WHAT IS TRANSFERABILITY?

The Post-9/11 GI Bill allows service members (officer or enlisted, active duty or Selected Reserve), to 

transfer unused education benefits to immediate family members (spouse and children). The service 

member must have at least six years of service, and commit to an additional four years of service in 

order to transfer benefits to a spouse or child. Because of the potential impact of this benefit on 

recruiting and retention, transferability policy is determined by the Department ofDefense.

See the DoD fact sheet on Post-9/11 GI Bill transferability, dated April 28, 2009. Visit the DoD 

website for the latest information on policy and rules for transferability of Post‐9/11 GI Bill 

benefits.

ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS

Any member of the Armed Forces (active duty or Selected Reserve, officer or enlisted) on or after 

August 1, 2009, who is eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and:

• Has at least six years of service in the armed forces (active duty and/or Selected Reserve) on 

the date of approval and agrees to serve four additional years in the armed forces from the date 

of election.

• Has at least 10 years of service in the armed forces (active duty and/or Selected Reserve) on the 

date of approval, is precluded by either standard policy (by Service Branch or DoD) or statute 

from committing to four additional years, and agrees to serve for the maximum amount of time 

allowed by such policy or statute.

• Transfer requests must be submitted and approved while the member is on active dutyonly

ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBERS

An individual approved to transfer an entitlement to educational assistance under this sectionmay 

transfer the individual’s entitlementto:

DisabilitiesdeterminedbyVAtoberelated toyourmilitaryservicecanleadtomonthlynon-taxablecompensation,enrollmentinthe 

VAhealth care system, a10-point hiring preference forfederal employment andother important benefits. Ask yourVA 

representative or Veterans Service Organization representative about Disability Compensation, Pension, Health Care, Caregiver 

Program,CareerServices,EducationalAssistance,HomeLoanGuaranty,Insuranceand/orDependentsandSurvivors’Benefits.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

POST-9/11 GI BILL: TRANSFERABILITY
Education and Training – March 2016

- The individual’s spouse.

- One or more of the individual’s children.

- Any combination of spouse and child.

• A family member must be enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System 

(DEERS) and be eligible for benefits, at the time of transfer to receive transferrededucational 

benefits.

• A child’s subsequent marriage will not affect his or her eligibility to receive the educational 

benefit; however, after an individual has designated a child as a transferee under this section, 

the individual retains the right to revoke or modify the transfer at any time.

• A subsequent divorce will not affect the transferee’s eligibility to receive educationalbenefits; 

however, after an individual has designated a spouse as a transferee under this section, the 

eligible individual retains the right to revoke or modify the transfer at anytime.

NATURE OF TRANSFER

An eligible Service member may transfer up to the total months of unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, 

or the entire 36 months if the member has used none. Family member use of transferred 

educational benefits is subject to the following:

• Spouse:

- May start to use the benefit immediately.

- May use the benefit while the member remains in the Armed Forces or after separation 

from active duty.

- Is not eligible for the monthly stipend or books and supplies stipend while the member is 

serving on active duty.

- Can use the benefit for up to 15 years after the service member’s last separation from 

active duty.

• Child:

- May start to use the benefit only after the individual making the transfer has completed at 

least 10 years of service in the Armed Forces.

- May use the benefit while the eligible individual remains in the Armed Forces or after 

separation from active duty.

- May not use the benefit until he/she has attained a secondary school diploma (or 

equivalency certificate), or reached 18 years of age.

- Is entitled to the monthly stipend and books and supplies stipend even though the 

eligible individual is on active duty.

- Is not subject to the 15-year delimiting date, but may not use the benefit after reaching 

26 years of age.

For More Information, Call Toll-Free 1-888-GIBILL-1 or Visit Our GI Bill website.