Title 38Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73

§3481 Educational assistance allowance

Title 38 › Part PART III— - READJUSTMENT AND RELATED BENEFITS › Chapter CHAPTER 34— - VETERANS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - PAYMENTS TO ELIGIBLE VETERANS; VETERAN-STUDENT SERVICES › § 3481

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must pay eligible veterans who are enrolled in education under this chapter an educational assistance allowance to help pay living costs, tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment, and other school expenses. Payments for programs at a school (not programs only by correspondence) follow the rules in this section and in chapter 36 of this title.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §3481

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall, in accordance with the applicable provisions of this section and chapter 36 of this title, pay to each eligible veteran who is pursuing a program of education under this chapter an educational assistance allowance to meet, in part, the expenses of the veteran’s subsistence, tuition, fees, supplies, books, equipment, and other educational costs.
(b)The educational assistance allowance of an eligible veteran pursuing a program of education, other than a program exclusively by correspondence, at an educational institution shall be paid as provided in chapter 36 of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those comprising subsecs. (a), (b), (d), and (e) of this section were contained in Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1179, which was classified to former section 1631 of this title, prior to repeal by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 89–358.

Amendments

2006—Pub. L. 109–233 revised style of subsec. headings. 1991—Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 1681 of this title as this section. 1989—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–237 substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”. 1981—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–35, § 2003(b)(4)(A), struck out applicability to flight training program. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–35, § 2003(b)(4)(B), struck out subsec. (c) which related to flight training. 1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–502, §§ 210(2), 211(10), substituted “chapter 36” for “section 1780” and “the veteran’s” for “his”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–502, § 210(2), substituted “chapter 36” for “section 1780”. 1972—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 92–540 inserted heading and provisions requiring allowances to be paid in accordance with the applicable provisions of this section and section 1780 of this title. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 92–540 inserted heading and substituted provisions requiring allowances of an eligible veteran pursuing a program of education, other than a program exclusively by correspondence or a program of flight training, at an educational institution to be paid as provided in section 1780 of this title, for provisions requiring allowances of an eligible veteran to be paid, as provided in section 1682 of this title, only for the period of his enrollment as approved by the Administrator, but limiting such payments to veterans meeting certain specified requirements while pursuing standard college degrees. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 92–540 inserted heading and substituted provisions relating to the payment of allowances to eligible veterans pursuing a program of education consisting exclusively of flight training, for provisions authorizing the Administrator to prescribe

Regulations

to determine enrollment in, pursuit of, and attendance at, any program of education or course by an eligible veteran. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 92–540 struck out subsec. (d) which related to certification to the Administrator from the eligible veteran as to his actual attendance or completion of lessons by correspondence, and from the educational institution that such veteran was enrolled in and pursuing a course of education during such period or completion of lessons by correspondence by the veteran and serviced by the institution. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 92–540 struck out subsec. (e) which related to the prompt payment of the educational assistance allowance to the veteran. 1970—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 91–584 excluded programs of apprenticeship and programs of other on-job training authorized by section 1683 of this title for educational assistance to veterans. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 91–219 inserted provision that the Administrator may pay an educational assistance allowance representing the initial payment of an enrollment period, not exceeding one full month, upon receipt of a certificate of enrollment.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1981 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–35 effective Oct. 1, 1981, except as otherwise provided, see section 2006 of Pub. L. 97–35, set out as a note under section 3231 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1976 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 94–502 effective Oct. 15, 1976, see section 703(b) of Pub. L. 94–502, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 3693 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 3481

Title 38Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73