MNG-064 · DEATH, FAMILY & SURVIVORS
DEA Chapter 35 & Fry Scholarship
Navigate Chapter 35 DEA and Fry Scholarship eligibility, VA Form 22-5490, school approval, DIC interaction, time limits, and benefit elections.
DEA
DEA can assist qualifying spouses and children of Veterans/service members with specified permanent-and-total disability, service-connected death, line-of-duty death, MIA/captive status, or other statutory qualifying events.
Fry Scholarship
The Fry Scholarship generally applies to qualifying children and surviving spouses of service members or Selected Reserve members who died on or after September 11, 2001 under specified line-of-duty or service-connected circumstances. It provides Post-9/11 GI Bill-style education benefits.
Do not assume you must choose immediately
Some survivors can qualify for both DEA and Fry, but combined entitlement and simultaneous-use rules depend on the qualifying event and date. VA Form 22-5490 is the current application for both DEA and Fry. Before electing or starting school, confirm remaining entitlement, time limits, approved program, payment structure and any DIC interaction.
- Eligibility/award letter
- VA Form 22-5490 or online application
- School/program approval
- Enrollment certification
- Benefit election and remaining entitlement
- School-status and dependency records
Official sources
Source status: SRC-152; SRC-153; SRC-154 verified October 4, 2026. Use the current eligibility, rate, form, and decision notice for the individual survivor.
