A-to-Z Index

MGIB Chapter 35

 Survivors' and Dependents' educational assistance program (dea)

Survivors and Dependents Benefits (Chapter 35) provide educational benefits to spouses and children of veterans who either died while in service, died as a result of a service-connected disability, or became totally and permanently disabled as a result of their military service.

For more information on Chapter 35 benefits, please visit the Veterans Affairs website or call VA at 1-888-442-4551.

Current Chapter 35 Rates

**Update on Interval/Break Pay** - Effective August 1, 2011, break/interval pay is NO longer payable under any VA education benefit unless under an Executive Order of the President or due to an emergency situation such as a natural disaster or strike.  Entitlement which previously would have been used for break/interval pay will be available for use during a future enrollment.

If you are requesting Chapter 35 MGIB benefits for the first time

Application Process: Eligibility for benefits begins with the "one-time only" application

  • Complete and submit to VA online: VA Form 22-5490, Application for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance.  This can be done thru the VONAPP website.
  • Watch for: Letter of Eligibility or denial letter from VA within 12 weeks after submission of application.  Any questions about the content of either letter should be directed to the Veterans Affairs Office at 1-888-442-4551.

When notified by VA of eligibility, the dependent or spouse must have been accepted as a student by JMU, paid the required admissions deposit, and enrolled in classes before contacting the VA Certifying Official at JMU to begin the request for payment process.  Enrollment in courses must meet major, GenEd, elective, or degree requirements, or an approved certificate or teacher licensure program to qualify.

Once you have applied and received your Letter of Eligibility from VA, please contact:

Trudy Ham
VA Certifying Official
Office of the Registrar - Warren 504
540-568-6569
hamth@jmu.edu

At your initial meeting with a JMU VA Certifying Official, please bring the following:

If you've previously received MGIB Chapter 35 benefits while attending JMU

If you wish to request benefits for an upcoming semester or session, you will need to complete the JMU form, Request for Veterans Educational Benefits, and submit it to one of the VA Certifying Officials.  If you've made changes to your JMU career (such as going from undergraduate to graduate), you will also need to complete VA Form 22-5495, Request for Change of Program or Place of Training.

If you're receiving  MGIB Chapter 35 benefits at a college or university other than JMU

If you've received Chapter 35 benefits at another college or university within the past year, you will need to complete the VA Form 22-5495, Request for Change of Program or Place of Training, and the JMU form, Request for Veterans Educational Benefits.

What happens after I submit the requested forms to the VA Certifying Official?

JMU's VA Certifying Official will process a student's request for benefits and within 5-8 weeks, VA will generate and mail an active award benefit letter to the student.  Monthly payments are mailed to the spouse or dependent's address.