Fry Scholarship in Ohio: Education for Surviving Dependents

The Fry Scholarship is available to unmarried children and surviving spouses of service members who died on active duty or have a service-connected disability rated at 100 percent permanent and total. Eligible children must be between ages 18 and 33 at first use, though spouses have no age limit.

The service member must have served on active duty after September 10, 2001, in the Armed Forces. Children must be unmarried and pursuing education or vocational training at an approved VA institution. Spouses must have been married to the service member before their death or disability determination.

Service-connected disability requires an official VA rating of 100 percent permanent and total from the VA Regional Office. Dependents of service members killed in the line of duty after September 10, 2001, automatically qualify regardless of disability rating. The benefit cannot be used by the veteran themselves—only eligible dependents of the veteran.

There are no income or asset limits for Fry Scholarship eligibility. Military service connection must be established through official military records and VA documentation. Dependents must maintain satisfactory academic progress at their chosen institution to continue receiving benefits. The benefit is available at accredited colleges, universities, trade schools, and approved vocational programs nationwide, with no geographic restrictions.

As of 2024, the Fry Scholarship pays $1,173 per month for full-time enrollment (at least 12 credit hours per semester for undergraduates). For three-quarter time enrollment (9–11 credit hours), the rate is $880 monthly. Half-time enrollment (6–8 credit hours) receives $587 monthly. Less than half-time enrollment pays $293 monthly.

Payments also cover reasonable education fees and school-approved charges. Housing allowance is included in the monthly stipend and calculated based on the ZIP code of the school's primary campus. The VA adjusts rates annually for cost-of-living increases (COLA).

Spouses and children have identical payment rates. Dependents pursuing on-campus programs receive on-campus housing rates, while those in online-only programs receive the national average rate. Monthly payments are made directly to the dependent's education account or via electronic funds transfer.

Ohio does not provide a state-specific supplement or additional benefit layer for the Fry Scholarship. The Fry Scholarship is entirely a federal program administered by the VA, with no state funding or state-administered add-ons. Ohio residents receive the same federal rates, eligibility criteria, and benefit amounts as veterans' dependents in all other states.

However, Ohio does participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program through participating institutions, which can provide additional tuition assistance beyond the Fry Scholarship amount. This is a federal program, not a state program, but Ohio schools such as Ohio State University, Miami University, and several private institutions offer Yellow Ribbon matching funds. These additional funds are coordinated with Fry Scholarship payments and do not reduce the federal benefit.

Ohio's county veterans service offices can assist dependents in understanding how Fry Scholarship works and how to coordinate it with other education benefits. The state recognizes the benefit through its education benefits counseling but does not add supplementary funding. Veterans' dependents in Ohio should check with their chosen school's financial aid office to see if that institution participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program for additional tuition support alongside their Fry Scholarship payment.

The most common reason for Fry Scholarship denial is missing or incomplete proof of the service member's eligibility. The VA frequently denies applications when documentation of the service member's 100 percent disability rating is absent or unclear. Provide an official VA rating letter from the VA Regional Office, not a letter from the service member's VA hospital or clinic. If the service member died, submit the official death certificate or DD Form 1300, not a funeral home document or obituary.

Age ineligibility is the second leading denial reason. Children must be between 18 and 33 at the time of first benefit use; applying before age 18 or after age 33 results in automatic denial. Spouses have no age limit, but the child must be unmarried. If a dependent's child turns 34 before first enrollment, they cannot use the benefit. Verify age requirements before applying and ensure your child meets the deadline.

Another frequent cause is submitting the application to the wrong VA office or using an outdated form. Always use the current VA Form 22-5490 and submit to the VA Education Service in Buffalo, not to a regional VA office. Using an old form version or mailing to an incorrect address causes processing delays and possible rejection. Check VA.gov to confirm you are using the current form.

Proof of relationship is often insufficient. A birth certificate alone may not establish connection if the service member's name does not appear on the certificate. Provide an adoption decree if applicable, or a certified family relationship document. For spouses, marriage certificates must be certified and show the service member's name. Never assume your school's records will suffice; the VA needs original or certified documents. Building a stronger claim means gathering all documentation at once before submission and having your county veterans service office review your package for completeness before mailing to the VA.

If your Fry Scholarship application is denied, you have three appeal options through the VA's modern appeals system: Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review (HLR), and Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA).

File a Supplemental Claim if you have new evidence the VA did not consider in the original decision. Examples include a newly obtained VA disability rating letter, corrected birth certificate, or clearer proof of relationship. You have one year from the denial date to file a Supplemental Claim using VA Form 20-0995. This is the fastest path if you simply forgot to include documents initially. Processing typically takes 60–90 days.

Request a Higher-Level Review if you believe the VA made an error in interpreting existing evidence but you have no new evidence to add. A senior VA reviewer will reconsider your case without considering new documentation. File VA Form 20-0996 within one year of the denial. This path takes 90–120 days but does not require gathering additional evidence. Choose this if the VA misread your documents or made a factual mistake.

Appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) if you want a formal hearing or if the other two options do not resolve your case. File VA Form 20-0998 (Notice of Disagreement) within one year of denial. You can request a video or in-person hearing before a VA judge. BVA appeals take 4–6 months or longer. This is the most comprehensive option but also the longest.

All three appeal options are free. The VA does not charge for appeals, and you should never pay an agent or attorney to file your appeal (accredited VSOs and attorneys can charge fees under limited circumstances, but initial appeals are always free). File your appeal online at VA.gov, by mail, or in person at a VA office. Contact your county veterans service officer or a free VSO accredited by the VA for assistance preparing your appeal.