Americans are worrying more and more about how to pay for their children’s education. There are currently $1.7 trillion worth of loans that need to be paid back. There are about 43 million Americans who owe money to the government on federal student loans.
The vast majority of students can not pay for their own schooling, so government programs that help cover these costs are very important. If you are a dependent of a veteran or active duty military member, on the other hand, you may be able to get extra financial aid for school.
You may be eligible for the Dependents’ Educational Assistance program
You must be a veteran or service member’s dependent or spouse in order to get financial aid through the Dependents Educational Assistance program. These rules are in place because the Veteran or service member can not work and support their family without these requirements. The US Department of Veteran Affairs says that the veteran or service member must come up with one of the following:
- The veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, or
- The veteran died as a result of a service-connected disability, or
- The service member died in the line of duty, or
- The service member is missing in action or was captured in the line of duty by a hostile force for more than 90 days, or
- The service member was forcibly detained (held) or interned in the line of duty by a foreign entity for more than 90 days, or
- The service member 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
Children of certain veterans or service members can start getting DEA benefits when they are 18 years old.
Requirements if you are the child or spouse of a veteran
In order to get money from the Dependents’ Educational Assistance program, you must also meet certain requirements if the Veteran or service member in your family meets the above criteria. Whether you are a child or spouse of a veteran or service member, you must meet different requirements.
If your parent was in the military or has served, you can be married or not married. The benefit can not be used by people who are in the military while they are on active duty. You can not use the benefit if you were fired without cause.
You also can not get Dependency and Indemnity Compensation if you want to get help from the Dependents’ Educational Assistance program. Before you can get money from the Dependents’ Educational Assistance program, you will have to give up these payments.
The Dependency and Indemnity Compensation and Dependents’ Educational Assistance programs, on the other hand, will both pay you if you are married to a veteran or service member.
If you get divorced from the veteran or service member, you will no longer be able to get federal school aid. You will not be able to get benefits from the Dependents’ Educational Assistance program after the veteran or service member dies and you get married again.
However, there are two expectations to this. You can still qualify if one of the two circumstances are applicable:
- The new marriage was on or after January 1, 2004, and you were at least 57 years old at the time of the new marriage
- The new marriage ends due to death or divorce of the new partner
Health care benefits for veterans
People who are dependent on or married to veterans can get more help with school. Veterans themselves can also get help from the government in a number of ways. Veterans and service members are the only ones who can get into some health care programs.
This can make your insurance costs much lower. You can get different types of health insurance if you are a veteran or active duty military member and meet certain requirements.