Post 9/11 G.I Bill eligibility and transferring benefits

  • Published
  • By Ms. Beth Anderson
  • 56th Force Support Squadron Education Center
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The Veterans Administration Program of the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill and the Department of Defense Program allow members to transfer benefits to their dependents have different eligibility requirements. 

There is no extra active-duty service commitment to switch from the old Montgomery G.I. Bill to the new Post 9/11 G.I. Bill. 

To be eligible for the new bill, military members need to have served at least 90 days on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001. To receive the maximum basic benefits a member must serve 36 months on active duty. The benefits will be prorated if a servicemember falls between those time periods. 

If the member was separated due to a disability, they only need to have served 30 days on active duty. 

The benefits became available Saturday. Before individuals elect to give up previous benefits, such as Chapter 30 of the Montgomery G.I. Bill, they must carefully consider the decision because once it is made it cannot change for any reason. 

The DoD program that lets servicemembers transfer up to 36 months of benefits to a spouse or dependant child has different requirements. A member must first qualify for the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill benefit. Airmen must be on active duty as of Saturday and have completed six years of service. The eligible member must then commit to an additional four years of service. 

There are exceptions for those who are or will be eligible for retirement before July 31, 2012. For example, members with approved retirement dates between August 2, 2009, and June 30, 2010, do not require additional service. Members who have completed 20 years of service as of Saturday do not require additional service. 

Members who become retirement eligible between Aug. 2, 2009 and July 31, 2012, incur a different service commitment based on when they retire. 

In addition, spouses may use the benefit immediately after the member has served six years and committed to four years of additional service. However, dependent children must wait until the member has served a full 10 years. 

Dependent children can begin using benefits when they turn 18. The benefits expire when the child reaches age 26, and must be transferred before they turn 23. 

It is important to note that all transfers must be made prior to separation or retirement. However, months of benefits already given to a dependant while on active duty may be added or subtracted even after a member has left the service. 

The next Post 9/11 G.I. Bill briefing is at 9 a.m. Aug. 19, in the training room in the 310th Fighter Squadron, Bldg. 904. John Crawford from the Veteran's Education and Training Approving Agency will lead the briefing. Seating is limited. Call the Education Center at (623) 856-7722 to reserve a seat. 

Weekly briefings will occur at 9 a.m. Wednesdays starting Sept. 9 in Room 3148 of the Education Center, Bldg. 1150. Seating is limited to the first 30 attendees.
Next week's article on the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill will address which benefits dependants can use and how servicemembers go about transferring them.