Empowering the Future: Financial Aid for Veterans’ Children in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA)

PENNSYLVANIA — The Educational Gratuity Program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), offers financial support to deserving children of veterans who are seeking higher education. This program is specifically designed to aid children of honorably discharged veterans with service-connected disabilities, as well as those whose parents made the ultimate sacrifice in service during periods of war or armed conflict. Recently, the DMVA reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to assisting veterans and their families, providing them with accessible and flexible opportunities for a brighter and promising future.

“The DMVA is committed to supporting our veterans and their family members. That’s why we are proud to administer the Educational Gratuity Program which helps open the doors of opportunity for the children of eligible veterans,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the DMVA. “This program is geared toward supporting the children of veterans with a disability or children who have suffered the loss of a parent who died in service. We encourage everyone who is eligible to apply for this funding.”

“There is a lot of flexibility with this program, including approved colleges and trade schools across the Commonwealth,” said Brig. Gen. (PA) Maureen Weigl, deputy adjutant general of Veterans Affairs. “These educational gratuity payments can really add up over the time a student is taking courses, helping to make a higher education more affordable. We are ready to process requests and help the children of those who served and sacrificed work toward a bright future.”

Educational Gratuity Program

The Educational Gratuity Program supports both children of veterans who were discharged under honorable conditions, who have 100% permanent service-connected disabilities, and who served during a period of war or armed conflict, and children of veterans who died in service during a period of war or armed conflict. The eligible child must be between the ages of 16 and 23, must be living within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania five years prior to application, and must attend a school within the Commonwealth. All applicants must demonstrate a financial need.

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Payments will not exceed $500 per term or semester per qualified child to each approved educational institution over a total of eight terms or semesters.

To apply, contact the County Director of Veterans Affairs for the county in which you reside.

For more information about the program’s criteria, eligibility and needed documentation, go to the Educational Gratuity Program page on DMVA’s website. Learn more about the DMVA by visiting www.dmva.pa.gov.

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