Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA)
The Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or of Veterans who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.
Deadline
Rolling
Est. Time
30-60 minutes for initial application
Source
Department of Veterans Affairs
Eligibility Requirements
Must be a child or spouse of a Veteran who is permanently and totally disabled, died in the line of duty, or died of a service-connected disability. The Veteran must be rated as permanently and totally disabled by the VA.
Who Can Apply
Spouses and children of qualifying Veterans.
Application Instructions
Apply online through the VA.gov portal or by submitting VA Form 22-5490 by mail.
Required Documents
- VA Form 22-5490
- Certificate of Eligibility
- Proof of relationship to the Veteran
Geographic Restrictions
United States
Required Essays
- None
How to Stand Out
Ensure you have the Veteran's VA file number and all required dependency documentation ready before beginning the online application to expedite processing.
Risk Warnings
Beware of third-party websites charging for services; the VA application process is always free.