Education
There are several programs available to spouses and dependents:
Hazlewood Legacy Program
Dependents Education Assistance
Transfer of Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits to Dependents (TEB)
CHAPTER 35 – DEPENDENTS EDUCATION ASSISTANCE
What is it?
Chapter 35 is officially called the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program. It is commonly referred to as DEA, or Dependents Educational Assistance program. Chapter 35 provides an educational assistance allowance to:
- Spouses
- Surviving spouses
- Children of qualified veterans
Who gets it?
Under Chapter 35, benefits are provided to a spouse, surviving spouse, or dependent children where any of the following applies:
- The veteran is permanently and totally disabled (P&T) resulting from a service-connected disability.
- The veteran died while rated as P&T due to a service-connected disability.
- The veteran died while on active duty.
- The veteran died as a result of a service-connected disability.
- The veteran was/is listed as missing in action (MIA) or as a prisoner of war (POW) for at least 90 days.
Eligibility – Spouse or Surviving Spouse
In order for a spouse or surviving spouse to receive Chapter 35 benefits, he or she must meet certain requirements in addition to the conditions we just mentioned:
- A surviving spouse may retain eligibility to benefits if they remarry after January 1, 2004, after their 57th birthday, and are still within their 10 year eligibility period.
- Once the spouse is divorced from the veteran, Chapter 35 benefits terminate.
- The spouse or surviving spouse must NOT be in the armed forces.
Eligibility – Dependent Child
Under Chapter 35 a birth, adopted, or stepchild is considered a dependent child. In order for the dependent child to receive Chapter 35 benefits he or she must meet certain requirements in addition to the conditions just mentioned:
- The child must be between the ages of 18 and 26.
- The child can be married or unmarried.
- The child must NOT be on active duty in the armed forces.
How to get it?
Meet with your local Texas Veterans Commission representative or Veterans County Service Officer who will guide you through the process and identify any paperwork required. Completing forms completely and correctly will affect the outcome of your request. Our expert counselors will assist you in completing the forms to get the best results possible. Find the office closest to you.
Transfer of Post-9/11 G.I. Bill Benefits to Dependents (TEB)
What is it?
For the first time in history, servicemembers enrolled in the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill program will be able to transfer unused educational benefits to their spouses or children starting Aug. 1, 2009.
This is open to any member of the Armed Forces (active duty or Selected Reserve, officer or enlisted) on or after August 1, 2009, who is eligible for the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, and:
- Has at least 6 years of service in the Armed Forces on the date of election and agrees to serve 4 additional years in the Armed Forces from the date of election.
- Has at least 10 years of service in the Armed Forces (active duty and/or selected reserve) on the date of election, is precluded by either standard policy (service or DoD) or statute from committing to 4 additional years, and agrees to serve for the maximum amount of time allowed by such policy or statute, or
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Is or becomes retirement eligible during the period from August 1, 2009, through August 1, 2013. A service member is considered to be retirement eligible if he or she has completed 20 years of active duty or 20 qualifying years of reserve service.
- For those individuals eligible for retirement on August 1, 2009, no additional service is required.
- For those individuals who have an approved retirement date after August 1, 2009, and before July 1, 2010, no additional service is required.
- For those individuals eligible for retirement after August 1, 2009, and before August 1, 2010, 1 year of additional service after approval of transfer is required.
- For those individuals eligible for retirement on or after August 1, 2010, and before August 1, 2011, 2 years of additional service after approval of transfer are required.
- For those individuals eligible for retirement on or after August 1, 2011, and before August 1, 2012, 3 years of additional service after approval of transfer required.
Who gets it?
An individual approved to transfer an entitlement to educational assistance under this section may transfer the individual’s entitlement to:
- The individual’s spouse.
- One or more of the individual’s children.
- Any combination of spouse and child.
A family member must be enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS) and be eligible for benefits, at the time of transfer to receive transferred educational benefits.
A child’s subsequent marriage will not affect his or her eligibility to receive the educational benefit; however, after an individual has designated a child as a transferee under this section, the individual retains the right to revoke or modify the transfer at any time.
A subsequent divorce will not affect the transferee’s eligibility to receive educational benefits; however, after an individual has designated a spouse as a transferee under this section, the eligible individual retains the right to revoke or modify the transfer at any time.
An eligible Service member may transfer up to the total months of unused Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits, or the entire 36 months if the member has used none (unless DoD/DHS limits the number of months an individual may transfer).
Family member use of transferred educational benefits is subject to the following:
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Spouse:
- May start to use the benefit immediately.
- May use the benefit while the member remains in the Armed Forces or after separation from active duty.
- Is not eligible for the monthly stipend or books and supplies stipend while the member is serving on active duty.
- Can use the benefit for up to 15 years after the service member’s last separation form active duty.
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Child:
- May start to use the benefit only after the individual making the transfer has completed at least 10 years of service in the Armed Forces.
- May use the benefit while the eligible individual remains in the Armed Forces or after separation from active duty.
- May not use the benefit until he/she has attained a secondary school diploma (or equivalency certificate), or reached 18 years of age.
- Is entitled to the monthly stipend and books and supplies stipend even though the eligible individual is on active duty.
- Is not subject to the 15-year delimiting date, but may not use the benefit after reaching 26 years of age.
How to get it?
Meet with your local Texas Veterans Commission representative or Veterans County Service Officer who will guide you through the process and identify any paperwork required. Completing forms completely and correctly will affect the outcome of your request. Our expert counselors will assist you in completing the forms to get the best results possible. Find the office closest to you.