Military Education Benefits for Dependents: An Overview

As the family member of a Veteran, you may be eligible for VA education benefits, including money for school or to help you cover expenses while you’re training for a job. If you’re the spouse or dependent child of a Veteran or service member, they may be able to transfer their education benefits to you. If you’re the child or surviving spouse of a service member or member of the Selected Reserve who died on or after September 11, 2001, you may be eligible for the Fry Scholarship. If you’re a Fry Scholar or you’re using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, find out if you’re eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program. If you’re an active-duty service member or Veteran, a member of the National Guard or Reserves, or a qualified survivor or dependent, you may be eligible for the GI Bill or other educational assistance.

Surviving military spouses and children may be eligible for certain education benefits. If you or your children are interested in pursuing higher education, there are several scholarship options and Veterans Affairs benefits. Nothing can take the place of your loved one in your heart, but pursuing your education dreams can be a way to honor their legacy. There are numerous resources available that can connect you or your children to education benefits.

Understanding VA Education Benefits for Dependents

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides various educational benefits to dependents and family members of eligible veterans and service members. These benefits aim to support their educational goals by providing financial assistance for tuition, fees, housing, and other educational expenses.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility for these benefits varies depending on the specific program and the relationship to the veteran or service member. Generally, eligible dependents include spouses and children of veterans who are deceased, disabled, or on active duty.

Benefit Programs

Several key programs offer educational assistance to dependents:

Fry Scholarship: This scholarship is available to children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001.
Transfer of Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits: Service members who meet certain criteria can transfer their unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to their spouse or dependent children. The transfer must be completed while the service member is still on active duty.
Yellow Ribbon Program: Fry Scholars and those using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits may be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program, which helps cover tuition and fee expenses that exceed the standard GI Bill limits.

Specific Eligibility Requirements

Here's a more detailed look at the eligibility requirements for some of the key programs:

Post-9/11 GI Bill Eligibility:

If any of these are true, you may be eligible for benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33):

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You served on active duty for at least 90 days after September 10, 2001, whether continuous (all at once) or interrupted (for shorter periods over time), or
You served for at least 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001, and were discharged because of a service-connected disability, or
You received a Purple Heart after September 10, 2001

Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD)

Generally, if you served at least 2 years on active duty and you meet the requirements listed here, you may be eligible for benefits through MGIB-AD.

All of these must be true:

You were honorably discharged, and
You have a high school diploma, GED, or 12 hours of college credit, and
You didn’t decline enrollment in MGIB-AD when you started active duty, and
You meet other requirements

Additional Educational Support Programs

Beyond the VA benefits, numerous other organizations and programs offer scholarships and financial aid to military dependents.

Scholarship Opportunities

Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation: Provides college scholarships and educational counseling to children who have lost a parent in the line of duty.
Heroes’ Legacy Scholarship: The Fisher House Foundation established the Heroes’ Legacy Scholarship for the children of service members who have died or become disabled through their active-duty service since Sept.

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American Legion Legacy Scholarship: The American Legion Legacy Scholarship is for children of military members who have died while on active duty since Sept.
Scholarships for Military Children Program: The Defense Commissary Agency runs the Scholarships for Military Children Program, funded by the manufacturers and suppliers of commissary goods.
Each military service and related organization offers financial assistance to family members in need, and many have scholarship options.

State-Specific Programs

Some states offer tuition assistance and grant programs specifically for dependents of veterans.

The Michigan Children of Veterans Tuition Grant provides undergraduate tuition assistance to the child of a veteran who died while on active federal duty or who has been awarded a total and permanent disability rating from VA. The grant is administered by the Michigan Department of Treasury.

Other Considerations

Dependent children who have been covered by CHAMPVA or TRICARE may retain their coverage as enrolled college students. If you are covered by CHAMPVA benefits, you can learn more about eligibility for coverage with school enrollment by visiting their fact sheet.

Maximizing Your Benefits

To make the most of the available military education benefits, consider the following:

Explore all available programs: Research both federal and state-level benefits to determine eligibility and potential award amounts.
Understand the requirements: Carefully review the eligibility criteria and application procedures for each program.
Plan ahead: Start the application process well in advance of enrollment to ensure timely receipt of benefits.
Seek guidance: Consult with a VA education counselor or financial aid advisor to navigate the complexities of the benefit system.

Important Considerations

If you have only 1 period of service that begins on or after August 1, 2011, and you qualify for other VA education benefits, you can use only 1 education benefit. Generally, if you’re eligible for more than 1 education benefit, you may be able to get up to a maximum of 48 months (or 4 years) of VA education benefits. This doesn’t include Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) benefits (Chapter 31). You can use your benefits in many ways. For example, you can earn a degree, diploma, or certificate, or you can use your benefits for on-the-job training and apprenticeships.

If you’ve received one of these discharge statuses, you may not be eligible for VA benefits. There are 2 ways you can try to qualify:

Apply for a discharge upgrade
Ask for a VA Character of Discharge review

Note: If you served honorably in one period of service, you can apply for VA benefits using that honorable characterization.

If you are a surviving military spouse, you are eligible for education benefits for up to 20 years after the date of your spouse’s death. Children or spouses of those who died in service to our nation on or after Sept. Did your spouse or parents transfer any months of unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits before their death?

Veterans and Fry Scholars who have or will soon exhaust their benefits and are currently enrolled in a STEM degree program or are seeking teacher certification, are eligible to receive the Edith Nourse Rogers Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) Scholarship.

In some instances, spouses and dependents of veterans can utilize GI Bill® benefits for their own education.

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