How Does the GI Bill Work for Dependents?
College can be expensive, but there's good news if you have GI Bill eligibility. The government may help you pay for your or your child's college education.
The different GI Bills for dependents
The GI Bill program offers educational assistance benefits to the dependents of current service members, retired military personnel, reserve members, and those who have died while serving their country.
So, while the military doesn't directly pay for your or your child's college, the Department of Veteran's Affairs manages the GI Bill program, which can. In this article, we’ll discuss the different versions of the GI Bill and how you can take advantage of this fantastic benefit for military children and spouses.
The Montgomery GI Bill?
The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) is a benefit awarded to military members and veterans designed to assist with the financial needs associated with education and training costs. It's named after Representative Gillespie V. "Sonny" Montgomery, who played a pivotal role in its creation. The MGIB is divided into two primary programs: one for active duty and one for reservist service members.
The benefits associated with both programs provide up to 36 months of educational benefits, which you can use for college degree and certificate programs, technical or vocational courses, flight training, apprenticeships or on-the-job training, high-tech training, licensing and certification tests, entrepreneurship training, certain entrance examinations, and correspondence courses.
Tuition assistance rates may vary based on factors like enrollment status (full-time, part-time), service length, and training type. It's important to note that MGIB benefits differ from the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which offers different amounts of aid and covers different types of training.
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance
If you are the child of a Veteran or service member who has died, is captured or missing, or has disabilities, you may be able to get help paying for school or job training through the DEA program—also called Chapter 35.
If you fall into this category, you can view all the eligibility requirements and benefit information at the VA.gov website.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill
The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), sometimes referred to as Chapter 33, is one of the most comprehensive education benefits packages available to military dependents.
With them, you will get the equivalent of all resident tuition and fees for an in-state public institution. Alternatively, the benefits cover non-college degree programs, on-the-job training, apprenticeships, flight training, and correspondence courses, among other types of education and training.
Service Member Eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill
The service member may be eligible for education benefits if they meet at least one of these requirements:
- Served at least 90 days on active duty (either all at once or with breaks in service) on or after September 11, 2001, or
- Received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged after any amount of service, or
- Served for at least 30 continuous days (all at once, without a break in service) on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged with a service-connected disability
If you are a dependent child of one of these qualifying service members, you may be able to use these benefits to pay for your education. To do this, the qualified service member must transfer their benefits to you.
Transfering GI Bill benefits to dependents
How can you transfer GI Bill benefits to dependents? That's a common question, and it’s essential to understand the (sometimes tricky) process.
You or your parent may be able to transfer Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits if they are on active duty or in the Selected Reserve and meet all of these requirements.
- Completed at least 6 years of service on the date your request is approved, and
- Agree to add 4 more years of service, and
- The person getting benefits is enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)
While on active duty, requests for a Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) from the DOD must be done through milConnect. Request a TEB from VA by using this link:
Request a transfer of benefits through milConnect
The Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits
Dependents may be able to get money to pay for these expenses:
- Tuition
- Housing
- Books and supplies
- Fees for national standardized tests
- Fees for licensing and certifications
Your parent can request to transfer up to 36 months of their remaining education benefits to you. You can use these benefits while on active duty or after they have separated from service.
To use these benefits, you must meet these requirements:
- You can’t use the benefit until you have gotten a high school diploma (or an equivalent certificate) or turned 18 years old, and
- You must use these benefits before you turn 26 years old
You may also qualify for the monthly housing allowance even when your parent is on active duty.
Additional Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) benefits
Here are a few other benefits that come along with the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
The Yellow Ribbon Program
If you need more money to cover higher private school or out-of-state tuition, you can apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
A Yellow Ribbon School is an institution that participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This program allows approved institutions of higher learning and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to partially or fully fund tuition and fee expenses that exceed the national maximum cap for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Here's a basic rundown of how the program works:
Tuition Costs Beyond the Cap: The Post-9/11 GI Bill can cover all resident tuition and fees for a public school or the national maximum amount for a private or foreign school. However, some programs or schools have costs that exceed this cap.
Institution's Contribution: To help students avoid out-of-pocket costs that the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn't cover, the institution can contribute a specified amount of those funds.
VA's Matching Contribution: The VA will match whatever amount the school agrees to contribute, up to 50% of the difference between the student's GI Bill tuition benefit and the total cost of tuition and fees.
For these reasons, it’s wise for students to look for Yellow Ribbon Schools. You can save a significant amount on tuition by going that route.
You can find a Yellow Ribbon School by following this link: Find a Yellow Ribbon school.
The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship
If you’re the child of a service member who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001, you may qualify for the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship).
The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, commonly known as the Fry Scholarship, comes with the following benefits:
- Up to 36 months of benefits, which can be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training.
- Tuition and fee payment (for in-state tuition at public schools or up to a national maximum rate for private or foreign schools).
- A monthly housing allowance.
- An annual stipend for books and supplies.
More scholarships for military children
If you don’t qualify for any of the GI Bill benefits but still seek financial help with your college education, there are scholarships specifically reserved for you.
Here are some helpful links to get you to these scholarships:
Fisher House Scholarships for Military Dependents
Scholarships.com List of Scholarships for Military Dependents
The Ultimate Guide for Military Dependent Scholarships
Military Affiliation Scholarships
Tuition assistance & resources for military dependents
Of course, you may still have questions or want additional resources. Here are a few more helpful tools and benefits for you to consider.
Edith Nourse Rogers Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) Scholarship
The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship allows eligible Veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill or dependents using the Fry Scholarship to get added benefits. Find out if you’re eligible and how to apply by clicking the link above.
GI Bill Comparison Tool
You can use this tool to compare GI Bill benefits by school. Then, check the schools in the Appily college database to find out other essential data points, like acceptance rates and application deadlines.
Post 9/11 GI Bill Current Payment Rates
Get the current Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) rates for August 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024. And learn about how they determine how much of the total benefit rate you can get.
Find Out if You Can Get In-State Tuition Rates
If you’re covered under a GI Bill program, you may be able to get in-state tuition rates at a public school even if you haven’t lived in the state where the school is located. Find out if you qualify for in-state tuition rates under Section 702 of the Veterans Choice Act.
Transferred Post 9/11 GI Bill Transferred Benefits
Get the current rates for transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) benefits for August 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024. And learn about how they determine your rate.
Make confident college decisions with Appily
Now that you’re up to date on all the benefits military children and spouses may access, it’s time to find and connect with perfect-fit colleges. One of the easiest ways to do that is by letting colleges apply to you. You can get real, guaranteed admissions offers to colleges that are the perfect fit for you. All it takes is completing a short profile.
Or you could take our college match quiz to find colleges that are a perfect fit for you.
