Education Benefits

Education Benefits

Qualifying spouses and children of particular veterans are eligible for the Survivors’ & Dependents’ Educational Assistance education benefit. For individuals to receive this benefit, the military veteran does not have to be deceased. Overview is found at: https://va.org/va-benefits-overview-article/

Those that qualify can collect up to 45 months of full-time or comparable benefits for:

  • College, business, technical, or vocational courses; high school diploma or GED; independent study, or distance learning courses
  • Correspondence courses are available for spouses; apprenticeship or on-the-job training
  • Remedial, deficiency, and refresher training for particular situations
  • Test, license, or certification costs required to obtain, maintain or expand in an employment position

Individuals are eligible for the education program provided they are a son or daughter of:

  • A veteran rated by the VA with 100 percent service-related disability.
  • A veteran who died from any cause during the existence of a service-related disability.
  • A service member missing in action or captured in the line of duty by a hostile force.
  • A service member detained against their will or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government or power.
  • A service member who is hospitalized or getting outpatient treatment for a service-related disability rated as 100 percent permanent disability and is apt to be discharged for the disability.

Individuals, after finding a program approved for VA training, are required to complete VA Form 22-5490, Application for Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance. VA Form 22-5490 is available at any VA regional office or online at www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-22-5490-ARE.pdf.

Mail the completed form to the appropriate VA regional office serving the state from which the individual will train.

Education

VA payment

The type of training program and whether the individual trains full time or part time is what the VA bases its payment amount from. Individuals get 45 months of full-time benefits and 90 months of half-time benefits.

Full time refers to taking at least 12 credit hours in a term (24 hours per week). Three-quarters time refers to at least 9 credit hours in a term (18 hours per week). Halftime refers to at least 6 credit hours in a term (12 hours per week). One-quarter time refers to taking at least 3 credit hours in a term (6 hours per week).

These rates are subject to change October 1 each year. Present rates are available at www.gibill. va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/rates.htm.

Expiration of benefits

Spouses and surviving spouses have ten years from the date the VA authorizes eligibility to use the benefit. Surviving spouses of veterans who died while on active duty have 20 years from the date of the veteran’s decease date to use the benefit. Children can use the benefit while they are between the ages of 18 and 26.

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5 Comments
  • Tina Adams
    Posted at 00:22h, 17 September Reply

    How do I see if I can get my college application paid for if my father served in Vietnam?

  • Steve Reynolds
    Posted at 14:48h, 20 September Reply

    Can these education benefits be retroactive for a dependent who has already paid tuition??

  • Luana Jarvis
    Posted at 19:44h, 08 May Reply

    So everything I am reading indicates that after leaving the Army in 1998 and serving his country for 9 1/2 years my husband does not qualify for a darn thing? This can not be correct. I have people telling me that after 4 years of service they still have on post privileges, but an almost 10 year veteran does not, this makes no sense. We are trying to find out if our daughter qualifies for any help from the VA for her education, but I am not finding anything that is of help. My husband is not disabled, he did not go to war, he did his 6 months rotation in Saudi while stationed in Germany. I can not find any kind of answers anywhere. I have called and was told he qualifies for nothing…..again this can not be . Who can we write to …our congress?

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