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GI Bill Information: Ask the Expert BlogPosts Tagged ‘Dependents’ and Survivors’ Education Assistance Program’
June 6th, 2011
by Ron Kness
by Ron Kness
Can I attend public school for my GED/high school diploma and receive benefits under Chapter 35 and do I qualify for the New GI Bill? My husband is 100% disabled? – Vickie
You, per se Vickie, won’t qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill yourself, as you did not indicate that you had any qualifying military service of your own. However, if your husband has the Post 9/11 GI Bill, he may have transferred some Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to you, so you might have some transferred benefits you could use.
If his disability was service-connected, and he served at least 30 continuous days on active duty, then he may qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill entitlement that he could use himself, but if he didn’t make a transfer request before he got out, he can’t make a transfer to you now. The way Congress wrote the rules, he had to be serving “on or after August 1, 2009” to make a transfer request.
As far as Chapter 35, you should be eligible if your husband is totally and permanently disabled. You indicated he was 100% disabled, which would be the total part, but the other half – permanently – you didn’t indicate.
If he does meet both criteria, then you should be able to get 45 months of education benefit under Chapter 35. Right now, it is paying $936 per month to go to school full-time and you have to pay all of your own education-related expenses. If you do not have your high school diploma yet, attending high school is one of the covered courses.
Under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, the VA would pay your tuition and fees for up to 36 months. You would get a monthly housing allowance (averaging $1,200 per month) and up to $1,000 per year in a book stipend.
Just so you know, you can’t draw on more than one GI Bill benefit at a time and high school is not a covered course under the New GI Bill.
March 9th, 2011
by Ron Kness
by Ron Kness
My dad is a disabled veteran and my mom told me I may be able to use my dad’s GI Bill benefits. How do I find out if I can use them? – Julie
Julie, the only way you would be able to get benefits would be if your dad was VA-rated at 100% (totally) and permanently disabled. Then, you would be able to claim Chapter 35 benefits. That would give you up to 45 months of education benefits payable at $936 per month if you were a full-time student. If less than full-time, the full-time amount is prorated down to a lesser amount. Entitlement is used at the rate of one month for each $936 paid out. If you do the math, this GI Bill is worth over $42,000. The one caveat is you have to be at least 18, but under 26 to use the benefits. At age 26, any unused benefits would be lost.
February 25th, 2011
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
Hi, my dad was in the Navy for I believe 11 years. He just recently passed and I was wondering would me or my other 2 siblings still be eligible for the benefits and assistance for school through the GI Bill? Suzanne
Hi Suzanne, I’m sorry to hear about your father. I need to know a few more details to give you a definite answer to your question. If your father was in the Navy after 2009, it’s possible he might have transferred you and your siblings Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. If he got out of the Navy before 2009, then he would not have had a GI Bill with a provision for transferring benefits.
It sounds like he may have passed away after leaving the Navy, but if he died from a disability or injury that he received while on active duty, then you and your siblings might be eligible for the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance Program (DEA).
If your father served his 11 years a while ago and his death had nothing to do with his Navy service, then you would not be eligible for any benefits through the GI Bills. I suggest you try the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society as they sometimes have grants and scholarships available for the dependents of Navy veterans. They also have links to other organizations that can sometimes offer education assistance to the children of Navy veterans who wish to continue their education.
February 24th, 2011
by Ron Kness
by Ron Kness
I applied for the DEA benefits about a month or 2 ago and still haven’t heard any info back on my case… – Jaleesa
Jaleesa, it is not uncommon not to hear back from the VA for up to 10 weeks as it can take that long to process your application for GI Bill benefits. The good thing is if you are approved, you will get up to 45 months of education benefits payable at $936 per month for you to go to school full-time. If you go less than full-time, the amount you get is prorated down to a lesser monthly amount. However, the rate you use up your entitlement is stretched out as you will use one month of entitlement for each $936 you are paid. So if you are going to school full-time, get paid $936, you use up one month. If you are going to school 3/4 time, get paid $702, you use up only 3/4 of a month of entitlement.
Out of that amount though, you have to pay your tuition, fees, books and other education-related expenses. Also note, you have to use your benefits by age 26 or you will lose the remaining unused amount. While it will not cover all of you education costs, it is a good shot in the arm.
February 16th, 2011
by Ron Kness
by Ron Kness
Am I still eligible for dependent veteran benefits if I go back to school? And is there any other programs or something I can do to receive dependent benefits. – Kaylynne
Kaylynne, it depends on a couple of things. First, are you less than 26 years old? If you are older, then there really isn’t any programs for you, however, if younger, you may qualify for one program.
Whether you qualify for the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance Program depends on your veteran’s disability status. If your Mom or Dad was rated by the VA as totally and permanently disabled due to a service-connected incident or if the disabled veteran is deceased, then you could qualify and get up to 45 months of education benefits, payable at $936 per month once you start school full-time. If you go less than full-time, then the amount you get is prorated down.
If you think you meet the qualification criteria, go to the VONAPP website and submit VA Form 22-5495. If your application is approved, you will get a Certificate of Eligibility which you will need when you enroll in school. If you are not approved, you will get back a letter of denial. By submitting an application, at least you will know and all you are out is some time.
February 14th, 2011
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
My father was medically discharged from the Army about 6 years ago. I am graduating from high school this year and I would like to know if his GI Bill can be transferred to me or if I get any financial benefits for college in any way? Lizari
Hi Lizari, If your father was permanently or totally disabled due to a service related injury, then you could be eligible for up to 45 months of benefits from the Dependents’ and Survivors’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program. Your father would have to be classified as 100% disabled by the VA for you to qualify for these benefits.
If your father does not meet this criteria, he would not be able to transfer you his GI Bill benefits. If he has the Montgomery GI Bill, those benefits can’t be transferred and if he has the Post 9/11 GI Bill, he would have to still be in the military to transfer those benefits to a spouse or dependent child.
You might want to check with the Army Emergency Relief as they sometimes have education assistance programs that the dependents of Army veterans may qualify for. They usually also have links to scholarships and grants from other organizations that you may be able to take advantage of for assistance to attend college.
January 4th, 2011
by Ron Kness
by Ron Kness
I am 24 years old and was receiving DEA under Chapter 35 for 45 months. Is there anything else that I am entitled to since my benefits ran out under Chapter 35? Is it possible to ask for an extension of benefits, or would it not be worth it? – Gloria
If you used up your 45 months of Chapter 35 benefits Gloria, there isn’t anything to extend. DEA is limited to a maximum of 45 months and you used all of that up. If you were eligible for another GI Bill, such as transferred benefits from the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you would only get 3 more months under the Rule of 48. The Rule says if you are authorized two or more GI Bills, the maximum combined months between all the GI Bills you are authorized is limited to 48 months. Since you already used up 45 of those months, you would only have three months left to use. If you are not authorized another GI Bill, then there isn’t any more months of entitlement to use.
December 6th, 2010
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
Is there any way to receive the benefits from my father’s GI tuition assistance without his signature? He was Deemed 100% percent disabled because of his bi-polar disorder and is now refusing to sign the necessary paperwork in order for me to receive the benefits that I feel are rightfully mine. I feel as though his refusal to sign is a direct result of his illness and that he is not in a stable enough mind frame to make such important decisions that are life altering to me. Without his consent I might not be able to afford college. Who can I speak to about this issue? Can the responsibility of the decision making process be transferred to another person in the VA who can more accurately make these decisions? Betsy
Hi Betsy, I’m sorry to hear about your father’s condition and your situation. If your father is already out of the military, then he isn’t able to transfer his benefits. The only GI Bill that has a transfer of education benefits provision is the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the service member must be on active duty to transfer the benefits they are earning for their service to our country.
If your father was declared 100% disabled by the VA and it was due to a service related condition or injury, then you may be eligible for the Dependents’ and Survivors’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program that can provide you with up to 45 months of educational benefits at a VA approved school or a VA approved program.
You only need a parent or guardian’s signature for this program if you’re under your state’s legal age and even then it doesn’t have to be your father; it can be your mother.
If for some reason your mother can’t sign and you’re under legal age, you might have to wait until you’re legal age to use the benefits or get a Court involved as to your father’s competency. You might contact a VA regional office to see if they look at it differently, but remember you can only use this program if your dad’s disability is deemed to be service related.
As far as not being able to afford college, there are many programs such as federal student aid that can assist you with college.
November 4th, 2010
by Ron Kness
by Ron Kness
Is there a GI Bill for spouses? My husband is using Voc rehab and is told it is pulling from his GI Bill and I was wondering if there is a GI Bill or help from the military for myself to go to school. – Lisa
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.
October 27th, 2010
by Jeffery Anderson
by Jeffery Anderson
Do I have to live with my mom and step dad in order to get benefits? I have been living with my mom and step dad for 10 months after they got married in January 2010. I recently filed a claim with a VA certification officer at my college and she said I was under Chapter 35 and I was supposed to get like $900 per month. She also back-tracked me for the previous semester that I attended college because I did not claim or get benefits last semester because I didn’t know anything about VA/GI Bill etc, but I was going to college full time while my mom was remarried on Jan 7 2010, the school semester started Jan 20 2010 and ended June 8 2010 then it started again Aug 30, 2010 and ends Dec. 18 2010. But if I go to live with my grandmother will I still get benefits? Brandon
Hi Brandon, The Dependents and Survivors’ Education Assistance Program (DEA) is for the spouses and children or stepchildren of service members who are permanently and totally disabled due to their military service or who die from those injuries. Where you live has no affect on whether you receive the benefits; the only thing that matters is that you have a parent or step-parent who meet the criteria and that you are between the ages of 18 and 26.
You can live at home, at an apartment or dorm, or with your grandmother and still use the benefits for approved programs as long as you still have the benefits and haven’t turned 26 yet. In that aspect the DEA is similar to Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits that have been transferred to a dependent child.
You can get an extension of the benefits if you enter the military, but normally the DEA benefits can’t be extended past 31 years of age.
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