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Friday, May 21, 2021
The Spokesman-Review
VETERANS CHRONICLE
Military children qualify for variety of VA benefits By Michael Frueh
PRINCIPAL DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY FOR BENEFITS, VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Every April, the nation celebrates the Month of the Military Child – a time that honors all military children for their dedication and sacrifices. At VA, we honor military children yearround by providing them earned benefits. Dependents and surviving children of veterans and service members may qualify for certain benefits, such as life insurance, education services and health care. Dependent children may qualify for Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI) coverage if the service member is on active duty and covered by full-time Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) or is a member of the National Guard or Ready Reserve and covered by full-time SGLI. There is no cost for coverage up to $10,000 for each dependent child. Beneficiaries of a veteran’s or service member’s policy can also receive free financial planning and online will preparation services.
Education benefits
ASSOCIATED PRESS
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Vernisa Pope stands with her children after she surprised them before a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the Philadelphia Phillies in Chicago, Saturday, July 25, 2015. Pope returned home from a yearlong tour in Kuwait and Afghanistan.
Dependent children, using benefits transferred by an eligible veteran or service member, qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) benefit for up to 36 months to help pay for school or training. VA may also be able to help pay for school or job training through the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education and Assistance (DEA) Program (Chapter 35). Additionally, DEA offers monthly payments to help cover the cost of degrees, certificates, correspondence courses and apprenticeships for children between the ages of 18 and 26 of a veteran or service member. Children of a parent who died in the line of duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001, may be eligible to apply for the Marine Gunnery
