferred benefits right away, whether you’re still serving or have separated.
- If you separated before January 1, 2013, your spouse has 15 years from your separation to use the benefits. If you separated on or after Jan 1, 2013, there’s no time limit.
- Spouses do not receive the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) while you’re on active duty.
Children
- A child may start using transferred benefits after you complete 10 years of service.
- A child must be 18 (or have a high school diploma/equivalent) and be under 26 to use the benefit.
- Children can receive MHA even if you’re still on active duty.
What the Transferred Benefits Cover
Transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits can pay for tuition and fees, a housing allowance, a books and supplies stipend, and approved testing and licensing/certification fees. The VA updates payment rates annually, so check current rates for the academic year you’re planning for.
How to Transfer: Step-by-Step
- Start in milConnect (while you’re still serving).
Log in and open the Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) portal. Choose eligible dependents from your DEERS list and allocate months to each. Submit the request for service-branch approval. - Wait for DoD approval and service-obligation update.
Your service will record a four-year obligation from the approval date (unless you qualify for a policy exception, such as Purple Heart). Watch for notifications and verify your Obligation End Date in TEB. - Have your dependent apply to VA for payment.
After DoD approves the TEB, each dependent files VA Form 22-1990e (online via VA.gov. If under 18, a paper/PDF submission by the sponsor is required). The VA then issues a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to the dependent.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Transferring GI Bill® Benefits
- Waiting until terminal leave or after separation: You must submit the TEB request before you separate. Once out, you can’t add new beneficiaries.
- Missing the four-year obligation: If you agree to four additional years but don’t complete them (and don’t qualify for an approved exception like medical separation), the VA can revoke payments and recoup funds already paid to your dependents. This can be a large debt.
- Skipping DEERS updates: If a spouse or child isn’t properly listed in DEERS, your TEB request stalls. Fix DEERS first, then submit the TEB.
- Not allocating at least one month to each child you might want to help: While still serving, allocate at least one month to each eligible child. You can reallocate more months later, even after separation among previously listed dependents.
Use Your GI Bill® Benefits to Empower Your Family’s Careers in Cybersecurity
If you’re mapping out a spouse’s degree or a child’s path into a high-growth field, cybersecurity stands out for job demand, mission-driven work, and strong starting salaries. EC-Council University (ECCU) offers fully online, VA-approved programs built specifically for cybersecurity careers, so your family can study from anywhere while using transferred GI Bill® benefits. ECCU’s degree and graduate certification programs are approved for GI Bill® education benefits, and VA listings show EC-Council University as a covered institution. Your dependents can apply their transferred benefits toward tuition and related costs at ECCU, and prepare for roles like security analyst, SOC analyst, ethical hacker, penetration tester, incident responder, and more.
Put your GI Bill® benefits to work at a career-focused institution of higher education like EC-Council University and open the door to impactful, well-paid cybersecurity roles that safeguard organizations and communities. If you’re ready to explore programs and timelines, contact ECCU’s Academic Advisory Team to help you and your family make the right decision.
