Neil's Notebook VA issuing emergency checks for college benefits to waiting vets
October 1, 2009
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is quickly responding to the needs of student veterans by providing emergency checks under the new G.I. Bill. Thousands of veterans who applied for educational benefits under the program have not yet received their payments due to delayed processing and bureaucracy. The emergency checks will help them make payments towards books and housing.
The payments in some cases were caused by outdated technology and backed-up claims and affected Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in the who are seeking to further their education.
The checks for up to $3,000 will be distributed to eligible students at VA regional offices across the country starting this Friday, October 2. Students can go to one of the 57 regional benefit offices with a photo ID, a course schedule and a certificate of eligibility to request payment of their housing and book allowance. Students can also apply online at www.va.gov or request free van service, provided by volunteers, to carry them to the nearest VA regional office. To obtain this service, veterans should call their nearest VA medical center and ask for the “Volunteer Transportation Coordinator.”
The distributed money will be deducted from future payments, which are expected to arrive on the normal schedule – the beginning of the month following the period for which they are being reimbursed. Veterans who apply for the emergency benefits online will receive their payments in the mail after processing.
Last year, Congress enacted the new G.I. Bill to restore the promise of a full, four-year college education for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Qualified veterans were able to apply for the new college benefits beginning in May of this year, and started receiving tuition benefits in August, along with housing and book stipends which are paid retroactively. Almost 300,000 claims have been submitted for the program.
“I co-sponsored the legislation creating the GI Bill to put our money where our mouth is. It restores the promise of a full, four-year college education for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan and makes them part of an American economic recovery, just like the veterans of World War II,” says Congressman Neil Abercrombie. “It’s a down payment on the debt we owe the men and women we’ve sent to war.”
A list of regional VA offices is available at: www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/offices.asp. The VA is also working with Veteran Services Organizations to send representatives to campuses with large veteran student bodies and to help students access the regional offices.
