When Does the Time Limit Start for Using the New GI Bill?

Thanks, Terry for a great question. If you or your spouse were going to use the New GI Bill, the 15-year time limit would start on the date of your discharge out of the military, however, because you are transferring it to your daughter, there isn’t a time limit.

The exact wording is ” An eligible Service member may transfer up to the total months of unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, or the entire 36 months, if the member has used none.

Family member use of transferred educational benefits is subject to the following:

• Child:
  • May start to use the benefit only after the individual making the transfer has completed at least 10 years of service in the Armed Forces.
  • May use the benefit while the eligible individual remains in the Armed Forces or after separation from active duty.
  • May not use the benefit until he/she has attained a secondary school diploma (or equivalency certificate), or reached 18 years of age.
  • Is entitled to the monthly stipend and books and supplies stipend even though the eligible individual is on active duty.
  • Is not subject to the 15-year delimiting date, but may not use the benefit after reaching 26 years of age.

The only real issue is she can’t use her transferred benefits before getting her high school diploma or age 18, and she has to finish before reaching her 26th birthday, which gives her about 8 years to use  the months of benefit you transfer to her.

One key point to remember is you have to make the transfer while you are still in the military – this is key.  You can’t transfer benefits once you are discharged.

You are probably already aware of the basic transfer process:

• switch to the New GI Bill;
• make sure she is listed in DEERS;
• request the transfer.

When your daughter is old enough to use the benefits, she can do so by filling out VA Form 22-1990e.