Chapter 35: Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA)

This benefit provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.

Who is this benefit for?

You may be eligible as the spouse or child of a Veteran or service member who meets at least one of these criteria:

  • Is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, or
  • Died as a result of a service-connected disability, or
  • Died in the line of duty while on active duty, or
  • Is missing in action or was captured in the line of duty by a hostile force for more than 90 days, or
  • Was forcibly detained or interned by a foreign entity in the line of duty for more than 90 days, or
  • Is in the hospital for a service-connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for it.

What comes with this benefit?

This program sends a monthly payment directly to the student to help with education or training expenses. The applicable payment depends on the type of training and enrollment level. Check VA’s current rates for your situation.

  • If your school or training started before August 1, 2018, you may get up to 45 months of benefits.
  • If your school or training started on or after August 1, 2018, you may get up to 36 months of benefits.

The Bottom Line

Think of this as the VA providing a scholarship directly to the family to honor the Veteran's service-connected disability or ultimate sacrifice.

How to Check for Approved Schools

The VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool is also used for the DEA program. It's the best way to see which schools and training programs are supported.

  1. Go to the GI Bill Comparison Tool.
  2. Choose "Schools and employers" and search by location.
  3. Click the plus sign (+) next to “Update tuition, housing, and monthly benefit estimates.”
  4. In the first dropdown menu, select "Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Ch.35)".
  5. Follow the rest of the prompts with your information to see your estimated benefits for a specific school.

What Should You Know?

Important Considerations

  • If you join the military: You can’t use this benefit while on active duty. To use it after service, you must not have a dishonorable discharge.
  • If you’re the child: You can be married or unmarried and still be eligible.
  • If you're receiving DIC: An eligible child receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) must give up those payments when starting DEA. An eligible spouse can receive both DEA and DIC payments.

Is There a Timeframe to Use DEA?

For the Child:

There's no time limit if: You became eligible for DEA, turned 18, or finished high school on or after August 1, 2023.

Generally, you have until you're 26 years old if: You became eligible, turned 18, and finished high school before August 1, 2023. An extension is possible if you served in the military.

For the Spouse:

If you get divorced, you are no longer eligible. If you remarry after the Veteran dies, your eligibility may be restored only if you remarried after age 57 or if the new marriage ends.

If the qualifying event happened before August 1, 2023, your benefits generally end after 10 years (or 20 years in some specific cases, like if the service member died on active duty).

If the qualifying event happened on or after August 1, 2023, there is no time limit to use your benefits.

See Full Details on VA.gov

Eligibility and DIC clarification checked against VA’s DEA guidance on November 4, 2026.