Veterans Affairs (VA) Ch. 35 – Dependents’ Education Assistance
Dependents’ Education Assistance Benefit Summary:
Below is a summary of how the Department of Veterans Affairs processes Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance benefits. To fully determine your eligibility for this benefit, please contact the Department of Veteran Affairs directly at (888) 442-4551.
- The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance benefit provides assistance to dependents of military service members with a service-connected, permanent, and total disability or who were MIA, POW, or died in connection with a service-related disability.
- Students are paid directly by the VA on a monthly basis while attending courses. See Pay Rates & Training Times for more information.
Quick Links:
How to use your Dependents’ Education Assistance:
Step One: Complete Veterans Affairs paperwork
Go to the VA.gov website to fill out and submit the appropriate Application for VA Education Benefits form to the Department of Veterans Affairs (see below).
- 22-5490 – Use if you are applying for Veterans education benefits for the first time.
You may want to print a copy of this document for your records. To verify you have successfully submitted your form to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a confirmation number will appear on the bottom of each page of the form you print out.
Step Two: Contact the Office of Military Affairs
Once you fill out the Application for VA Education Benefits and submit it to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, you will need to notify Liberty’s Office of Military Affairs that you will be using your Chapter 35 benefits for your enrollment. We do not automatically receive this notice from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To accomplish this step, we recommend you submit any one document from the following list to the Office of Military Affairs, or contact us directly to advise us of the benefit you will be using. Documentation is not required to set up your benefit with Liberty University, but it is encouraged to ensure the most accurate processing of your benefit and to give you access to special payment plan accommodations.
- Application for VA Education Benefits
- Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
- VA Award Letter
- Copy of your eBenefits page
Please note:
- If you submit a VA document to the Office of Military Affairs, please ensure you include your full name and Student ID to ensure we can process your document for you without delay.
- Please be sure to inform our office that you are using the Chapter 35 benefit in order for us to certify your enrollment to the VA. You may write the information on your document, notify us by phone, or email our office.
- The VA File number is required for your certifications to be submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs. If this information is not included on your VA documentation, you may contact our office directly to give us this information. Because you are using Chapter 35 benefits, the File Number should be the Social Security Number of the Veteran through whom you are receiving benefits.
- Any GI Bill documentation and information can be submitted directly in your Student Checklist. If these document requirements are not listed on your Student Checklist, you may submit documents to the Office of Military Affairs via email to vabenefits@liberty.edu.
Step Three: Registration and Certification
Once you have completed Steps 1 and 2, and you have enrolled in courses, the Office of Military Affairs will submit an enrollment certification (22-1999) to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This process typically takes 3-5 business days, but may take longer during peak enrollment periods. Once your courses have been certified, you will receive an email to your Liberty email account indicating the courses and dates that were reported to the VA. On average it will take 6 weeks for the VA to process your certifications.
Once the VA has processed the enrollment certification, they will begin issuing your monthly payments to you directly for your courses. These monthly payments are issued at the beginning of each month for the previous month of enrollment.
Step Four: Complete Financial Check-In
Please remember that arrangements for the full payment of your tuition and fees must be made during the completion of your Financial Check-In. Within Financial Check-In, qualifying students have the option of using federal financial aid or payment plans.
Online students: The military payment plan is available through Financial Check-In for online students using Chapter 35 benefits. Please note this option will not be made available until after a VA document verifying the chapter of benefit being used is received by the Office of Military Affairs
Residential students: The deferred payment plan is available through Financial Check-In for residential students using Chapter 35 benefits. Please note this option will not be made available until after a VA document verifying the chapter of benefit being used is received by the Office of Military Affairs
Please review the information on our Financial Check-In Guide for more information.
Step Five: Keep the VA Updated on Any Changes
You are required to keep the Department of Veterans Affairs updated on any changes made to your benefit. Such changes include but are not limited to:
- Changing degree levels
- Changing your primary school of attendance
Failure to maintain the accuracy of this information with the VA may result in delayed or denied payment from the VA.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.