Transfer of Post-9/11 GI-Bill Benefits to Dependents (TEB)
The transferability option under the Post-9/11 GI Bill allows Servicemembers to transfer unused benefits to their spouses or dependent children.
Official DoD Website for Information on Transferability (Non VA link)
How to apply for TEB
The Department of Defense determines whether or not you can transfer benefits to your family members. To apply to transfer your benefits, please click the link below. The website is only available to military members.
Submit a Transfer Education Benefit (TEB) request for your Service Component Approval (non-VA Link)
(NOTE: When the milConnect Home page displays, select Education then Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) from the menu bar.)
Upon approval, family members may apply to use transferred benefits with VA by completing VA Form 22-1990e. VA Form 22-1990e should only be completed and submitted to VA by the family member after DoD has approved the request for TEB. Do not use VA Form 22-1990e to apply for TEB.
Click Here - To access the electronic version of VA Form 22-1990e (VONAPP)
Click Here - To access the paper version of VA-Form 22-1990e
Eligibility
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 6 years of service in the Armed Forces (active duty and/or Selected Reserve) on the date of approval and agrees to serve 4 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 (Service or DoD) or statute from committing to 4 additional years, and agrees to serve for the maximum amount of time allowed by such policy or statute.
- Is or becomes retirement eligible during the period from August 1, 2009,
through July 31, 2012, and agrees to serve an additional period of service
in subparagraphs (a) through (d). A Service member is considered to be
retirement eligible if he or she has completed 20 years of active Federal
service or 20 qualifying years as computed pursuant to section 12732 of
title 10 U.S.C. This will no longer be in effect on August 1, 2013, and on
or after that date all members must comply with paragraphs 1 and 2.
- For individuals eligible for retirement on August 1, 2009, no
additional service is required.
- For individuals eligible for retirement after August 1, 2009, and
before August 1, 2010, 1 year of additional service is required.
- For individuals eligible for retirement on or after August 1, 2010, and
before August 1, 2011, 2 years of additional service is required.
- For individuals eligible for retirement on or after August 1, 2011, and
before August 1, 2012, 3 years of additional service is required.
- Such transfer must be requested and approved while the member is in the Armed Forces.
Eligible Dependents
An individual approved to transfer an entitlement to educational assistance under this section may transfer the individual’s entitlement to:
- 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 transferred educational 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 educational benefits; 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 any time.
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 (unless DoD/DHS limits the number of months an individual may transfer).
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 housing allowance while the member is serving on active duty.
- Can use the benefit for up to 15 years after the service member’s last separation form 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 housing allowance 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.
Correction of Military Records to Allow Transferability
Requests to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement to dependents must be made while still in the Armed Forces. Veterans who believe they were not informed of the requirement to transfer entitlement while still in service can request a Correction of Military Records to Allow Transferability by submitting a DD Form 149, “Application for Correction of Military Record Under the Provisions of Title 10, U.S.C, § 1552” to their service Board for Correction of Military Records. The Boards for Correction of Military Records have the mission to correct errors in or remove injustices from military records. Determinations on correcting military records to allow transfer of entitlement will be made on a case-by-case basis. The DD Form 149, complete with instructions and mailing addresses for each military branch, is available here.
