Post 911 GI Bill family transfer rules

Benefits can be shared with a spouse, one child or several children, as long as those receiving the benefits are enrolled in the military’s Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System at the time a member transfers benefits.

Service members can transfer any or all of their unused benefits, up to the maximum of 36 months of benefits. Changes in the sharing arrangement among family members can be made only once a month.

Basic eligibility rules require a member to have at least six years of service and make a new commitment for another four to transfer benefits. A spouse can begin using transferred benefits before the additional four years are served, but children may not use benefits until a service member has completed at least 10 years of service.

A service member with 10 years of service who is prevented by defense or service policy or law from serving an additional four years could still share benefits under one of the special rules that would apply to officers twice passed over for promotion and enlisted members facing high-year tenure or other standards.

They could transfer benefits if they agree to serve the maximum additional time they are allowed to remain in the service.

Additionally, a more generous temporary rule — good only through 2013 — allows people who already have a set retirement date or who will become retirement-eligible before Aug. 1, 2012, to share benefits without completing four additional years of service.

How they will be treated depends on their retirement eligibility and plans:

• Anyone eligible for retirement on Aug. 1, 2009, will be allowed to transfer benefits without any additional service. Additionally, no further service will be required for anyone who has an approved retirement date after Aug. 1, 2009, but before July 1, 2010.
• Those who become eligible for retirement after Aug. 1, 2009, and before Aug. 1, 2010, must serve one year in the military after transferring benefits to their family.
• Those who become eligible for retirement after Aug. 1, 2010, and before Aug. 1, 2011, must serve two years after transferring benefits.
• Those who become eligible for retirement after Aug. 1, 2011, and before Aug. 1, 2012, must serve three years after transferring benefits.
• Those who become eligible for retirement after Aug. 1, 2012, would have to serve four years after transferring benefits.

POST 911 GI BILL.ppt