Q: I want to add my daughter under my GI Bill for school. How do I go about doing that?

A: First, you have to have the Post 9/11 GI Bill as that is the only GI Bill that has a transfer option in it. Second, even if you have the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you might not qualify for the transfer option.

To transfer, you must have served at least six years on active duty, still be on active duty and agree to serve an additional four years, before you can make a transfer request. If you are within four years of retiring, then you will sign up for a lesser amount than four years. Also, your daughter must be listed in DEERS, which she probably is anyway.

Once you meet these requirements, then go to the TEB Website and transfer the number of months you want to give to her. After your transfer is approved – the status will change from “Pending” to “Approved”, she will need to send in VA Form 22-1990e to get her Certificate of Eligibility, which she will need when she registers for school. She will start receiving her money after her Certificate of Eligibiliy and the school's Certificate of Enrollment match up at the VA.

She can start using her transferred benefits at age 18 and she must use all of her benefit up by age 26 or she will lose any amount still unused. She can start earlier than 18, if she already has her high school diploma.