Fill VA Form 22-5490 online
Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits
or choose your own copy:
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VA Form 22-5490 in short
VA Form 22-5490 is how a spouse, surviving spouse or child applies for VA education benefits based on a veteran's or service member's service. It covers Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA, Chapter 35) and the Fry Scholarship (Chapter 33). VA lets you apply online instead, and the form says online filing gives a faster eligibility decision.
| Issued by | U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) |
|---|---|
| Current version | Rev. January 2025 (checked 2026-10-25) |
| Who fills it in | A spouse, surviving spouse, biological child, stepchild or adopted child of a qualifying veteran or service member. Examples include a veteran rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability, a veteran who died of a service-connected disability, or a service member who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. If the applicant is under 18, a parent, guardian or custodian also signs. Do not use this form for benefits based on your own service; use VA Form 22-1990. |
| Who receives it | VA education benefits processing. VA's DEA and Fry Scholarship pages say to mail the paper form to the Claims Intake Center in Janesville, Wisconsin. |
| Where to send it | Online: VA says you can apply online on VA.gov instead of sending the paper form. By mail, VA's DEA and Fry Scholarship pages give: Claims Intake Center, PO Box 5215, Janesville, WI 53547. After applying, tell your school's certifying official so they can submit your enrollment. |
| Deadline | No deadline to apply, but the benefits have time limits to use. For DEA, VA says children who became eligible before August 1, 2023 generally have 8 years to use benefits before age 26, and there is no time limit if they became eligible, turned 18 or finished high school on or after August 1, 2023. Spouses whose qualifying event was before August 1, 2023 generally have 10 years, or 20 years if the service member died on active duty; there is no limit for events on or after that date. For the Fry Scholarship, VA says there is no time limit for children whose parent died on or after January 1, 2013. Check VA's pages for your case. |
| Official links | Official page · Official PDF |
What changed
The JAN 2025 edition replaced the JAN 2024 edition, which the form says will not be used. It includes item 13A on deaths within 120 days of discharge or release, which the instructions say may make you eligible for the Fry Scholarship for terms beginning on or after August 1, 2025 and before October 1, 2027.
How to fill out VA Form 22-5490, line by line
| Part I, items 1 to 8 | Applicant information and direct deposit Your SSN, sex, date of birth, name, address, phone and email. Item 8 is direct deposit. The instructions say bank details you enter here also update your other VA benefit payments, but not VA health benefits. |
| Part II, items 9 to 15 | Qualifying individual The parent or spouse whose service the benefit is based on: name, SSN or VA file number, branch, date of birth, active duty status and any missing in action or POW date. |
| Part II, items 13A to 13D | Fry Scholarship questions and date of death Answer whether the parent or spouse died within 120 days after discharge, in the line of duty, or from a service-connected disability in the Selected Reserve after September 10, 2001. If you answer No to all three, the instructions say you do not qualify for the Fry Scholarship. |
| Part III, items 16 to 18 | Relationship and marriage Your relationship to the qualifying individual. Spouses give the date of marriage, whether a divorce is pending, and any remarriage date. |
| Part III, items 19 and 20 | Benefit election (DEA or Fry Scholarship) Spouses use item 19 and children use item 20 to choose DEA or the Fry Scholarship. The form says this election is irrevocable. Read the instructions on pages 4 and 5 and compare the programs first. |
| Part III, item 21 | Effect on DIC or pension Certify that you understand the effect of the election. The form says if you are 18 or older, DIC or pension payments end when an education payment is issued. If under 18, they end on your 18th birthday. |
| Part IV, items 22 to 25 | Age, high school and training needs Say if you are under 18, your high school graduation or GED date, whether you want counseling, and for DEA whether you need special restorative or vocational training. |
| Parts V and VI, items 26 to 30 | Application history and your own military service List any VA benefits you applied for or received before, and any active duty you served yourself. DEA is not payable while you are on active duty. |
| Parts VII and VIII, items 31 to 35 | Signatures The applicant signs and dates. The form says you must be at least 18 to sign. If you are under 18, a parent, guardian or custodian completes and signs Part VIII. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing DEA or Fry without comparing them first. The form says the election cannot be changed, and VA strongly encourages talking to a VA counselor.
- Not realizing that receiving DEA or Fry payments can end DIC or pension payments for an applicant 18 or older.
- Using this form for education benefits based on your own service. That is VA Form 22-1990.
- A minor signing the applicant line instead of having a parent, guardian or custodian complete Part VIII.
- Answering Yes in items 13A to 13C and leaving the date of death in item 13D blank.
- Entering bank details in item 8 without knowing they also change deposits for your other VA benefits.
- Forgetting to tell the school's certifying official that you applied, so enrollment is not certified.
Questions about VA Form 22-5490
Can I apply for DEA or the Fry Scholarship online?
Yes. VA says you can apply online instead of using the paper form. The form says online filing gives a faster eligibility decision.
Where do I mail VA Form 22-5490?
VA's DEA and Fry Scholarship pages say to mail it to the Claims Intake Center, PO Box 5215, Janesville, WI 53547.
Can I get both DEA and the Fry Scholarship?
Spouses must choose one. Children whose parent died in the line of duty before August 1, 2011 may qualify for both, but can use only one at a time. VA lists combined limits of 81 months in that case.
Who signs if the applicant is under 18?
A parent, guardian or custodian completes and signs Part VIII. The form says you must be at least 18 to sign it yourself.
What happens after I apply?
VA reviews your application and sends a decision on eligibility. Tell your school's certifying official you applied so they can submit your enrollment information.
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Sources
Checked against the official sources on 2026-10-25. PDF Editor Hub is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.