Survivors' & Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA / Chapter 35)

The Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program, authorized under Chapter 35 of Title 38, provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents and survivors of certain veterans. Unlike the Post-9/11 GI Bill, DEA is not a veteran benefit — it is a benefit for the veteran's family members.

DEA works as a monthly payment made directly to the eligible person (the spouse, surviving spouse, or child). It is not tuition-based — the VA does not pay the school directly. Instead, the monthly allowance is intended to help cover tuition, fees, living expenses, and other costs associated with education and training.

You may be eligible for DEA if you are the spouse, surviving spouse, or child of a veteran who meets one of the following conditions:

• The veteran has a permanent and total service-connected disability rating from the VA
• The veteran died while on active duty or in the line of duty
• The veteran died as a result of a service-connected disability
• The veteran is missing in action (MIA) or was captured in the line of duty by a hostile force
• The veteran is being detained or interned by a foreign government or power
• The veteran is in the hospital or receiving outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability (this qualifies the dependent on a provisional basis)

Important: The key phrase is "permanent and total." A 100% disability rating does not automatically qualify as permanent and total — the VA must specifically designate the rating as permanent. Veterans can check their rating letter or call the VA to confirm whether their rating is permanent and total.

For Children

• Must generally be between ages 18 and 26 to use DEA benefits
• In certain cases, the VA may grant an extension beyond age 26 — for example, if the child served on active duty and could not use the benefit during the eligible period
• A child may begin before age 18 if they have graduated from high school or the VA determines special circumstances exist
• Marriage does not disqualify an eligible child from using the benefit

For Spouses

• A spouse generally has 10 years from the date the VA finds the veteran permanently and totally disabled to use DEA benefits, or 20 years from the veteran's date of death if the death occurred on or after September 11, 2001
• If the VA establishes the veteran's permanent and total disability while the spouse is already enrolled in an education program, the 10-year period starts from the date of the VA's determination
• Surviving spouses who remarry may lose eligibility, unless the remarriage ends (through death, divorce, or annulment), in which case eligibility may be restored
• Under the Isakson and Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, surviving spouses of service members who died on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, are no longer subject to the time limit for using DEA benefits

DEA provides up to 36 months of education and training benefits. The benefit is a flat monthly payment — the amount depends on the type and rate of training.

Monthly Rates (as of October 2024)

Rates are adjusted annually by the VA. Check VA.gov for current DEA rates for the most up-to-date figures.

DEA can be used for a variety of education and training programs, including:

• Undergraduate and graduate degree programs at colleges and universities
• Certificate and diploma programs
• Vocational and technical training
• Apprenticeship programs
• On-the-job training (OJT)
• Farm cooperative training
• Preparatory courses for college entrance exams
• Correspondence courses (with some restrictions)
• Programs at foreign schools, in some cases

The school or training facility must be approved by the VA or by a State Approving Agency (SAA). Use the GI Bill Comparison Tool on VA.gov to check whether a specific school and program is approved.

The application process depends on whether you are applying for the first time or changing your program or school.

First-Time Application

Submit VA Form 22-5490 (Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits). You can apply:

• Online through VA.gov
• By mail to the VA Regional Processing Office for your area
• In person at a VA Regional Office

Changing Program or School

If you are already receiving DEA benefits and need to change your school or program, submit VA Form 22-5495 (Dependents' Request for Change of Program or Place of Training).

What You Will Need

• The veteran's Social Security number or VA file number
• Your Social Security number
• Information about the school and program you plan to attend
• Your bank account information for direct deposit
• If applicable, any marriage or birth certificates to establish your relationship to the veteran

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) is a separate benefit available to children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. The Fry Scholarship provides Post-9/11 GI Bill-level benefits, including full tuition, a monthly housing allowance (BAH), and a books and supplies stipend.

If you are eligible for both DEA and the Fry Scholarship, you cannot receive both simultaneously. You must elect one or the other. Here is how they compare:

In most cases, the Fry Scholarship provides significantly more financial support than DEA. However, some dependents may only be eligible for DEA and not the Fry Scholarship (for example, dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled but still living). Understand which benefits you qualify for before making a decision.

• The monthly rate is modest: At approximately $1,399 per month for full-time study, DEA may not fully cover tuition at many schools, especially private universities. Budget carefully and explore additional financial aid, scholarships, and state-level veteran dependent benefits that may supplement DEA.
• DEA does not pay tuition directly: The entire benefit is a monthly payment to the student. You are responsible for paying the school out of this amount. This is fundamentally different from the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which pays tuition directly to the school and provides a separate housing allowance.
• Age limits for children are strict: The 18-to-26 age window can catch families off guard. If your child is approaching age 26 and has not used the benefit, apply and enroll as soon as possible. Extensions are possible but not guaranteed.
• Spouse time limits vary: Pay close attention to whether your 10-year or 20-year window has started and when it expires. Contact the VA if you are unsure about your deadline.
• Cannot combine with Fry Scholarship: You must choose one benefit. In most situations involving the death of a service member post-9/11, the Fry Scholarship will be more generous. Do the math for your specific school before choosing.
• Enrollment changes can cause overpayments: If you drop below the enrollment level certified to the VA (for example, dropping from full-time to half-time), the VA may have already overpaid you. This results in a debt you will owe back. Talk to your school's certifying official before making any enrollment changes.
• Verify that the veteran's rating is "permanent and total": A common point of confusion is assuming that a 100% disability rating automatically qualifies dependents for DEA. It does not. The rating must be designated as both permanent and total. The veteran can verify this in their VA rating decision letter or by contacting the VA at 1-800-827-1000.
• State benefits may stack: Many states offer their own education benefits for dependents of disabled or deceased veterans. These are separate from DEA and can often be used in addition to it. Check your state's veterans affairs office for additional benefits.

• VA.gov — Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) overview
• Apply for DEA online (VA Form 22-5490)
• VA Form 22-5490 — Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits
• VA Form 22-5495 — Dependents' Request for Change of Program or Place of Training
• VA.gov — Education benefit rates
• GI Bill Comparison Tool — check if your school is VA-approved