VA’s Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA, Chapter 35) provides monthly stipends and approved training benefits to eligible spouses and children of certain Veterans. It supports college, vocational programs, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training. Entitlement typically spans up to 36 months for most who first used benefits after 2018, with program time-limit changes for some children beginning August 1, 2023.
Quick Facts
- DEA helps eligible dependents of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled, died of a service-connected condition, or died on active duty.
- Benefits can fund college, non-college degree programs, apprenticeships, OJT, and certain remedial or refresher courses when approved.
- Monthly stipends pay directly to the student and vary by enrollment status and training type each rate year.
- Most beneficiaries who first use DEA after August 1, 2018 receive up to 36 months of entitlement; earlier users may have 45 months.
- As of August 1, 2023, certain children have no time limit to use DEA; other beneficiaries still have delimiting periods.
Mini FAQ
Who qualifies for Chapter 35 (DEA)?
Eligible dependents include spouses and children of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to service, died on active duty, or died of a service-connected disability. Some POW/MIA circumstances can qualify as well. {index=0}
How long can I use DEA benefits?
Most who first use DEA after August 1, 2018 receive up to 36 months of entitlement; those whose first use pre-dated that date may have up to 45 months. Combined with other education benefits, caps apply. {index=1}
Are there new time-limit rules?
Yes. For certain children, VA removed time limits to use DEA if specific “on or after August 1, 2023” conditions are met, while others still have delimiting periods. {index=2}
Key Takeaways
- Chapter 35 Is for Dependents: Spouses and children of Veterans who died or are 100% disabled from service qualify.
- Provides Up to $1,671 Monthly: Benefits vary by enrollment level, with full-time students receiving the maximum amount in 2026.
- 36 Months of Benefit Time: Covers 36 months of full-time schooling; can stretch longer with part-time enrollment.
- Covers College, Training, and Certifications: Use it for university, vocational school, apprenticeships, or licensing exams.
- Spouses Have 10–20 Years to Use It: Based on when the Veteran died or was rated disabled. Children must typically use it by age 26.
- Tax-Free and Not a Loan: Payments do not need to be repaid and are not counted as income for tax purposes.
- Apply with VA Form 22-5490: Submit online or by mail with supporting documents to begin the approval process.
- Combine with Other Aid: You can supplement Chapter 35 with Pell Grants, scholarships, and tutoring benefits.
What is Chapter 35 (DEA) and who it supports
Chapter 35, the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program, provides education stipends and approved training benefits to eligible spouses and children of certain Veterans. It exists to help families pursue education when a Veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to service, dies on active duty, dies from a service-connected condition, or qualifies under specific prolonged POW or MIA circumstances recognized in law and VA policy.
- DEA is a standalone program distinct from other education benefits, paying a monthly stipend directly to the student rather than tuition to the school, which gives beneficiaries flexibility to cover books, fees, transportation, or tools required for their training pathway.
- Approved training options include degree programs, non-college degree programs, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training opportunities, reflecting VA’s effort to support traditional academic routes and workforce pathways that lead to employment-ready skills and industry-recognized credentials.
- Eligibility and payment mechanics are set by federal statute and VA regulations, with the agency publishing program rules, benefit rates, application forms, and time-limit guidance that schools and students use to certify terms, verify enrollment, and release monthly payments on schedule.
Eligibility categories and when dependents qualify
Eligibility rests on the Veteran’s service-connected status and relationship to the applicant. Spouses and children may qualify when the Veteran has a permanent and total service-connected disability, died on active duty, died due to a service-connected condition, or meets specified POW or MIA criteria for a defined period. Eligibility rules also outline circumstances for children reaching majority and spouses at different points following the qualifying event.
- Permanent and total disability is a one hundred percent service-connected rating that is considered permanent, and when present, it opens DEA eligibility to the Veteran’s eligible dependents, subject to age, relationship, and delimiting rules defined in Chapter 35 guidance.
- Deaths occurring on active duty, or deaths causally connected to service, allow surviving spouses and children to pursue training with DEA, with timelines and election rules that differ between beneficiary categories and can interact with other survivor benefit programs.
- POW and MIA cases are governed by duration and status thresholds; when a qualifying period is met under statute, eligible dependents may access DEA, subject to the same school approval, enrollment certification, and payment verification processes used for other categories.
Covered training: degrees, certificates, apprenticeships, and OJT
DEA benefits can pay for approved degree programs, non-college degree programs, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training sponsored by employers or unions. It may also fund remedial, deficiency, or refresher courses when required for readiness in an approved curriculum. Spouses can use correspondence courses, and independent study may qualify when the school and program meet VA approval standards for Chapter 35 payments.
- School and program approval is essential; payments only flow to beneficiaries enrolled in programs recognized by VA, so students should confirm approval with the school certifying official before adding classes, changing majors, switching schools, or starting apprenticeship or on-the-job training tracks.
- Apprenticeship and on-the-job training require participating sponsors who report hours and progress; monthly DEA stipends are adjusted to training time and enrollment status, and timely sponsor verification helps prevent payment gaps and inaccurate overpayments requiring later correction.
- Remedial or refresher courses must be tied directly to the educational objective; schools document the academic need, certify only approved hours, and ensure students do not deplete limited entitlement on coursework that is unrelated to meeting program entrance or progression requirements.
Monthly payments: how DEA rates work
DEA pays a flat monthly stipend directly to the student rather than to the school. VA updates Chapter 35 rates annually and publishes tables by training type and enrollment status. Beneficiaries who shift between full-time, three-quarter-time, and half-time attendance will see their monthly payment adjust accordingly. Rate years typically begin in October, so students should verify the correct table for each enrollment period.
| Factor | Effect on Payment | What Students Should Do |
|---|---|---|
| Enrollment status | Full-time pays the highest monthly stipend; part-time tiers reduce the amount proportionally for the rate year. | Confirm credit load each term and adjust budget expectations when status changes mid-term or between semesters. |
| Training type | College, non-college degree, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training follow different rate structures and certifications. | Coordinate with the school or sponsor for accurate term certifications and timely monthly verifications to avoid delays. |
| Effective dates | New rates usually begin in October; mid-year policy updates can affect future months but not already certified past periods. | Reference the current rate table for the specific academic year when planning personal cash flow and course intensity. |
- Because payments are stipends, beneficiaries remain responsible for tuition and fees; coordinating with the bursar and financial aid office prevents late fees, registration holds, and short-term borrowing that can erode the value of the monthly education benefit.
- Schools and sponsors certify enrollment through VA systems each term; late certifications or corrections slow payments, so students should promptly report adds, drops, withdrawals, or attendance changes to keep stipends aligned with the actual training schedule.
- Students can forecast monthly cash flow by matching their planned enrollment and training type to the appropriate rate table; doing so helps avoid surprises when course intensity decreases or apprenticeship hours fluctuate with seasonal work demands.
Entitlement length: 36 months, 45 months, and combined caps
Most beneficiaries who first use DEA on or after August 1, 2018 receive up to thirty-six months of entitlement. Those whose first use predates that date may retain forty-five months under earlier law. When DEA is combined with other VA education programs, aggregate caps apply to the total months used across programs, so mapping a sequence before starting helps preserve months for final semesters or advanced certificates.
| Situation | DEA Entitlement | Planning Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First use on/after Aug 1, 2018 | Up to 36 months | Common for current users; confirm months on your award and term certifications. |
| First use before Aug 1, 2018 | Up to 45 months | Grandfathered cohort; ensure records reflect legacy entitlement before building a multi-year plan. |
| Combined with other VA education benefits | Subject to aggregate caps | Consult comparison charts to avoid exhausting months before completing the credential. |
- Aggregated caps aim to prevent receiving full months from multiple programs simultaneously; careful sequencing can maximize total support, especially when aligning higher-tuition terms to programs that pay tuition directly rather than stipends only.
- Official records control entitlement, not informal estimates; students should keep award letters, monthly certification histories, and term approvals to reconcile payments and months remaining across academic years and apprenticeship periods accurately and consistently.
- When switching programs or schools, students should verify how prior credits, remedial coursework, and attendance intensity affect entitlement consumption, to ensure months are spent advancing toward graduation rather than repeating non-transferable requirements unnecessarily.
Time limits and the August 1, 2023 changes
Historically, delimiting periods limited when children could use DEA, with separate timelines for spouses. VA guidance now specifies that certain children who meet “on or after August 1, 2023” conditions have no time limit to use DEA, while other beneficiaries continue to have defined delimiting periods. Because rules vary, award letters and current guidance should be reviewed before planning multi-year training routes.
- Children whose eligibility starts, whose eighteenth birthday occurs, or whose high school completion falls on or after the stated date may fall under the no time-limit rule, removing deadline pressure but still requiring program approvals and term certifications.
- Spouse rules depend on the qualifying event and status; delimiting periods and extension criteria continue to apply, so spouses should confirm their window and request extensions promptly when law and VA policy provide documented hardship or interruption allowances.
- Because time-limit updates are cohort-specific, students should verify their category and keep documentation, ensuring that schools use the correct delimiting framework when certifying terms and confirming remaining months in education planning discussions.
DEA or Fry Scholarship: choosing the better fit
Some survivors may be eligible for both DEA and the Fry Scholarship, but they cannot draw both simultaneously. Fry typically pays tuition and mandatory fees directly to the school and adds a housing allowance, while DEA pays a monthly stipend to the student. Choosing between them requires comparing tuition models, living costs, and long-term credential goals before each enrollment period begins.
- Fry Scholarship often excels at high-tuition institutions because tuition is paid directly, while DEA’s stipend provides flexibility and may better match apprenticeship or on-the-job training where tuition payments play a smaller role in overall costs.
- Once a benefit is chosen for a term, mid-term switches are generally restricted; beneficiaries should align selections with expected credit load, course modality, campus fees, and anticipated living expenses to preserve months of entitlement for later semesters strategically.
- Students nearing program completion should evaluate remaining months carefully; exhausting tuition-paying benefits too early may leave out-of-pocket gaps that a stipend alone cannot fully offset during final capstone or clinical terms with heavier lab or equipment costs.
How to apply and avoid common delays
Students apply for DEA using the designated VA application form and then coordinate with the school certifying official for enrollment certification each term. Accurate, legible forms and timely responses to VA requests minimize delays. Because payments depend on certification, students should communicate changes in enrollment immediately and keep award letters and rate tables handy for reconciliation throughout the year.
- Submit the current application form with complete personal information, school details, and program selection; missing signatures, mismatched names, or incorrect social security numbers commonly trigger development letters that postpone first payments by weeks or months unnecessarily.
- Stay in regular contact with the certifying official, especially during add-drop periods; reporting changes quickly prevents overpayments that require later recovery and avoids underpayments that can disrupt rent schedules, textbook purchases, or transportation planning.
- Maintain a simple records kit containing your award letter, enrollment confirmations, monthly payment summaries, and the current rate table; this allows quick reconciliation when a payment appears lower or higher than expected due to an intensity or program shift mid-term.
Planning tips to maximize value
DEA is most effective when training plans, rate tables, and entitlement months are aligned upfront. Beneficiaries should verify that programs are VA-approved, confirm expected monthly payments for full-time or part-time loads, and build a term-by-term plan that uses months strategically. Students pursuing apprenticeships should secure sponsors who understand reporting requirements so monthly verifications do not interrupt stipends unexpectedly.
- Before enrolling, confirm program approval with the school’s certifying official and ask how billing cycles align with stipend deposits; this small step prevents late fees, registration holds, and emergency payment arrangements that complicate budgets and academic momentum.
- If transferring schools or changing majors, map how existing credits will apply, whether remedial coursework is needed, and how attendance intensity affects monthly payments, ensuring entitlement is spent advancing toward graduation rather than repeating non-applicable classes unintentionally.
- For apprenticeships and on-the-job training, confirm that the employer or union sponsor is ready to certify hours monthly, has a point of contact for paperwork, and understands deadlines, preventing administrative delays that pause benefits and create avoidable cash-flow gaps.
The Bottom Line
Chapter 35 (DEA) offers monthly stipends and approved training opportunities for eligible spouses and children of qualifying Veterans. Understanding who qualifies, how rates are set, the differences between thirty-six- and forty-five-month entitlement, and time-limit changes for certain children empowers better choices. Apply promptly, coordinate closely with your school, and plan entitlement months against program length so benefits carry you through to completion without unnecessary gaps or surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can DEA cover apprenticeship or on-the-job training instead of college?
Yes. DEA supports approved apprenticeships and on-the-job training, paying monthly stipends to the student while the sponsor verifies hours. Beneficiaries should confirm sponsor participation and monthly reporting processes before beginning to avoid interruptions in payments during training cycles.
How many months of DEA can I receive?
Most who first use DEA on or after August 1, 2018 receive up to thirty-six months. Those whose first use preceded that date may be eligible for forty-five months. Because combined caps can limit total months across programs, review award letters and plan sequencing carefully.
Can I use DEA and the Fry Scholarship together?
Not at the same time. Some survivors qualify for both programs and choose one by term. Fry generally pays tuition and fees directly to the school and provides a housing allowance, while DEA provides a stipend to the student for approved training participation.
Did VA remove time limits for every child using DEA?
No. VA guidance indicates that certain children meeting “on or after August 1, 2023” conditions have no time limit to use DEA, while other beneficiaries still have delimiting periods. Always verify your cohort and timeline on your award and current program guidance.
How are DEA payments delivered and adjusted each term?
VA pays stipends directly to the student each month. Amounts depend on training type and enrollment status. When a student changes between full-time, three-quarter-time, or half-time, payments adjust to the current rate table for that academic year after the school certifies the change.
Does DEA pay my school directly for tuition and fees?
No. DEA pays the beneficiary, who then pays the school. Beneficiaries should coordinate billing schedules with the bursar and financial aid office to avoid late fees, registration holds, or unfavorable payment arrangements caused by mismatched deposit and due dates.
What documents should I keep for my records?
Retain your award letter, enrollment certifications, monthly payment confirmations, and the current year’s rate table. Keeping a simple records kit allows fast reconciliation if payments differ from expectations and helps resolve questions from the school or VA without delays.
Can correspondence courses be covered for spouses?
Yes, in many cases. DEA permits correspondence courses for spouses when approved. Beneficiaries should confirm program eligibility with the school certifying official and ensure that course modality and pacing align with VA’s certification and monthly payment rules.
How do I avoid delays when starting benefits mid-year?
Use the current application form, provide complete and legible information, and notify the school certifying official immediately once accepted. Respond to VA requests quickly, and keep contact information current so certifications and payments begin as soon as your enrollment is verified.
What if I change majors, reduce hours, or withdraw?
Report changes to the school certifying official immediately. DEA payments are tied to certified enrollment, so unreported changes can cause overpayments or underpayments. Quick communication minimizes retroactive corrections and helps keep monthly stipends aligned with actual attendance.
Citations Used
- VA.gov — Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) overview and eligibility.
- VA.gov — DEA rates and enrollment status tables by training type for current rate year.
- VA.gov — Time-limit guidance for children and spouses, including August 1, 2023 cohort changes.
- VA.gov — VA Form 22-5490 application instructions and certification processes for schools and sponsors.
- VA.gov — Fry Scholarship program information for comparison with DEA benefits.
Levi Rodgers is the Founder of VA Loan Network, a leading resource for Veteran homebuyer education. A Retired Green Beret and Broker-Owner of LRG Realty in San Antonio, Levi leverages his military discipline and real-world real estate expertise to provide Veterans with expert loan advice, guidance, and trusted financial leadership.
