3 Tips on Using VA Disability Benefits to Cover Dependents' Education

If your spouse or parent is a disabled veteran, you may be wondering: Does VA disability pay for dependents in college or attending a university?

For this article, we've studied the GI Bill benefits so we could summarize for you several programs that can help you find funding for your education through the US Veterans Administration (VA).

In addition to income and medical support, VA-dependent benefits are available to provide educational funding to support the spouse and dependent children of some service-connected disabled veterans.

The most relevant program, Chapter 35, is also called the VA Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance. This program provides education benefits for eligible spouses and children of certain veterans.

The eligibility may depend upon several factors, such as whether or not the veteran served during wartime or whether the Veteran was rated as having a compensable service-related disability. Keep reading to find out more.

1. The Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) Program

Children or surviving spouses of a service member who has a service-connected disability, has been captured or is missing, or has died, you may be eligible for DEA assistance, also called Chapter 35.

You may be eligible for 36 to 45 months of education benefits through DEA, which includes educational assistance, counseling services, work-study, and specialized vocational training.

Educational Benefits

Survivors' & Dependent's Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) may provide 36 to 45 months of full-time or equivalent benefits to the dependents of most service-connected disabled veterans who need funding for:

• Completion of their high school diploma or GED
• Courses at a college, university, business, technical, or vocational school (including online, independent study, or distance learning courses)
• Apprenticeships or on-the-job training
• Tests for licenses or certifications needed to get, keep, or advance in a job

Dependents using the DEA benefit are entitled to in-state tuition at public universities and colleges within the US. However, please note that each individual US state approves which courses and schools are eligible, so be sure to contact your school's VA Certifying Official.

Limits on Benefits

Spouses have up to 10 years from the date the VA determines that they are eligible for VA Dependent Benefits. Children may use the benefit between the ages of 18 and 26.

If you first enrolled in classes before Aug. 1, 2018, you are entitled to a maximum of 45 months of benefits.

Who Is Eligible for DEA Benefits?

To be eligible for VA Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance, you must be the son, daughter, or spouse of a veteran who is permanently and totally disabled.

Eligibility also applies to dependents of a military spouse or parent who died either as the result of a service-connected disability or from any cause while this service-connected disability existed

The law also applies to dependents of service members who are missing in action or prisoners of war.

In most cases, children of veterans must be between the ages of 18 to 26 to get this benefit, though exceptions exist. Although being married doesn't end a young adult's eligibility, they can't receive the benefit while they themselves are on active military duty.

Spousal benefits end 10 years from the date of eligibility or the date of a veteran's death, or 20 years after the death of a spouse who died on active duty. In case of remarriage (before age 57) or of divorce, benefits end on the date of remarriage or divorce.

2. The Fry Scholarship (The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship)

The second answer to the question as to whether VA disability pays for dependents in college or attending a university is another option. Now that you know about DEA benefits, you may be interested in the Fry Scholarship.

This scholarship is available for the children or surviving spouses of veterans or service members who died in the line of duty or from a service-connected disability on or after September 11, 2001.

The Fry Scholarship awards up to 36 months of benefits that can cover tuition; housing; and books and supplies for your education.

3. Transferred Education Benefits

Dependent children or spouses of a veteran or service member may be able to use transferred education benefits for classes and training.

First, the service member needs to request a Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) through milConnect while they're on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.

Second, the Defense Department (DOD) must approve the request to transfer benefits to the dependent. This is called a Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB).

After the DOD has approved the TEB, the dependent can apply online or by mail using an Application for Family Member to Use Transferred Benefits (VA Form 22-1990e).

How Can the Transferred Benefits Be Used?

Children of Service Members

The child of a service member can only use the transferred benefits after the service member has completed at least 10 years of service, whether the military parent is still on active duty or has separated from service.

To be eligible, the child must be 18 years old or have earned a high school diploma (or an equivalent certificate), whichever comes first, and must use these benefits before turning 26 years old.

Spouses of Service Members

Spouses of eligible service members who have transferred benefits can use the benefits immediately, regardless of whether the service member is on active duty or has separated from service.

When do the spousal benefits expire? This depends upon the service member's date of separation from service. Spouses of those separated before January 1, 2013, can use benefits for up to 15 years. For those separated after that date, no time limit exists.

Coordinating Your GI Bill Benefits

If you qualify for both the DEA and the Fry Scholarship, you must choose between them since you cannot receive both. After you've made a decision, you will not be able to switch.

To find out more details about whether VA disability pays for dependents in college or attending a university, we recommend working with a benefits specialist.