Survivors' & Dependents Educational Assistance is an education benefit for eligible spouses and children of certain veterans. Eligible persons can receive up to 45 months of full-time or equivalent training for:
- college, business courses
- technical or vocational courses
- correspondence courses (spouses only)
- apprenticeship/job training
- remedial, deficiency & refresher training (in some cases)
You must be the son, daughter, or spouse of:
- A veteran who died or is permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability. The disability must arise out of active service in the Armed Forces.
- A veteran who died from any cause while such service-connected disability was in existence.
- A servicemember missing in action or captured in line of duty by a hostile force.
- A servicemember forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power.
- A servicemember who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability. This change is effective December 23, 2006.
If you are a son or a daughter and wish to receive benefits for attending school or on the job training, you must be between the ages of 18 and 26. In certain instances, you may begin before the age 18 and continue after 26. Marriage is not a bar to this benefit. You may not receive this benefit while on active duty in the Armed Forces. To pursue training after military service, your discharge must not be under dishonorable conditions. VA can extend your period of eligibility by the number of months and days you spent on active duty; however, this extension generally cannot go beyond your 31st birthday.
If you are a spouse, benefits end 10 years from the date VA finds you eligible or from the date of death of the veteran. If the VA rated the veteran permanently and totally disabled with an effective date of 3 years from discharge, a spouse will remain eligible for 20 years from the effective date of the rating. This change is effective October 10, 2008 and no benefits may be paid for any training taken prior to that date.
For surviving spouses (spouses of servicemembers who died on active duty) benefits end 20 years from the date of death.
Complete VA Form 22-5490, Application for Education Benefits, online at Department of Veteran Affairs. You will receive a confirmation number and an email from the VA upon successful submission of your online application. Please provide a copy of the entire completed online application to the Veteran Certifying Official in the Admissions and Records Office.
NOTE: If you are not eligible for Chapter 35 educational benefits but are the dependent of a disabled veteran, contact your County Veteran Service Office (CVSO) for information about the California Department of Veteran Affairs (CDVA) Fee Waiver Program.
For More Information, Call Toll-Free 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551)
or Visit http://www.gibill.va.gov.