Chapter 35 Changed Aug. 1: What DEA Still Covers and the New Rates Starting Oct. 1

Chapter 35 Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance did not end Aug. 1. What changed is the benefit’s coverage of secondary education. For periods beginning Aug. 1, 2026, or later, VA says DEA can no longer pay for general K–12 or high-school coursework, GED-level secondary training, or related secondary tutoring and remediation. An approved secondary term that began before Aug. 1 may continue through that term’s end. Eligible postsecondary education and other approved training remain available, and VA pays DEA benefits directly to the eligible beneficiary. Separately, new rates begin Oct. 1: the full-time college or university amount rises from the current $1,574 a month to $1,621.

What changed on Aug. 1?

Congress enacted the change in Public Law 117-328, Division U, Title II, Section 215, on Dec. 29, 2022. Effective Aug. 1, 2026, it amended the Chapter 35 definition of an “educational institution” in 38 U.S.C. § 3501(a)(6): “secondary school” was removed, and “secondary school level” was changed to “postsecondary school level.” The law applies to an academic period beginning on or after Aug. 1.

In its April 15 implementation advisory, VA translated that change into a reader-facing rule: DEA may not pay for general K–12 or secondary instruction beginning on or after Aug. 1. VA’s examples include high-school coursework, GED-level training, secondary tutoring and academic remediation.

Every “potentially covered” use remains subject to the beneficiary’s individual eligibility and VA approval of the exact program.

Chapter 35 did not end—what DEA can still cover

DEA remains an active benefit for qualifying spouses and children. VA’s current beneficiary page continues to list undergraduate and graduate degrees; postsecondary vocational, technical and non-college-degree programs; on-the-job training and apprenticeships; licensing, certification and national-test expenses; entrepreneurship training; co-op and work study; and qualifying correspondence, independent and distance learning.

The new boundary is secondary versus postsecondary education—not “academic” versus “career” education. An approved postsecondary welding certificate may still qualify, for example, while a welding certificate delivered by a high school remains secondary training under VA’s policy.

What if the high-school term started before Aug. 1?

The transition does not extend coverage through high-school graduation. VA says it cannot pay for a later secondary term merely because the student needs that term to graduate. VA may, however, accept a retroactive enrollment certification submitted on or after Aug. 1 for otherwise eligible training that occurred before Aug. 1.

What about GED classes, tutoring and academic remediation?

VA places GED-level training, tutoring and academic remediation inside its list of general secondary instruction affected by the Aug. 1 rule. That does not support the broader statement that Chapter 35 no longer covers any tutoring.

VA’s live DEA page still lists tutorial assistance among ways to work toward a degree, and its tutorial-assistance guidance expressly includes eligible DEA users. That separate postsecondary pathway generally requires enrollment at least half time, an instructor’s determination that tutoring is needed, a course required for the program and a tutor who is not a close relative. The safe distinction is:

• Secondary or K–12 tutoring/remediation for a new period: affected by the Aug. 1 change.
• Qualifying tutorial assistance connected to postsecondary study: still listed by VA, subject to its separate requirements.

What about high-school career and certificate programs?

A career credential does not automatically make a high-school program postsecondary. VA’s advisory specifically addresses high schools offering certificates in trades such as welding, HVAC or carpentry, either separately or together with a high-school diploma. Because the institution is still a secondary school, VA says that training cannot remain Chapter 35-eligible for a new period on or after Aug. 1.

This rule should not be generalized to all vocational education. Postsecondary technical and non-college-degree programs can still be covered when the beneficiary and exact program qualify.

Who can qualify for Chapter 35 DEA?

Chapter 35 is not a benefit for every spouse or child of every Veteran. VA determines individual eligibility. Its current guidance says a qualifying beneficiary may be the spouse or child of a Veteran or service member when at least one specified circumstance applies, including:

• The Veteran has a permanent and total service-connected disability;
• The Veteran died as a result of a service-connected disability;
• The service member died in the line of duty;
• The service member has been missing or captured by a hostile force for more than 90 days;
• The service member has been forcibly detained or interned by a foreign entity for more than 90 days; or
• The service member is receiving inpatient or outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for it.

Potential benefit duration also varies. Training started before Aug. 1, 2018, may qualify for up to 45 months; training started on or after that date may qualify for up to 36 months. Time limits depend on whether the beneficiary is a child or spouse and on dates surrounding the qualifying event and Aug. 1, 2023. Families should use VA’s current eligibility page rather than applying one universal age cutoff.

How Chapter 35 payments work

Chapter 35 is an education-assistance payment, not a blanket tuition waiver. VA sends the monthly payment directly to the beneficiary. The family remains responsible for understanding tuition, fees and other costs and deciding how the payment fits the education budget.

The listed monthly amount assumes a full month of enrollment. VA prorates a partial month by the days enrolled. For below-half-time college enrollment, the listed figure is also a maximum: payment cannot exceed tuition and fees, and VA may send the allowed amount as one payment at the term’s start.

Current rates through Sept. 30 vs. new rates starting Oct. 1

At publication, the current period remains Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026. The new rates do not begin until Oct. 1, 2026, and then run through Sept. 30, 2027.

For both rows below half time, VA pays no more than tuition and fees. Across these college-rate lines, the published increases are roughly 3%; that is a rounded description, not one identical percentage for every row.

Other 2026–27 rates: vocational training, apprenticeships and special training

VA lists the same monthly levels for approved non-college-degree programs, calculated by scheduled clock hours. For on-the-job training and apprenticeships, the Oct. 1 amounts rise from $999 to $1,029 for months 1–6; $751 to $774 for months 7–12; $493 to $508 for months 13–18; and, on VA’s page, $251 to $259 for the tier labeled “more than 19 months.” At least 120 hours in a month are required for the full listed OJT amount.

Two narrower rules matter: correspondence training pays 55% of the established cost of completed lessons and is available only to spouses using Chapter 35. VA’s future-rate page says special restorative training is available only to children; its full-time amount becomes $1,621 on Oct. 1.

How to check whether your school and exact program are approved

A legitimate or accredited school does not automatically have every program approved for VA education benefits. Use VA’s GI Bill Comparison Tool to check the school and exact program, then ask the school’s School Certifying Official what VA has approved. The SCO submits enrollment and program information; VA—not the school—decides federal benefit eligibility and payment.

Our school and program verification guide adds questions about costs, credentials and outcome claims. Approval is an eligibility check, not proof that one school is the best fit.

Chapter 35, the Fry Scholarship and transferred GI Bill are different

DEA is the Chapter 35 benefit described here. The Fry Scholarship is a separate Chapter 33 benefit for certain surviving children and spouses. Transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits depend on a service member’s DoD-approved transfer of entitlement. A person may face benefit-choice or combined-use rules, so families should not use those program names interchangeably.

Our Rudisill and Perkins explainer addresses the separate 48-month framework for people with qualifying VA education entitlements. Short-term VET TEC 2.0 training follows still another eligibility and entitlement system.

Chapter 35 can pay an education benefit—it doesn’t replace course support

DEA eligibility and exact-program approval determine whether VA may pay the benefit. They do not replace the academic work, advising or course support that a college student may need. Students enrolled through American Military University who are looking for independent course-specific support can review these American Military University course and study resources. That link is not a VA source, is not a VA-approved program listing, and is not evidence of Chapter 35 eligibility; VA does not pay it as a DEA benefit.

What CSRA families should check before enrolling

The Aug. 1 rule is federal; Georgia or South Carolina cannot create a local exception. A CSRA family should verify the beneficiary’s eligibility, the exact postsecondary program, the enrollment intensity, the School Certifying Official and the rate period that covers the enrollment dates. For a career certificate, ask whether the institution and instruction are actually postsecondary rather than assuming the credential’s name settles the question.

Official education and support entry points are collected in our Education and Online Learning guide and Veteran Resources guide.

Seven things to verify before using DEA this fall

1. Confirm that the spouse or child has an individual Chapter 35 eligibility determination.
2. Check whether any secondary term began before or on/after Aug. 1, 2026.
3. Verify the exact school and exact program in VA’s current program lookup.
4. Ask the School Certifying Official to confirm the approved program and submit enrollment information.
5. Match the enrollment dates to the current rate period through Sept. 30 or the new period beginning Oct. 1.
6. Check enrollment intensity and remember that partial months are prorated.
7. Plan for monthly enrollment verification and keep VA contact and award records.

How to apply or update eligibility

Use VA’s current online dependent education-benefit application or VA Form 22-5490, Dependents’ Application for VA Education Benefits. The current form revision is January 2025. VA’s online guidance also covers certain existing-beneficiary updates, benefit switches and qualification through a different Veteran.

After applying, tell the chosen school’s certifying official and ask that enrollment be submitted to VA. An application or school certification does not guarantee eligibility; VA makes the determination.

Bottom line

The Aug. 1 law changed where Chapter 35 can be used at the secondary level; it did not abolish DEA. A pre-Aug. 1 secondary term may finish under the transition rule, but later secondary terms are not preserved through graduation. Approved postsecondary degree, technical and work-based pathways remain. Until Sept. 30, the full-time college rate is $1,574 per full month; beginning Oct. 1, it is $1,621. Verify the beneficiary, exact program, enrollment dates and rate period before making plans.

About this update: The CSRA Women Veterans Resource Guide is an independent informational publisher, not the Department of Veterans Affairs or another government agency. This article does not determine eligibility or replace instructions from the responsible official source.

Questions or corrections? Contact us.

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