Can We Both Use Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits at the Same Time?

Yes, Desire, if your husband has the Post 9/11 GI Bill and he is eligible for retirement, he can transfer some or all of his education benefits to you.  But the key is he has to make the transfer while he is still on active duty. Once he is discharged, he can amend his transfer to you, but he can’t make any new transfers.

Yes, each of you can use your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits at the same time. As far as the Post 9/11 GI Bill housing allowance (BAH), once your husband is out, each of you should get the housing allowance while in school until you each exhaust your benefits. Each of you will get paid a housing allowance at the E-5-with-dependents rate for the zip code of your school, as long as you are not:

• on active duty;
• taking only online classes;
• taking less than 7 credits per term.

The VA will pay for 36 months of benefits.  Whether all Post 9/11 GI Bill 36 months of benefits are paid to your husband or split between both of you, they will end up paying the same amount, just over a shorter period of time, if both of you are using benefits at the same time. Also, don’t forget that each of you will also get up to $1,000 per year in a book stipend.

As far as tuition and eligible fees, the VA will pay up to their maximum public school, undergraduate program established amount for your state.