Fry Scholarship in Maryland: Education for Surviving Dependents

To qualify for the Fry Scholarship, you must be the dependent of a veteran who meets one of three criteria: (1) the veteran died in active service or from a service-connected condition after September 10, 2001, (2) the veteran has been rated with a permanent total disability rating due to a service-connected condition, or (3) the veteran is on the VA disability compensation rolls with a rating of 100% permanent and total. The veteran must have served on active duty after September 10, 2001, in the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or Space Force).

Eligible dependents include surviving spouses, children, and stepchildren. Children must be between 18 and 45 years old (with limited extensions for certain circumstances), or between 18 and 23 if enrolled in an approved program. Surviving spouses may enroll at any age but must use the benefit within 20 years of the veteran's death or determination of permanent total disability (as established under 38 U.S.C. § 3532).

The service member's discharge must be honorable or under conditions other than dishonorable. Chapter 35 (Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance) eligibility is typically required as a prerequisite; Fry Scholarship beneficiaries must first exhaust Chapter 35 benefits unless they are eligible for both simultaneously.

There are no income or asset limits for Fry Scholarship eligibility. The benefit applies to full-time, three-quarter-time, and half-time enrollment, with payment rates adjusted accordingly. Dependents must be enrolled in an institution approved by the VA under 38 C.F.R. § 21.3700, which includes degree-granting colleges, universities, and vocational schools.

For the 2024–2025 academic year, the maximum monthly Fry Scholarship payment is:

- Full-time enrollment (12+ credit hours): $1,172/month - Three-quarter-time enrollment (9–11 credit hours): $879/month - Half-time enrollment (6–8 credit hours): $586/month

Payments are made directly to the approved institution and are tax-free. Dependents do not receive a check; the VA credits the school's account. If the school's charges are less than the monthly benefit, no refund is issued to the dependent; overage is absorbed by the institution.

Annual COLA adjustments are applied each fiscal year (typically October 1). The 2024–2025 rates reflect a 3.2% adjustment from 2023–2024. Rates are indexed to the Post-9/11 GI Bill maximum benefit and are reviewed annually.

Maryland does not provide a state-specific supplement or additional payment for Fry Scholarship beneficiaries. The Fry Scholarship is exclusively a federal benefit administered by the US Department of Veterans Affairs under 38 U.S.C. § 3532, and states do not layer additional funds onto this program.

However, Maryland does offer separate state-level education benefits for veterans and dependents through other programs. For example, Maryland veterans may qualify for the Maryland Heroes Scholarship Program or the Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship for dependents of deceased public safety officers and veterans. These are distinct from the Fry Scholarship and have their own eligibility requirements and application processes.

Maryland-based institutions may offer institutional scholarships or financial aid packages to Fry Scholarship recipients, but these are not state benefits. Dependents attending Maryland schools should contact the institution's financial aid office to inquire about additional merit aid or need-based assistance.

The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) does not administer or supplement federal Fry benefits. However, MHEC staff and county veterans service offices in Maryland can provide guidance on applying and may help coordinate state and federal education benefits for eligible dependents.

The most common reasons Fry Scholarship claims are denied include: (1) **Ineligible dependent age**: The dependent is over 45 years old (or over 23 if in a qualifying program) and has no approved extension. Children must apply before their 45th birthday; spouses have 20 years from the veteran's death or disability determination to use benefits.

(2) **Dishonorable discharge or conviction**: The veteran's discharge is dishonorable or under dishonorable conditions. Only honorable discharges or discharges under conditions other than dishonorable qualify. A bad conduct discharge may disqualify unless the veteran has since received a correction.

(3) **Service ended before September 11, 2001**: The Fry Scholarship only covers service members who served on active duty after September 10, 2001. Veterans with earlier discharge dates are ineligible, even if they later returned to active duty.

(4) **Veteran does not meet the three eligibility paths**: The veteran did not die in service, did not die from a service-connected condition, and does not have a permanent total disability rating. Without one of these three statuses, dependents cannot qualify.

(5) **School is not VA-approved**: The institution is not on the VA's approved list (for-profit schools, unaccredited programs, and some online-only institutions are commonly excluded). The VA must pre-approve the school before benefits are paid.

(6) **Missing or incomplete discharge documents**: VA cannot verify service without a DD Form 214 or equivalent. Incomplete discharge papers delay processing and often trigger denials until corrected.

(7) **Dependent exceeds the Chapter 35 transfer**: If the veteran had a remaining Chapter 35 (Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance) entitlement, the dependent must exhaust that first before Fry Scholarship kicks in. Failure to indicate prior Chapter 35 use causes payment delays.

To strengthen your initial claim, gather all original discharge documents, recent VA disability rating letters, and proof of school enrollment before applying. If the veteran's records are incomplete, request a corrected DD Form 214 from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) at archives.gov/veterans. A VSO in your Maryland county can review your file for gaps before you submit.

If your Fry Scholarship claim is denied, you have the right to appeal under the VA's three-lane appeal system established by the VA Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act (38 U.S.C. § 7104).

**Lane 1: Supplemental Claim (Form VA 20-0995)** Use this lane if you have new evidence that was not part of your original claim (e.g., a corrected DD Form 214, a newly obtained disability rating, or proof of school enrollment). File within one year of your original denial letter. Processing time is typically 4–6 months. This is the best lane if you can provide fresh documentation that directly addresses the reason for denial.

**Lane 2: Higher-Level Review (Form VA 20-0996)** Use this lane if you believe the VA made an error of fact or law in reviewing your original evidence. A senior VA reviewer will reconsider your case without new evidence. You must file within one year of your denial letter. Processing time is 4–6 months. This is appropriate if the VA misinterpreted your discharge papers, misread your disability rating, or miscalculated your dependent's age.

**Lane 3: VA Board of Veterans' Appeals (Form VA 10182)** Use this lane if you want an in-person or videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. File within one year of your denial letter. Hearings can be held at VA regional offices in Baltimore or other Maryland locations, or via video. Processing time is 12–18 months. This lane is best if you believe there is a fundamental issue with how the VA applied the law.

**Deadlines**: All three appeals must be filed within one year (12 months) of the date on your decision letter. Missing this deadline closes your appeal rights unless you can show exceptional circumstances.

**Free Help**: You can appeal without a lawyer. Maryland's county Veterans Service Offices provide free appeal assistance and can represent you before the VA at no cost. You can also contact a VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) through the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs at **410-260-3838** or visit mva.maryland.gov. The **American Legion**, **Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)**, **Disabled American Veterans (DAV)**, and other VSOs offer free representation nationwide.