U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)

Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance, known as DEA or Chapter 35, is a federal benefit for eligible children or spouses of a Veteran or service member. It may apply when the Veteran has a permanent and total service-connected disability, died from a service-connected cause, or the service member died in the line of duty, is missing, or was captured. VA applies specific tests to each category; being related to a Veteran alone does not guarantee eligibility.

DEA sends a monthly payment directly to the eligible person to help with school or job training; it is not necessarily a tuition payment sent to the institution. From October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, the higher-education full-time rate is up to $1,621 per full month; 75% enrollment is $1,281, and 50% is $939. Payments can be prorated for days enrolled, reduced for a lighter course load, or capped at tuition and fees at certain attendance levels.

The number of months available also matters: VA says programs that began before August 1, 2018, may receive up to 45 months; programs beginning on or after that date may receive up to 36. Age rules depend on when the family member became eligible. For children, some cases involving a qualifying event, turning 18, or finishing high school on or after August 1, 2023, have no age or time limit; earlier cases generally have an eight-year window and limits tied to age 26, with exceptions. Spouses have separate time rules based on the event date.

Before committing, use the GI Bill Comparison Tool to confirm that the program and campus are approved, and ask the school certifying official what enrollment it will report. DEA and the Fry Scholarship can overlap in some surviving-child cases, but cannot always be used at the same time, and a spouse’s choice may be irreversible. Ask VA to determine which benefit and entitlement months apply before giving up an option.

Apply initially online or by mail with VA Form 22-5490. If you have chosen a college, follow the regional mailing instructions and tell the school certifying official that you applied for DEA; the school must report your enrollment. VA requires enrollment verification for payments, so check every term, especially after adding, dropping, or changing courses.

Keep the decision letter, Certificate of Eligibility, dates of the qualifying service event, and enrollment confirmations. <a data-profile="va-dea">The VA profile summarizes eligibility, months, and current rates</a>; <a data-profile="va-help">the Education Call Center profile lists support for education benefits</a>. If a payment differs from your schedule, first compare the campus certification with your actual course load, then ask VA for a written explanation.

Who it serves and what it can cover: DEA pays an eligible student a monthly benefit rather than waiving tuition. The Veteran’s qualifying status and each family member’s age and time-limit rules determine eligibility.

How to apply or get help: Applications can be started at VA.gov; the school certifying official verifies enrollment. Veterans Affairs lists an education hotline and Ask VA for questions. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.

Official application and program information