Transferred Education Benefits for Family Members

With careful planning, military spouses and dependents can access transferred education benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill. These benefits can be applied to:

• Undergraduate and graduate education
• Non-college degree programs such as HVAC repair, truck driving, EMT, or beautician school
• Flight training
• On-the-job training and apprenticeships
• Correspondence school

This financial assistance can help with the costs of housing, books, or supplies. Funding may also be used to cover preparation and fees for national standardized tests, such as the SAT, or for licensing and certifications.

How and when does the process start?

A career service member on active duty or in the Selected Reserve may request a Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) and designate a family member as the recipient. This spouse or dependent must already be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. The request for a TEB is made through and requires at least six years of service on the date the request is approved, along with a signed agreement to add four more years of service.

The Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) Beneficiary Guide outlines eligibility, transfer procedures, status monitoring, rejected request appeals, next steps after approval and managing or updating transferred benefits.

After verifying that a TEB has been approved by DoD, the designated family member can apply by mail or online using their Login.gov or ID.me account. If the dependent is under 18 years of age, the application must be made using a PDF version of the Application for Family Member to Use Transferred Benefits (VA Form 22-1990e).

There are certain time restraints attached to the use of these benefits. Visit the Transfer your Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits on the VA website and scroll down to the “When can my dependents use the transferred benefits?” section. Additionally, step-by-step guidance for applying can be found at “Apply to use transferred education benefits.”

A TEB is just one of many benefits available to military spouses and dependents. An extensive listing of opportunities can be found on the Education and Career Benefits for Family Members page of the Veterans Affairs website.