Contact: Jessica Smith – (202)228-5185
Thursday, April 23, 2009 Kimberly Hunter – (202)228-5258
Legislation Removes Penalty for Beneficiaries of Dependents’ Educational Assistance Who Earn Their Own Benefits for Service
Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) this week introduced a bill (S. 847) that would eliminate penalties for beneficiaries of Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) who also qualify for and accrue benefits under other VA and DoD educational benefit programs as a result of their own military service.
Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA, or Chapter 35) is granted to the dependents and survivors of veterans who have permanent and total service connected disabilities or who have died of these disabilities. Because the Department of Veterans Affairs limits educational benefits under multiple programs to 48 total months of credit, DEA counts against additional GI Bill benefits that may be earned by these beneficiaries.
Webb’s legislation removes the DEA program from the 48 month restriction.
“If a member of our U.S. armed services is killed or seriously disabled in the line of duty, the compensation the VA provides for spouses and dependents should not be counted against any educational benefits that a survivor has earned through his or her own service to our country,” said Senator Webb. “We have a commitment to fulfill our promises to our men and women in uniform and their families. By eliminating this benefits penalty, we ensure the proper reward for service that these military men and women deserve.”
Senator Webb’s bill will receive a hearing before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee next Wednesday when benefits legislation is to be considered.
