Missed Dependents Educational Assistance Oppurtunity

[cowgirl]

Widow of veteran on active duty, wasnt aware or provided information upon his death of Dependents Educational Assistance. Struggled and used GI Bill for some classes on active duty, pay first then reimburse method. Post service 10 year period, used portion (22 months) of self earned GI Bill.

Something at Hadit triggered a thought, it may be possible to reclaim his unused GI bill education benefit. Called 1800 VA clerk,Explained, even though remarried, I was curious if eligibliity existed still and was encouraged to apply. VA telephone clerk replyed "veteran aka widow is eligible for award of remainder of unused GI Bill education benefits under DEA as long as total benefits didnt exceed a lifetime limit of 48 months awarded."

Applied and not approved, being "remarried" the clincher. I wonder, did I ask the correct question? Is there another regulation regards "reclaimation" of GI Bill benefits? simply curious,cg

[Berta]

The GI Bill and DEA are two different programs-

GI Bill is for active military and veterans who paid into the GI Bill during service- as far as I know only the veteran themselves is eligible-

Full GI Bill info at:

http://education.military.com/money-for-sc...se-your-gi-bill

DEA- was your husband 100% P & % at time of death? if so- you were eligible for DEA.

There is a ten year delimiting period- determined from 10 years after date of death for widows of veterans.

If the award letter comes years posthumously -the VA will reimburse any tuition under DEA that the widow paid before the award letter came but after the veteran's death.

In my case- I only had 4 years of DEA when I went back to school-the award letter came 6 years after Rod died.

However if the VA service connected your husband's death- you can often choose a more favorable delimiting date-

In other words when I succeed in my direct SC death claim- my prior delimiting date has to be changed-

Va will owe me and my daughter either 6 years or ten years more DEA educational benefits under Chapter 35.

They base that type of DEA award not on the date of death but on the date they SC the veteran's death.

[cowgirl]

Thanks so much Berta and good luck on your claim too! I applied for DEA and ineligible. I just thought I would double check here at Hadit, just in case there was other college help. I was an active duty widow with GI bill benefits, just unaware this possible AD widow benefit.

The reason I applied is someone here mentioned the possibility and after studying the DEA pamphlet, there is at least one way the GI Bill e x t e n d s into DEA. If a veteran is "an eligible surviving spouse and spouse died on active duty, the veteran could receive up to 45 months of DEA benefits. So, veteran. aka surviving spouse (if not remarried) could use up to 48 months of benefits combined if eligible under more than one VA education program. Say if widow also a veteran used only 28 months of their GI Bill - Active Duty program. they may use 20 months of DEA benefits, if eligible.cg

The GI Bill and DEA are two different programs-

GI Bill is for active military and veterans who paid into the GI Bill during service- as far as I know only the veteran themselves is eligible-

Full GI Bill info at:

http://education.military.com/money-for-sc...se-your-gi-bill

DEA- was your husband 100% P & % at time of death? if so- you were eligible for DEA.

There is a ten year delimiting period- determined from 10 years after date of death for widows of veterans.

If the award letter comes years posthumously -the VA will reimburse any tuition under DEA that the widow paid before the award letter came but after the veteran's death.

In my case- I only had 4 years of DEA when I went back to school-the award letter came 6 years after Rod died.

However if the VA service connected your husband's death- you can often choose a more favorable delimiting date-

In other words when I succeed in my direct SC death claim- my prior delimiting date has to be changed-

Va will owe me and my daughter either 6 years or ten years more DEA educational benefits under Chapter 35.

They base that type of DEA award not on the date of death but on the date they SC the veteran's death.

[john999]

I was awarded Chapter 35 retro to August 2001. When does my wife's eligibility for educational benefits expire? She may one day actually want to use the benefits.

[Berta]

John-I think she has ten years of eligibility back to the date of your 100% P & T.

http://www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/CH35/CH...let_General.htm

[tssnave]

Berta,

As always, thanks for the link. I have 3 questions for you regarding this part of the link:

"If you are a son or daughter and wish to receive benefits for attending school or job training, you must be between the ages of 18 and 26. In certain instances, it is possible to begin before age 18 and to continue after age 26. Marriage is not a bar to this benefit."

1. I have a 100% P&T NOD claim pending with an effective date of 2004. My daughter was 24 in 2004 and in college. If I am awarded the 100% P&T effective 2004 would she be able to get reimbursed for the classes she took and paid for on her own?

2. The link states in certain instances you can continue after age 26. If she is not done with her BS by age 26 and hasn't used all her entitlement, could she continue (or in this case, start) getting the DEA? What are the conditions under which she could use DEA after age 26? She has never been on active duty herself. Seems like you posted in the past that your daughter who was over 26 used DEA but I don't remember the particulars or even if I'm remembering correctly.

3. She got married last year. I assume that "marriage is not a bar to this benefit" is straightforward and means that even if she is married she can still use DEA. However, since this is the VA we're dealing with, I just wanted to double check and ask if her being married would impact her ability to draw DEA.

Thanks for any help you can give me on the answers or where to find them.

Thanks,

TS Snave

[stevedenesha]

Marriage is not a bar for DEA entitlements for dependent but a remarriage of the spouse is a bar. I believe the only folks VA will approve to attend over 26 yrs is if you turned 27 during the school year and may approve to finish the school year.