I am writing to ask you to consider in helping change the government’s current rules regarding the passing of one’s GI Bill to their dependents.

Currently only active duty members of the Armed Forces may request to pass on some or all of their earned GI Bill to their dependents.  If an active duty member has served at least six years, they may make the request to pass on their benefit with the requirement of needing to serve an additional four years for a total of 10.

How is it that my Army retired husband who served 20 years cannot pass on his unused portion of his school benefit that he earned through his service but someone who has served only six can?

I would think length of service would entitle him to the full GI Bill amount and that he could either use it himself or pass it to dependents.  But this isn’t the case. Yet again someone with only six years can use or pass their school benefits.

It seems quite unfair that a 20 year Veteran cannot have the same treatment or benefits that someone with nearly only a quarter of time served gets.

I am interested in finding a way that ALL service members who have a minimum required amount, say ten years served, be eligible to use their EARNED value in the way they deem fit. How can we possibly think it alright to punish those who have served numerous years and reward those who have served less time?

In addition, as stated on the Veterans Affairs website, as of July 20, 2019 only active duty members with LESS than 16 years will be entitled to pass on their benefits? How does that make any sense?

The rules need to be straight across the board and very black and white; either EVERYONE gets the transferable benefit or no one does.