Education Benefits for Survivors -

Update This presentation was provided to the Survivors' Benefits

Forum on January 12, 2015 and should not be considered a comprehensive overview. More information

about VA Education Benefits programs like the Fry Scholarship may be found at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Agenda Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance

(DEA) Program (Chapter 35)

Expanded Fry Scholarship Eligibility Details How To Apply

Frequently Asked Questions

Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Benefits for eligible dependents of Veterans

who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or of Veterans who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition

45 months of entitlement $1,018.00 per month (full-time)

Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance 18-26 years old for children Marriage does not disqualify children from this

benefit Surviving spouse has 10 years from date of

death of the Veteran, or from the date VA finds him or her eligible. 20 years if the Veteran died on active duty

PL 113-146, Veterans Access, Choice, and

Accountability Act passed in August (The Choice Act of 2014)

Section 701 of the Choice Act extends Fry to surviving spouses of Active Duty Servicemembers who died in the line of duty after 9/10/2001

Fry Scholarship - Update

Fry Scholarship - Overview Benefits for children or spouses of an active

duty member of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty after 9/10/2001

36 months of benefits at the 100% level Full tuition & fees for public in-state schools

Capped max $ for private, out of state, or foreign schools

Monthly housing allowance Books and supplies stipend

15 years to use the benefit beginning on his/her 18th birthday May use benefit at earlier age if high school has been

completed Children under legal age need a parent/guardian to sign the

application

Must elect either Fry or DEA May use remaining benefits until his or her 33rd

birthday Child may be married and still be eligible

Not eligible for Yellow Ribbon

Eligibility - Children

Have 15 years from Service Member’s death OR until date of remarriage to use

Not eligible for Yellow Ribbon Must elect either Fry or DEA

VA cannot pay benefits for training prior to

January 1, 2015

Eligibility - Spouses

Total # of children using Fry (FY13): 1,279 Total # of new Fry spouse applications: 333 Data as of 12/24/2014

Status of Fry Applications

Call 1-888-GI Bill-1 (888-442-4551) to request an application

Visit our website (www.benefits.va.gov/gibill) Complete VA Form 22-5490, Dependents’

Application for VA Education Benefits

How To Apply

Will divorce or death after remarriage nullify non-entitlement for Fry for spouses? Short answer: No The surviving spouse loses eligibility for Fry on

the date of remarriage. If the remarriage later results in divorce, annulment, or death, the surviving spouse does not regain Fry eligibility. PLEASE NOTE: this is not like DEA where the spouse would regain eligibility

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a spouse eligible for DIC and Fry if he or she elects Fry? Short answer: Yes A spouse will not lose DIC eligibility while

receiving Fry Scholarship How is the application completed? An applicant can fill the application out

electronically as a PDF then mail, fax, or email the application to VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Will VA contact a spouse who is eligible for both Fry and DEA but not using benefits and ask them to make an irrevocable election? Short Answer: No VA will attempt to contact any surviving spouse

not currently in receipt of DEA but potentially eligible for Fry to inform of their potential eligibility

VA will NOT require an irrevocable election until an application is received for benefits

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the DEA application be updated to reflect that an irrevocable election must be made? Short answer: Yes VA form 22-5490 (Application for Dependent

Benefits) has been updated and is available online

Frequently Asked Questions

Example: Current DEA has 20 months remaining and must make irrevocable election to get Fry. He/she will be attending school after 1/1/15. Will he or she get all 36 months of Fry? Short answer: Yes They may be entitled to additional 36 months of

Fry if no additional education benefits have been used (excl. DEA).

Frequently Asked Questions

For a Veteran entitled to Post-9/11 through their own service; will the irrevocable election between DEA and Fry nullify his/her entitlement to the Post-9/11 GI Bill? Short answer: No The election is only between DEA and Fry. It will

have no impact on the claimant’s entitlement to the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on their own service or through transfer of entitlement

Previously Submitted Questions