Under Chapter 35 Dependents’ Educational Assistance, spouses and dependents of veterans permanently disabled or deceased due to service-connected conditions are provided with the financial support they need. In August 2024, qualified beneficiaries could receive as much as $1,488 per month to offset education and training expenses.
Eligibility of Chapter 35 Benefits
A person will be eligible for benefits under chapter 35 if he or she is the spouse or child of a veteran who:
- Is permanently and totally disabled for purposes of receiving education assistance under chapter 31 due to a service-connected disability
- Died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability
- Is missing in action or captured in the line of duty by a hostile force, or is forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power
- The veteran was detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government or power
- There will also be some age requirements for which a beneficiary must also qualify, and he or she must have a valid Certificate of Eligibility from the VA.
August 2024 monthly payment rates
The amount of the Chapter 35 monthly payment varies based upon the type of education or training in which the beneficiary is enrolled and the beneficiary’s enrollment status. During the academic year 2023-2024, effective October 1, 2023, the institutional rates for higher learning schools-colleges and universities-are as follows:
- Full time: $1,488 per month;
- 3/4 time: $1,176 per month;
- 1/2 time: $862 per month.
- Less than 1/2-time but more than 1/4-time enrollment: $862 per month (or cost of tuition and fees, whichever is less)
- 1/4-time enrollment or less: $372 per month or cost of tuition and fees, whichever is less.
If a beneficiary’s enrollment starts partway through a month, they will receive a prorated payment based on the number of days they were enrolled.
Spouses utilizing the Chapter 35 benefits are paid 55 percent of the set cost for the lessons they completed, whether submitted through the mail or online, or other means of submission. The bases of payment are in terms of a submission of completed lessons.
August 2024 Payment schedule
The VA will schedule the Chapter 35 payments based on the first business day after the beneficiary’s “Transaction Date,” which is located on the WAVE Certification Transactions page. For August 2024, beneficiaries can expect to see their payment on or about September 1st.
It is particularly important to note that VA does not directly pay any institution of higher learning for tuition and fees. Rather, a monthly stipend is direct deposited to the beneficiary’s account on the first day of the following month.
Applying for Chapter 35 Benefits
First-time Chapter 35 beneficiaries must fill out an online application, VA Form 22-5490, for the purpose of receiving the Certificate of Eligibility from the VA. Students must upload an unofficial copy of the Certificate of Eligibility with their school’s VA Benefits Office, and complete the school’s Request for Certification Form once registration is complete every semester.
Those beneficiary students who have previously used Chapter 35 benefits at another institution must complete the online application and VA Form 22-5495, the “Request for Change of Program or Place of Training Form.” They will follow the same steps as first-time applicants.
Finally, in August 2024, eligible spouses and dependents of disabled or deceased veterans can take advantage of up to $1,488 per month for education and training expenses under Chapter 35 VA benefits. This enables beneficiaries to make sure they receive the help they need to achieve their academic and professional aspirations by being aware of eligibility, payment rates, and how to apply for this support.
