Sign up for our GI Bill Newsletter:
GI Bill Information: Ask the Expert BlogI Retired in 2006 After Serving 20 Years, Can I Transfer My GI Bill Benefits to my Children?
January 6th, 2010
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
Question: I served 20 years in the Navy, and retired in 2006. I want to transfer my GI Bill to my children. Am I eligible to get the new GI Bill to transfer it to my children? Johnny W. Richards
Answer: Hi Johnny, You are eligible to transfer to the new GI Bill if you are eligible for Montgomery GI Bill benefits, and have months of available education benefits that you haven’t used. I am basing this on the fact that you retired in 2006, and you were on active duty for the 20 years prior to that date, as there are eligibility requirements concerning dates of service which must be met for veterans to switch from the MGIB to the New GI Bill. If you do decide to switch, remember that you will not be able to switch back. If your only reason for changing to the New GI Bill, is to transfer your benefits to your children, then you may elect to stay with the MGIB. You will not be able to transfer benefits to your children with the New GI Bill, just as you were unable to with the MGIB. Unfortunately the provision allowing service members and veterans to transfer their benefits under the New GI Bill is only for those who were on active duty on or after August 1, 2009. Veterans who retired prior to that date are not eligible to transfer unused benefits. You may want to check with the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society, as they have some nice financial aid programs for children of Navy veterans.
12 Responses to “I Retired in 2006 After Serving 20 Years, Can I Transfer My GI Bill Benefits to my Children?”
Leave a Reply
Featured Online Schools
Grantham University
Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Computer Science, Information Systems & Security
Full Sail University - Online
Game Design, Mobile Development, Cinematography, Sports Marketing, and more
About The Authors
Get answers to questions about the old & new GI Bills
- Former Supervisor of Military Personnel Services, including Education Benefits
- Last assignment: Division Command Sergeant Major/E-9
- 36 years of military service
- Served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps
- His father, grandfather, and two uncles served in the U.S. Army, and his son served in the U.S. Navy
- Graduate of Virginia Military Institute
- Benefits
- GI Bill Benefits: Active
- GI Bill Benefits: Reserve
- Veterans/VEAP
- Dependents/DEA
- Tuition Assistance
- Tuition Top-Up
- VA Home Loans
- Getting To WAVE
- WAVE
- Application
- Eligibility
- Transfer
- FAQ
- GI Bill Schools
- Grantham University
- American Military University
- Grand Canyon University
- Jones International University
Disclaimer: This website is not endorsed by or affiliated with the U.S. government or military.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Sitemap | Contact UsCopyright © 1998 - 2012 GIBill.com. All Rights Reserved.
Someone who retired in 2006 is not eligible to transfer GI Bill benefits to a family member unless they happened to be one of the few people who re-enlisted under a retention limited retention option that allowed transfer rights in lieu of a re-enlistment bonus.
For the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, one of the conditions of being allowed to transfer benefits is that you must have still be in the service — not retired — on Aug. 1, 2009, the effective date of the new benefit program
Damn, that sound’s so easy if you think about it.
This seems to be a little-known fact of the new GI Bill – you have to still be serving on or after August 1,2009 to initiate the education benefits transfer option. You can not do it after you are out.
This transferability provision is ONLY for active duty military or reservists who are actively drilling and have already completed 6 years of service. AND the approval is contingent upon the member being able to commit to and doing additional time – generally if they are not retirement eligible, it is 4 years.
My husband has been in the military for 17 years and retires on april 10, 2013. Will he have to extend if I want to use his gi bill?
Hi Sam. I’m assuming you are talking about using his Post 9/11 GI Bill. By the rules for him to transfer some or all of his education benefits to you, he has to have served six years and agree to extend for another four. With 17 years in, he can transfer benefits to you now and you could start using them immediately with no requirement to extend beyond his 2013 date.
Your information is correct Catherine. Thanks!
Very nice site! is it yours too
No John. The site belongs to GI Bill.com and I just work for them as a blogger.
Sam,
Your husband may have to extend for additional time if he transfers benefits to you. It all depends on how many total years of active and reserve service he had as of 1 Aug 09. If he had less than 17, he has to do four more years from the date he submits the request to transfer benefits. If he had 17 but less than 18, he has to do three additional years from date of submitting the request. If he had 18 but less than 19, he has to do two additional years of service. 19 but less than 20, one additional year. 20 or more, no additional time. Remember to count all active and drilling reserve duty time. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the input Former Soldier, that is a good way of explaining it.
Excellent info. Love the blog here. I am definitely staying tuned to this one. You all have great opinions