Title 38Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73

§3533 Special assistance for the educationally disadvantaged

Title 38 › Part PART III— - READJUSTMENT AND RELATED BENEFITS › Chapter CHAPTER 35— - SURVIVORS’ AND DEPENDENTS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - PAYMENTS TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS › § 3533

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Gives eligible people the same education help that eligible veterans get when they train in a State. Payments are made the same way veterans are paid, but the Secretary sets the exact benefit rates. The first five months of full‑time training—or the part‑time equivalent—do not count against the person’s entitlement. Also, eligible people get the other veteran education benefits covered for veterans, and those benefits are provided without using up any entitlement they have under a separate VA education program.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §3533

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Any eligible person shall be entitled to the assistance provided an eligible veteran under section 3491(a) (if pursued in a State) of this title and be paid an educational assistance allowance therefor in the manner prescribed by section 3491(b) of this title, except that the corresponding rate provisions of this chapter shall apply, as determined by the Secretary, to such pursuit by an eligible person.
(2)Educational assistance under this chapter for the first five months of full-time pursuit of a program (or the equivalent thereof in part-time educational assistance) consisting of such course or courses shall be provided without charge to entitlement.
(b)Any eligible person shall, without charge to any entitlement such person may have under section 3511 of this title, be entitled to the benefits provided an eligible veteran under section 3492 of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 1733 of this title as this section. Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “3491(a)” for “1691(a)” and “3491(b)” for “1691(b)”. Pub. L. 102–16 substituted “Secretary” for “Secretary of Veterans Affairs”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “3511” for “1711” and “3492” for “1692”. 1989—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 101–237 substituted “assistance provided an eligible veteran under section 1691(a) (if pursued in a State) of this title and be paid an educational assistance allowance therefor in the manner prescribed by section 1691(b) of this title, except that the corresponding rate provisions of this chapter shall apply, as determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to such pursuit by an eligible person.” for “benefits provided an eligible veteran (with no dependents) under section 1691 (if pursued in a State) of this title.” 1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–689 amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “Any eligible spouse or surviving spouse shall, without charge to any entitlement such spouse may have under section 1711 of this title, be entitled to the benefits provided an eligible veteran (with no dependents) under section 1691 (if pursued in a State) of this title.” 1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–223 inserted “(with no dependents)” after “an eligible veteran” and struck out “and be paid an educational assistance allowance under the provisions of section 1732(a) of this title”. 1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–502, § 310(17), substituted “spouse or surviving spouse” for “wife or widow” and “such spouse” for “she”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–502, § 310(18), substituted “such person” for “he”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1989 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 101–237 effective Jan. 1, 1990, see section 403(c) of Pub. L. 101–237, set out as a note under section 3532 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1988 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–689 effective Aug. 15, 1989, see section 106(d) of Pub. L. 100–689, set out as a note under section 3034 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. Termination of Eligibility PeriodTermination of eligibility period for a wife or widow, or an eligible person eight years from Oct. 24, 1972, see section 604 of Pub. L. 92–540, set out as a note under section 3512 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 3533

Title 38Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73