Fry Scholarship in South Carolina: Education for Surviving Dependents

To qualify for the Fry Scholarship, you must be the dependent of a service member who died in the line of duty on or after September 10, 2001. The sponsoring service member's death must have occurred while on active duty or active duty for training. Eligible dependents include unmarried children under age 23 (the age clock stops if the dependent enlists, but resumes when they separate), spouses, and former spouses who meet specific criteria under 38 U.S.C. § 3319.

Your parent or spouse must have had a duty status of active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training at the time of death. The service member cannot have been dishonorably discharged. Dependents must not be eligible for federal tuition assistance from another source, though this does not exclude other VA benefits.

There are no income limits or asset restrictions for the Fry Scholarship. Surviving spouses and former spouses have specific eligibility windows: a surviving spouse remains eligible as long as they do not remarry; a former spouse must have been married to the service member for at least one year before the date of death. Children must be enrolled in an approved educational institution and maintain satisfactory academic progress (as defined by the school) to continue receiving benefits.

The benefit applies to undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs at public, private, and for-profit institutions approved for VA education benefits. Distance education and correspondence courses may also be covered if the institution is approved. There is no time limit on when after the service member's death a dependent can first use the benefit, but once activated, dependents have a standard eligibility period (typically 15 years from the date of death or the dependent's 23rd birthday, whichever is later).

For the 2024–2025 academic year, the Fry Scholarship provides the following monthly rates for full-time enrollment (15 or more semester hours or equivalent):

• Tuition and mandatory fees: Paid in full at the approved institution (no monthly cap). • Monthly housing allowance (MHA): Approximately $1,112 per month for full-time students, based on the school's zip code. • Books and supplies stipend: $83 per month (paid annually as a lump sum of approximately $996).

For part-time enrollment, the monthly housing allowance is prorated based on your course load percentage. Three-quarter-time students (12-14 semester hours) receive 75% of the MHA; half-time students (6-11 semester hours) receive 50%; less than half-time students (fewer than 6 hours) receive no MHA but still receive the books stipend.

The Fry Scholarship is indexed to inflation and adjusted annually by Congress. The books and supplies allowance has been fixed at $83 monthly since 2010. Unlike the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Fry Scholarship does not have a maximum benefit amount; tuition is covered in full regardless of institution cost, provided the school is VA-approved. All rates are current as of October 2024 and are subject to annual COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) updates in August.

South Carolina has no state-level additions to the federal Fry Scholarship program. The Fry Scholarship is a purely federal benefit administered uniformly by the Department of Veterans Affairs across all 50 states and territories. There is no South Carolina state income supplement, tuition waiver overlay, or ancillary state payment tied to this specific benefit.

However, South Carolina does offer separate state education benefits for veterans themselves (such as the South Carolina Military Family Education Act and state tuition assistance programs), but these do not apply to Fry Scholarship recipients and are designed for service members or their families under different eligibility rules.

Fry Scholarship recipients in South Carolina can stack this federal benefit with their school's institutional aid, federal student loans (FAFSA), and private scholarships. The benefit is not means-tested and does not count as income for federal financial aid calculations. South Carolina public universities and colleges are fully approved for the Fry Scholarship; private institutions in the state (such as Clemson University, Furman University, and Converse University) are also approved, as are regional for-profit and online institutions if they meet VA approval standards.

For additional educational support, South Carolina dependents should contact the South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs (SCDVA) to learn about state-level veteran family resources, although the Fry Scholarship itself remains a federal-only program without state enhancement.

The most common reason for Fry Scholarship denial is failure to establish that the sponsoring service member died on active duty after September 10, 2001. The VA requires a certified death certificate clearly showing the date of death and duty status at the time. If the death occurred before September 11, 2001, or if the service member was not on active duty at the time of death, the claim is denied. Always verify the exact date and duty status with military records before applying.

A second frequent denial reason is submitting an incomplete relationship document. The VA requires certified proof of your relationship (birth certificate, marriage certificate, or adoption decree), not simply a letter from a family member or school. Photocopies may be rejected; order certified copies from the vital records office in the state where the birth, marriage, or adoption occurred. If the name on your document does not match your application due to a legal name change, include a certified name change order.

Age disqualification is a third common denial cause. Unmarried children must be under age 23 (or under the age ceiling set by their state of residence if higher) at the time of claim submission. The age clock stops during periods of active military service but resumes upon separation. If you have already reached the age limit, you are ineligible; this cannot be waived.

A fourth denial reason is prior ineligibility for another VA education benefit. If you have already used up your Post-9/11 GI Bill, transferred benefits, or received education benefits under other programs without properly closing them first, the VA may deny Fry Scholarship eligibility. Ensure any prior VA education benefits are formally closed or not activated.

Finally, some denials occur because the applicant or school failed to certify enrollment at an approved institution. Always confirm with your school's certifying official that the institution is VA-approved for Fry Scholarship benefits. If your school is not approved, the VA will deny the claim. To strengthen your initial claim, gather all documents before applying, verify the service member's death date and duty status independently, and contact the VA at 888-442-4551 to confirm your relationship and age eligibility before submission.

If your Fry Scholarship claim is denied, you have three appeal options under current VA procedures: Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review (HLR), and Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA).

The Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0995) is best if you have new evidence not previously submitted, such as a corrected death certificate, updated relationship documentation, or military records that clarify your eligibility. You have one year from the date of your denial to file; submit it through VA.gov, by mail, or in person at a VA regional office. Processing typically takes 4–6 weeks. This lane is ideal if you can provide missing or new documents that directly support your case.

Higher-Level Review (VA Form 20-0996) is appropriate if you believe the VA made an error in interpreting the evidence already in your file. An experienced VA reviewer will re-examine your case without new evidence. You have one year from the denial date to file. HLR typically takes 3–4 weeks and is faster than BVA if you do not need to present new information. Choose this option if you believe the VA misread your documents or misapplied the law.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) option (VA Form 20-0997) is the most formal route, allowing you to request a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. You have one year from your denial to file. You can request a video hearing, in-person hearing at a VA Regional Office, or a decision on the record (written submission only). BVA processing can take 6–12 months or longer. This lane is best if your case involves complex family relationships, disputed military records, or if lower-level appeals have been unsuccessful.

All three appeal lanes are free. The VA provides free representation through accredited Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) such as the American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, and state VSOs like the South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs. Contact your VSO immediately after receiving a denial to request representation at no cost. The VSO can guide you on which appeal lane suits your situation and will prepare your appeal and represent you at hearings. Never pay a claims representative; it is illegal for agents to charge for VA claims assistance.