Why Did My Husband Switch to the Post 9/11 GI Bill Anyway?

He is under the impression that with the original GI Bill, he can’t transfer benefits to his daughter. Is this true?

I know under the new GI Bill that he can’t use it anyway because he signed up right before he got out and is not going to serve 4 more years. I don’t know why anyone would tell him to switch that when they knew his ETS was in Jan 2010. What can we do now if anything? Thanks,  – Jeanette

Your husband is correct Jeanette in saying he can’t transfer Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) benefits to his daughter; the MGIB never had a dependent child transfer option as part of that GI Bill.

When you say “he can’t use it anyway”, is not correct, as he can use it, but he can’t transfer entitlement to his daughter, as least not right now. There is a bill in the legislature – S3447 – that if it passes, could allow retirees the option of making a transfer. We don’t know what the final language will look like so I can’t say for sure, but by the time your daughter is ready for college, an option may exist, so all might not be lost yet.

Otherwise, your husband has 15 years, from his discharge date, to use his Post 9/11 GI Bill. If at some point in the future he can transfer entitlements to his daughter, she has from her 18^th birthday (or when she gets her high school diploma) until age 26 to use her entitlements.

As far as why someone would advise him to switch? Actually it probably was good advice as no transfer option existed under the MGIB. At least with the Post 9/11 GI Bill, there may be a future option, or at the worst, your husband can go to school and use his entitlement.