Dependent’s Education Assistance (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.
Award amount is based on current VA pay rate for full-time or part-time enrollment.
Eligible recipients of this program include the spouse or child of a person who:
- The 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.
- Is permanently and totally disabled as a result of, or dies of, a service-connected disability. The disability must arise out of or be aggravated by active duty.