Chapter 35 DEA stands for “Dependents Educational Assistance Program” that offers education and hundreds of opportunities to the military veterans and their dependents. This program was first time established in 1956 by the educational assistance act.
This educational program provides benefits to not only the veterans but also their spouses and children. The stepchildren and adopted children can also enjoy DEA benefits whose parents died in the line of duty for the defense of their country.
The benefits are provided in different fields of education such as for completion of the degree, apprenticeship, and other training that are given during the job. The veteran can receive up to 45 months of education for free.
Chapter 35 Dependents Educational Assistance Program benefits
The program pays stipends to the beneficiaries on monthly basis. This stipend depends upon the credit hours of courses or the time of on-job training. The amount is only provided for the courses that are required for the degree.
The stipend is not given for summer or winter courses offered at the institutes. The eligible veterans can get training and education for up to 45 months under this DEA program. These benefits by the program can be used for
- Four years degree or certificate program
- Training during the job
- Apprenticeship
- Refreshers course
DEA benefits for spouses
The spouse of a veteran who has been rated permanently and totally disabled can get the dependent’s educational assistance program benefits. Military spouse faces many hurdles and challenges due to their military service members.
The department of veteran affairs has decided to give the benefits to the spouses as well to balance the scale. These benefits start from the date when the veteran affairs department recognizes the disability of a veteran.
This disability can be a result of a service-connected condition. The spouse can get these benefits for up to 20 years. These benefits are also provided to the surviving spouse of a veteran who died in the line of duty or due to service-connected disability.
DEA GI Bill benefits
The veterans and their dependents can enjoy free education for up to 81 months under the GI bill benefits. There are certain requirements that the veteran must meet before applying for Dea GI bill benefits
- The beneficiary is using VA education benefits along with the Dea benefits
- The veteran or they are dependent who is eligible for more than one program will be granted only one benefit at a time
- The benefits are given for 81 months with full training
- The spouse and children can enjoy these benefits as well who complete the eligibility criteria
Does chapter 35 DEA pay tuition?
DEA program provides education benefits to the veterans and their dependents. The expense of fees, books, and other education expenses are not covered under this program.
The education benefits of this program can be used by veteran and their dependent for up to 45 months. The dependent child of the veteran who meets all the eligibility criteria can receive free education up to the age of 26.
The dependents education assistance program provides educational assistance to the survivors of deceased military members and veterans. The widow must be of a military member or veteran who died while on active duty or due to a service-connected disability that he got on active duty. The spouse can get an education at any authorized institution where they can easily meet the eligibility criteria.
Eligibility for DEA
Following is the edibility requirement for the veterans and their dependents who want to complete their education through the dependents educational assistance program
- The veteran must have a disability rating of 100 percent with permanent and complete disability.
- The disability was caused due to the service-connected condition
- The veteran died during his duty or due to his service-connected disability. The disability must arise during the active service duty of a veteran
- The veteran who got missing in the line of duty
- The beneficiary can be hospitalizing who is receiving the services from any hospital.
This is one of the best-known programs that provide the opportunity to children to complete their education with up to 45 months of benefits. The minimum age requirement is 18 years and the maximum is 26 years.
The student must belong to a veteran who is either serving in the military or has died due to any service-connected disability. The child can be an honorably retired veteran.
Chapter 35 DEA benefits after age 26
The department of veteran affairs provides educational assistance to the dependents and members of the military and veterans. The child or spouse must be of a military member or veteran working or working hard on active duty and got injured due to a service-connected disability that he got on active duty.
The children can get an education at any authorized institution where they can easily meet the eligibility criteria. The spouse will be eligible to get the educational and other benefits after the death of their spouse until they get remarried before the age of 57. The eligibility can be regained if the surviving spouse gets a divorce or the spouse dies.
The dependents educational assistance program provides education benefits for the veteran and their dependents that last up to the age of 26 years. After the beneficiary reaches this age limit, their benefits are taken away.
However, there are certain cases in which the beneficiary can keep the benefits for an even longer period. The veterans can apply for these benefits in different ways such as they can visit the official page or they can visit any office in their state.