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Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits - Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA)

Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is one of the major VA education and training programs, and provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. DEA is also known as Chapter 35 benefits.

The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

Eligibility

You must be the son, daughter, or spouse of:

·          A veteran who died or is permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability. The disability must arise out of active service in the Armed Forces.

·          A veteran who died from any cause while such service-connected disability was in existence.

·          A service member missing in action or captured in line of duty by a hostile force.

·          A service member forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power.

Period of Eligibility

If you are a son or daughter and wish to receive benefits for attending school or job training, you must be between the ages of 18 and 26. In certain instances, it is possible to begin before age 18 and to continue after age 26. Marriage is not a bar to this benefit. If you are in the Armed Forces, you may not receive this benefit while on active duty. To pursue training after military service, your discharge must not be under dishonorable conditions. VA can extend your period of eligibility by the number of months and days equal to the time spent on active duty. This extension cannot go beyond your 31st birthday.

If you are a spouse, benefits end 10 years from the date VA finds you eligible or from the date of death of the veteran. VA may grant an extension.

The termination of a surviving spouse's remarriage -- by death, divorce, or ceasing to live with another person as that person's spouse -- will reinstate Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits to the surviving spouse. Benefits may be awarded for pursuit of associate, bachelor or graduate degrees at colleges and universities, including independent study, cooperative training and study abroad programs. Courses leading to a certificate or diploma from business, technical or vocational schools also may be taken.

Benefits may be awarded for apprenticeships, on-the-job training programs and farm cooperative courses. Benefits for correspondence courses under certain conditions are available to spouses only. Secondary-school programs may be pursued if the individual is not a high-school graduate. An individual with a deficiency in a subject may receive tutorial assistance benefits if enrolled halftime or more. Deficiency, refresher and other training also may be available.

Monthly Payments

Payments are made monthly. Effective October 1, 2009 the maximum monthly payment for full-time training is $925. Rates are lower for Apprenticeship and On-Job training, or for less than full-time training programs. A person may receive educational assistance for full-time training for up to 45 months or the equivalent in part-time training. Payments to a spouse end 10 years from the date the individual is found eligible or from the date of the death of the veteran. VA may grant an extension. Children generally must be between the ages of 18 and 26 to receive education benefits, though extensions may be granted.

Work-Study

Participants must train at the three-quarter or full-time rate. They may be paid in advance 40 percent of the amount specified in the work-study agreement, or an amount equal to 50 times the applicable minimum wage, whichever is less. Under the supervision of a VA employee, participants may provide outreach services, prepare and process VA paperwork, and work at a VA medical facility or perform other approved activities. They may also help at national or state veterans' cemeteries or assist in outreach services furnished by State Approving Agencies.

Counseling Services

VA may provide counseling services to help an eligible dependent pursue an educational or vocational objective.

Special Benefits

An eligible child over age 14 with a physical or mental disability that impairs pursuit of an educational program may receive special restorative training to lessen or overcome that impairment. This training may include speech and voice correction, language retraining, lip reading, auditory training, Braille reading and writing, and similar programs. Certain disabled or surviving spouses are also eligible for special restorative training. Specialized vocational training also is available to an eligible spouse or child over age 14 who is handicapped by a physical or mental disability that prevents pursuit of an educational program.

Educational Loans

Loans are available to spouses who qualify for educational assistance. Spouses who have passed their 10-year period of eligibility may be eligible for an educational loan. During the first two years after the end of their eligibility period, they may borrow up to $2,500 per academic year to continue a full-time course leading to a college degree or to a professional or vocational objective that requires at least six months to complete. VA may waive the six-month requirement. Loans are based on financial need.

Montgomery GI Bill Death Benefit

VA will pay a special Montgomery GI Bill death benefit to a designated survivor in the event of the service-connected death of an individual while on active duty or within one year after discharge or release. The deceased must either have been entitled to educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill program or a participant in the program who would have been so entitled but for the high school diploma or length-of-service requirement. The amount paid will be equal to the participant's actual military pay reduction, less any education benefits paid.

How to Apply

You should make sure that your selected program is approved for VA training. If you are not clear on this point, VA will inform you and the school or company about the requirements.

Obtain and complete VA Form 22-5490, Application for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance. Send it to the VA regional office with jurisdiction over the State where you will train. If you are a son or daughter, under legal age, a parent or guardian must sign the application.

If you have started training, take your application to your school or employer. Ask them to complete VA Form 22-1999, Enrollment Certification, and send both forms to VA.

Additional Information

For additional information see the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program Pamphlet available online at http://www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/CH35/CH35_Pamphlet_General.htm. You also may contact your local VA Regional Office for additional assistance by dialing the toll-free number, 1-888-442-4551.

NOTE: Additional information for school officials, veterans and dependents can be found on VA's Education Services Web page at http://www.gibill.va.gov/, or by calling 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).

Source

Some information for this topic was drawn from the VA website at:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/
http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/rates.htm

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