Does Chapter 35 Include a Housing Allowance?

Overview of Chapter 35 Benefits

Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA), commonly known as Chapter 35 benefits, provides educational support for eligible dependents of veterans. This program, administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), helps qualifying individuals pursue various educational and training goals. Its primary purpose is to offer financial assistance to those whose family members have made significant sacrifices in service to the nation. Chapter 35 is designed to provide education and training opportunities.

How Chapter 35 Funds Are Disbursed

Chapter 35 benefits are disbursed as a monthly stipend directly to the eligible student. This financial assistance is a general allowance, meaning the Department of Veterans Affairs does not earmark the funds for specific categories like tuition, books, or housing. Instead, the recipient has full discretion over how these funds are utilized.

Recipients can use their Chapter 35 stipend for tuition and fees, books, supplies, or personal living costs. This includes covering housing expenses. Unlike some other VA education benefits, such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Chapter 35 does not include a separate, dedicated housing allowance component. The entire benefit is provided as a single, flexible payment. While there isn’t an explicit “housing allowance” within Chapter 35, the monthly stipend can be applied toward housing costs at the recipient’s discretion, alongside other educational and living needs.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility for Chapter 35 benefits extends to certain dependents of service members or veterans who meet specific criteria. Children and spouses of eligible veterans can qualify for this educational assistance. For the veteran, a key condition is often a permanent and total service-connected disability, meaning the disability is rated by the VA at 100% and is not expected to improve. Eligibility also arises if the veteran died as a result of a service-connected disability.

Further qualifying conditions for the veteran include death while on active duty, or classification as a prisoner of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA). For children, benefits are available between the ages of 18 and 26. Spouses have a 10-year window from the date of the veteran’s service-connected death or the VA’s determination of permanent and total disability to use the benefits. If the veteran was permanently and totally disabled on active duty, spouses may have a 20-year period to utilize the benefits.

Steps to Apply for Benefits

To apply for Chapter 35 benefits, eligible individuals must complete VA Form 22-5490, “Application for Dependents’ Educational Assistance.” This form is available for download directly from the Department of Veterans Affairs website. Alternatively, an applicant may obtain the form through their school’s certifying official.

Once the form is completed, applicants have several options for submission, including applying online through VA.gov, mailing the physical form to the VA, or submitting it in person at a VA regional office. Along with the application form, several supporting documents are required. These may include the veteran’s service records, marriage certificates for spouses, birth certificates for children, and enrollment information from the educational institution the dependent plans to attend. After submission, the VA will process the application, which may take several weeks, and successful applicants will receive a Certificate of Eligibility outlining their benefits.