Education Benefits for Dependents

Education Benefits Transferred from a Veteran

If you are the spouse or dependent child of a veteran or service member who is qualified for or gets VA education benefits, they can choose to transfer their benefits to you, to pay for your classes and training.

The veteran or service member first needs to file a request for a Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) before you can apply to use those benefits. If your application is approved, the VA will send you a Certificate of Eligibility, showing how many months of transferred benefits you can use, and the time limit on when you can use them.

You can use the transferred benefits for:

• Undergraduate and graduate education
• Non-college degree programs
• Flight training
• On-the-job training and apprenticeships
• Correspondence school
• National standardized test fees (like the SAT)
• Licensing and certification fees

You could also get help paying for housing, books, or supplies. Learn more about transferring VA education benefits.

Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Program

If you are the child or spouse of a veteran or service member who has disabilities, is captured or missing, or has died, you may be able to get help paying for school or job training through the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Program, also called Chapter 35. Both you and the veteran must meet specific eligibility requirements. If you qualify, you can get a monthly payment (sent directly to you) to help pay for:

• College or graduate degree programs
• Career-training certificate courses
• Apprenticeships, or
• On-the-job training.

The school or program must be GI Bill Approved. If your school or training started before August 1, 2018, you might be able to get DEA benefits for up to 45 months; if you started on or after that date, you may get benefits for up to 36 months. Learn more about the DEA program, including eligibility requirements and age and time limits.

Note: If you qualify for both DEA benefits and the Fry Scholarship, you must choose one or the other, you can’t get both. Once you choose, you can’t change programs.

Fry Scholarships

Fry Scholarships provide money for tuition, housing, and books and supplies for the children or surviving spouses of:

• A member of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty while serving on active duty on or after September 11, 2001
• A member of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty while not on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, or
• A member of the Selected Reserve who died from a service-connected disability on or after September 11, 2001.

To use a Fry Scholarship, your school or training program must be approved for VA benefits.

Learn more about the Fry Scholarship program.

Note: If you qualify for both DEA benefits and the Fry Scholarship, you must choose one or the other, you can’t get both. Once you choose, you can’t change programs.

Personalized Career Planning and Guidance (PCPG)

If you are a dependent family member of a veteran or military service member with a service-connected disability and you are eligible for or already get GI Bill benefits, you might be able to get educational and career counseling services from the Personalized Career Planning and Guidance (PCPG, or Chapter 36) program. Learn more about PCPG.