Service members are able to transfer their GI Bill to dependents if the service member does not want to use the benefit for his or her own education. The Pentagon recently announced new rules on transferring benefits to dependents, however.

Learn more about the changes and what you need to do to protect your GI Bill in 2019.

Important Changes to GI Bill Transfer Regulations

In July of 2018, the Department of Defense announced important changes surrounding regulations on transferring the GI Bill. Prior to 2018, there were two main transferability requirements:

• The member must have served in the military for six years before transferring
• Upon transferring, the service member would incur another four-year commitment

The new policy affects both of these eligibility requirements, removing a waiver for the four-year commitment and imposing a new limit on time-in-service.

The changes include:

1. No more waivers for an additional service commitment.

One of the biggest changes to transferring the GI Bill is that there will be no more waivers for incurring the additional four-year service commitment. Prior to these changes, if a service member had served more than 10 years and could not commit to a four-year service commitment (i.e. approaching retirement), that additional service commitment could potentially be waived. Those exceptions are now ended and if you cannot commit to the additional four years, there is no waiver and your benefits cannot be transferred.

2. The limit imposed on time-in-service to transfer your GI Bill.

Prior to July 2018, service members had to serve at least six years before becoming eligible to transfer his or her GI Bill. That regulation still stands, and the Department of Defense has added that as of July 2019, a service member who has been in the military for longer than 16 years will no longer be eligible to transfer the benefits.

Transferring Your GI Bill Benefits

While these changes have been somewhat controversial, the DoD maintains that these new regulations align the GI Bill more with its intended use.

The new changes to do not apply to recipients of the Purple Heart, however. Purple Heart recipients can transfer their benefits at any point in his or her military career.

If your GI Bill benefits have already been transferred, the policy changes will not affect your transfer.

To look into your eligibility, log into DMDC milConnect. At the top of the page, click on “I want to... Transfer my education benefits.”

Written by Alissa Sauer