CHAPTER 35
The Chapter 35 program provides opportunity to families of fallen and service disabled Veterans
What is chapter 35?
how it works
The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program, also known as DEA or Chapter 35, offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or dependents of Veterans who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition. These benefits are typically paid to students on a monthly basis. Students receive their VA education benefit payments on or after the first of the month following the month payment is due.
Students who qualify for Chapter 35 benefits, may also qualify for The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship). If you qualify for both programs, you must make an irrevocable election for one of the programs before you will receive any benefits.
program requirements
Eligibility
Eligible individuals are Veterans’ and Servicemembers’ dependents, spouses and surviving spouses who have been found eligible by the Regional Processing Office (RPO) because of one of the following:
- ZThe Veteran’s death was caused by the service-connected disability
- ZThe Veteran is rated for total and permanent service-connected disability
- ZThe Servicemember is Missing in Action (MIA)
- ZThe Servicemember is captured in the line of duty
- ZThe Servicemember is forcibly detained for longer than 90 days
- ZThe Servicemember who VA determines has a service-connected permanent and total disability that will result in a discharge from military service
- ZParticipants include a dependent child between the ages of 14 to 31 and a spouse, or surviving spouse, who qualifies for the benefit
services include
- Special Assistance
- Special Restorative Training (SRT)
- Specialized Vocational Training (SVT)
services include
- Special Assistance
- Special Restorative Training (SRT)
- Specialized Vocational Training (SVT)