Chapter 35.....dea

[Sidney56]

My son has applied for DEA, but we have not heard anything back from them yet. I

guess DEA has a backlog also. He called and was told that his application was still

in processing and no decision has been made and to wait for notification from them.

My problem is this; he has just completed his freshman year at a college that

he(myself included) does not want to go back to in the fall. The reasons are too

numerous to list, but some are, drug infestation, lack of security(had all his property

stolen out of dorm room),athletic program sucks(he is football all state), etc.

Overall, just not a good learning environment.

When he filed the application for DEA he put this college down so he could get his

backpay. There is no way he will be attending this hole in the coming fall! He has

made up his mind to go to a University that has a pre-med curriculum that matches

his educational goals.

Can he apply to this University even though he has not received his Certificate of

Eligibility from the DEA? Will this cause some type of confusion at the DEA, therefore

delaying his certificate of eligibility?

We are planning on taking a trip to this University to talk to the VA certifying officer.

Hope we can get this all sorted out before summer break is over.

[Sidney56]

If he is attending under Chapter 35 DEA benefits he'll receive the stipend and that's all, except maybe if he needs some tutoring. He's responsible for tuition, books, living expenses, etc., basically out of the stipend.

pr

WTH!! I've got to go back and do some reading then. I have been looking at this thing all wrong,

according to your statement Philip. I honestly thought that VA paid for tuition.

When I used my GI Bill years ago, the tuition was paid and I received a check each month for living

expenses. My memory isn't so good, but I do believe that was the case.

Edited May 11, 2011 by Sidney56

[Sidney56]

Thanks Philip for the info....I was totally a** backwards in my thinking. I called

DEA and they were very helpful and told me to get in touch with my State VA office and

have my son apply for a scholarship to assist with the tuition.

I called my State VA District office and she said that she would get a package out to

me today, since I am 100%. Should receive it in a couple of days, or I can just drive

to the office and pick it up. About 45 minutes away.

I can't believe how wrong my thinking was in this, after all the reading I have done. Goes to

show that we don't always know as much as we think we know.

I keep saying that Hadit is a life saver for us Vets, but this just goes to show how helpful

everyone here can be. There should be a pamphlet about Hadit in every vets severance package

Edited May 11, 2011 by Sidney56

[hedgey]

Sidney, don't feel bad about being mistaken about DEA benefits. When I first got my 100% I thought it meant that my daughter would be entitled to Voc Rehab benefits, meaning that she would get her tuition and lots of other costs paid for. Nope!! DEA is not the same thing at all, though it's still a fantastic benefit.

My daughter had trouble getting her's started & straightened out, but it wasn't because of the VA/DEA people. The DEA people were great and right on the ball.... it was the College's VA Rep who made all the mistakes.

But all is straightened out now, and thanks to DEA my daughter will be graduating with much less in student loans. I'm so grateful for this benefit!!

Good luck to you and your son!

ps. Know what you mean about some colleges being nightmares. Our daughter chose a tiny private school and we were 100% behind her based on just the security issues alone. Plus class size, services, etc. But security was a big deal, and the little place isn't at all popular with the kids who think college is a four year long party.