Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)
Children and spouses of veterans who died in service, died of a service-connected condition, or are permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition, among other qualifying categories.
- Common name
- DEA / Chapter 35
- Administering authority
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Legal authority
- 38 U.S.C. chapter 35
- Eligibility framework
- VA determines eligibility; children generally use the benefit within an age window and spouses within a time window set by statute.
- Duration or entitlement
- Up to 36 months for beneficiaries first using the benefit on or after August 1, 2018 (45 months for some earlier users).
- Apply through
- VA.
- Payment goes to
- Student.
- Campus office involved
- School Certifying Official
- County office involved
- County Veterans Service Offices can assist.
- Renewal
- Enrollment certified each term.
- Deadlines
- Age and time windows apply; verify individual dates with VA.
- Institution limitations
- Program must be GI Bill approved.
What it normally covers
- A monthly benefit paid directly to the student, regardless of tuition charged
What it normally excludes
- Direct tuition payments to the school
- Separate housing or book stipends
Known interaction points
- Chapter 35 pays the student rather than the school, so it can pair with the California College Fee Waiver, but the pairing is plan-specific: CalVet prohibits concurrent receipt of Plan A waiver benefits and Chapter 35 (a signed election statement is required), while Plan B has no prohibition on concurrent Chapter 35 receipt.
- A person eligible for both Chapter 35 and Fry generally must elect one.
Interaction rules involving this benefit
Official sources
- Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
Record history
- 2026-08-26: Initial record created.
Suggested citation: California Veteran Education Observatory (2026-08-26). Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) (benefit record). The Veteran Benefit Desk. https://veteranbenefitdesk.com/california-veteran-education/benefits/ch35
The California Veteran Education Observatory is an independent research and public-information project of The Veteran Benefit Desk. It is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the California Department of Veterans Affairs, the California Student Aid Commission, or any college or university. It does not provide individualized legal, financial-aid, education, or benefits advice.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at va.gov/education.
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