Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance

To provide educational opportunities to the dependents of certain disabled and deceased Veterans.

To provide educational opportunities to the dependents of certain disabled and deceased Veterans.

Spouses, surviving spouses, and children (including stepchild or adopted child) between age 18 and 26 of veterans who died from service-connected disabilities, of living veterans whose service-connected disabilities are considered permanently and totally disabling, of those who died from any cause while such service-connected disabilities were in existence, of servicepersons who have been listed for a total of more than 90 days as currently missing in action, or as currently prisoners of war, a service member who VA determines has a service connected permanent and total disability and at the time of VA's determination is a member of the Armed Forces who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient medical care, services, or treatment; and is likely to be discharged or released from service for this service-connected disability. Children under the age of 18 may be eligible under special circumstances.

See Applicant Eligibility.

Participants may pursue: (1) courses at colleges and universities leading to associate, bachelor or graduate degrees (including courses taken via accredited independent study, provided those courses lead to a standard college degree or a certificate that reflects educational attainment offered by an institution of higher learning); (2) courses leading to a certificate or diploma from colleges or universities or from business, technical or vocational schools; (3) apprenticeship or on-the-job training programs; (4) correspondence courses, but only for spouses and surviving spouses; (5) state-approved teacher certification programs; (6) preparatory courses for tests necessary for admission to a college or graduate school; (7) reimbursement for licensing and certification tests approved for veterans; (8) reimbursement for national exams for admission to college or for college credit; (9) courses leading to a high school diploma or equivalent. A special restorative training benefit is available for both children and spouses who need to overcome or lessen the effects of a physical or mental disability so that they will be able to pursue a program of education. A specialized vocational training program is available for those who are not in need of special restorative training but require specialized vocational training because of a mental or physical handicap.

You may be eligible for these benefits if both you and the Veteran or service member meet certain eligibility requirements. 1 of these descriptions must be true for the Veteran or service member: The Veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, or The Veteran died as a result of a service-connected disability, or The service member died in the line of duty, or The service member is missing in action or was captured in the line of duty by a hostile force for more than 90 days, or The service member was forcibly detained (held) or interned in the line of duty by a foreign entity for more than 90 days, or The service member is in the hospital or getting outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability

If you're the child of a Veteran or service member you can receive benefits if you're between the ages of 18 and 26, except in certain cases. You may be married or unmarried. If you're the spouse of a Veteran or service member your benefits start on the date VA concludes that you qualify or on the date of the Veteran's death and benefits last for 10 years. If VA rated the Veteran as permanently and totally disabled, with an effective date that's 3 years after discharge, surviving spouses qualify for benefits for 20 years from that effective date. If the service member died on active duty, your benefits end 20 years from the date of death. Method of awarding/releasing assistance:

Awards are authorized at the regional processing office.

None, but the period of eligibility for a spouse generally extends no later than the 10 years from the date the veteran was notified of the service-connected permanent and total disability, or from the date the serviceperson was listed for a total of more than 90 days as currently missing in action or listed as a prisoner of war. The period of eligibility for a surviving spouse generally extends no later than 10 years from the date VA notifies the surviving spouse that the death was service-connected and no later than 20 years for the surviving spouse of a veteran who dies while on active duty. The period of eligibility for a child generally extends to the 26th birthday, subject to certain exceptions.

Generally, eligibility for a child terminates at age 26. In some instances, it may be extended. For example, in the case of service in the Armed Forces, eligibility will end 8 years after the first discharge or release from service but in no event beyond age 31.

In the event of a denial or disagreement, a notification letter will be sent to advise of applicable review/appeal options, associated filing requirements and time limits.