Major Changes for VA Dependents: Find Out When to Claim Education Benefits

The issue of funding education is a growing concern in America, with the total outstanding student loan debt reaching $1.7 trillion. Nearly 43 million Americans are indebted to the federal government through student loans. With most students unable to pay for their education independently, federal aid programs are crucial. However, dependents and spouses of veterans or service members have access to additional educational benefits.

Eligibility for the Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program

To qualify for the Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) program, you need to be a dependent or spouse of a veteran or service member. These eligibility requirements are set because the veteran or service member might be unable to support the family due to their service-related circumstances. The US Department of Veteran Affairs outlines that the veteran or service member must meet one of the following conditions:

• The veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, or
• The veteran passed away from a service-connected disability, or
• The service member died in the line of duty, or
• The service member has been missing in action or captured in the line of duty by a hostile force for more than 90 days, or
• The service member was forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign entity for more than 90 days, or
• The service member is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability

Children of eligible veterans or service members can begin to claim DEA benefits starting at the age of 18.

Criteria for Dependents and Spouses of Veterans

If your veteran or service member relative fulfills the above conditions, you must also meet specific criteria to receive financial aid through the DEA program. These eligibility requirements vary whether you are the child or the spouse of the veteran or service member.

As the child of a veteran or service member, you may be either married or unmarried. If you are currently serving in the military, you cannot use the benefit while on active duty. Additionally, the benefit is not available if you received a dishonorable discharge. You are also ineligible to receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation simultaneously with DEA benefits. You must forgo these payments before you can receive DEA benefits.

As the spouse of a veteran or service member, you are eligible to receive both Dependency and Indemnity Compensation and DEA benefits. If you divorce the veteran or service member, you will lose eligibility for the educational benefits. Should your spouse pass away and you remarry, your eligibility for the DEA benefits ceases unless:

• You remarried on or after January 1, 2004, and were at least 57 years old at the time of remarriage, or
• Your subsequent marriage ended due to the death or divorce of your new partner

Veteran Healthcare Benefits

Being a dependent or spouse of a veteran not only provides potential educational assistance but also extends to healthcare benefits. Veterans themselves are eligible for various government assistance programs specifically designed for healthcare, potentially easing the financial burden on your personal insurance. If you are a veteran or service member and meet certain criteria, you can apply for different classes of healthcare coverage.