The Successful Soldier Series
VA College Money for Survivors and Dependents
The DEA Program and the Fry Scholarship
I’ve spoken to a number of Veterans over the last 4–5 years, and there seems to be a misunderstanding of the benefits offered by the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA), so I wanted to help clear that up. Also, the Fry Scholarship isn’t spoken about much, but I believe the information about that program is passed to active-duty military families through the Casualty Assistance Officers; still, I included some links for that at the bottom of this article.
The DEA Program
The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA), also called chapter 35 benefits, offers qualified Veteran’s dependents money for education and training. If the Veteran meets the following requirements, then the dependents should be eligible:
- Are permanently and totally disabled because of a service-related condition, or
- Died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition
NOTE: A dependent might qualify for both the DEA Program and the FRY Scholarship, and there are certain stipulations to accessing both of them. Please see this fact sheet for more information.
ANOTHER NOTE: a dependent might qualify for both the DEA Program and the GI Bill. While they can be used by the dependent, they can not be used simultaneously.
The DEA benefits have an expiration date. Here is the current information on how long dependents are eligible.
What does the DEA Program provide?
The DEA provides a monthly stipend for 36 months to those eligible. The current amount received depends on whether the dependent is a full-time student or part-time student and what the purpose of the training is. The current monthly rates can be found here on the VA webpage. (As of Oct 1, 2022, the rate is $1401/month for a full-time student).
What can the DEA stipend be used for?
DEA money can be used for various educational needs, including College or graduate degree programs, career-training certificate courses, educational and career counseling, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training.
To see if a program is approved for VA educational benefits, search in the VA WEAMS Institution Search Tool (Web Enabled Approval Management System).
How do you Apply for the DEA Program?
First, call the program’s certifying official to ensure the program is approved by the VA.
Then, you can apply online.
Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship
This scholarship provides Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to children and surviving spouses of Servicemembers who died in the line of duty while on active service. You can see the most up-to-date information on the scholarship here.
Useful Links
Check out my other Successful Soldier articles on how to maximize your active duty and Veteran benefits:
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Good Luck!
