Expert Answers to Your GI Bill Benefits Questions Topic: Dependents' and Survivors' Education Assistance Program

You have a couple of different options Lisa. You may be eligible for the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance Program (DEA). To qualify, your husband must have a permanent and total (rated 100% by the VA) service-connected disability.

If you qualify, you could get up to 45 months of entitlement to go to school. Right now DEA recipients get $936 per month and you would have to pay your own tuition, fees, books and other education-related expenses.  Going to school 9 months per year, 45 months is more than enough month to get a four-year degree, if that is your goal. DEA also covers non-degree training programs, such as trade, technical, license and certification courses.

Your other option would be to enroll in the Military Spouse Career Advancement (MyCAA) Program. With this program you could get up to $2,000 per year (with a $4,000 cap) for up to three years to go to school for a two-year associate’s degree or take a program resulting in a certification or license.

• 5. How many years are we covered for college?
• 6. Does the GI Bill pay for on-campus housing?
• 7. Are we still eligible for scholarships, grants, and student loans?
• 8. Does the GI Bill pay for out-of-state tuition? If so, under what circumstances?
• 9. What’s the difference between the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post 9/11 GI Bill? – Cardiellea

5. Each of you would get up to 45 months of benefits.

6. No, you have to pay all your own education expenses out of your monthly DEA payment.

7. Yes you are.

8. No. The DEA program pays a fixed monthly amount, so any expenses above and beyond that amount would have to come from other financial sources.

9. The basic differences between the two GI Bills in that the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) pays a student a fixed rate of $1,426 per month and the student has to pay all his/her own education expenses, such as tuition, fee, books, etc. Under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, the VA pays the student’s school directly for tuition and eligible fees up to the in-state maximums. The student gets a monthly housing allowance paid at the pay grade of E-5 with dependents based on the zip code of the school. Also, the student get paid $41.67 per credit up to the $1,000 annual limit which is enough for 24 semester credit hours per year.

The other big difference is what programs each GI Bill will pay. The Post 9/11 GI Bill is focused on degree-producing courses. If you plan to take a non-degree course such as a trade, technical or  a course resulting in a certification or license, the MGIB would be a better GI Bill to use.

• What GI Bill would I get as a dependent if my father is a Retired Veteran of 22 years in the service who is disabled?
• What educational benefits would I receive under those circumstances?
• Will my sister and I get separate GI Bills?
• Will my sister and I have to share the monthly allowances?

– Cardiellea

Cardiella, I split your question in two so I could keep my answer within the word-count limit. The rest of your questions are answered in the next post. I answered your questions using your same numbering system and in the order asked:

1. If the VA rated your father’s disability as permanent and total (100%), and you are under the age of 26, you may be eligible for Chapter 35 (Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance Program (DEA)). If your father is not rated at 100%, or you are older than 26, then you are most likely not eligible for the program.

2. If you and your sister qualify for DEA, each of you could get up to 45 months of entitlement, which are months of benefits.

3. If each of you qualifies, then each of you would get your own DEA program of benefits.

4. No, with each of you having your own program, you would each get a monthly payment of $936 for full-time student status. Out of that monthly amount, you have to pay your own tuition, fees and other education-related expenses.

Tom, you are not going to be able to apply and get anything for the semester just starting. It takes 8 to 10 weeks for the VA to process Chapter 35 applications, but next semester is definitely doable, if they apply now.

Have each of your kids fill go out to the VONAPP Website and out VA Form 22-5490. Once their DEA applications are approved, each will get back a Certificate of Eligibility that they will need when registering for their next semester.

Once their Certificates of Eligibility matches up with their school’s Certificate of Enrollment, that will trigger the start of the payment process. Right now, each should get paid a monthly benefit of $936 each. Each child in the DEA program will get 45 months of school benefits that they will have to use up by their 26th birthday. Whatever is left unused at that point is lost.