Public Release slide presentation on the Veteran's Administration Fry Scholarship. An update for 2015

1. Education
Benefits for
Survivors -
Update
This presentation was provided to the Survivors' Benefits
Forum on January 12, 2015 and should not be
considered a comprehensive overview. More information
about VA Education Benefits programs like the Fry
Scholarship may be found at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

2. Agenda
 Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance
(DEA) Program (Chapter 35)
 Expanded Fry Scholarship
 Eligibility
 Details
 How To Apply
 Frequently Asked Questions

3. Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational
Assistance
 Benefits for 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
 45 months of entitlement
 $1,018.00 per month (full-time)

4. Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational
Assistance
 18-26 years old for children
 Marriage does not disqualify children from this
benefit
 Surviving spouse has 10 years from date of
death of the Veteran, or from the date VA
finds him or her eligible.
 20 years if the Veteran died on active duty

5.  PL 113-146, Veterans Access, Choice, and
Accountability Act passed in August (The Choice
Act of 2014)
 Section 701 of the Choice Act extends Fry to
surviving spouses of Active Duty
Servicemembers who died in the line of duty after
9/10/2001
Fry Scholarship - Update

6. Fry Scholarship - Overview
 Benefits for children or spouses of an active
duty member of the Armed Forces who died in
the line of duty after 9/10/2001
 36 months of benefits at the 100% level
 Full tuition & fees for public in-state schools
 Capped max $ for private, out of state, or foreign schools
 Monthly housing allowance
 Books and supplies stipend

7.  15 years to use the benefit beginning on his/her 18th
birthday
 May use benefit at earlier age if high school has been
completed
 Children under legal age need a parent/guardian to sign the
application
 Must elect either Fry or DEA
 May use remaining benefits until his or her 33rd
birthday
 Child may be married and still be eligible
 Not eligible for Yellow Ribbon
Eligibility - Children

8.  Have 15 years from Service Member’s death
OR until date of remarriage to use
 Not eligible for Yellow Ribbon
 Must elect either Fry or DEA
 VA cannot pay benefits for training prior to
January 1, 2015
Eligibility - Spouses

9.  Total # of children using Fry (FY13): 1,279
 Total # of new Fry spouse applications: 333
 Data as of 12/24/2014
Status of Fry Applications

10.  Call 1-888-GI Bill-1 (888-442-4551) to
request an application
 Visit our website (www.benefits.va.gov/gibill)
 Complete VA Form 22-5490, Dependents’
Application for VA Education Benefits
How To Apply

11.  Will divorce or death after remarriage nullify
non-entitlement for Fry for spouses?
 Short answer: No
 The surviving spouse loses eligibility for Fry on
the date of remarriage. If the remarriage later
results in divorce, annulment, or death, the
surviving spouse does not regain Fry eligibility.
PLEASE NOTE: this is not like DEA where the
spouse would regain eligibility
Frequently Asked Questions

12.  Is a spouse eligible for DIC and Fry if he or
she elects Fry?
 Short answer: Yes
 A spouse will not lose DIC eligibility while
receiving Fry Scholarship
 How is the application completed?
 An applicant can fill the application out
electronically as a PDF then mail, fax, or email
the application to VA
Frequently Asked Questions

13.  Will VA contact a spouse who is eligible for
both Fry and DEA but not using benefits and
ask them to make an irrevocable election?
 Short Answer: No
 VA will attempt to contact any surviving spouse
not currently in receipt of DEA but potentially
eligible for Fry to inform of their potential
eligibility
 VA will NOT require an irrevocable election until
an application is received for benefits
Frequently Asked Questions

14.  Will the DEA application be updated to
reflect that an irrevocable election must be
made?
 Short answer: Yes
 VA form 22-5490 (Application for Dependent
Benefits) has been updated and is available
online
Frequently Asked Questions

16.  Example: Current DEA has 20 months
remaining and must make irrevocable
election to get Fry. He/she will be attending
school after 1/1/15. Will he or she get all 36
months of Fry?
 Short answer: Yes
 They may be entitled to additional 36 months of
Fry if no additional education benefits have been
used (excl. DEA).
Frequently Asked Questions

17.  For a Veteran entitled to Post-9/11 through
their own service; will the irrevocable
election between DEA and Fry nullify his/her
entitlement to the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
 Short answer: No
 The election is only between DEA and Fry. It will
have no impact on the claimant’s entitlement to
the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on their own service
or through transfer of entitlement
Previously Submitted Questions