Can I Still Convert to the Post 9/11 GI Bill and Give It to My Daughter?
Q: I retired 2005 with Montgomery GI Bill and have not used any of my benefits. When I retired I was told I had 10 years to use my benefits. They are set to expire next August. Was there an extension to 15 years? Can I still convert to the Post 9/11 GI Bill and give to my daughter who is 33? Thank you!
A: There has not been a change to the Montgomery GI Bill delimitation date – it is still 10 years from your last date of discharge. However, the Post 9/11 GI Bill does have a 15-year delimitation date, which is where you probably heard about the extension to 15 years.
As far as converting to the Post 9/11 GI Bill and giving it to your daughter, the answers are yes and no. Yes you can convert from the Montgomery GI Bill to the New GI Bill, and being you do not have enough time left to use up your 36 months of entitlement before your delimitation date, I encourage you to do so. It would give you an additional 5 years to use your GI Bill.
But you can’t give it to your daughter for a couple or reasons:
– Under the Post 9/11 GI Bill rules, you have to be currently serving at the time of your transfer request.
– She is over 23 years old and would not be an eligible recipient.
The only way you would be eligible to make a transfer request (providing she was age 23 or less) would be if you went back into the military, have served for at least six years after September 10, 2001 and agree to serve for an additional four years or have at least four years left on your enlistment at the time of your transfer request.
Your best bet now is to convert and get the additional time to use up your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. It would be a shame to just let them expire.
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