Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA)

NEW – Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA)

EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS FOR SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF VETERANS

Section 301 of Public Law 109-461 adds a new category to the definition of “eligible person” for DEA benefits .  The new category includes the spouse or child of a person 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.

Persons eligible under this new provision may be eligible for DEA benefits effective December 23, 2006, the effective date of the law.

For more information contact your local VA office. See HERE.

DEA provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

Special Restorative Training is available to persons eligible for DEA benefits. The Department of Veterans Affairs may prescribe special restorative training where needed to overcome or lessen the effects of a physical or mental disability for the purpose of enabling an eligible person to pursue a program of education, special vocational program or other appropriate goal. Medical care and treatment or psychiatric treatment are not included.  Contact your local VA office for more information.

Special Vocational Training is also available to persons eligible for DEA benefits. This type of program may be approved for an eligible person who is not in need of Special Restorative Training, but who requires such a program because of a mental or physical handicap. Contact your local VA office for more information.

See Payment Rates for current rates of payment.