Transfer of Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits to Dependents
If you served in the Armed Forces and retired before transferring you Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to your dependents–this means that one of your dependents will not be able to go to college for free. And, unless they have a scholarship or other means to pay for college, the price of college at a state school can easily be $80K – $100K or more. The Post 9/11 GI Bill is a great privilege given by the United States Government to those who have served in the Armed Forces and meet certain requirements.
Under law, the transferability option under the Post-9/11 GI Bill allows Servicemembers to transfer all or some unused benefits to their spouse or dependent children. The request to transfer unused GI Bill benefits to eligible dependents must be completed while serving as an active member of the Armed Forces.
If you did not complete this transfer while on active duty, it may be possible to correct your military records to reflect this transfer occurred before you retired. It depends upon the facts. What happened? Why didn’t you transfer your benefits while you were serving on active duty? The facts always determine the outcome.
One thing is clear–it is unreasonable to think that a member of the armed forces would knowingly–not have taken the necessary action to ensure he or she retained this entitlement for his dependent.
Learn more about the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits here Transfer of Post 9/11 GI Bill to dependents and the Board for the Correction of Military Records here Board for Correction of Military Records