Fry Scholarship in Tennessee: Education for Surviving Dependents

The Fry Scholarship is available to the surviving spouse or dependent children of service members who died on or after September 11, 2001, while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability (38 U.S.C. § 3520). The service member must have been on active duty with the Department of Defense or a Reserve or National Guard component at the time of death.

Eligible dependents include a surviving spouse who has not remarried and dependent children who are between the ages of 18 and 30 (spouses may be any age but must be the surviving spouse at the time of application). The dependent child must be the biological or adopted child of the deceased service member and must meet the definition of dependent under VA regulations, typically meaning they were claimed as a dependent for tax purposes or were receiving support from the service member at the time of death.

The service member's death must have been in the line of duty while on active duty, or the death must have been service-connected under 38 C.F.R. § 21.9640. Dependents must pursue education at an approved institution of higher learning, which includes colleges, universities, and certain vocational and technical schools. The benefit is available for use toward a degree or certificate program leading to an identifiable career objective.

Spouses may use the benefit until age 33 (or age 35 if the service member died before January 1, 2009), and dependent children may use it from age 18 to age 30. There are no income or asset limits for Fry Scholarship eligibility. The dependent must not be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill as a service member or eligible under any other VA education program simultaneously, though Fry Scholarship can supplement certain other non-VA education benefits.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, the Fry Scholarship covers 100% of approved tuition and fees at public institutions. At private institutions or schools with high tuition, the maximum per-year payment is $28,735.84. This amount is subject to annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increases effective August 1 each year.

The benefit also covers the cost of approved books, supplies, equipment, and other necessary educational materials required by the institution, up to $1,000 per academic year. For dependents in a work-study arrangement, the VA may provide additional support. The exact payment amount depends on the institution's approved costs, enrollment status (full-time or part-time), and whether the dependent is attending an in-state or out-of-state school.

Payments are made directly to the educational institution to cover tuition and fees. Any remaining benefit balance after institutional charges can be paid to the dependent as a monthly stipend for living expenses, books, and supplies. The annual COLA adjustment applies to all payment rates and the books/supplies maximum in August of each year.

Tennessee has no additional state-layer supplement or enhancement to the federal Fry Scholarship. The Fry Scholarship is a purely federal program administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under 38 U.S.C. § 3520. Tennessee does not provide state-funded scholarships or grants that duplicate or augment this benefit, nor does Tennessee require separate state application or approval for Fry Scholarship eligibility.

Tennessee residents who are eligible for the Fry Scholarship are not required to complete any additional state-specific application or documentation to receive their federal benefit. Eligible dependents simply apply directly to the VA through VA.gov or eBenefits and are certified by the VA based on federal criteria alone. Tennessee educational institutions, both public and private, participate in the federal Fry Scholarship program and process VA education certifications without requiring additional state authorization.

Tennessee's role is limited to ensuring that approved schools within the state comply with federal education regulations and report enrollment information to the VA. The state does not manage, fund, or control Fry Scholarship awards. Dependents of Tennessee service members who died on or after September 11, 2001, access the same federal Fry Scholarship under identical terms as dependents in all other states. There are no Tennessee-specific income limits, residency requirements, or additional eligibility criteria imposed by the state government.

The most frequent reason for Fry Scholarship denials is insufficient proof of the service member's death in the line of duty or failure to establish that death was service-connected. The dependent must provide both a death certificate and documentation showing the service member was on active duty at the time of death. If the service member died after discharge or retirement, the VA must confirm the death was service-connected under VA disability rating standards, which requires a prior VA determination or medical evidence linking the death to military service.

Another common denial involves incorrect relationship documentation. Spouses must prove they were legally married to the service member at the time of death and have not remarried. Dependent children must provide birth certificates, adoption papers (if applicable), or court documents establishing parentage. The VA will deny claims if the dependent cannot prove biological, legal, or adopted relationship to the deceased service member.

Age is a frequent disqualifying factor. Spouses who have reached age 33 (or age 35 for pre-January 1, 2009 deaths) and dependent children age 30 or older are no longer eligible. The VA will deny applications submitted after the age limit is exceeded, even if the service member meets all other criteria. Additionally, dependents already using federal education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill or other VA education programs may be denied Fry Scholarship if they are not eligible under concurrent-use provisions.

Missing or incomplete documentation during the initial application causes many delays and denials. Commonly missing items include certified copies of the service member's DD-214, the dependent's Social Security card or identification, and proof of dependency (such as the dependent's inclusion on the service member's tax return or birth certificate showing correct parentage). To strengthen an initial claim, dependents should gather all documents proactively, include certified copies rather than originals, and consider using a County Veterans Service Office to review documentation before submission.

If the VA denies a Fry Scholarship application, the dependent has three appeal options under current VA appeals rules (38 U.S.C. § 7100 et seq.): the Supplemental Claim lane, the Higher-Level Review (HLR) lane, and the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) lane.

The Supplemental Claim lane allows the dependent to submit new evidence supporting their claim and request a new VA review. There is no time limit to file a Supplemental Claim. This lane is best if the dependent has new documentation (such as a recently obtained death certificate amendment, medical evidence, or newly discovered military records) that was not available during the initial application. Processing typically takes 4 to 6 months.

The Higher-Level Review (HLR) lane asks a senior VA reviewer to examine the same evidence without considering new information. The dependent must request an HLR within one year of the initial denial and can include a written statement. This lane is useful if the dependent believes the VA made a factual or legal error in its initial decision but does not have new evidence to submit. HLR decisions typically arrive within 4 to 5 months.

The Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) lane is the formal appellate process where a VA judge reviews the case. The dependent must file a Notice of Disagreement (VA Form 21-0958) within one year of the initial denial. The BVA appeal can take 12 to 18 months or longer. This lane is best for complex eligibility issues or when previous appeals have not resolved the dispute.

Free help is available through County Veterans Service Offices in Tennessee (contact military.tn.gov) or accredited VA-recognized Veterans Service Organizations such as the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars. The VA also operates the Veterans Benefits Administration Appeals team at 1-800-827-1000. The dependent should never pay for appeals assistance; all VSO help is free by law.