Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) Post-9/11 GI Bill

Overview

TEB is an incentive for continued service offered to Service Members who qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. All ARNG Soldiers considering TEB should initiate the TEB process as soon as they meet the requirements (Ref: Title 38 USC Section 3319; DODI 1341.13).

1. How Do I Qualify?

• Qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at any payment tier
• Be currently serving in the Armed Forces with at least six years completed
• Not be flagged for an adverse action, failure to maintain physical fitness or height/weight standards, or as an Unsatisfactory Participant
• Commit to serve at least four additional, continuous years in the Armed Forces (must have an ETS or MRD equal to or greater than four years from the TEB request date and not be in the IRR or ING);
• Transfer to an eligible dependent
  • Spouse and/or dependents must be listed under you in DEERS
  • Wards and foster children must have been living with you under a court order for the past 12 continuous months
  • Transfers to children must be completed before the child's 21st birthday (23rd birthday if they are a full-time student)
  • You must be currently serving to ADD a new dependent to the transfer request

2. What Do I Get?

• Dependent(s) receive the same tier payment as Soldier
• Spouse: is subject to the same rules as the transferring Soldier
  • May use transferred benefits immediately
  • If your last day of qualifying service is before January 1, 2013, your spouse's eligibility ends 15 years from your last day of qualifying service, unless you specify an earlier end date
  • If your last day of qualifying service is on or after January 1, 2013, your spouse's eligibility never ends, unless you specify an earlier end date
  • Spouse of a Soldier who is serving qualifying duty is not eligible for the MHA
• Children:
  • Cannot use the benefit until you have completed 10 years in the Armed Forces
  • Is eligible for the housing allowance when attending more than half-time, regardless of the Soldier's duty status
  • A child's eligibility ends on their 26th birthday unless you specify an earlier end date

• IMPORTANT! In order to modify/revoke months from your dependents after separating from service, you must transfer at least one month to each dependent while you're still serving.

3. How Do I Apply?

Step 1: Contact the VA

• Call 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) and ask the VA rep how many months you have used in each GI Bill program
• If you are only eligible for one program, subtract those months from 36. This is the number of months you are eligible to transfer.
• If you are eligible for more than one program, subtract the total months from 48. You may transfer this number of months or 36 months, whichever is less.

Step 2: Complete Extension (If required)

• If you do not have four years remaining on your contract from the date you complete the TEB application, you will need to extend. Fill out the DA Form 4836 (Oath of Extension of Enlistment or Reenlistment) and have your extension uploaded into IPPS-A and iPERMS by your unit/state.
• The Education Support Center (ESC) will NOT approve any transfer requests until they can verify that the extension was uploaded into IPPS-A and appears in your record in GIMS.

Step 3: Complete Application for Transfer

• Complete online application at milConnect. You must log in with Common Access Card (CAC), DS Logon or Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) PIN.
• Verify your dependents are listed as eligible to receive the transfer
  • Your dependents will be listed in the List of Family Members chart. Dependents with a blue YES on the far right of the chart are eligible to receive the transfer.
  • If your dependent(s) is under 23 years old and has a blue N/A instead of a blue YES, contact your DEERS office to enroll that dependent into DEERS.
• Click on the blue YES associated with the dependent you wish to transfer to.
  • Enter the number of months you wish to transfer to that dependent
  • Soldiers have the option to enter a transfer end date. However, leaving this field blank will allow the VA to pay benefits for the longest period of eligibility allowed by law.
  • Click the OK button.
  • Repeat for each dependent you wish to transfer months to.
• Complete the application by reading, understanding and selecting EVERY checkbox and then click SUBMIT.

Step 4: Access Military Email and Follow Instructions

• The Education Support Center (ESC) will review your application and send you an email in your military (army.mil) email with instructions if you have not met all the requirements to get your transfer approved.
• Once you have met all the requirements, you will receive a TEB APPROVED email from the ESC.
• Login to milConnect, review your obligation end date (OED), print your approval form.
• IMPORTANT: IF YOU VOLUNTARILY SEPARATE FROM THE ARNG PRIOR TO COMPLETING YOUR OED, YOUR TEB WILL BE TERMINATED AND ANY FUNDS PAID TO YOUR DEPENDENTS WILL BE RECOUPED!

Step 5: Dependent Application to VA

• When ready to attend school, your approved dependent(s) apply for the Post 9/11 GI Bill at the VA website
  
• Notify the VA Certifying Official at your school so they can certify your enrollment
• Verify your enrollment each month online

For More Information:

• Visit the VA Education and Training page
  
• Contact your State Education Officer