Chapter 35-Survivors and Dependent Assistance

Chapter 35: Survivors and Dependent Assistance

You may qualify for VA education benefits (Chapter 35 benefits) if you’re the child or spouse of a service member and one of the below descriptions is true of the service member.

One of these must be true. The service member:

  • Died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001, or
  • Is missing in action or was captured in the line of duty by a hostile force, or
  • Was detained (held) by force while in the line of duty by a foreign government or power, or
  • Is in the hospital or getting outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability, and is likely to be discharged for that disability. A service-connected permanent and total disability is a disability resulting from your service that doesn’t go away.

You may qualify for VA education benefits (Chapter 35 benefits) if you’re the child or spouse of a Veteran and one of the below descriptions is true of the Veteran.

One of these must be true. The Veteran:

  • Is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, or
  • Died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability