How to Transfer GI Bill to Your Spouse

Did you know it’s possible to extend those well-deserved education benefits to those closest to you, your partner, and your children, through the Post-9/11 GI Bill Program? Here’s how to transfer GI Bill benefits.

GI Bill Transfer Eligibility Requirements

Your first step is to find out if you’re eligible to transfer your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. For starters, you must be on active duty or in the Reserve and be able to check off all of the following boxes:

• You’ve completed at least six years of service on the date your request is approved.
• You agreed to add four more years of service.
• The person receiving benefits has enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).

There’s one exception worth knowing. According to the VA, if you’ve received a Purple Heart, you don’t have to meet the six-year service requirement to transfer your benefits, though you still need to request the transfer while you’re on active duty.

To find out more, visit va.gov.

Eligible Transfer Recipients

Eligible family members include your spouse, one or more of your children, or any combination thereof. Your dependents may still qualify even if a child marries or you and your spouse divorce. However, service members and Veterans can cancel or change a Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) at any time.

What GI Bill Benefits Can Be Transferred?

Once the Department of Defense approves your TOE, your spouse or dependent children can apply for up to 36 months of benefits, and may be eligible for funding for tuition, housing, books, and supplies.

So how much is that actually worth? Using the VA’s current (2025-26) rates, a dependent using transferred benefits can receive:

• Net tuition and fees up to 100% of the in-state cost at a public school.
• Up to $29,920.95 per year at a private or foreign school.
• Up to $1,000 per year for books and supplies.
• A monthly housing allowance, when eligible.

Rates change each academic year, so check the VA’s current transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill rates for the latest figures.

Where you enroll matters too. National University participates in the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon programs, and its dedicated Veterans Affairs student services team certifies your enrollment to the VA within 30 days of the start of class. From there, benefits typically disburse 6-8 weeks after certification, so you know what to expect and when.

How to Request a GI Bill Transfer

While you’re still on active or reserve duty, you may request to transfer, change, or revoke a TOE using the milConnect website. After you leave the armed forces, you can still provide a future effective date for when the TOE can be used, change the number of months transferred, or revoke the TOE by submitting a written request to the VA through milConnect. Once submitted, the transfer will be approved (or denied) by the Department of Defense.

Changed your mind, or need to adjust things? The VA notes that you can cancel or change any not-yet-awarded transferred benefits through milConnect. That includes changing the number of months you’ve transferred, transferring benefits back to yourself, or reassigning unused months to another eligible dependent. And while you’re still on active duty, you can add dependents too.

Using Transferred Benefits

Once you get the green light from the DOD, benefits are immediately available, whether you have remained in the armed forces or left active duty. If your last discharge was before January 1, 2013, the benefit may be used for up to 15 years; otherwise, there is no time limit. According to the VA, a spouse does not qualify for the monthly housing allowance while you are on active duty, but a dependent child may qualify for it even during your active duty.

Your partner may apply to use the education benefits online at the Veterans Affairs website while signed into their own Login.gov or ID.me account. The paper VA Form 22-1990e is used mainly when the dependent is under 18, and you apply on their behalf, in which case you can mail it to the nearest VA regional office.

Rules for Spouses vs. Children

Spouses and children do not follow the same timeline, and the difference matters. Per the VA, a spouse can start using transferred benefits right away. A dependent child, though, can only begin after you’ve completed at least 10 years of service. The child must also have a high school diploma (or equivalent) or be at least 18, and must use the benefits before turning 26.

GI Bill for Dependents Helps with Education Costs

Once the GI Bill education benefits are transferred and approved, your family members’ next task will be to find a degree or training program that fits their goals. The options are endless, ranging from business degrees to trade skills to professional certifications. When selecting an institution, applicants should investigate GI Bill-friendly colleges offering military tuition assistance, prior learning credits, and military discounts. 

These schools can be easily identified, many stating on their websites that they are military-friendly colleges. Also, look for schools like National University that participate in the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon programs.

Ready to dive into the details? To learn more about your benefits and how to transfer GI Bill benefits to your partner and/or children, visit the Veterans Affairs GI Bill website, and for more information about National University’s educational programs and services for active duty and Veteran service members, please visit our military admissions page.