Fry Scholarship in New York: Education for Surviving Dependents

The Fry Scholarship is available to dependents of service members who died on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. Qualifying beneficiaries include unmarried children of the deceased service member and the surviving spouse. Children must be between 18 and 26 years old to receive benefits, though some exceptions apply for those pursuing education before age 18 or those who were not yet 23 at the time the service member's death occurred.

The service member must have been on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or Space Force) and died in the line of duty or from a service-connected condition. Surviving spouses have no age limit and can use benefits for any approved educational programme. The beneficiary must also be enrolled in an approved school, university, or training programme at least half-time to receive benefits.

Under 38 U.S.C. § 3532, the beneficiary must satisfy the school's admission requirements and maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the institution. There are no income or asset limits for Fry Scholarship eligibility. The benefit is available for degree programmes, non-degree courses, apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and correspondence courses, provided the school is approved by the VA. All unused entitlement expires 15 years after the service member's death or when the beneficiary reaches age 45, whichever comes first.

For the 2024–25 academic year, Fry Scholarship payment rates are as follows:

Full-time enrollment (12 or more credit hours): Up to $1,407 per month, depending on the school's certified tuition and fees. This covers tuition and required fees plus a monthly housing allowance (BAH) and a stipend for books and supplies.

Three-quarter-time enrollment (9–11 credit hours): Approximately $1,055 per month (75% of full-time rate).

Half-time enrollment (6–8 credit hours): Approximately $704 per month (50% of full-time rate).

The exact payment amount depends on the institution's actual tuition and fees as certified to the VA. If the school's tuition and fees are lower than the Fry Scholarship maximum, the payment is reduced accordingly. A monthly living stipend (BAH) is added to tuition coverage for students enrolled at least three-quarter-time at schools where the VA can pay the school directly.

Payments are adjusted annually by the VA based on a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), typically taking effect on August 1 each year. The 2024–25 rates reflected a COLA increase from the prior year. Survivors should verify current payment amounts on VA.gov or through their VA Education Benefits counselor, as rates vary by institution and enrollment intensity.

New York does not provide a state-specific supplement or addition to the federal Fry Scholarship. The Fry Scholarship is a purely federal benefit programme administered exclusively by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under 38 U.S.C. § 3532. All Fry Scholarship eligibility, payment rates, and programme rules are determined by federal law and VA regulations, not by the state.

However, New York does offer several other education benefits and financial aid programmes for veterans and their dependents through state agencies and educational institutions. These include tuition assistance programmes for veterans attending New York public universities, state veterans scholarships (such as the New York Veteran's Tuition Awards), and grants administered by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). Additionally, New York public universities are required to waive the out-of-state tuition surcharge for eligible veterans, which can provide significant savings for those using federal benefits like the Fry Scholarship.

Veterans and dependents in New York should explore both federal and state education benefits by contacting the New York State Division of Veterans' Services or the financial aid office at their chosen school to understand the full range of available funding. The VA Education Benefits counselor can coordinate Fry Scholarship payments with other aid to maximize financial support, and New York school financial aid offices can help layer federal and state benefits effectively.

The most common reasons Fry Scholarship applications are denied include:

**Incorrect Eligibility Status**: The applicant is not the legal child or spouse of a service member who died on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. Dependents of retirees, or those who died after leaving active duty (even if the death was service-connected), do not qualify. The VA will verify the service member's death through military records; discrepancies in the application must be corrected with documentation.

**Age Disqualification**: Children must apply before reaching age 26, or within 15 years of the service member's death, whichever is earlier. Beneficiaries who are over 26 or apply after the 15-year window will be denied unless they qualify for a specific exception (e.g., they were less than 23 when the service member died and applied before age 26).

**Incomplete Documentation**: Applications often lack proper proof of the relationship to the deceased service member (birth certificate, marriage certificate, adoption papers) or fail to provide the service member's DD 214 or military ID information. The VA cannot process approval without this documentation. Resubmitting a complete application with certified copies of all required documents will resolve this reason for denial.

**Missing or Incorrect School Information**: The applicant has not enrolled at an approved school, or the school is not VA-approved. For-profit online schools or unaccredited programmes frequently fall outside VA approval. The applicant must confirm their school is on the VA's list of approved schools at www.va.gov/education-and-training/approved-schools/.

**Failure to Meet Enrollment Requirements**: The applicant did not enroll at least half-time, or did not meet the school's admission standards. Some denials occur because the applicant applied before enrolling; the VA must see actual enrolment from the school before approving benefits. Resolving this requires providing proof of enrolment from the school's Registrar.

If your Fry Scholarship application is denied, you have the right to appeal through one of three VA appeal processes: the Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review (HLR), or Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA).

**Supplemental Claim**: File this if you have new evidence that was not part of your original application (e.g., a newly obtained birth certificate, military records, or school enrolment documentation). You have one year from the date of your denial to file. Complete VA Form 20-0995 (Supplemental Claim for Benefits) and submit it with your new evidence to the VA. Processing typically takes 4–6 months. This is the best option if you can provide additional proof of eligibility or school enrolment.

**Higher-Level Review (HLR)**: This allows a more senior VA reviewer to re-examine your case without new evidence. File HLR if you believe the VA made an error in interpreting your eligibility or applying the rules. You have one year from the date of your denial to request an HLR using VA Form 20-0996 (Request for Higher-Level Review). The VA will assign a Senior Reviewer, and processing typically takes 4–6 months. This is best if you think the VA misunderstood your situation or made a factual mistake.

**Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA)**: This is the formal appeals process before an independent judge. File a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) with the VA if you want a BVA hearing or decision. You must file within one year of your denial. The BVA process can take 1–3 years, but you may request an expedited hearing. This is best if you have already tried Supplemental Claim or HLR and were still denied.

All three appeal options are free. The VA does not charge veterans to appeal a denied claim. Free help is available from accredited Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) through the Veterans Benefits Administration. Contact the New York State Division of Veterans' Services at 1-888-HERO-VET for a free VSO representative to guide your appeal.