DEA — Survivors' & Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)
A monthly education payment for the children and spouses of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled or who died from service-connected causes — $1,574 per month for a full-time student.
If you are rated permanently and totally (100%) disabled from a service-connected condition — or if you died from one — your children and spouse may be eligible for the DEA program, formally called Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35 of Title 38.
DEA pays a flat monthly stipend directly to the student: $1,574 per month for a full-time student as of October 1, 2025. Three-quarter-time and half-time students receive proportionally less. The money is theirs to use for tuition, rent, books, transportation — whatever they need to stay in school.
This is not a loan, not a scholarship that has to be competed for, and not charity. It is a benefit your family earned through your service and your sacrifice.
What This Benefit Is
A monthly payment, not tuition reimbursement
Unlike the Post-9/11 GI Bill, DEA does not pay tuition directly to the school. Instead, it pays a fixed monthly stipend to the student. The rate is the same regardless of where the student attends — whether it is a state university or a community college. This gives the student flexibility: at many public schools, $1,574 per month can cover tuition and most living costs.
Up to 36 months of benefits
DEA provides up to 36 months of full-time education benefits (and up to 45 months for certain students who qualified under pre-2015 rules). Benefits can be used for college, graduate school, technical or vocational training, apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and some correspondence courses.
Separate from your own benefits
DEA is a family benefit. Your child's DEA entitlement does not reduce your own GI Bill or disability compensation by a single dollar. These are entirely separate benefit tracks.
Who Qualifies
Children and spouses of a veteran who is rated permanently and totally (100%) disabled from a service-connected condition.
Children and spouses of a service member or veteran who died from a service-connected cause (including those whose death was found service-connected after the fact).
Children and spouses of a service member who has been MIA or captured in the line of duty for more than 90 days.
Children generally use the benefit between ages 18 and 26, with extensions available for military service or certain hardships.
Spouses have 10 years from the date the VA finds the veteran permanently and totally disabled, or 20 years from the veteran's death, to use the benefit.
A surviving spouse who remarries before age 57 may lose eligibility — but remarriage on or after age 57 does not affect it (as of December 2024 rules).
What It Covers
$1,574/mo full-time (2025–2026)
Paid directly to the student each month while enrolled. Three-quarter-time: approximately $1,181/mo. Half-time: approximately $786/mo.
College and graduate school
Undergraduate and graduate degree programs at VA-approved schools — public, private, or online.
Vocational and technical training
Trade schools, certificate programs, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training for careers that do not require a four-year degree.
Special restorative training
For dependents with disabilities that limit their ability to work, the VA can provide specialized training programs to build employment capacity.
Tutoring assistance
Up to $100 per month for individual tutoring when a student needs extra help in a course, on top of the monthly stipend.
How to Apply
Confirm the veteran's qualifying status
The veteran must be rated 100% permanently and totally (P&T) disabled, or have died from a service-connected cause. If you are not sure about your rating status, a free representative can check for you.
Apply with VA Form 22-5490
The dependent (student or spouse) applies online at VA.gov using Form 22-5490. The application asks for the veteran's information and the dependent's school enrollment details.
Receive your Certificate of Eligibility
The VA issues a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) confirming the dependent's entitlement and remaining months. Processing typically takes 30 days.
Give the COE to your school
The school's veterans certifying official will submit enrollment verification to the VA, and the monthly stipend begins.
For women veterans
If you are a woman veteran rated 100% P&T, your children may qualify for both DEA and CHAMPVA health coverage at the same time — education and healthcare for your family, earned by your service. Many families qualify for both and never know it. If your rating is not yet P&T, getting an accurate review of your disabilities could change that.
Mistakes That Cost Families the Most
Assuming your child is too old — age-26 extensions exist for periods of military service, certain disabilities, and other hardships.
Not knowing your P&T status — some veterans are rated 100% but are not permanent and total, which means their children do not yet qualify for DEA. A representative can help you understand and potentially correct this.
Waiting too long to apply — the spouse's 10-year or 20-year window can expire. Children should apply before turning 26.
Confusing DEA with the Post-9/11 GI Bill — DEA pays a flat stipend to the student (not tuition to the school). If your child qualifies for both DEA and the Fry Scholarship, a representative can compare which one is worth more.
Overlooking CHAMPVA — the same P&T rating that unlocks DEA also unlocks health coverage for your dependents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child receive DEA and the Fry Scholarship at the same time?
No — a student must choose one or the other for each period of enrollment. But they can switch between programs at different enrollment periods if they qualify for both. A representative can compare the total value to find the better deal for your child's situation.
Does DEA reduce my disability compensation?
No. DEA is a separate family benefit. Your VA disability payments continue at the same amount regardless of whether your children use DEA.
What if I am not sure whether my rating is "permanent and total"?
Log in to VA.gov and check your disability rating letter, or call 1-800-827-1000. If it says "permanent and total" (P&T), your dependents qualify. If it does not, a representative can review whether you should request a P&T designation.
Can the benefit be used for trade school or apprenticeships?
Yes. DEA covers vocational and technical programs, apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and correspondence courses — not just four-year colleges.
DEA (Chapter 35) — Official VA Links
Everything is explained on this page. These official links take you straight to the source.
Education Benefits Hotline
1-888-442-4551Monday–Friday 8am–7pm ET — DEA eligibility and enrollment questions
Other education programs
Think this applies to your claim?
We focus on veterans the VA has already denied or under-rated. We do not take brand-new (initial) claims, and we do not take every case.
Guidance from a VA-accredited claims agent (#45147). Any figures are estimates that depend on your situation and the VA's decision — not legal or medical advice, and not the VA.