Education Benefits for Spouses of Disabled Veterans

Programs for the benefit of veterans and their families are contained in the G.I. Bill, administered by the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs, and originally passed in 1944. Since the original passage, programs have been added to the bill to include veterans of subsequent wars and to address additional issues, such as homelessness and substance abuse. Post 9/11 changes include the option to transfer certain benefits to family members.

Eligibility

To be eligible for spousal educational benefits, you must be married to a veteran who is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected injury or illness, who dies either from that injury, or from any cause while disabled; your spouse was declared missing in action (MIA); or your spouse is a prisoner of war (POW) or interned in the line of duty by a foreign power. Your term of eligibility varies depending on the circumstances under which you are eligible for this benefit.

Term of Eligibility for Disabled Veteran's Spouse

Your term of eligibility is determined by the nature of your spouse's situation. If your spouse is permanently disabled due to a service-connected disability, your benefits are payable until 10 years from the date of your spouse's disability evaluation, notification of the determination, or a date you choose between the evaluation and notification dates. If your marriage to the veteran ends in divorce, your benefits end on that date. If you are already in training and the divorce is through no fault of your own, benefits may continue. If you are on active duty, you are ineligible for benefits until your tour ends. You cannot receive these benefits if you are a veteran and receive a less-than-honorable discharge.

Term of Eligibility for Disabled Veteran's Surviving Spouse

If your spouse had a service-connected disability that caused his death, your 10-year eligibility for educational benefits begins on the date you choose, between the date of death and the date the VA determines the death was due to the disability. If your spouse had a service-connected permanent and total disability when he died, your 10-year eligibility begins on the date of death. You cannot receive these benefits while you are on active duty or if you receive a less-than-honorable discharge from your service. If you remarry before you are 57 and after November 30, 1999, your eligibility ends on your remarriage date, but benefits can be reinstated if your remarriage ends in death, divorce or total separation. If your remarriage was prior to November 30, 1999, your benefits cannot be reinstated.

Eligible Programs

The program you choose to attend must be approved by a State Approving Agency or the VA before benefits are deemed payable. Programs that may be eligible for benefits include undergraduate and graduate degree programs at colleges and universities, cooperative training programs and accredited distance education programs. Other eligible programs are certificate programs at business, technical or vocational schools; overseas programs that lead to degrees; apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs; farm cooperative courses; and high school programs if you are not a high school graduate.

References

• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Survivors & Dependents Assistance (DEA), Summary of Benefits; Dec. 2010
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Dependents Educational Assistance Program; Jan. 2005
• U.S. Department of Defense: New GI Bill Will Heighten Professional Work Force; American Forces Press Service; August 27, 2009