# The 81-Month Rule for Dependents' Education Assistance
> **US Department of Veterans Affairs** · Final rule. · Published 2025-07-31 · Effective 2025-07-31 · 90 FR 35965
## Document
- **Document number:** 2025-14486
- **Category:** va-education
- **Agency:** US Department of Veterans Affairs
- **Federal Register citation:** 90 FR 35965
- **CFR reference:** 38 CFR 21
- **Publication date:** 2025-07-31
- **Effective date:** 2025-07-31
## Abstract

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this final rule to update its regulation governing a beneficiary's receipt of education assistance from two or more programs. This action is necessary to implement a statutory amendment enacted in August 2012, which authorized an 81-month aggregate period for use of Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) benefits in combination with other programs listed in the statute. This rulemaking amends the regulation to align it with the current statutory text.

## Source
- [Federal Register document](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/07/31/2025-14486/the-81-month-rule-for-dependents-education-assistance)
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