Post 9/11 Gi Bill -- Transferability of Rights Published Aug. 27, 2009 By By Capt Susan Trepczynski Assistant Staff Judge Advocate PATRICK AFB, Fla. -- Post 9/11 Gi Bill -- Transferability of Rights By Capt Susan Trepczynski Assistant Staff Judge Advocate PATRICK AFB, Fla. -- As of Aug. 1, 2009, individuals who are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill may be able to transfer their GI Bill benefits to their spouse and/or children. You are eligible to transfer your benefits to a spouse or child if you are enrolled in the Post-9/11 GI Bill program and you: * Have served at least six years in the Armed Forces at the time you elect to transfer your benefits and you agree to serve at least four more years after the date of election; * Have at least 10 years of service in the Armed Forces (active duty and/or selected reserve) on the date of election, cannot (due to standard service or DOD policy or statute) commit to an additional four years of service, but agree to serve for the maximum amount of time allowed by the policy or statute; or * Are or become retirement eligible during the period from Aug. 1, 2009 through Aug. 1, 2013. If you are, or become, retirement eligible between Aug. 1, 2009 and Aug. 1, 2013, you may need to commit to additional service in order to transfer your benefits. The additional service requirements are based on the date you become retirement eligible and are as follows: * If you were eligible for retirement on Aug. 1, 2009, no additional service is required; * If you have an approved retirement date after Aug. 1, 2009 and before July 1, 2010, no additional service is required; * If you are eligible for retirement after Aug. 1, 2009 and before Aug. 1, 2010, one year of additional service after approval of transfer is required; * If you are eligible for retirement on or after Aug. 1, 2010 and before Aug. 1, 2011, two years of additional service after approval of transfer are required. * If you are eligible for retirement on or after Aug. 1, 2011 and before Aug. 1, 2012, three years of additional service after approval of transfer are required. If you qualify to transfer your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, you may transfer all of your remaining benefits (or all 36 months if you have not used any) to your eligible spouse and/or children. Your benefits can be transferred to one person, or to any combination of your spouse and children. In order for your spouse and/or children to be eligible to receive a transfer of benefits, they must be enrolled in DEERS. In addition, while a spouse may start to use the benefits immediately, children cannot use the benefits until you have completed 10 years of service in the Armed Forces. Children also may not use the benefits until they have received a high school diploma (or equivalency certificate), or are 18 years of age. Finally, children must use the benefits before reaching age 26. A spouse may use the benefits up to 15 years after the service member's separation from active duty. In order to find out if your dependents are eligible to receive a transfer of your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, you need to fill out a DOD application, which is available online at: https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/TEB/consent?continueToUrl=%2FTEB%2F. You must receive approval in order to transfer your benefits. For further information regarding the Post-9/11 GI Bill and transfer of benefits, please visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website (www.va.gov).