Chapter 35 (DEA) — Survivors and Dependents Education
Required Forms
VA Form 22-5490
Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits
Who qualifies as a Chapter 35 dependent
- Spouse or child of a rated permanently and totally service-connected ().
- Spouse or child of a who died of a service-connected condition (or while rated ).
- Spouse or child of a service member listed as POW or MIA, or forcibly detained by a foreign power.
Eligibility windows
- Children — generally between ages 18 and 26, with limited exceptions.
- Spouses — generally up to 10 years from the date VA establishes eligibility (or the date of the 's death).
- Spouses of veterans whose P&T was effective on or after August 1, 2023, may have a 20-year window — verify current rules.
What is covered
- College and graduate degree programs at approved schools.
- Career and technical education (certificate programs).
- Apprenticeships and on-the-job training.
- Correspondence courses (spouses only).
- Some preparatory courses for college or graduate-school entrance exams.
How Chapter 35 differs from the Fry Scholarship and Post-9/11 GI Bill
Children of service members who died in the after September 10, 2001 may also qualify for the Fry Scholarship, which generally pays more. Eligible dependents must choose between and the Fry Scholarship — they cannot use both. A who is also entitled to transferred benefits should weigh those programs as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Useful Tools & Topics
Have questions about your specific case?
Every veteran's facts are different. A free initial consultation with a VA-Accredited Claims Agent can tell you whether your matter is a fit for representation — and what the right next step looks like either way.
Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Oakridge Claims is a private business and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. No guarantees of outcomes are made. Each claim is decided on its individual facts.
Related guides
VA Disability Pay Rates 2026
Current monthly compensation tables by rating and dependents, SMC rates, and how the annual COLA works.
CRSC vs. CRDP
Combat-Related Special Compensation vs. Concurrent Retirement Disability Pay — eligibility and which to choose.
Aid & Attendance and Housebound
Higher-rate compensation and pension benefits for veterans who need help with daily activities.
Burial & Memorial Benefits
VA burial allowance, plot allowance, headstones and markers, Presidential Memorial Certificate, burial flag, and national cemetery eligibility.