Education & Employment

Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)

Education and training help for a spouse or child of a veteran who is permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability, or who died in service or from a service-connected disability.

Also called: DEA, Chapter 35, dependents education, survivor education.

For: Spouse, child, survivor.

Where it applies

Applies in states and territories.

Federal

Dependents' Educational Assistance, Chapter 35, can help a spouse or child pay for college, career training, apprenticeships, and other approved programs. The family member is the student. The usual gates match other survivor and family benefits: the veteran is permanently and totally disabled because of a service-connected disability, died in the line of duty, or died of a service-connected disability. VA also describes a path for some service members who are, for practical purposes, totally disabled. A P&T answer in a VetTOC filter does not remove this benefit, because P&T is not the only path. The full-time rate for October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027, is $1,621.00 a month, paid to the student; three-quarter time is $1,281.00 and half time $939.00. Months of entitlement and age rules for children are on the official page.

Thresholds

Thresholds for Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)
Gate	Rule
Sponsor status	One path is a veteran rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability. Death in the line of duty and death from a service-connected disability are other paths.

Documents the source lists

What the official source lists for an application, and where to get each document. It is a reference read from the source, not a full list of what the office may ask for; check with the office or an accredited representative before you apply. Needed means the source asks for it; Helps means the source calls it optional or says it speeds things up.

Needed Social Security number
Where to get it Your Social Security card. Social Security replaces a lost card.
Listed by VA, How to apply for the GI Bill and related benefits read 2026-10-10
Needed Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit
Where to get it A check from the account, or your bank.
Listed by VA, How to apply for the GI Bill and related benefits read 2026-10-10
Needed Education and military history
Where to get it Your school transcripts and diplomas, and your DD214 or other service records.
Listed by VA, How to apply for the GI Bill and related benefits read 2026-10-10

Figures

Each figure is dated with the day it was read. A local figure moves whenever the statute or the local ordinance does, so confirm it with the office that grants it before you rely on it. Statute verified gives the day the weekly section check last found the statute standing on the legislature’s own code site; a figure without it rests on a statute the check does not read yet.

Dated figures for Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)
Figure	Amount	Read from
Full-time monthly rate, October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027	$1,621.0038 U.S.C. 3532	Chapter 35 rates for survivors and dependentsRead 2026-10-08

Sources

Dependents' Educational AssistanceOfficial
Chapter 35 rates for survivors and dependentsOfficial

Updated

Last updated 2026-10-08.

What changed then:

New figure: Full-time monthly rate, October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027, $1,621.00.
Link updated for “Dependents' Educational Assistance”.
New official source added: “Chapter 35 rates for survivors and dependents”.
And 1 more change.

Request an update

Out of date, a broken link, or something else wrong? Say what you found, and an editor checks it against the official source.

Disclaimer

VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.