VA Forms for Education Benefits: It can be difficult to navigate the educational advantages that are available to military personnel, particularly when it comes to transferring benefits to family members.
A particular feature of the Post-9/11 GI Bill program permits career military personnel to distribute their educational benefits to members of their immediate family.
To guarantee a seamless process, parents who are thinking about transferring their benefits must be aware of the documents and requirements that must be fulfilled.
You can start by transferring any or all of your 36-month education benefits to your spouse, children, or both, if they qualify as immediate family members.
However, it’s important to confirm your eligibility and your dependents’ eligibility before starting the transfer.
To be eligible for benefit transfer, you had to have served for at least six years and not have had any outstanding balances on Direct Loans or Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans as of October 1, 1998.
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If you are a parent, which paperwork need to be filled out in order to transfer?
After your eligibility has been verified, you must start the transfer procedure by filling out the required paperwork.
Use VAForm 22-5490, which is particularly made for educational benefits under Chapter 35 Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance (DEA) or Chapter 33 Fry Scholarship, if you’re transferring benefits to a spouse or dependant.
Additionally, each family member who wants to use the transferred benefits must complete VA Form 22-1990E in order to request a certificate of eligibility from the VA.
It’s crucial to remember that in order for your kids to get transferred benefits, they need to be registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).
There are age requirements as well. Children between the ages of 18 and 20 are eligible without any limitations, while those between the ages of 21 and 22 must be enrolled full-time in school.
Generally speaking, children above 22 are not eligible for transferred benefits.
Each family member’s request for education benefits will be processed by the VA and they will get a certificate of eligibility upon the transfer request being approved and the required paperwork being received.
The tuition monies must subsequently be disbursed by presenting this certificate to their respective institutions.
It’s critical to keep track of your transfer request’s progress using milConnect and to remain informed throughout the process.
Furthermore, keep in mind that transferred benefits are still your property and that you have the option to examine, amend, or cancel a transfer request at any time.
Go to the VA Application for Education Benefits page on the VA website to obtain the aforementioned forms as well as further details on the transfer procedure.
