Fry Scholarship in Michigan: Education for Surviving Dependents

The Fry Scholarship is established under 38 U.S.C. § 3319 and available to eligible dependents of service members who died in the line of duty or from a service-connected condition after September 10, 2001. The service member must have been on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training at the time of death.

Eligible dependents include unmarried children age 18 to 33 (or 23 to 33 if on active duty), and the surviving spouse of the deceased service member. Children may qualify regardless of whether they were born before or after the service member's death, but must have been born on or before the date of death. For spouses, the marriage must have occurred before the service member's death.

The service member's death must have resulted from a service-connected condition incurred or aggravated in the line of duty while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training. This includes deaths occurring during service or within a certain timeframe after the service ends due to the service-connected condition. There are no income limits or asset restrictions for Fry Scholarship eligibility.

The benefit is limited to 36 months of full-time enrollment or the equivalent in part-time study. Dependents must be enrolled at least half-time at an approved educational institution. The benefit covers tuition and mandatory fees at public institutions, and a monthly housing allowance plus a monthly book and supply allowance. All service eras after September 10, 2001 qualify, including recent conflicts and ongoing service through the present.

For 2024, the Fry Scholarship provides the following monthly payments:

Public four-year institutions: $1,265 per month (full-time) plus full tuition and fees coverage plus $280 book allowance

Public two-year institutions: $947 per month (full-time) plus full tuition and fees coverage plus $280 book allowance

Private or foreign schools: $1,265 per month (full-time) capped plus $280 book allowance (tuition coverage limited to public institution rates)

Apprenticeship or on-the-job training: $1,265 per month for the first six months, $948 per month for months 7-24, $632 per month for months 25+

Part-time enrollment rates are prorated based on enrollment intensity. The rates shown are for fiscal year 2024. Annual COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) increases are applied each fiscal year, typically in October. Dependents should verify current rates on the VA website before enrolling.

Michigan provides no additional state-level supplement or enhancement to the federal Fry Scholarship benefit. This is a purely federal program administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Michigan does not layer additional funding or state-specific eligibility modifications on top of the federal structure.

However, Michigan residents who qualify for the Fry Scholarship may be eligible for other state education benefits. Michigan offers the Veterans Trust Fund, which provides supplemental education grants to eligible Michigan veterans and dependents. While the Fry Scholarship is federal-only, eligible Michigan residents should explore whether they also qualify for state-based grants or tuition assistance programs.

Michigan institutions may offer additional scholarships or aid packages to Fry Scholarship recipients, but these are institutional rather than state benefits. Prospective students should contact their chosen Michigan college or university about available scholarships for military-connected students. The Fry Scholarship benefit can be used at any approved institution nationwide, including out-of-state schools, and Michigan does not impose residency requirements or restrictions on where the benefit is used.

For the most current information on state-level education benefits that may complement federal aid, Michigan veterans and dependents should contact the Michigan Veterans Service Office or visit the Michigan Department of Veterans Affairs website.

Fry Scholarship claims are most commonly denied because the dependent does not meet the age requirement. The benefit is available only to unmarried children age 18 to 33, or to survivors age 23 to 33 who are on active duty. Dependents who turn 34 become ineligible, even if they have remaining benefit months, so timing is critical.

Another frequent reason for denial is incomplete documentation of the service member's death being service-connected and in the line of duty. The VA requires clear evidence that the death resulted from a service-connected condition incurred or aggravated while on active duty, or within a specified timeframe after service ended. If the original discharge documents do not establish this, the dependent may need to submit a formal determination from the VA or military records showing the service-connection.

Missing proof of the dependent's relationship to the service member is also a common issue. The VA requires original or certified copies of birth certificates (for children) or marriage certificates (for spouses), along with the service member's death certificate. Applicants sometimes submit non-certified copies that are rejected, requiring resubmission and causing delays.

Another denial reason involves the dependent's enrollment status or institution. The Fry Scholarship requires at least half-time enrollment at an approved educational institution. Dependents enrolled less than half-time, or at non-approved institutions, will be denied. Additionally, some applicants are denied because they did not apply before age 33, even if the service member's death qualified them years earlier.

To strengthen an initial claim, submit certified copies of all required documents, include a clear chronology of the service member's service and death, and ensure the dependent meets all age and enrollment requirements before applying. If there is any question about whether the death was service-connected, obtain a clear VA determination letter before submitting the Fry Scholarship application.

If a Fry Scholarship application is denied, the dependent has the right to appeal through the VA's three-lane appeal system established by the PACT Act (38 U.S.C. § 7104). The dependent will receive a denial letter explaining the reason and the appeal options available.

The first lane is the Supplemental Claim process, available within one year of the denial. This lane is best if the dependent has new evidence that was not included in the original application—for example, a newly obtained service-connection determination letter or additional documentation. The dependent files VA Form 20-0995 (Supplemental Claim for Benefits) and submits the new evidence. Processing time is typically 60-90 days.

The second lane is the Higher-Level Review (HLR), also available within one year of the denial. The HLR is appropriate if the dependent believes the VA made a mistake in evaluating the evidence already in the file, rather than having new evidence. No new documents are submitted; instead, a senior VA reviewer examines the existing evidence. Processing time is typically 60-90 days. The dependent files VA Form 20-0996 (Request for Higher-Level Review).

The third lane is the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA), available after the Supplemental Claim or HLR, or within one year of the original denial if those lanes are not used. The BVA conducts a de novo review of the case. The dependent can request a hearing (video, telephone, or in-person) or submit a written argument. Processing time varies but typically ranges from several months to over a year. The dependent files VA Form 10182 (Appeal to Board of Veterans' Appeals).

All appeals are free. The dependent can also work with a Department of Veterans Affairs-accredited representative, such as a county veterans service officer, American Legion representative, or Veterans of Foreign Wars representative, at no cost. Paid representation in VA appeals is illegal; only accredited representatives may assist.