How do I use transferred GI Bill benefits?

Once the Department of Defense approves your sponsor's transfer, you apply to the VA with Form 22-1990E to get your own Certificate of Eligibility, then give it to your school. From there, I treat you like any other Post-9/11 GI Bill student.

The transfer itself happens first

Transfer of Entitlement is filed by the service member in the milConnect portal, not on VA.gov, and it must be approved while they are still on active duty or in the Selected Reserve. Generally the service member needs at least 6 years of service and must agree to serve 4 more. After separation, no new transfers can be made.

Rules for the person receiving months

• You must be enrolled in DEERS as the service member's dependent.
• Spouses can generally start using benefits once the transfer is approved.
• Children generally cannot start until the sponsor has 10 years of service, and must be 18 or have finished high school.
• Children must use transferred months before their 26th birthday. There is no extension.
• You inherit your sponsor's benefit percentage.

Whether you receive the housing allowance depends on whether you are a spouse or a child. If you are a spouse, you do not receive it while your sponsor is on active duty; you can receive it once your sponsor separates. If you are a child, you can receive it even while your sponsor is on active duty. If you are eligible at the 100% tier, you can also use the Yellow Ribbon Program at participating schools.

Filing the wrong form is the most common delay I see. Transferred benefit recipients file 22-1990E, not 22-1990.