Veterans Affairs (VA) Ch. 35 – Dependents’ Education Assistance
Dependents’ Education Assistance Benefit Summary:
Below is a summary of how the Department of Veterans Affairs processes Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance benefits. To fully determine your eligibility for this benefit, please contact the Department of Veteran Affairs directly at (888) 442-4551.
- The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance benefit provides assistance to dependents of military service members with a service-connected, permanent, and total disability or who were MIA, POW, or died in connection with a service-related disability.
- Students are paid directly by the VA on a monthly basis while attending courses. See Pay Rates & Training Times for more information.
Quick Links:
How to use your Dependents’ Education Assistance:
Step One: Complete Veterans Affairs paperwork
Go to the VA.gov website to fill out and submit the appropriate Application for VA Education Benefits form to the Department of Veterans Affairs (see below).
- 22-5490 – Use if you are applying for Veterans education benefits for the first time.
You may want to print a copy of this document for your records. To verify you have successfully submitted your form to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a confirmation number will appear on the bottom of each page of the form you print out.
Step Two: Contact the Office of Military Affairs
Once you fill out the Application for VA Education Benefits and submit it to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, you will need to notify Liberty’s Office of Military Affairs that you will be using your Chapter 35 benefits for your enrollment. We do not automatically receive this notice from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To accomplish this step, we recommend you contact us directly to advise us of the benefit you will be using. Documentation is not required to set up or use your benefit with Liberty University.
Please note: The VA File number and the first and last name of the Veteran through whom you are receiving benefits are required for your certifications to be submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs. You may contact our office directly to give us this information. Because you are using Chapter 35 benefits, the File Number should be the Social Security Number of the Veteran.
Step Three: Registration and Certification
Once you have completed Steps 1 and 2, and you have enrolled in courses, the Office of Military Affairs will submit an enrollment certification (22-1999) to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The processing time for the GI Bill is 3-5 business days for the current semester. However, this may not be consistent for a future semester when the current semester is still active, as the current semester’s processing will take priority. For a future semester, it may take up to 30 business days for GI Bill benefits to be processed. As soon as all students have been processed for the current semester, the Office of Military Affairs will be able to prioritize the future semester. This typically occurs two weeks after the start of the current semester’s D sub-term. After that point, students should expect their courses for the future semester to be reviewed within 3-5 business days.
Once your courses have been certified, you will receive an email to your Liberty email account indicating the courses and dates that were reported to the VA. On average it will take 6 weeks for the VA to process your certifications. Once the VA has processed the enrollment certification, they will begin issuing your monthly payments to you directly for your courses. These monthly payments are issued at the beginning of each month for the previous month of enrollment.
Step Four: Complete Financial Check-In
Please remember that arrangements for the full payment of your tuition and fees must be made during the completion of your Financial Check-In. Within Financial Check-In, qualifying students have the option of using federal financial aid or payment plans.
Online students: The military payment plan is available through Financial Check-In for online students using Chapter 35 benefits. Please note this option will not be made available until we have confirmed your eligibility with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Residential students: The deferred payment plan is available through Financial Check-In for residential students using Chapter 35 benefits. Please note this option will not be made available until we have confirmed your eligibility with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Please review our Financial Check-In Guide for more information.
Step Five: Keep the VA Updated on Any Changes
You are required to keep the Department of Veterans Affairs updated on any changes made to your benefit. Such changes include but are not limited to:
- Changing degree levels
- Changing your primary school of attendance
Failure to maintain the accuracy of this information with the VA may result in delayed or denied payment from the VA.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.