Now thanks to the new Post 9-11 GI Bill, you may be able to transfer your educational benefits to your children or another family member if you meet certain criteria. The Montgomery GI Bill has been credited with making college affordable since 1944 to millions of Americans. It is without a doubt one of the most popular and successful government education programs in America’s history. And, now the program has gotten even better thanks to upgrades from Congress.
What Benefits Does The Post 9-11 GI Bill Provide?
The new Post 9-11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to members of the military who have served on or after September 11, 2001 and received an honorable discharge. The Post 9-11 GI Bill covers tuition for graduate degrees, undergraduate degrees, and approved vocational and technical training. The Post 9-11 GI Bill will pay a service member’s tuition up to the highest in-state tuition rate charged by a public college in the state where the member’s school is located. The law also provides recipients with a monthly housing allowance based on what an E-5 with dependents would make that the same location of the school. There is also an annual books and supplies allowance of $1,000 that is paid as well.
Who Is Eligible To Receive Post 9-11 GI Bill Benefits?
The Post 9-11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to members of the military who have served at least 90 days of service on or after September 11, 2001. Individuals can also qualify for the benefit if they were discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days of service in the military. Military members must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post 9-11 GI Bill benefits.
Who Is Eligible To Receive Transferred Post 9-11 GI Bill Benefits?
A current member of the military can transfer his or her Post 9-11 GI Bill benefits to several members of his or her family. The military member can transfer educational benefits to a spouse, one or more children, or another family member who is enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS). The member of the military can also elect to transfer a mixture of the benefits to the people listed above. For example, the member of the military can split the benefits between a spouse and his or her children.
Beware Of Added Service Obligation For Transferring GI Bill Benefits
Any current member of the military can elect to transfer his or her Post 9-11 GI Bill benefits to a spouse or child, but the military member must meet certain criteria. The service member must have at least six years of service in the military and agree to continue serving for an additional four years. If the member of the military has completed at least ten years of military service, then there is not additional service obligation that is added to his or her military contract. There are several other service obligation requirements as members of the military approach retirement age and want to transfer their GI Bill benefits to a family member. Those members of the military close to retirement should consult the requirements on the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
How To Apply And Transfer Post 9-11 GI Bill Benefits
In order to apply to transfer your Post 9-11 GI Bill benefits, the member of the military must first go to the DOD’s transferability application website to determine if your dependents are eligible to receive the transferred benefits. This website is only available to current members of the military. Upon approval, family members may apply to use transferred Post 9-11 GI Bill benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs by completing VA Form 22-1990e.
The goal of the Post 9-11 GI Bill and the ability to transfer beneifts to dependents is to keep mid-career members of the military in the services. That is why there is a minimum service requirement and why transferring benefits requires military members to incur more service time in many instances. The Montgomery GI Bill has helped millions go to school over the course of the past seven decades. The new Post 9-11 GI Bill allows members of the military to share this great benefit with family members and has the ability to drive a new level of college education in America.
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