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Survivors' & Dependents' Education Assistance - Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance: Children or spouses of a service member or veteran who died, is captured, missing, or is permanently disabled as a result of their service may be eligible.

To use education benefits, students need to declare use in GIBenefits by following these steps each semester:

  1. Register for the term in which the declaration is taking place.
  2. Complete Servicemember/Dependent Information in GIBenefits.
  3. Upload the Certificate of Eligibility via the Upload Document tab.
  4. In the Declare Benefits tab, select the term to declare benefit use, and select YES for the decision.
In-State Tuition Rate Eligibility

Out-of-state students who are GI Bill® beneficiaries under Chapters 30, 31, 33, 35, and Sections 1606 and 1607 who reside in Pennsylvania are eligible for in-state tuition rate. Students do not have to be using their educational benefits.

  • Military personnel, their spouses, and dependent children who are assigned to an active duty station in Pennsylvania and who reside in Pennsylvania.
  • Civilian personnel, their spouses, and dependent children employed at a Department of Defense facility who are transferred by the Department of Defense and who reside in Pennsylvania.

To get the review process started for receiving an in-state tuition rate, please upload proof of residency to GIBenefits. If students receive an in-state tuition rate per VA Education Benefits, Temple University may review and adjust their financial aid package based on the in-state tuition rate.

PA Educational Gratuity Program

The Educational Gratuity Program provides financial assistance to children of honorably discharged veterans who have service-connected disabilities and served during periods of war  or armed conflict, or children of veterans who die or died in service during a period of war or armed conflict. 

Chapter 35 Rates

Check here for current rates for Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA), and learn how the VA determines these rates.

Rate of Pursuit

Monthly entitlements are charged based on the rate of pursuit. The (ROP) is calculated by dividing the number of credit hours enrolled, by the number of enrolled credit hours considered to be full-time. Please know that while Temple University may classify you as full-time, the VA may not. 

Please contact the VA at (888)442-4551 to ensure your ROP is full time. 

Withdrawal and Punitive Grades

Monthly entitlements are charged based on the rate of pursuit. The (ROP) is calculated by dividing the number of credit hours enrolled, by the number of enrolled credit hours considered to be full-time. Please know that while Temple University may classify you as full-time, the VA may not. 

Please contact the VA at (888)442-4551 to ensure your ROP is full time. 

Generally, the VA cannot pay for:

  • Courses you do not attend.
  • Courses from which you withdraw.
  • Courses you complete but receive a grade that will not count towards graduation.

When your school submits changes to your enrollment information, VA must create debts for the amounts paid that are no longer due. VA will create the debt against you and/or your school for these benefits. You may also owe money to your school when you drop classes or withdraw from school. You must promptly notify your school's veteran certifying official and VA when there is any change in your enrollment. This will help minimize your debt. Visit this page to help manage debt. 

VA Approved Programs

CHECK YOUR PROGRAM'S ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE VA EDUCATION BENEFITS

The Department of Veterans Affairs has set up lists of programs they have approved for each university, which you can access through their WEAMS Institution Search tool. By using WEAMS (Web Enabled Approval Management System), you'll get information about your academic program's eligibility for VA benefits.

This is an important step: If your program is not listed, VA benefits can't be used to cover costs.

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 website at benefits.va.gov/gibill.