VA Dependent Education Benefits: The passing of a veteran might dash the aspirations of her partner or children to pursue higher education. The Veterans Affairs Administration (VA) established the Survivors and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program to prevent veterans’ survivors from having to drop out of school.
The VA DEA, also known as Chapter 35, seeks to assist survivors of missing, captured, or handicapped soldiers in pursuing further education, training, or employment.
Benefits are granted to children or spouses of deceased soldiers who have received a 100% disability rate and who are between the ages of 18 and 26. The program offers up to 36 months of full-time benefits or equivalents.
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How much do I get if I qualify for the DEA?
If your educational program calls for the equivalent of one full-time day, either at a non-college degree program or a higher education school, the VA will provide you with support of $1,484 monthly.
If you study for just three-quarters of a year full-time, your monthly income will be $1,176. The VA will pay you $862 a month if you study half as much as full-time.
For each complete month of enrollment between months one and six, you will get $946 if you are enrolled in an apprenticeship or on-the-job training program. During months seven through twelve, you will be paid $710. It will be $466 from months 13 to 18, and starting in month 19, the VA will deposit $237 every month.
VA Dependent Education Benefits: How can I find out if I qualify for Chapter 35?
There are various ways to get in contact with the DEA, such as:
- The Veteran or service member has a service-connected disability that’s permanent and total
- A veteran or service member died in the line of duty
- A veteran or service member died from a service-connected disability
- For more than 90 days, the veteran or service member has been missing in action or captured by a hostile force.
- Being held against their will or interned in the line of service by a foreign power for more than 90 days
- He’s in the hospital or getting outpatient care for a condition related to his job, and he’s about to be sent home.
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A candidate must meet one of these two requirements:
- To be at least 18 years old.
- Finished middle school or high school.
