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| 64.117 SURVIVORS AND DEPENDENTS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| Public Laws 86-236, 89-358, 90-631, 92-540, 93-508, 94-502, 95-202, 96-466, 98-460, 101-237, 101-508, 102-127, 102-568, 103-446, 104-275, 105-114, 105-206, 106-117, 106-419, 107-103, 107-330,108-183, and 108-454; 38 U.S.C., chapter 35. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To provide educational opportunities to the dependents of certain disabled and deceased veterans. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Direct Payments for Specified Use. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| Participants may pursue: (1) courses at colleges and universities leading to associate, bachelor or graduate degrees (including courses taken via accredited independent study, provided those courses lead to a standard college degree or a certificate that reflects educational attainment offered by an institution of higher learning); (2) courses leading to a certificate or diploma from colleges or universities or from business, technical or vocational schools; (3) apprenticeship or on-the-job training programs; (4) correspondence courses, but only for spouses and surviving spouses; (5) state-approved teacher certification programs; (6) preparatory courses for tests necessary for admission to a college or graduate school; (7) reimbursement for licensing and certification tests approved for veterans; (8) reimbursement for national exams for admission to college or for college credit; (9) courses leading to a high school diploma or equivalent. A special restorative training benefit is available for both children and spouses who need to overcome or lessen the effects of a physical or mental disability so that they will be able to pursue a program of education. A specialized vocational training program is available for those who are not in need of special restorative training but require specialized vocational training because of a mental or physical handicap. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| Spouses, surviving spouses, and children (including stepchild or adopted child) between age 18 and 26 of veterans who died from service-connected disabilities, of living veterans whose service-connected disabilities are considered permanently and totally disabling, of those who died from any cause while such service-connected disabilities were in existence, of servicepersons who have been listed for a total of more than 90 days as currently missing in action, or as currently prisoners of war, a service member who VA determines has a service connected permanent and total disability and at the time of VA's determination is a member of the Armed Forces who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient medical care, services, or treatment; and is likely to be discharged or released from service for this service-connected disability. Children under the age of 18 may be eligible under special circumstances. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| See Applicant Eligibility. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| Military discharge certificate, death certificate or official document verifying POW status or MIA status, marriage certificate, and birth certificate(s). |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| None. This program is excluded from coverage E.O. 12372. |
| Application Procedure |
| An application, VA Form 22-5490 for a child, spouse or surviving spouse may be obtained from any VA Regional Office and submitted to the appropriate VA Regional Processing Office. |
| Award Procedure |
| Awards are authorized at the regional processing office. |
| Deadlines |
| None, but the period of eligibility for a spouse generally extends no later than the 10 years from the date the veteran was notified of the service-connected permanent and total disability, or from the date the serviceperson was listed for a total of more than 90 days as currently missing in action or listed as a prisoner of war. The period of eligibility for a surviving spouse generally extends no later than 10 years from the date VA notifies the surviving spouse that the death was service-connected and no later than 20 years for the surviving spouse of a veteran who dies while on active duty. The period of eligibility for a child generally extends to the 26th birthday, subject to certain exceptions. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| At least 95.25 percent of applications are processed within 90 days or less in 2006 and 96.98 percent in 2007. |
| Appeals |
| Appeals are available through a special board; response time is 109.0 days in 2006 and 112.4 days in 2007. |
| Renewals |
| Generally, eligibility for a child terminates at age 26. In some instances, it may be extended. For example, in the case of service in the Armed Forces, eligibility will end 8 years after the first discharge or release from service but in no event beyond age 31. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| Not applicable. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| Not applicable. |
| Reports |
| Monthly certification of enrollment and pursuit for courses not leading to a college degree must be executed by the beneficiary. For college students, verification of pursuit is required near the end of the enrollment period. |
| Audits |
| None. |
| Records |
| None. |
| Account Identification |
| 36-0137-0-1-702. |
| Obligations |
| (Direct Payments) FY 07 $423,335,000; FY 08 est $450,646,000; and FY 09 est $478,067,000. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| Per month, institutional training: full time, $881; three-quarters time, $661; half-time, $439. Benefits may be paid for up to a maximum of 45 months. Tutorial assistance up to a maximum of $1,200. Work-Study Allowance: Payment based on the higher of the Federal minimum wage or the State minimum wage where work is performed. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| In fiscal year 2007, there were 77,436 students trained. Estimates for subsequent periods are: fiscal year 2008, 80,409 students, and fiscal year 2009, 82,728 students. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| 38 CFR 21.3001 - 21.3344; "Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents," VA Pamphlet 80-0-01, $5.00, available from Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954 or from the online government bookstore at www.bookstore.gpo.gov. The stock number is 051-000-00233-4. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| See Appendix IV of the Catalog for Veterans Benefits Administration field offices. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Department of Veterans Affairs, Central Office, Washington, DC 20420. Telephone: (202) 461-9800. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www.GIBILL.va.gov |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| 27.002, Federal Employment Assistance for Veterans; 64.102, Compensation for Service-Connected Deaths for Veterans' Dependents; 64.105, Pension to Veterans Surviving Spouses, and Children; 64.110, Veterans Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Service-Connected Death; 84.007, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants; 84.032, Federal Family Education Loans; 84.038, Federal Perkins Loan Program_Federal Capital Contributions; 84.063, Federal Pell Grant Program. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| Not applicable. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| Not applicable. |
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General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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