Chapter 35 benefits

TK8

TK8

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Joined
Apr 11, 2024
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Does anyone have information as to why the VA has stopped the chapter 35 benefits for the USMMA apparently the class of 2027 is the last class to receive DEA. Thank you
 
I personally have no clue but have you reached out to the VA Education Center? 888-442-4551

I'm assuming you mean using VA DEA benefits to pay for the fees of USMMA?
 
VA will not approve DEA payments to any of the Academies, the rule is usually if you attend college, get a salary, have a service commitment, you are not considered a Dependent at that point, your parents would have to fight VA and that usually does not work out well. Don't know about USMMA, but I am pretty sure that they are similar.
 
USMMA is usually treated differently because technically KP mids don't get paid by the Academy (they do earn sea year pay). For instance you cannot claim a SA kid on your taxes at any of the other Academies, but you can for KP mid. Where did you read/see it's been discontinued?
 
Pmaclax said:
USMMA is usually treated differently because technically KP mids don't get paid by the Academy (they do earn sea year pay). For instance you cannot claim a SA kid on your taxes at any of the other Academies, but you can for KP mid. Where did you read/see it's been discontinued?
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My daughter is in the class of 2028. Both financial aid and VA said class of 2027 is the last class to receive the benefits. I do understand that the school is much less than traditional 4 year schools and that she is blessed to be there, however we still pay. She is still on our Tricare so each medical visit is around $40. She had an ER visit that was over $100 because she has to reach her cap before Tricare will fully cover (as most insurance I assume). She does not get a stipend so we send her money for toiletries, snacks, etc. She also did her EMT rotations where we paid almost $200 in uber fees for the night (there and back, rotation was in Manhattan). We paid for her first year and second year tuitions, and her sea year packing list was just sent to us. From what I've heard, and I could be wrong, sea year pay basically pays for food and other expenses while out on the ship and or port. When the students are on break between trimesters we also pay for her flights, which can get pretty expensive... again I know it's minimal compared to traditional colleges, but that is what the Chapter 35 benefits are for, not to mention that unlike a traditional college she can not get a part time job to help pay for expenses.
 
TK8 said:
From what I've heard, and I could be wrong, sea year pay basically pays for food and other expenses while out on the ship and or port.
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Cadet pay is currently $1,185 per month. While onboard ship, meals are provided for by the company. Any food purchased ashore or out of the ships ‘Slop Chest’ [candy, snacks, etc.] is on them. Items purchased from the Slop Chest are deducted from their pay. It was a common practice to enter cadets as ‘exempt’ for tax purposes in the shipboard payroll program to give them the maximum amount of money possible at pay off.
 
TK8 said:
My daughter is in the class of 2028. Both financial aid and VA said class of 2027 is the last class to receive the benefits. I do understand that the school is much less than traditional 4 year schools and that she is blessed to be there, however we still pay. She is still on our Tricare so each medical visit is around $40. She had an ER visit that was over $100 because she has to reach her cap before Tricare will fully cover (as most insurance I assume). She does not get a stipend so we send her money for toiletries, snacks, etc. She also did her EMT rotations where we paid almost $200 in uber fees for the night (there and back, rotation was in Manhattan). We paid for her first year and second year tuitions, and her sea year packing list was just sent to us. From what I've heard, and I could be wrong, sea year pay basically pays for food and other expenses while out on the ship and or port. When the students are on break between trimesters we also pay for her flights, which can get pretty expensive... again I know it's minimal compared to traditional colleges, but that is what the Chapter 35 benefits are for, not to mention that unlike a traditional college she can not get a part time job to help pay for expenses.
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Mids are also entitled to a starter loan once they start junior year, I believe it's at 32K now, and then don't have to start paying off until graduation. Through Navy Fed or USAA. Many buy a car, some use it for living expenses, class ring, trips, etc. I would say sea year pay is more than just living expenses while on the ship.
 
TK8 said:
My daughter is in the class of 2028. Both financial aid and VA said class of 2027 is the last class to receive the benefits. I do understand that the school is much less than traditional 4 year schools and that she is blessed to be there, however we still pay. She is still on our Tricare so each medical visit is around $40. She had an ER visit that was over $100 because she has to reach her cap before Tricare will fully cover (as most insurance I assume). She does not get a stipend so we send her money for toiletries, snacks, etc. She also did her EMT rotations where we paid almost $200 in uber fees for the night (there and back, rotation was in Manhattan). We paid for her first year and second year tuitions, and her sea year packing list was just sent to us. From what I've heard, and I could be wrong, sea year pay basically pays for food and other expenses while out on the ship and or port. When the students are on break between trimesters we also pay for her flights, which can get pretty expensive... again I know it's minimal compared to traditional colleges, but that is what the Chapter 35 benefits are for, not to mention that unlike a traditional college she can not get a part time job to help pay for expenses.
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I'm not sure why you have excluded the possibility of mids working part time. My DD (2021) and many of her classmates worked nearly every weekend after recognition. She worked for catering companies as a server or a valet. It was pretty common in rich Great Neck neighborhoods for her to get $100+ per night just in tips. Working weddings and bar mitzvahs were even more lucrative. Mids also frequently earn money for standing watch for classmates. As a first class mid she worked as a dog walker, house sat for professors, and did odd jobs for nearby elderly residents. There is always work raking leaves and shoveling snow. We paid her expenses plebe year, but she paid her own way after that. It can be done.
 
kpmom2013 said:
I'm not sure why you have excluded the possibility of mids working part time. My DD (2021) and many of her classmates worked nearly every weekend after recognition. She worked for catering companies as a server or a valet. It was pretty common in rich Great Neck neighborhoods for her to get $100+ per night just in tips. Working weddings and bar mitzvahs were even more lucrative. Mids also frequently earn money for standing watch for classmates. As a first class mid she worked as a dog walker, house sat for professors, and did odd jobs for nearby elderly residents. There is always work raking leaves and shoveling snow. We paid her expenses plebe year, but she paid her own way after that. It can be done.
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Tough to do now. Most of the time they put out community job requests, but if it is during the week or you are a plebe there are a lot of hoops to jump through with liberty and coordinating with the CDO and hoping your CO let's you go.
 
The issue regarding Chapter 35 benefits was brought up at the parents presentation on Parent's Weekend. Unfortunately the Superintendent was unaware that the benefit stopped with class 2028 and furthermore he was unaware of any progress with regard to correcting this issue. My wife has emailed the Superintendent requesting an update. As of today's date we have not heard anything back.

The USMMA is NOT on par with the other academies with regard to midshipman costs and pay. My mid just received her insurance bill as an example. Regardless of the availability of loans and "pay" while at sea, Chapter 35 benefits were earned by these parents and their dependents should be eligible and receive this benefit.

I encourage any parent who's dependent is eligible for Chapter 35 to reach out to the Academy and demand some follow up. We will be making another attempt to do just that.
 
TK8 said:
My daughter is in the class of 2028. Both financial aid and VA said class of 2027 is the
TwinScrews said:
The issue regarding Chapter 35 benefits was brought up at the parents presentation on Parent's Weekend. Unfortunately the Superintendent was unaware that the benefit stopped with class 2028 and furthermore he was unaware of any progress with regard to correcting this issue. My wife has emailed the Superintendent requesting an update. As of today's date we have not heard anything back.

The USMMA is NOT on par with the other academies with regard to midshipman costs and pay. My mid just received her insurance bill as an example. Regardless of the availability of loans and "pay" while at sea, Chapter 35 benefits were earned by these parents and their dependents should be eligible and receive this benefit.

I encourage any parent who's dependent is eligible for Chapter 35 to reach out to the Academy and demand some follow up. We will be making another attempt to do just that.
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TK8 said:
My daughter is in the class of 2028. Both financial aid and VA said class of 2027 is the last class to receive the benefits. I do understand that the school is much less than traditional 4 year schools and that she is blessed to be there, however we still pay. She is still on our Tricare so each medical visit is around $40. She had an ER visit that was over $100 because she has to reach her cap before Tricare will fully cover (as most insurance I assume). She does not get a stipend so we send her money for toiletries, snacks, etc. She also did her EMT rotations where we paid almost $200 in uber fees for the night (there and back, rotation was in Manhattan). We paid for her first year and second year tuitions, and her sea year packing list was just sent to us. From what I've heard, and I could be wrong, sea year pay basically pays for food and other expenses while out on the ship and or port. When the students are on break between trimesters we also pay for her flights, which can get pretty expensive... again I know it's minimal compared to traditional colleges, but that is what the Chapter 35 benefits are for, not to mention that unlike a traditional college she can not get a part time job to help pay for expenses.
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My son is at USNMA class of 2029. I have been researching this issue and am working with a member of congress to restore Chapter 35 at USMMA.
last class to receive the benefits. I do understand that the school is much less than traditional 4 year schools and that she is blessed to be there, however we still pay. She is still on our Tricare so each medical visit is around $40. She had an ER visit that was over $100 because she has to reach her cap before Tricare will fully cover (as most insurance I assume). She does not get a stipend so we send her money for toiletries, snacks, etc. She also did her EMT rotations where we paid almost $200 in uber fees for the night (there and back, rotation was in Manhattan). We paid for her first year and second year tuitions, and her sea year packing list was just sent to us. From what I've heard, and I could be wrong, sea year pay basically pays for food and other expenses while out on the ship and or port. When the students are on break between trimesters we also pay for her flights, which can get pretty expensive... again I know it's minimal compared to traditional colleges, but that is what the Chapter 35 benefits are for, not to mention that unlike a traditional college she can not get a part time job to help pay for expenses.
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H
 
This issue is being work on. Please reach out if you want to discuss privately.
 
jlynn68 said:
This issue is being work on. Please reach out if you want to discuss privately.
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Was wondering if we can talk privately as well. It would affect us as well and we have been raising this issue but have been unsuccessful.
 
TwinScrews said:
I would like to discuss as I have not seen or heard of any improvement. I do not know how to PM in this forum.
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To send or receive DMs, you need to be onboard a week (you are good there), have 5 posts and time for a system update.
 
Any updates on this situation? I just received a decision letter from the VA declining Chapter 35 beneifits and stating, "as a school aged child because he is attending United States Merchant Marine Academy. Per 38 CFR 3.667(f)(2), VA may not pay additional compensation for a child who is at least 18 years old, and wholly supported at the expense of the Federal government while attending school."
 
In May 2026, we were informed on the USMMA Class of 2028 (Facebook page) that Chapter 35 has been reinstated for KP. I haven't heard of any issues.
 
KP has been reinstated chapter 35 benefits starting this fall trimester (2030). We emailed the certificate of eligibility a couple of weeks ago for our son who just started.
 
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