Can I transfer benefits to my dependents?

Answer ID 940   |    Published 07/14/2008 08:37 AM   |    Updated 11/06/2018 01:54 PM

If you are a member of the Armed Forces on August 1, 2009 and eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Department of Defense (DoD) offers you the opportunity to transfer benefits to your spouse or dependents.

For any deaths occurring on or after August 1, 2009:

  1. If the dependent you transferred benefits to dies, the Veteran/servicemember may transfer any remaining unused benefits to a different eligible dependent effective August 1, 2018.
  2. If a dependent has received transferred entitlement and the Veteran/servicemember dies, the dependent may transfer his or her unused benefits to a different eligible dependent of the Veteran/servicemember effective August 1, 2018.

Commissioned officers of the Public Health Service (PHS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are eligible for the transferability option effective August 1, 2011. While in the Armed Forces, transferors use the Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) website to designate, modify, and revoke a Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) request. After leaving the Armed Forces, transferors may provide a future effective date for use of TOE, modify the number of months transferred, or revoke entitlement transferred by submitting a written request to VA.

NOTE: After separating from the Armed Forces individuals cannot designate new dependents to receive transferred entitlement or amend the effective date of the initial transfer of entitlement to an earlier date.

 

NOTE: After separating from the Armed Forces individuals cannot designate new dependents to receive transferred entitlement or amend the effective date of the initial transfer of entitlement to an earlier date.

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