Fry Scholarship in Missouri: Education for Surviving Dependents

To qualify for the Fry Scholarship, the dependent must be the biological child, adopted child, or stepchild of a service member who died on active duty in the line of duty or a veteran rated 100% permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition. The service member must have died on or after September 11, 2001, or the disability must have been rated 100% on or after that date.

The veteran or service member must have served on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training in the U.S. Armed Forces. The dependent's eligibility extends until age 33, though there are limited exceptions for individuals entitled to transfer of benefits. Dependents cannot be eligible if they have already received 48 months of VA education benefits from other programs like the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Montgomery GI Bill.

Applicants must be enrolled in or accepted by an approved educational institution recognized by the VA, which includes colleges, universities, vocational schools, and private institutions. The dependent must be pursuing a degree, certification, or other recognized educational objective. There are no income limits or asset limits to qualify for the Fry Scholarship.

Dependent eligibility is established under 38 U.S.C. section 3532, which specifies that the dependents of members who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, or dependents of veterans rated 100% permanently and totally disabled may receive benefits. The benefit is available to dependents regardless of the veteran's or service member's state of residence or the dependent's current state of residence. Processing typically requires proof of the service member's death or disability rating and documentation of the dependent's relationship to the service member.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, the Fry Scholarship provides a maximum benefit of approximately $28,436 per academic year. The exact amount depends on the school's approved cost of attendance, which includes tuition, fees, books, supplies, and reasonable room and board.

The scholarship is structured as follows:

• Full-time enrollment: Up to the school's actual cost of attendance, capped at $28,436 annually (2024-2025). • Three-quarter time enrollment: 75% of the full-time rate. • Half-time enrollment: 50% of the full-time rate.

The benefit is paid directly to the approved educational institution for tuition and fees. Any remaining funds are paid as a monthly housing allowance to the dependent if enrolled full-time. At three-quarter time, the housing allowance is reduced proportionally; at half-time, no housing allowance is provided.

The VA adjusts the maximum benefit amount annually for cost-of-living increases, typically effective August 1st each year. The actual payment amount for any individual dependent depends on their school's certified cost of attendance, not on what other beneficiaries may receive. Dependents are entitled to up to 48 months of full-time benefits or the equivalent in part-time benefits before the scholarship is exhausted.

Missouri does not provide a state-specific supplement to the Fry Scholarship. The Fry Scholarship is purely a federal education benefit administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under 38 U.S.C. section 3532. There is no state layer or state-administered component to this benefit.

Missouri residents who qualify for the Fry Scholarship receive the same federal benefit amount and terms as dependents in all other states. Missouri does not offer an additional grant, waiver, or subsidy on top of the federal Fry Scholarship amount.

However, Missouri does provide other state-specific education benefits for veterans and their dependents through separate programs. For example, Missouri offers the Access Missouri Grant for undergraduate study at participating Missouri institutions, and the Future Frontiers Scholarship for dependents of Missouri military members. But these are separate from the Fry Scholarship and have different eligibility criteria.

Missouri residents who are Fry Scholarship recipients may also be eligible to apply for other federal student aid, such as Pell Grants or Federal Student Loans, provided they meet separate FAFSA requirements. It is important to understand that the Fry Scholarship is a federal program with no state enhancement in Missouri. Dependents should ensure they exhaust the federal benefit and explore additional aid options for any remaining educational costs.

Fry Scholarship claims are frequently denied because the dependent exceeds the age limit of 33 years old. The statute under 38 U.S.C. section 3532 clearly establishes age 33 as the cutoff unless the dependent is transferring eligible benefits from another program, which is rare.

Another common denial reason is that the service member did not die on active duty in the line of duty or was not rated 100% permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition. The VA requires clear evidence of either death in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, or an official 100% disability rating from the VA. If a rating is 99% or lower, the dependent is ineligible.

Missing or incomplete documentation is a frequent cause of delay and denial. The VA requires an unaltered birth certificate or adoption decree, the service member's DD Form 214 (discharge summary), proof of active duty dates, and proof of death or disability rating. Some applicants submit illegible copies or omit critical documents, forcing the VA to request clarification and delaying approval.

Some dependents are denied because they have already used 48 months of VA education benefits through other programs such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Transfer of Entitlement, or the Montgomery GI Bill. The Fry Scholarship cannot be used in addition to these benefits; the dependent must choose the most advantageous program.

Another denial reason is enrollment at an unapproved school. The VA only pays the Fry Scholarship at institutions that are approved by the VA and accredited by a recognized accrediting body. Online diploma mills, unaccredited institutions, or schools that lost approval during the dependent's enrollment may be ineligible, causing payment to stop.

To build a stronger initial claim, ensure all documents are clear, legible originals or certified copies. Have your county VSO review your application before submission. Verify your school's VA approval status before enrolling. If the service member's death or disability is not obvious from standard records, obtain a written statement from the VA confirming the 100% rating or an official death certificate confirming death in the line of duty.

If the VA denies your Fry Scholarship claim, you have the right to appeal. The VA offers three appeal lanes: the Supplemental Claim, the Higher-Level Review (HLR), and the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA). You must choose one lane and cannot pursue multiple lanes simultaneously for the same issue.

The Supplemental Claim lane allows you to submit new evidence or information the VA did not consider in the original decision. This is best if you have additional documents proving age, relationship, service, or the service member's death or 100% rating. You have one year from the date of the denial notice to file a Supplemental Claim using VA Form 20-0995. There is no fee. The VA typically completes Supplemental Claims within 4 to 6 months.

The Higher-Level Review (HLR) lane asks a more senior VA reviewer to examine the same evidence already in your file and reconsider the decision. This is best if you believe the VA misinterpreted existing evidence or made an error in applying the law. You have one year from the denial notice to file an HLR using VA Form 20-0996. The HLR typically takes 4 to 6 months to complete.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) lane is for cases where you disagree with both the original decision and the HLR result, or if you want an independent hearing before a VA judge. You have one year from the denial notice to file with the BVA using VA Form 10182. The BVA provides either a videoconference hearing or a telephone hearing at your request. Wait times for a BVA decision typically range from 6 months to 1 year or more, depending on case complexity.

You have free help from a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) at your county veterans office or a VA-accredited representative. Hire only VA-accredited agents or attorneys, and never pay upfront fees—these professionals are paid only if your appeal succeeds. Contact your county VSO or visit the VA website to find free help.