VA Survivor Benefits for Children
Children of deceased or permanently and totally (P&T) disabled veterans may qualify for several VA benefits — including monthly cash payments, free health insurance, and college funding — depending on how the veteran died and the child's age and enrollment status.
Overview: Which Benefits Are Available?
The VA offers five core benefit programs that may apply to eligible children.
- DIC for children — Monthly cash payments when a veteran's death was service-connected and the surviving spouse has died or remarried
- CHAMPVA — Health insurance covering 75% of allowable charges for children of P&T veterans or veterans who died from service-connected conditions
- Fry Scholarship (Chapter 33) — Full tuition, housing allowance, and books for children of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001
- DEA (Dependents' Educational Assistance, Chapter 35) — Monthly education stipend for children of P&T veterans or veterans who died from service-connected conditions
- Survivors Pension for dependent children — Minor children listed as dependents on a surviving parent's pension claim can increase the household benefit
DIC for Children — Monthly Payments
Children receive DIC payments when the veteran's death was service-connected AND the surviving spouse has either died or legally remarried, leaving the children without a DIC-receiving parent. Each eligible child receives $435 per month in 2026.
- Age limits: Children must be under age 18, OR under age 23 if enrolled full-time in an accredited school or college. Helpless children (those who became permanently incapable of self-support before age 18) have no age cutoff.
- Biological, adopted, and stepchildren may all qualify if they were part of the veteran's household.
- If the surviving spouse is still living and receiving DIC, children are listed as dependents on the spouse's claim and do not receive separate DIC checks — but each child adds $435/mo to the surviving spouse's DIC payment.
CHAMPVA Health Insurance for Children
CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs) provides health insurance to eligible children at no monthly premium cost. CHAMPVA covers 75% of allowable charges after a small deductible for most medical services — including doctor visits, hospital stays, mental health care, and prescription drugs.
- Who qualifies: Children under 18 (or under 23 if a full-time student) of a veteran who died from a service-connected condition, OR children of a veteran who currently holds a 100% P&T rating.
- Stepchildren and adopted children qualify if they were in the veteran's household at the time of the qualifying event.
- How to apply: Submit VA Form 10-10d to the VA Health Administration Center in Denver, Colorado. Include the veteran's death certificate or P&T rating letter, your marriage certificate if you are the surviving spouse, and the child's birth certificate.
- Important: CHAMPVA is secondary to Medicare and most private insurance. If the child has other health coverage, CHAMPVA pays after that coverage pays first.
Fry Scholarship (Chapter 33) — Education Funding
The Fry Scholarship is one of the most generous education benefits available to children of veterans. Children of service members who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, may receive full in-state tuition at public schools, a monthly housing allowance (equal to the BAH for an E-5 with dependents at the school's location), and up to $1,000 per year for books and supplies.
- Age limit: Children may use the Fry Scholarship between ages 18 and 33 (extended from the previous cutoff of age 26 under the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe Act).
- Service requirement: The parent must have been an active duty service member (not a retired veteran) who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001.
- How to apply: Complete VA Form 22-5490 (Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits) at VA.gov or visit a school's veterans certifying official.
- Months available: 36 months of full-time equivalent benefits (same as Post-9/11 GI Bill).
DEA Chapter 35 — Dependents' Educational Assistance
DEA (Chapter 35) pays a monthly education stipend to children of veterans rated 100% P&T or who died from service-connected conditions. The 2026 DEA rate for a full-time student is $1,470 per month.
- Age limit: Children must be between ages 18 and 26. However, if a child also served in the military, the age limit can extend to age 31.
- Eligible programs: College degree programs, vocational/technical programs, apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and correspondence courses all qualify.
- Months available: Up to 45 months of benefits.
- How to apply: VA Form 22-5490 is also used for DEA. Check the correct chapter on the form.
Fry Scholarship vs. DEA — Which Should Your Child Choose?
If a child qualifies for both the Fry Scholarship and DEA, they must choose one — but cannot use both at the same time. In most cases, the Fry Scholarship is the better choice because it covers full tuition at public schools plus a monthly housing allowance, while DEA pays a flat stipend regardless of tuition cost. However, DEA may win if the child is already older than 26 (the previous Fry age cutoff no longer applies since it was extended to 33, so this is rarely an issue now). Compare the numbers for your specific school before committing to a chapter.
| Factor | Fry Scholarship (Ch. 33) | DEA (Ch. 35) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition covered | Full in-state tuition (public) or up to cap (private) | No — flat monthly stipend only |
| Housing allowance | Yes — BAH E-5 with dependents rate | No |
| Books & supplies | Up to $1,000/year | No |
| Monthly rate (2026) | Varies by school and location | $1,470/mo full-time |
| Age limit | 18–33 | 18–26 (31 if child also served) |
| Months available | 36 | 45 |
Survivors Pension for Dependent Children
When a surviving spouse qualifies for the VA Survivors Pension, adding dependent children to the claim increases the household benefit. Each dependent child adds approximately $2,831 per year ($236/mo) to the pension benefit ceiling. For a household with a surviving spouse and one dependent child, the 2026 MAPR (Maximum Annual Pension Rate) is $13,583 per year. See the VA Survivors Pension page for full details on how the pension is calculated.
How to Apply for Child Benefits
- DIC for children: File VA Form 21-534EZ. If the surviving spouse already receives DIC and you are adding children, file VA Form 21-686c (Declaration of Status of Dependents).
- CHAMPVA: File VA Form 10-10d with the VA Health Administration Center, Denver, CO.
- Fry Scholarship or DEA: File VA Form 22-5490 at VA.gov or through the school's veterans certifying official.
Related Resources
Key Takeaways
- Children of veterans who died from service-connected causes may receive DIC at $435 per month each in 2026, as long as they are under 18 or under 23 and enrolled full-time in school.
- CHAMPVA provides health insurance at no monthly premium for eligible children, covering 75% of allowable charges after the deductible.
- The Fry Scholarship beats DEA for most students because it covers full in-state tuition plus a monthly housing allowance, while DEA only pays a flat $1,470/mo stipend.
- Children who qualify for both Fry and DEA must choose one — they cannot draw from both programs at the same time.