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Can My Husband and I Both Use His GI Bill Benefits?

July 15th, 2010
by Jeffery Anderson
I am an Air Force wife, I’m wondering if my husband can still use the 9/11 GI Bill benefits when he transfers them to me?  Is there an option to transfer all or just some of the benefits?  How many months of assistance can we receive, is it for the two of us or for each of us?  I wanted to take a six months course online, can I use the new GI Bill for that?  Mina

Hi Mina, There is indeed an option for your husband to transfer just part of his Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to you.  If your husband is eligible for the full benefits of the Post 9/11 GI Bill, then he can receive 36 months of educational assistance to pursue a degree program at an approved school.  Once your husband has been in the military for 6 years he has the option of transferring part or all of those 36 months of benefits to a spouse or dependent child.  If he applies to transfer his benefits, he is going to have to agree to remain in the Air Force for 4 years after the transfer is approved.

When your husband goes to the Department of Defense website to fill out the online application for the transfer of his Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits he will be able to mark down how many months of benefits he would like to transfer to you.  He can transfer all 36 months and keep none for himself or he can transfer you 6 months and keep 30 for himself or any combination he desires.  However, the total number of months of benefits available for both of you to use is 36 months, it’s not 36 months each.

You are going to have to be registered in DEERS to receive his benefits and you can use them for an online class as long as it is being used to work toward a degree program and is at a school that is approved by the VA for Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.  The school must be able to award at least an associate’s degree in some course of study to be approved.

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Posted in GI Bill Transfer, New GI Bill, Veterans Education Benefits | 2 Comments »

2 Responses to “Can My Husband and I Both Use His GI Bill Benefits?”

  1. james cooper says:
    October 1, 2010 at 8:02 am

    my husband was honarable discharge 30% i was planning to use it.cuz he dont wont to use he want to tranfer to me but he just serve only 4 years.i like to know if i can use and the phlippines ,

  2. Jeffery Anderson says:
    October 1, 2010 at 12:11 pm

    Hi, I’m not sure if I understand your question completely, but if you’re saying that your husband served in the military for 4 years and is now out and you wonder if you can use his benefits, I’m afraid the answer is no. He is eligible to use his benefits, but he has to be on active duty and to have served longer to be eligible to transfer them to you. You should check with the relief organization that supports the branch of service he was in as they may have some education benefits you could use. I’m referring to organizations like the Army Emergency Relief and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.

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