To apply for DEA benefits, choose the school and program where you wish to enroll. Complete and send the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) form 22-5490, Application for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance to the VA. Include all information concerning the veteran, such as Member-4 VA Form DD-214 (Separation and Discharge Forms). Application can be done online or by hard copy.
Go to http://www.gibill.va.gov/ to complete and submit an on line application. Go to
http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-22-5490-ARE.pdf to print out and mail a copy of the application.
Once the VA has processed and approved your application, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (VA Form 22-0557) from their office in response to your request. This process may take 45 days or more. Submit a copy of this form to your student financial aid office. Questions can be answered at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551). This phone line only accepts calls from 7:00 - 5:00 central time and is known to experience long hold times.
If submitted by mail, the application is sent to your state's regional processing office. Regional Offices are located in Buffalo, NY; Atlanta, GA; St. Louis, MO; Muskogee, OK. Look at this web site to determine which regional office is yours and to get an address if needed. http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/offices.asp
If you continue your classes at the same school, the student financial aid office should certify your continued enrollment electronically to the VA, beginning 10 days before the term by transmitting the certification of enrollment (VA Form 22-1999b) to the VA.
A State Approving Agency (SAA) or the Veteran's Administration (VA), in some cases, has to approve each program offered by a company or school but a wide range of classes are eligible for approval. Benefits may include both undergraduate and graduate degree programs, certificate programs at colleges and universities, apprenticeships or on-the-job training programs, preparatory courses, and high school programs.
Eligibility periods differ for spouses and for children. As a general rule, the eligibility period for the spouse usually ends 10 years from the effective date of the veteran's permanent and total disability evaluation. However, if the spouse is a POW or MIA there is a three month waiting period before benefits can be activated and the 10 years count begins. There are also extenuating circumstances that can be taken into account to determine the length of eligibility. Each person applying must contact the VA on an individual basis to determine his or her eligibility time.
A child may be able to receive benefits from ages 18 to 26 for a total of eight years. But again, each circumstance is different and some children may be able to use benefits before age 18 and after age 26. The VA has to determine eligibility.