As children across America head off to college, the costs can be staggering. But there are many educational benefits for veteran’s children who are permanently and totally disabled due to service-related circumstances or whose parent died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.
As part of their veterans’ benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) helps cover education and training support through the Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program. Benefits may be used for on-the-job-training, to take part in an apprenticeship, to be certified in a chosen field or to obtain or a college degree.
DEA will also help pay for correspondence courses or remedial, deficiency and refresher courses, under certain circumstances.
Children or spouses with disability may also find resources to support their training needs. Special Restorative Training or Special Vocational Training may be accessed to overcome or lessen barriers from physical or mental disabilities so that they may pursue educational or vocational programs. Dependents or survivors of a person that the VA has determined has a service-connected permanent and total disability or who is a member of the armed forces and is hospitalized or receiving outpatient medical care services or treatment are also eligible to apply for these funds.
Eligible dependents may receive up to 24 months of benefits. As of October 1, 2013, some benefits were expanded to 81 months through the GI Bill. Children of qualified veterans must be between the ages of 18 and 26, in most cases and not be serving in active duty within the armed forces. Spouses may qualify for benefits for up to 10 years from the date you were found eligible for benefits by the VA.
For more information, or to apply, obtain VA Form 22-5490. educational-benefits-for-veterans-children
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Lynn Goya is a regional best-selling author and Emmy-nominated writer who covers business, people, the environment, and families for regional, national and international publications including USA Today, Audubon and Outdoor Family. With many family members in the military, including an uncle who was a fighter pilot and POW in WW II, she has long been an advocate for military men and women.
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