How do you transfer education benefits to a spouse when the service member has limited time left on their contract?

Nicole Williams — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 16:30:06 -0500

Please help!!!! My husband is attempting to transfer his education benefits to me; however, teb denied transfer because he doesn't have enough time left on his contract. He contacted his s1 about extending. S1 is saying that he needs the letter about transfer being denied. We did not receive one. He showed him on milconnect the denial. After reaching out to the army rep for teb per website he was told that he needed to fill a different form out but we can not find this form. I want to finish my RN and give back to my service members at the va hospital or base hospital but we need help getting the education to transfer. Any advice?????

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Feb 21 at 2018 4:44 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 16:44:55 -0500

Contact the VA Education benefits line. I am pretty sure, I know for Post 9-11 it works, that after your husband has left the military that the VA can do the transfer of education benefits over to you. I have a friend who was planning on using his benefits until he got out and chose not to. His wife is using his Post 9-11 benefits to go to school right now. You may even have an easier time doing the transfer through the VA than you will racing to get it done through the S1.

Response by 1SG Joseph Yorski, MHS made Feb 21 at 2018 4:53 PM

1SG Joseph Yorski, MHS — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 16:53:17 -0500

This is something Congress had in the crosshairs last fall, so don't wait, whatever you do. I doubt it will be around much longer, at least for spouses.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Feb 21 at 2018 5:01 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 17:01:26 -0500

SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" COL Mikel J. Burroughs -- gents, can we pls try to mass effects on this thread to help get an answer for Nicole Williams -- you guys are 2 of the biggest influencers, hence my request. Thanks in advance :)

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Feb 21 at 2018 5:23 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 17:23:12 -0500

Top Influencers check out Nicole Williams question and let's see if we can get her some assistance and answers. Thanks, COL (Ret) Mikel Burroughs

Response by SFC Andrew Miller made Feb 21 at 2018 5:36 PM

SFC Andrew Miller — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 17:36:04 -0500

Unfortunately, on the federal side you have to have 6 years of service already and commit to an additional 4 years or have at least 10 years of service and are not permitted to complete another 4 years due to RCP or some other method to transfer benefits to a dependent. You must do it while still on active duty. You can't do it once you have separated/retired.

Depending on home of record your state might have educational benefits for the spouse.

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Feb 21 at 2018 6:28 PM

Maj Marty Hogan — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 18:28:35 -0500

He needs to contact his base education office. Guard or AD? The Guard will have a retention manager he needs to contact and AD runs most of this through their base education people. I believe Military One Source http://www.militaryonesource.mil/ may offer some quick advice as well. He will need to re-enlist or extend to cover a four year service agreement. If he leaves the service during that four year commitment, he will be responsible for the entire amount used. Few more words of wisdom from anyone? Pretty easy process- not sure what other paperwork is required. That is from the Air side- the Army...eh. Still has to be someone at the base that this is a responsibility for

Military OneSource – Support for Military Personnel & Families - Military OneSource

Military resource website providing 24/7 support for military personnel, spouses, family members and survivors on taxes, moving, spouse employment, MWR and more.

Response by CAPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2018 9:01 PM

CAPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 21:01:30 -0500

I'm IAVA's Legislative Director and we have been neck deep in this since the Post-9/11 GI Bill was enacted. If one wants to transfer his/her P911 GIB to a spouse or children, one has to serve 4 more years after one elects to transfer online with the VA. You can't just transfer it on your way out. There have been attempts over the last two years by Congress to cut in half the BAH paid to children using the transferred GI Bill and to charge $2,400 to every service member for P911 GIB eligibility. Those were defeated. All need to pay attention and engage.

Response by Nicole Williams made Feb 21 at 2018 9:48 PM

Nicole Williams — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 21:48:50 -0500

He is in active reserves and he understands he has to extend his contract which is no big deal because the plan is to do indefinite on the new contract since he will be receiving his 20 yr letter this year

Response by SSG Eddye Royal made Feb 21 at 2018 9:57 PM

SSG Eddye Royal — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 21:57:52 -0500

Nicole Willams, call the [login to see] or go out to the VA web site, and there is a PDF that your husband needs to fill out. If thats does not work, he can get from his Chain of Command, to assist with this process, once its completed, it normally takes 60 to 90 days, make sure that if you send it by mail, you use Delivery receipt so that someone has to sign for it. That way if your LOCAL Regional Office say they lost it or did not get it, you will have a copy of whom signed it at the PO.

Response by SSG Keith Amacher made Feb 21 at 2018 11:55 PM

SSG Keith Amacher — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 23:55:43 -0500

I have a friend sir that is retired AG of Georgia National Guard and a Ranger and Pilot who teaches at Georgia Tech ROTC... I will check with him. My family had me contact him for help when we were trying to get my dying cousin back from Iraq who was working DOD communications. I don't understand these contracts it was simple in my time...

Response by SSG Keith Amacher made Feb 21 at 2018 11:59 PM

SSG Keith Amacher — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 23:59:02 -0500

Oh and calling the General will get me an education on this. I need to get him on Rally Point. I am obviously not calling him to catch up until tomorrow. I think a Colonel will understand that sir.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2018 3:30 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 03:30:00 -0500

The S1 should not be assisting the Soldier for the Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB). Please have the Soldier speak with the Battalion Career Counselor for further assistance. The letter denying the Soldier for TEB will be in his military email. It will deny you all TEB because he will have to meet an Service Remainder Requirement (SRR). The Battalion Career Counselor will be able to answer any additional questions for extending/reenlisting for the TEB.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2018 3:43 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 03:43:58 -0500

As stated above, the battalion career counselor is the authority to extend him, not the S1. The career counselor is supposed to pull the TEB report daily to see if anyone was denied and then counsel them on how to meet the requirements.

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Feb 22 at 2018 10:31 AM

MSG Dan Castaneda — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 10:31:23 -0500

I just transferred my GI Bill to my kids about a year and half ago. I have a 4 year commitment to the Army for doing so. They can start using the GI bill now, but If I do not complete the 4 year commitment, I will have to pay any and all money used. The good thing is that my oldest is only a Freshman in high school. So once I decide enough is enough, and its under 4 years, no money will be owed. It's still mine though at that point.

Response by SSG Keith Amacher made Feb 22 at 2018 11:03 AM

SSG Keith Amacher — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 11:03:54 -0500

I have not contacted the General officer I know that teaches at Georgia Tech ROTC yet but another thought just hit me you say S1 that is Brigade or Battalion level and they do not have the final say or know for sure. Let me contact the General and see what he says. He has connections to Ft. McPherson where there are more stars than anywhere besides DC.

Response by SSG Keith Amacher made Feb 22 at 2018 11:11 AM

SSG Keith Amacher — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 11:11:02 -0500

I just talked to the General and he is going to call me back in a few minutes to discuss your problem.

Response by SSG Keith Amacher made Feb 22 at 2018 11:37 AM

SSG Keith Amacher — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 11:37:58 -0500

Just got off phone with the general and I think the other contributors have given you the correct information you need. If we need his help and you run into roadblocks let us know.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 22 at 2018 12:18 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 12:18:19 -0500

I could have sworn that transfer of education benefits could be handled by the VA once he got out. Why does it have to be down right now?

Response by Nicole Williams made Feb 22 at 2018 9:21 PM

Nicole Williams — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 21:21:09 -0500

Thank you everyone for the help. I have passed all the information into my husband. I will definitely reach out if we hit anymore roadblocks.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 23 at 2018 12:04 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 00:04:01 -0500

the transfer of education benefits accepts an additional active duty service obligation. I got an ADSO at 17 years of service of 3 more years for the "privilege" of transfer benefits to my family. Which took me to twenty.

Nicole Williams what is the different form number? Is it a VA form? All the VA forms are on the VA website. Your service member will need to enable his VA login. Initial login by CAC is possible, but you lose that when you separate. You yourself can get a login and leverage the benefits you qualify for. I transferred most of it to my wife when I retired because I built the wedge in the system in 2011 as I described above. We had to fill out VA forms for her to get the tuition and BAH assistance. I did everything via the web site without talking to a human being. My wife had to call the VA once to get the BAH started.

Please review the eligibility requirements. This link has points of contact to assist by branch. https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/post911_transfer.asp

Transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill to Spouse and Dependents - Education and Training

The GI Bill provides education benefits to veterans and their dependents.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2018 1:34 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 13:34:44 -0500

Have him go see his Career Counselor.