Chapter 35 VA Benefits: Are They Classified as Financial Aid?

Chapter 35 VA Benefits: A lot of people who depend on veterans want to know if the Chapter 35 VA benefits or the Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program benefits are considered financial aid.

Chapter 35 VA Benefits: All you need to know

With these benefits, you can get money to help pay for school and training. It’s the goal to help the spouse or child of a veteran who has died or become disabled.

But how do they fit into the broader category of financial aid?

The short answer is no, VA funds under Chapter 35 are not usually used to help people with money. They are not the same as Pell Grants, state or federal student loans, or other grants.

100% VA Disability and Unemployability: The Key Differences

Still, getting help through Chapter 35 doesn’t mean that students can’t apply for other types of financial aid. In fact, you should apply for federal and state aid in addition to any VA benefits you may be eligible for.

Through Chapter 35 benefits, people can get regular money to help pay for school. Chapter 35 benefits can be used for various educational programs, including apprenticeships, college degrees, and licensing exams. However, these benefits don’t directly cover tuition but help students manage overall costs.

To cover any shortfalls, students can apply for additional financial aid, like loans or grants. The key point is that while Chapter 35 benefits assist with educational expenses, applying for traditional financial aid is still important.

By applying for both VA benefits and financial aid, students can maximize the options available to help cover their education costs.

VA Benefits Evaluations: How to Prepare for a Veteran Benefit Evaluation

To qualify for Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) under Chapter 35, one of the following conditions must apply:

• The veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability.
• The veteran died from a service-connected disability.
• The service member died in the line of duty.
• The service member is missing in action or has been captured by a hostile force for more than 90 days.
• The service member was forcibly detained or interned by a foreign entity for more than 90 days.
• The service member is hospitalized or receiving outpatient care for a permanent and total service-connected disability and is likely to be discharged due to that disability.