Free college tuition

[pattherat]

Does anyone know if there is a list of colleges/universities nationwide that waive the tuition and fees for dependents of service-connected veterans?
Or is it just California?

[zero.crossing]

I don't know about schools that waive fees. But I do know that you can fill out some paper work so that the government...i think its the government pays for everything. I'm sorry if I'm not of any help. But good luck on everything.

[skippy13]

I dont know about free college tuition anywhere, but if you are P&T you can get chapter 35 bennies for your family.

go to vets.yuku.com to get the best info, or try the VA website for ch 35 benefits.

[RAFS]

Pat,
Hello fellow Veteran. I would direct your question to Veteran Advisor here on this site. Go to Veterans Forum & either PM him or send him an e-mail thru this site. He's very knowledgeable & should be able to answer your question & advise you what to do. Could luck with every thing.
PM me some time about your military days. I'm former Air Force myself.
Take care !

Regards,
Bob S.
Oldsmar, Florida on the west coast of the state

[pattherat]

I dont know about free college tuition anywhere, but if you are P&T you can get chapter 35 bennies for your family.

go to vets.yuku.com to get the best info, or try the VA website for ch 35 benefits.

COLLEGE TUITION FEE WAIVERS FOR VETERANS’ DEPENDENTS
THE BENEFITS
Waiver of mandatory systemwide tuition and fees at any State of California Community College, California State University or University of California campus.

WHO MAY BE ELIGIBLE
Plan A:
The spouse, registered domestic partner, child (under the age of 27) or unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran who is totally service-connected disabled, or who has died of service-connected causes may qualify.

Plan B:
The child of a veteran who has a permanent service-connected disability. The child’s income and value of support provided by a parent cannot exceed the national poverty level. To view this year’s poverty level, go to www.cdva.ca.gov/VetService/Waivers.aspx. Note: All students must meet California residency requirements.

*Note that all students must meet California residency requirements.

WHERE TO APPLY
Contact your local County Veterans Service Office or the Admissions Office of any California system campus or go to www.cacvso.org for more information and to download an application.

[Veteran Advisor]

Does anyone know if there is a list of colleges/universities nationwide that waive the tuition and fees for dependents of service-connected veterans?
Or is it just California?

The benefits you're referring to are the VA's Chapter 35 education benefits paid on behalf of the eligible dependents/survivors of veterans service connected at 100 percent or killed in service. The benefit can be used in any college or university in the country.

Here's a summary of the program:

Dependents' Educational Assistance provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

Eligibility-

You must be the son, daughter, or spouse of:

A veteran who died or is permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability. The disability must arise out of active service in the Armed Forces.
A veteran who died from any cause while such service-connected disability was in existence.
A servicemember missing in action or captured in line of duty by a hostile force.
A servicemember forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power.
A servicemember who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability. This change is effective December 23, 2006.
Period of Eligibility-

If you are a son or daughter and wish to receive benefits for attending school or job training, you must be between the ages of 18 and 26. In certain instances, it is possible to begin before age 18 and to continue after age 26. Marriage is not a bar to this benefit. If you are in the Armed Forces, you may not receive this benefit while on active duty. To pursue training after military service, your discharge must not be under dishonorable conditions. VA can extend your period of eligibility by the number of months and days equal to the time spent on active duty. This extension cannot generally go beyond your 31st birthday, there are some exceptions.

If you are a spouse, benefits end 10 years from the date VA finds you eligible or from the date of death of the veteran. If the VA rated the veteran permanently and totally disabled with an effective date of 3 years from discharge a spouse will remain eligible for 20 years from the effective date of the rating. This change is effective October 10, 2008 and no benefits may be paid for any training taken prior to that date.

For surviving spouses (spouses of servicemembers who died on active duty) benefits end 20 years from the date of death.

How to Apply-

You should make sure that your selected program is approved for VA training. If you are not clear on this point, VA will inform you and the school or company about the requirements.

Obtain and complete VA Form 22-5490, Application for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance. Send it to the VA regional office with jurisdiction over the State where you will train. If you are a son or daughter, under legal age, a parent or guardian must sign the application.

If you have started training, take your application to your school or employer. Ask them to complete VA Form 22-1999, Enrollment Certification, and send both forms to VA.

[pattherat]

The benefits you're referring to are the VA's Chapter 35 education benefits paid on behalf of the eligible dependents/survivors of veterans service connected at 100 percent or killed in service. The benefit can be used in any college or university in the country.

I don't think so...The State of California provides education benefits for eligible spouses, dependents and survivors, specifically what i posted above. It's from the website of California's Department of Veteran Affairs. I believe it's totally seperate from the VA's voc rehab program. I was asking if anyone knows of other states that do this.

[Veteran Advisor]

I don't think so...The State of California provides education benefits for eligible spouses, dependents and survivors, specifically what i posted above. It's from the website of California's Department of Veteran Affairs. I believe it's totally seperate from the VA's voc rehab program. I was asking if anyone knows of other states that do this.

Yes, you're exactly right. I stand corrected. Cali has the College Fee Waiver program it offers on top of VA's Chapter 35 benefits. I've only prosecuted claims in California, but I have yet to hear of another state with a similar program for dependants/survivors.