If you are the child of a Veteran or military member who has passed away, gone missing, or is permanently and totally disabled as a result of a service-related cause, you may be eligible for the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program, which is also referred to as Chapter 35.
It is possible that this benefit will assist in covering the expenditures of education or work training. But when is the best time to submit your college application and reap these benefits?
Those who are eligible to be children of veterans
Children of veterans or service members who meet the requirements can begin receiving benefits from the DEA at the age of 18.
When a child reaches this age, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) immediately removes dependent children from a Veteran’s benefits. Therefore, parents are required to reapply if their child intends to continue learning.
For children who are at least 18 years old but under 23 years old and are currently enrolled in school, parents are required to complete VA Form 21-674 in order to claim DEA benefits.
Children can be married or unmarried and still qualify for DEA benefits; however, serving members of the armed forces are not permitted to access DEA benefits while they are on active service.
In addition, in order to become eligible for DEA, individuals are need to forego any compensation that they are currently receiving under Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).
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When it comes to application for DEA benefits, spouses, in contrast to children, are not subject to any age restrictions.
Additionally, they can be eligible for DEA benefits as well as DIC compensation. On the other hand, if a veteran’s spouse divorces them, they will no longer be eligible.
It is also possible that a surviving spouse will no longer be eligible for DEA if they remarry, unless certain circumstances are met.
What the DEA Benefits Mean for Dependents Attending College
When dependents meet the requirements, they may be eligible to receive monthly payments to help with the cost of tuition, training programs, or apprenticeships.
It is dependent on the beginning of the schooling when the benefits will be received:
- Those who started their employment before to August 1, 2018, are eligible for a maximum of forty-five months.
- Up to thirty-six months for people who began their employment on or after August 1, 2018.
By using the GI Bill Comparison Tool or having a conversation with the school’s certifying official, dependents should make certain that the school or program they intend to enroll in is approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs before enrolling.
