Verify school enrollment for DEA benefits

You may need to verify your enrollment every month to keep getting Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits. Keep reading on this page to find out how to verify your

enrollment for the DEA program (also called Chapter 35).

You may need to verify your enrollment to get DEA benefits. Check your award letter to find out if you need to verify.

When you start your program, we’ll send you a text to ask if you want to verify your enrollment by text. If you respond “Yes,” we’ll send you a text each month asking you to verify your

enrollment. If you respond “No” or don’t respond within 14 days, we’ll send you an email instead each month asking you to verify your enrollment. We’ll use the address we have in our records

for you.

Note: If you’re already receiving DEA benefits, you can’t switch from verifying your enrollment online to verifying using text or email.

Fill out a Student Verification of Enrollment (VA Form 22-8979).

Fill out a Student Verification of Enrollment (VA Form 22-8979).

Mail your completed form to the VA regional processing office that’s right for you.

Call us at  (TTY: 711). Then, select 1 to verify your enrollment. We’re here Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.