U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Edition VA Form 22-5490, JAN 2025 (OMB No. 2900-0098, expires 01/31/2028) 7 pages

VA Form 22-5490 — Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits

How a veteran's spouse, surviving spouse or child applies for DEA or the Fry Scholarship on that veteran's record.

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VA Form 22-5490 · Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits (Under Provisions of Chapters 33 and 35, of Title 38, U.S.C.)
The official U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) form, edition VA Form 22-5490, JAN 2025 (OMB No. 2900-0098, expires 01/31/2028) — blank
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VA Form 22-5490 (2025) Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits (Under Provisions of Chapters 33 and 35, of Title 38, U.S.C.) — page 1 of 7
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VA Form 22-5490 (2025) Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits (Under Provisions of Chapters 33 and 35, of Title 38, U.S.C.) — page 2 of 7
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VA Form 22-5490 (2025) Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits (Under Provisions of Chapters 33 and 35, of Title 38, U.S.C.) — page 3 of 7
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VA Form 22-5490 (2025) Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits (Under Provisions of Chapters 33 and 35, of Title 38, U.S.C.) — page 4 of 7
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VA Form 22-5490 (2025) Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits (Under Provisions of Chapters 33 and 35, of Title 38, U.S.C.) — page 5 of 7
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VA Form 22-5490 (2025) Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits (Under Provisions of Chapters 33 and 35, of Title 38, U.S.C.) — page 6 of 7
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VA Form 22-5490 (2025) Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits (Under Provisions of Chapters 33 and 35, of Title 38, U.S.C.) — page 7 of 7
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Fill this form online Blank PDF from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)

What is VA Form 22-5490?

VA Form 22-5490 is the education benefits application for dependents: the spouse, surviving spouse or child of a veteran or service member who died, is missing or captured, or has a permanent and total service-connected disability. It covers Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA, Chapter 35) and the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Chapter 33).

The form asks about you, the qualifying parent or spouse, your relationship and the benefit you choose, your age and schooling, any earlier VA benefits and your own military service. The choice between DEA and the Fry Scholarship in items 19 and 20 is an irrevocable election, and item 21 asks you to confirm you understand how it affects DIC or pension.

FileIt fills VA's own PDF (JAN 2025 edition) and files it in your vault folder. If the applicant is under 18, FileIt adds the parent, guardian or custodian part and their signature box. FileIt never submits anything to VA.

Who fills it
The dependent applying: a spouse, surviving spouse or child of the qualifying veteran or service member.
Given to
VA, online at va.gov or by mail to the VA regional office for the school's state (Buffalo, NY or Muskogee, OK, listed on page 6).
Benefits
Chapter 35 DEA or the Chapter 33 Fry Scholarship. The election is irrevocable.
Signatures
The applicant signs item 31. A parent, guardian or custodian also signs item 35A if the applicant is under 18.
Edition
VA Form 22-5490, JAN 2025 (supersedes JAN 2024), OMB 2900-0098
Pages
7: three form pages and four pages of instructions.

Who needs to fill out VA Form 22-5490?

  • A child of a veteran who died in the line of duty, or of a service-connected disability, who wants help paying for school.
  • A surviving spouse applying for DEA or the Fry Scholarship.
  • A spouse or child of a veteran rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition.
  • A dependent of a service member listed as missing in action or captured.
  • A parent or guardian completing the form with an applicant under 18.

When to use VA Form 22-5490

  • Before starting a degree, certificate or training program you want VA to help pay for.
  • When you qualify for both DEA and the Fry Scholarship and need to choose, or to say which to use first.
  • After reading the instructions on items 19 to 21, and ideally after talking with a VA counselor about how the election affects DIC or pension.

What you need before you start

  • Your Social Security number, date of birth, mailing address, phone numbers and email.
  • Bank routing and account numbers if you want direct deposit.
  • The qualifying parent's or spouse's name, Social Security or VA file number, branch of service and dates of birth and death.
  • Your date of marriage to the qualifying individual if you are a spouse, and any remarriage date.
  • Details of any VA benefits you applied for or received before, and your own periods of active duty if you served.

What’s on VA Form 22-5490

The 2025 edition has 7 pages. FileIt asks for it in 9 parts, and it is signed by Applicant and Parent, guardian or custodian:

  1. Part I: Applicant informationApplicant
  2. Item 8: Direct depositApplicant
  3. Part II: Qualifying individual informationApplicant
  4. Part III: Relationship and benefit informationApplicant
  5. Part IV: Age and high school informationApplicant
  6. Part V: Application historyApplicant
  7. Part VI: Applicant's military service informationApplicant
  8. Part VII: Certification and signature of applicantApplicant
  9. Part VIII: Parent, guardian or custodianParent, guardian or custodian

How to fill out VA Form 22-5490, step by step

1 Parts I and II: You and the qualifying individual

Items 1 to 8 are about you, including direct deposit. Items 9 to 15 identify the parent or spouse on whose service you claim, how and when they died, and whether they are on active duty or listed as missing in action or a prisoner of war.

2 Part III: Relationship and benefit

Item 16 is your relationship. Spouses answer items 17 to 19 (marriage, divorce, remarriage and the benefit), children answer item 20 and may choose which benefit to use first. Everyone confirms item 21 about the effect on DIC or pension.

3 Parts IV to VI: Age, history and service

Items 22 to 25 cover age, high school or GED, counseling and DEA special training. Items 26 to 28 list earlier VA benefits, and items 29 and 30 your own active duty.

4 Parts VII and VIII: Signatures

You sign item 31 and date item 32. If you are under 18, a parent, guardian or custodian gives their name, address and contact details and signs items 35A and 35B.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Not reading the instructions before making the irrevocable DEA or Fry Scholarship election.
  • Leaving item 21 unanswered.
  • An applicant under 18 signing without the parent, guardian or custodian part.
  • Not giving the date of marriage that matches what VA has on file for a spouse.
  • Forgetting to list earlier education benefits in item 26.

After you fill it out

Sign and date the form (and have the parent or guardian sign if you are under 18), then send it online at va.gov or to the VA regional office listed for your school's state.

Ask your school's certifying official to send VA your enrollment details once you register.

Keep the filed PDF in your FileIt vault with your school records.

Fill out VA Form 22-5490 online with FileIt

  1. Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
  2. Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 81 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
  3. Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
  4. Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault. Sign it, or send it for e-signature.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start VA Form 22-5490 now — it’s free

VA Form 22-5490: frequently asked questions

What is the difference between DEA and the Fry Scholarship?

Both are education benefits for survivors and dependents. DEA is Chapter 35; the Fry Scholarship is Chapter 33, based on a service member's death in the line of duty or a service-connected death in the Selected Reserve after September 10, 2001. Page 4 of the form explains each.

Can I change my election later?

No. The form says the election in items 19 and 20 is irrevocable and may not be changed.

Can I apply for both?

The form says that if your parent died in the line of duty before August 1, 2011, you may apply for both DEA and the Fry Scholarship and choose which to use first.

Does this affect DIC or pension?

Item 21 says that once you receive DEA or Fry Scholarship benefits after age 18, DIC or pension payments for you stop and you may no longer be claimed as a dependent. VA encourages you to talk with a VA counselor first.

Who signs for a minor?

A parent, guardian or custodian completes Part VIII and signs item 35A when the applicant is under 18.

Does FileIt submit the application?

No. FileIt fills VA's own PDF and keeps it in your vault. You sign it and send it to VA.

Official sources

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-10-19.

Fill out VA Form 22-5490 online