EDUCATION BENEFITS for SPOUSES & 
DEPENDENTS of VETERANS

Chapter 35 – Survivors and Dependents Education Benefits

Survivors of deceased veterans, spouses of living veterans and children of either who are between 18 and 26 years of age may be eligible if the veteran’s death or permanent/total disability was the result of service in the Armed Forces. Eligibility of spouses generally extends to 10 years from the date of death or establishment of total disability. In certain cases, the age limit for children may be extended.

New Applicants under Chapter 35: You will be required to submit an original application, and must supply the name, social security number, date of birth, and claim or service number of the veteran. If you have already established eligibility for Chapter 35, you must supply your claim number and/or a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility.

Applying for Survivors and Dependents Education Benefits for the First Time 

1.   You will need to submit the VA application by completing the on-line form at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp 

♦  Click on “Start VONAPP”.  If you have any questions when you are completing the form, please call the VA at 1-888-GIBILL1.

2.   You will need to complete the SRU VA Enrollment form at http://administration.sru.edu/finaid/VAMontgomeryGIBillEnrollmentForm.pdf

♦  Please attach a copy of the confirmation page that you receive from the VA indicating that you have applied for GI Bill benefits OR the VA Certificate of Eligibility

♦  Be sure to read your rights and responsibilities included with the SRU VA Enrollment Form.

3. VA checks are sent directly to the student by check, not the university.  

NOTE:  An enrollment certification form will be sent to you each spring. This information is used to certify your GI Bill for subsequent semesters, after your initial enrollment. If you do not return this form indicating your enrollment information, you will not be certified for future GI Bill education benefits.  The form will be available on the SRU Veterans Home page every April.

Chapter 33 - Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer of Entitlement Procedures

1. Carefully review your options about the Post 9/11 GI Bill by reading the information on the www.gibill.va.gov web site.
       The page that lists specific information regarding Transfer of Entitlement is
       www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/Transfer.htm
2. Further information is also available through the Department of Defense web site:
       www.defenselink.mil/home/features/2009/0409_gibill/
   After reading the VA information and if you are unsure of whether or not the service person is eligible for transferring benefits, you can also call  1-888-GIBILL1 for further guidance.
3. Transferring Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits is a three step process.
       A. The service person applies to transfer the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to a dependent.
       B.  The dependent applies for the Post 9/11 GI BILL benefit AFTER the approval is received from the Department of Defense.
       C. The dependent receives a Certificate of Eligibility in the mail from the VA. He or she attaches a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility to the form found in Step 7.
4. Once a service person decides to transfer Post 9/11 GI Bill entitlement, he or she must apply to transfer the benefits at https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/TEB/
5. The transfer must be approved by the Department of Defense before the student can apply for the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefit.
6. The dependent will then need to submit the VA application by completing the on-line form at
       http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp Click on “Start VONAPP”. If any questions when completing the form, please call the VA at 1- 888-GIBILL1.
7. When the dependent receives a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility, he or she will need to print and complete the SRU enrollment form at
       http://administration.sru.edu/finaid/VAMontgomeryGIBillEnrollmentForm.pdf
8. A copy of the Certificate of Eligibility should be attached to the SRU form. Be sure to read your rights and responsibilities that are listed in the cover letter. Send the form to the Office of Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs.
9.  SRU cannot defer your tuition or partial tuition from the VA until we have a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility letter from the VA. This letter will indicate what percentage of your tuition and fees will be covered by the VA through the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

REPS (Restored Entitlement Program for Survivors)

REPS benefits are a restoration of Social Security benefits that were reduced or terminated by the Omnibus Act (1981). The DVA pays the benefits to certain surviving spouses or children between 18 and 22 of a veteran who either died on active duty before August 13, 1981. For eligibility information, contact the Dept of Veterans Affairs (DVA) at 1-800-827-1000.

Educational Gratuity Program (for dependents)

The applicant must be the child of a veteran whose 100% disability is war or armed conflict service-connected, or who died while on active duty or as a result of service-connected disability, hostile fire, or a terrorist attack during peacetime, as determined the Dept. of Military Affairs. An applicant must be between the ages of 16 and 24, a resident of Pennsylvania for 5 years immediately prior to filing for the benefit, attend an approved PA state institution and demonstrate financial need. Contact the PA Dept. of Military Affairs, Ft. Indiantown Gap, at 717-861-8910.