VA education benefits for survivors and dependents

Find out if you’re eligible for VA education benefits for dependents and survivors (also called Chapter 35 benefits). If you’re a dependent spouse or child—or the surviving spouse or child—of a Veteran, you may qualify for Chapter 35 benefits or job training through a GI Bill program.

Am I eligible for education benefits?

You may be eligible for VA education benefits (Chapter 35 benefits) if you’re the child or spouse of a service member and 1 of these descriptions listed is true of the service member.

One of these must be true:

The service member died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001, or
The service member is missing in action or was captured in the line of duty by a hostile force, or
The service member was detained (held) by force while in the line of duty by a foreign government or power, or
The service member is in the hospital or getting outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability, and is likely to be discharged for that disability. A service-connected permanent and total disability is a disability resulting from your service that doesn’t go away.

You may be eligible for VA education benefits (Chapter 35 benefits) if you’re the child or spouse of a Veteran and 1 of these descriptions listed is true of the Veteran.

One of these must be true:

The Veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, or
The Veteran died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability

If you’re a dependent who doesn’t meet the above criteria, you may still qualify for VA education benefits if the Veteran or service member transferred some or all of their Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement to you while they were on active duty.

Learn about transferred benefits

How do I get these benefits?

You’ll need to apply.

Apply for VA education benefits (Chapter 35 benefits)

There are 2 main GI Bill programs offering educational assistance to survivors and dependents of Veterans.

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) is for children and spouses of these service members:

Active-duty service members who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, or
Members of the Selected Reserve who died from a service-connected disability on or after September 11, 2001

Get more information about the Fry Scholarship

The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program offers education and training to qualified dependents of these service members:

Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled because of a service-related condition, or
Service members who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition

Get more information about the DEA program

Note: You may qualify for both the Fry Scholarship and the DEA program, but you can use only 1 of them. You’ll have to pick 1 when you apply. Once you’ve made this decision, you can’t switch to the other program.

Compare DEA and Fry Scholarship benefits
DEA	Fry Scholarship
DEA	How payments are made Benefit payment: We pay the monthly amount directly to the student. Check current rates for DEA	Fry Scholarship	How payments are made Tuition and fee payment (paid to the school): We cover the full in-state tuition costs for training at public schools and up to the maximum rate per year at private or foreign schools. Money for books and supplies (paid to the student): We cover up to a certain amount each year, divided up equally among the terms, for books and supplies. Monthly housing allowance (paid to the student) Check current rates for the Fry Scholarship
DEA	Duration of benefits for spouses: 20 years from the service member’s date of death if they died on active duty, or 10 years from the date we determine they qualify or from the Veteran’s date of death (there may be exceptions).	Fry Scholarship	Duration of benefits for spouses: Spouses have no time limit to use this benefit (but they lose this benefit if they remarry).
DEA	Duration of benefits for children: A child may use benefits between ages 18 and 26 (there may be exceptions).	Fry Scholarship	Duration of benefits for children: A child who became eligible before January 1, 2013, qualifies when they turn 18 years old, and can use benefits until they turn 33 years old. A child who becomes eligible on or after January 1, 2013, has no time limit to use benefits.
DEA	Maximum months of benefits: 45 months if the first use of benefits was before August 1, 2018 36 months if the first use of benefits was after August 1, 2018	Fry Scholarship	Maximum months of benefits: 36 months
DEA	Spouse can get both DIC and education benefits at the same time: Yes	Fry Scholarship	Spouse can get both DIC and education benefits at the same time: Yes
DEA	Programs covered: College, business, technical, or vocational programs Certification tests Apprenticeships and on-the-job training Tutorial assistance Work study	Fry Scholarship	Programs covered: College, business, technical, or vocational programs Certification tests Apprenticeships and on-the-job training Vocational flight training Tutorial assistance Work study