I’ve written a lot about the Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill. Most of it has been positive. I hailed the legislation as it worked itself from a campaign promise to reality under President Bush. But, then I read stuff like this:
Under the old bill, Chapter 30, the student must call a hot line on the last day of the month to certify that their status has not changed since the previous month. The payment is then sent to the student in seven to ten days. It has become a ritual for veteran students, a promise to see that beautiful deposit in a week’s time. But today, some who have submitted paperwork for Chapter 33 might find the certification for Chapter 30 a bit of a challenge. My school’s VA counselor assured a seamless transition – he told me those who were switching over would get paid for the months they already paid tuition for. Once again, someone forgot to forward the memo. Since my claim for Chapter 33 is still being processed, I’m locked out of Chapter 30. Even though I paid for the summer semester, I am not getting paid for August. My case is in limbo, familiar territory for the VA. My bills, on the other hand, are very clearly defined. They pile up as fast as the VA’s backlogs.
The VA counselors at my school buy salt in bulk to pour into the wounds of the students they are purported to serve. One in particular lambasts me whenever I call with a legitimate question regarding veteran benefits. With his trademark condescending tone, he sharply rebuked my questions about a delay in payments, suggesting that I should have been following the news of backlogged certifications, despite his assurance that the transition would not allow a payment disparity. Oh, to be tongue-lashed for not doing his job for him! He heartily laughed at my question of when to expect my next payment. In that brief moment, he acknowledged the absurdity of my situation – he didn’t know, and there is no way to find out. He could not even venture a guess but did not rule out weeks or even a month. The check is in the mail, I am told. That old line doesn’t work for my landlord, and it wouldn’t get past my utility company. But for the government agency responsible for the benefits going out to the men and women who have served this country in a time of war, with the basic sustenance of thousands of veterans in the balance, it’s business as usual.
Is this what we were promised? A lot of politicians patted themselves on the back when this was passed. We were told that this bill will recruit more quality troops. Secretary Shinseki said it will educate the next generation of problem solvers. The bill’s sponsor, Senator Webb (D-VA) called it an “historic victory” and said he was “confident” that the Pentagon and VA would work out any kinks. That was 13 months ago!
Now, our veterans are finding themselves having to decide whether they eat or pay their utility bill. They are facing eviction while sitting in limbo trying to figure out how to pay their huge tuition bill they were promised they wouldn’t have to worry about.
Where are the Military Officers Association of America, Partnership for Veterans Education, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of American, Iraq Veterans Against War, Student Veterans of America – all organizations that championed this bill – now that our vets are being hung out to dry?
My enrollment was certified in the middle of September and I have not seen a dime! Nor has my school! I have always been there for my country when it needed me. Where is my country when I need it? The message when you call says to allow 12 weeks before calling to enquire about your status! That’s after the damn semester! Oh ya..and thanks VA for the BAH! Not receiving any of it really helped my living situation greatly!
The VA received all of my material over 13 weeks ago and I still have nothing. I have tried several times to call in and have been told it is being processed in Atlanta. My school has never been paid and I can longer afford to go to school. I tried to get an answer via email and it has been 23 days with no answer.
I submitted my paperwork 27 Aug and attended class. 8 weeks later, still nothing. School blocked enrollment until I called twice to the VA Okla toll free number. Since there was an overflow of people who requested the 911 benefits, the VA changed the procedures sending a letter to all the schools written by some Admiral. VA was awaiting the certification from the school in order for payment to be received. Re-enrolled; 2 weeks later back payment received. Still have not received my certification letter. Hopefully, the school will certify enrollment in a timely manner to keep money rolling in on a regular basis. In the Virginia area, BAH is quite good. BAH is paid in arrears.
The school certified my enrollment on 9-11-09. I finally received funds on 11-6-09. I called the VA daily as well and until the operator tells you it is processed….you are still at least 3-5 days out from payment. once I got a YES answer from an operator they let me know it takes that long to his the bank. Mine only took 3 days. hope that is helpful.
I feel so much empathy for you all who havent received it yet! I am a single parent. Not an 18 year old needing gas money either ELIZABETH. PLEASE FILL OUT MY SHORT SURVEY ON THE EFFECTS OF THE EMERGENCY FUNDS AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. IT IS FOR SCHOOL AND I WILL SEND YOU THE RESULTS IF YOU ARE INTERESTED!
BY THE WAY THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE COMPLETED MY SURVEY FOR SCHOOL ALREADY. IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED EMERGENCY FUNDS PLEASE COMPLETE THIS SURVEY FOR ME!!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=J1HMXOndZOhNjWCBmOPg_2fw_3d_3d
In the same boat folks. as of tommorrow i will be an educated homeless veteran. That 3000.00 covered the back money and the current month of rent. Stuff not cheap in california. Im trying to leave but since I can’t get paid i’ll be stuck here till doomsday. I’m trying to figure out where to go. This is crazy. How can we make good grades if we are constantly wondering whether we have food to eat and a roof over our heads. I’m on facebook folks, good luck to all.
My fiance is having the same issues. He’s gotten a few letters in the mail saying that they are still processing his application for COMPENSATION. Why bother taking the time to even draft and mail a letter like that? They should be using all their energy to just process the claims. After he received the $3K emergency check, a VA rep called to see how things were going. When they asked if he had any questions he asked when he’d start seeing payments. The rep scolded him and said he should feel lucky he even got the emergency check! I don’t understand how they can expect people to pay their bills and live day to day with no money. Now Christmas is around the corner. I just don’t understand. I wonder what is really going on behind the scenes.
I have not received any payments since July. I got the 3000 emergency fund (which the bank would not let me use for 7 business days) but that doesn’t last long when you live in California and are supposed to be getting 2014 dollars a month. I called they said October 1. I waited a month and called back November 1. I called again and they said that there is no possible way that they can pay me until the end of the month. Like I trust them. I am running through my savings like wild fire. I can’t afford basic bills let alone my insurance because any income I have has been diverted to covering my apartment rent, car payment and other must have bills. My school certified on August 20, Its now November 18. It has been in processing for months now. Just thinking about it makes me cry. I have to postpone my wedding, go to school and work. I don’t have time to do anything else. The VA is out to make sure I am broke, homeless and my credit is ruined. I have a feeling I won’t get paid until well after the semester ends on December 18. I can’t believe I served 11 years to be duped by people who are supposed to be helping vets. All I wanted was a college education.
well, i got most of the money that’s been owed to me, I only got $2400 out of the $3300 i was supposed to be getting. I’m not gonna complain one bit, but it makes me wonder when i’ll see that other $900 (which is the book stipend, i’m 100% positive on that.) If you guys were wondering, i turned all my paperwork in on August 22nd and got everything approved by October 9th, that’s when they said it would take 6-8 weeks for me to get my money. So it’s been around 5 weeks since they said that and I finally got everything, so they were pretty accurate for me. I just hope i see the $450 in my bank every 2 weeks like it’s supposed to be.
I applied to transfer my Post 9/11 GI Bill to my daughter…a tremendous benefit. It’s been over 90 days for VA to respond and the response we get is, “it’s being processed”. Also, on many occasions, I cannot get through when calling on the telephone. The Post 9/11 GI Bill is a tremendous benefit but the program has been very poorly executed. We continue to call and wait for VA to respond to our questions with a solid answer. Best of luck to all!
I think this is the best improvement for educational benefits that is long over due. But my personal experince so far has been less than great. According to The explanation of the new gi bill as explained here http://www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/Ch33/Ch33_Pamp... . Since I was medically discharged due to combat wounds with service connected disability I am tp be covered at 100%, since my wounds were bad I am also on Social Security Disability and I am not allowed to earn more than $700.00 a month. I am lucky that I get the SSI and 60% of my base pay from the army. My total income is about $1800.00 a month after taxes. So paying for college is not in my reach and student loans are not a good idea as well.
So I figured that I can go to college and enrolled just as this new gi bill came into law … thats when the nightmare began.
It took the VA almost the full semester to pay but here is the kick in the teeth …the VA wrote me to tell I was only able to get a rating for payment of only 70% of the gi bill. So I called them on the 1-888-gibill nuber as it says on the bottom of the form if there was any questions . I was told this its not there fult and I must prove to them that I was discharged due to disability …… Well my DD 214 READS This Honorable discharge / MEDICAL Disability service connected . I also inclued my Army orders of discharge that show I was wounded in action due to war and discharge rate of 60%. Well it seems I must resubmit in writing through the VA board. I was told it might take up to 6 weeks to 6 months to see if they agree but in the mean time I still owe my school over 2 k because of this. I have turned to my congress rep here in West Virgina and they wrote her back with the same answer and I now have my House rep WORKING IT as we speak but once more the Va is stonewalling and sticking to to the 70% rating.
I must say I love my country but I feel the VA has turned it back on me ….all I want to do is get a good education that I earned …. so I can keep getting the medical care so I can get off the SSI AND GO BACK TO WORK .
I just received my money. It took them 10 weeks after the school certified my enrollment. I am thankful that I finally got paid but I am still extremely mad that this is happening. I live in Boston and sent a letter to my Senators office (Sen. John Kerry). I was paid a days later. I dont know if he had anything to do with it but it was strange that it happened like that. So…go to your state Senator!
This is just an FYI, to those of you who may not know this…
I see some people are really struggling with $$, waiting in their GI Bills. I don’t know if you are all aware, but…
As of August 2009, universities are NOT allowed to count your GI Bill as financial aid on your total. What this essentially means is that in addition to the GI Bill, you are all also eligible to obtain 100% of your cost of attendance from other sources. For example, if you qualify for Pell grants, state grants, or even loans. You can get 100% of your cost of attendance covered through these other programs, and ALSO get your GI Bill ON TOP OF THAT. So, this may help a lot of you, if you didn’t know that. Essentially people using the GI Bill can get just about double financial aid.
Considering the RIDICULOUS unreliability of the timing of checks right now, I personally would highly suggest obtaining your aid from other sources and consider the GI Bill a “backup” or “extra”. (Of course, if that’s possible for you.)
I received a $196 Deposit Saturday, but nothing since and I don’t know exactly what’s up with that, but we’ll see.
I submitted my App August 16th and my school certified enrollment September 2nd.
Just a tip…Good Luck all!
They said I would be paid at the end of this month, it is the end of the month and for the 3rd month in a row my claim is still in processing whatever that means. I am supposed to be getting 2014 a month and haven’t received anything. I wrote my congressmen and I did here back from him…about me supporting him on an entirely different matter and no mention of my problem. The VA has handled this all badly. In less than a week I have to pay my rent and two weeks after that I will have to pay my car payment. After I make these two payments I will have run through my savings because the VA has not paid me yet. My school certified on the 20th of August, it is now more than 12 weeks and I still have not received any money. I called again and was scolded for \rushing\ them. My claim was sent to a \supervisor\ and now it is a week later and I still have not been contacted even though the lady promised. I am tired of broken promises.
I submitted my change of school request on August 2nd, the school certified my enrollment August 22nd, still havent heard anything from the VA,I’ve called and called, what a waste of time.Still havent recieved anything, the semester is over in less than three weeks…This is crazy
You’re all absolutely right, this *is* ridiculous.
Imagine what the spring semester is going to be like, which starts in just a few weeks. I was once told by a supervisor at the VA call center that they are working overtime to process claims. Then he said “we are even working on sundays, have you ever worked on a sunday?” This blew my mind COMPLETELY. I couldn’t believe it. You’ve got to be kidding me.
In addition, how much sense does it make to have people at a call center answer phones who can tell us NOTHING about our claims UNLESS IT HAS BEEN PROCESSED. We don’t want to hear about claims that have ALREADY processed, we want to hear about our claims that have NOT been processed. Seems like a TOTAL waste of funds to have these people answer phones just to give us false hope because they dont ACTUALLY know anything about our claims if they havent been processed yet! Counterproductive at best.
I did call my congress representative just before I got a payment, so I didn’t actually have to ask them to follow up on my request. But they were willing to “help”.
Also, I do know that SOME of the regional offices are more behind than others. From what I understand, this can obviously cause payments to post out of order from which they were received on a nationwide basis. Also, some of the regional offices have sent some of their apps to other offices to process, which makes predicting your timing of payment even more difficult.
One more thing, you should go to your VA representative at your school and ask general information about the timing of payments. If you can see that other people at your same school have received payment sooner than you and submitted application LATER than yours, you have a well-grounded concern.
Good luck everyone, I think we will need it, especially for the spring semester. I really hope everyone sees money very soon, and def. before christmas break.
Switched from Montgomery GI Bill to Post 911….I was already in the freaking system and I still have not received any money and my tuition is NOT paid yet. The semester ends in 5 days. I will not be able to attend next semester if the tuition is not paid by then. I have used all my savings plus emergency fund from VA to pay bills and like most vets going to school full time, I do not work. This is completely unacceptable and I wish I never switched to the new GI Bill. I may get less in my pocket with the Montgomery GI Bill, but less in my pocket is better than NONE in my pocket and nothing left in my savings. My husband is on deployment and I don’t have family close by to help watch my child so that just maybe I could get a job and work in the evenings since I go to school during the day. I also put my child in daycare because I now have to attend class, so that is an extra expense with no money coming in from the VA. The VA should not get any days off or holidays until every last vet has been paid for the Fall semester. I am starting to think the VA really does not have any more funds and thats why no one is getting paid. I know of one person who has been paid from the start and that is my brother. The rest of the hundreds of vets I have talked to have not received anything.
If you owe the government money they’ll get that back out of your paycheck in a couple of days, if they owe you money it could take months. Thats the way it is.
I’m soon to be a senior in college, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten my GI benifits paid before mid semester.
The 3,000 emergency check really helped out this time.
If you’re going to school fulltime and going to rely on benefits for most of your income heres how I usually do it, maybe itll help you:
1.sign up for school. Do it as early as possible.
2.Make sure all paper work is in order for different benefits, GI bill, fasfa ect. Know all the benefits you’re entitled to and milk them.
3. Dont pay the tution. Sign up for a payment plan. Ive had times where what ever method I used didnt pay for tution until the end of the semester and I didnt get kicked out. Usualy the worst the school will do is put a hold on your records.
4. Buy books as you need them. Sometimes you may not need need them. Just dont wait to long, mid semester if the bookstore is sold out they won’t reorder untill next semester. You may also get a grant for them them and not need to pay out of pocket.
5. Try to have a cushion in your bank account and credit card. Put
emergency bills on credit/ must have stuff like books,food, utilities, gas ect. Pay back the card when finally get that big three months of back pay.
6. Budget and always think of ways to cut costs. You’re a student now (not usually known as societies big tymers). This semester I cut cable and phone. I just have internet and use a viop and watch free and streaming tv. Try not to fianance stuff. I usually drive the most reliable car I can pay cash for.
7. Try to have a support. Maybe parent who will loan you a couple hundered or if not at least friend you can eat at their house from time to time.
After reading this I am amazed. There are over a hundred comments now all telling a similar story of counting on the VA to do what they promised and instead ending up left in the cold. I was so incredibly excited when the Post 911 GI Bill came out; I thought that I could actually go to school. If I would have known that as of December I would still be waiting to get my housing allowance I would not have enrolled full time this fall. Like many of you I am at my wits end and completely broke. As of this writing I have negative three hundred dollars in my account. I have called the VA and found out that apparently they never received my DD214 and they are still showing me as active duty and that’s why they paid for my tuition, but not my housing or book stipend… this is the stupidest load of garbage I have ever heard. I didn’t even know you could use the Post 911 GI Bill while on active duty, and even if I could why would I? In the AF I had 100% tuition paid anyway! I was told on two separate occasions two different ways of sending them my DD214 and now today I found out that BOTH of those ways don’t work! This is ridiculous! The VA has my DD214 for my health care benefits why the heck doesn’t it have it for my education benefits? Why are the people on the phone LIEING to me on how to submit the paperwork? I am obviously not active duty anymore. Now I have to call back and demand a way to prove to these people that I am a freaking VET! Why would they give me the advance pay if they thought I was active duty?! None of this makes any sense. The only thing that is obvious is that no one cares about all of people’s lives that this has negatively impacted. Entire families are being destroyed because of horrible LIES! It is asinine that this was not dealt with better. I wish all of my fellow starving broke Vets good luck.
I am surprised to hear so many stories that directly reflect mine. The Post 9/11 G.I Bill has become my nightmare. If I could I would go back to that fateful day in August and refuse to turn in my application. I have spent every single day since September 3rd, that is when I received word from the VA that my application has been received, checking my banking account to see if my benefit has arrived. Being married and a full-time student on a fixed income, not received my benefit has really put my family in a bad spot. I refused to take the emergency fund since this program is still failing, how could I justify jumping from one sinking ship onto another. I felt really alone before finding this website but now I am even more upset knowing that there are this many people having my same problem. I feel for you brothers and sisters.
Submitted my paperwork in June, approved in July. Have received NOTHING. No money, none of the promised call backs, 6 different stories from my last 6 phone calls. We should all band together, put our old uniforms on (mines kind of tight, I admit it), and stand on the side of the road with signs advertising the total lack of care, compassion, or understanding from our “fine” VA and Government. Sure am glad some of our elected politicians are working to help ensure illegal immigrants can get tuition assistance.
After this long (like the entire semester) I am finally getting paid. My school certified August 22 and now it is December. However, they are sending me a check because they do not have my direct deposit info. That is weird because I got the former GI bill by direct deposit, I get my VA work study money by direct deposit and it baffles me. At least I am finally getting paid. I can stop worrying until next month when I transfer schools and this crap starts all over again.
” .Hello,
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regards
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I’ve had it! I trusted my leadership to do the right thing and if mistakes are made, talk to them, make amends, ensure their troops still trust and follow them. I am ready to quit on the leaders involved in the 911 GI Bill. Not being paid to ease the stress of attending class and providing for my family is finally overwhelming. I WOULD STILL HAVE FAITH, HOWEVER, IF SOMEONE WOULD JUST KEEP ME INFORMED OF MY CASE AS IT PROGRESSES INSTEAD OF STONE-WALLING MY CALLS FOR ANSWERS. I applied in August, received my approval in November 2nd and still haven’t had any explainations why on December 8th, I haven’t been paid yet. My grades suffered as I now look for employment instead of trusting the VA and am angry I was set up to fail. This will not stand, I will not fail, and I will not forget. Honor, Courage and Commitment are still my core values… What about their’s? Is it time to address my congressman?
I’m sorry about everybody’s mishaps with this new GI Bill. The root of problem is that The Treasury did not budget the funds for all the tuition and housing allowances for the 480,000 veterans using this new bill. There will continue to be delays until congress appropriates funds to meet the demands. So in a nutshell there is not enough money to fund this bill and the VA has to delay our payments until they receive the funds for our regions which are based on disbursement from the treasury. It is not the VA’s fault but the Federal Reserve who is printing our worthless dollar to fund this mess and along with the treasury.
I am reading these stories and it BREAKS MY HEART! I am shocked that people who received their verification from school before me (9-11-09) have still not been paid!! I got mine in November.
When you call the GI BILL number (18884424551) while you are checking on your status you can update address/ bank account info.
Remember that until they say yes it is done on the phone you are still 3-5 days out. The idea of checking your bank account everyday in hopes it will appear is FALSE.
So much good info has been shared through this blog. My part is to make your voices heard through this survey I am doing for school. please complete it if you havent already.
PLEASE FILL OUT MY SHORT SURVEY ON THE EFFECTS OF THE EMERGENCY FUNDS AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. IT IS FOR SCHOOL AND I WILL SEND YOU THE RESULTS IF YOU ARE INTERESTED!
BY THE WAY THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE COMPLETED MY SURVEY FOR SCHOOL ALREADY. IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED EMERGENCY FUNDS PLEASE COMPLETE THIS SURVEY FOR ME!!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=J1HMXOndZOhNjWCBmOPg_2fw_3d_3d
I just recieved an e-mail from my school VA office stating that it will take the regional office 12 weeks to process continuing claims. They said to register as soon as you can with no mistakes because any change to your schedule puts you in the back of the line. I handed in a change of major and a schedule for that major so I wonder what hell im in for doing that. Early registration for my school for students with enough credits was Dec. 3rd. I registered for classes on Dec 3rd and gave it to my VA office on the 4th. Giving them a big benefit of the doubt, I will say they submit it the following monday on the 7th. That puts my payment starting the last week of February and my first class is January 11th. If this is the way its going to be every semester for even another year I don’t know how I’ll be able to make this thing work. Seems like the hell we are all going through will start over every semester. One of the most annoying aspects is that my VA office is all students with one women who is permenant staff. So every semester the staff gets changed out and there is a whole new group of kids that don’t know what the hell they’re doing until the end of the semester when they’ll get switched out again. The women who runs the office is pretty easy to work with when shes actually available. Why can’t they hire permenent staff to run these offices. Good luck everyone
I registered for school March 2009 under chapter 30. I received my approval letter in April 2009. I then applied in July for the chapter 33 and received my approval letter in August. I took my approval letter to VA on Oct 2, 2009 and received an advance. After months of calling, emailing and visiting VA I was told December 11, 2009 that my school doesn’t qualify. I still haven’t received a letter this was done over a telephone call. So I’m trying to figure out how did they approve my school and give me the advance and now telling me it doesn’t qualify. I’m in my second semester with about $12k in tuition debt now they decide my schoold doesnt qualify. Thats a bunch of crap when I got the school from their website.
I also had similar issues with receiving my Post 911 benefits. I converted to the new program on May 1st and got my cetificate of eligibilty about one week later. I enrolled at Soutwestern Community College, Chula Vista, Ca in July and my courses were verified and forwarded to the VA mid September. I went to the VA office in San Diego on Oct 1st and received my $3000 check after about two hours. Then, I immediately deposited the check at my bank and the funds were available within the hour. This is were my story differs from most. On Oct 8th I had three seperate deposits into my account totaling about $3250. On Oct 30th and Nov 30th I received two seperate payments of $2018 which is the BAH rate for my area. All in all, I have been paid $10,286 since Oct 1st. Now, I’m just waiting to see when the VA will begin to recoup my overpayment. I hope this information is helpful to everyone.
CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN! Even if you did receive your payment! Send them an e-mail! Help all of our brothers and sisters get what they deserve!
Reference Drew’s email of 17 Dec 09…I did contact my Congressman as should many others.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill is a tremendous opportunity for many. However, VA’s execution of the program receives a D-. I did a transfer of my benefit to my daughter and have been plagued by delays and mistakes…the most notable was my active duty service was not recognized from June 2002 to the present. That resulted in a 50% decrease in benefit and it’s now back to the drawing board. I’m advised by VA that it will be 8-12 weeks for any resolution.
I too, like many posted here, have experienced the inability to get through to VA on the telephone. Generally, it takes 3 attempts only to be followed with a 30-45 minute wait. The capper is my questions are generally answered with, “it’s being processed”. Not an acceptable answer.
Hang in there fellow Veterans. As an eternal optimist, I’m hopeful the VA will get energized to swiftly correct the myriad of problems plaguing the execution of this program.
Wow! I didn’t realize the problem was as widespread as it is until I began researching post 911 GI Bill issues today. Like many of you, I transferred from the Montgomery in July and my school was paid by mid semester. However, it’s the week of Christmas, fall semester’s over, and still not a dime or glimmer of hope. Now here’s the kicker: My claim has been in hardship for well over a month, including several weeks in the wrong que (nice work VA-Atlanta). Three weeks ago I finally pleaded my way into a phone rep actually talking to a supervisor and my file was placed in the correct hardship que. Three weeks later, multiple discussions and empty promisses of my claim being authorized for payment within 24 hours, and I’ve hit the end of my rope. While all the very competent VA claims processors are getting christmas presents later this week, I’m getting forclosure notices on my mortgage and electricity cut-off dates from my utilities company. Not to mention that my credit is now irreversibly damaged. It seems there is nothing we can do but sit and watch as everything we’re working for deteriorates in front of our eyes. Is anyone else still waiting for payment now that the fall semester is over and gone?
Yes, I’m still awaiting payment. Since my last blog December 14th, I received an e-mail from VA stating that they were waiting for information from school that I know was sent in September. I also saw the information in their system when I went to their office on December 11, 2009. I notice that the last blog complained about the Atlanta office. Will I too am dealing with the Atlanta office. We all need to write our Congress person and try to get to the Atlanta Regional Office Director. Each person I talk to give me a different answer. One office/person don’t know what the other is doing and they all are incompetent.
I applied and was approved for the post 911 gi bill, and have been reading all the horror stories about it on the forums. I start school in jan, and the thing is that my school refuses to submit my paperwork until i start school. It’s a small college, and they do participate in the 911 gi bill program, but It seems like i get the cold shoulder from the va rep at my college whenever I ask her to submit paperwork early so im not waiting for months and months for a paycheck. As far as the va goes, My honest opinion about the situation is that there’s something going on behind the scene with money. I mean, how hard is it to type some info in the pc and press enter. These ppl act like its so hard to so simple things. So, im sure ill be waiting months upon months before i even see a penny.
First, to the comment made on 26 Dec 09 by “f@#_ civilians”, I would think that your choice of user names would be more befitting a current/former member of the finest armed forces in the world. Further, if you are former military, then you too are now a civilian…
Second, take some time to research into precisely why there have been delays, mistakes and misinformation throughout the implementation of this program. Yes indeed, in this age of automation, one would think it would be relatively easy to input data and produce a payment relatively quickly. However, in a recent article, it’s interesting to note the VA is dealing with outdated computer systems and that processing claims “requires manual processing using four separate …systems…which do not interface with each other”. Reference the following: http://www.aascu.org/media/pm/pdf/pmnov09.pdf Couple that with tens of thousands of applicants, and inadequate staffing and you have a recipe for disaster. I doubt there is “something going on behind the scene with money” as you point out. This program is a must pay bill by the US government. The myriad of problems i.e. delays and mistakes is not due to lack of funding, it points to a lack of staffing, outdated technology, sub-standard training and in my opinion, inadequate leadership at the VA to swiftly correct those challenges.
Finally, to those that are answering the telephones at VA, I applaud all of them for hanging in there and dealing with the frustrations of thousands of veterans and other recipients of this program. I too have lost my patience but must remind myself they are carrying out the policies and procedures as directed by their senior leadership. Any angst one may have should be directed to them, not the technicians taking the brunt of the telephone calls.
I am horrified with the stories I’ve read. My enrollment certification was sent on 12/23/09 so with that said I have yet to receive anything.
My question is, is there any improvement for the wait time or is there still a huge backlog of payments waiting for us winter students?
Oh, I have an even better story. I heard about the new Post 9/11 benefits and was told to sign up as soon as possible so that I would get paid in a timely manner. I signed up pronto. Only to find out that I could have finished using my original GI bill (10 months of it left) and then switched over to 12 months of the new Post 9/11 bill. I wrote a letter to the VA and told them about my situation and they basically said tough luck. I now have the joy of waiting around for random chapter 33 checks (I’ve only received two in the last year) and I lost out on an extra year and 2 months of benefits, witch roughly equals out to about $20,000 dollars. To bad so sad for this vet I guess. Hooah!
I am so disgusted with this program! And the worst part is, it’s irrevocable. Once you sign on the line for this crap, you are stuck…quite similar to a Navy contract. You choose a bad job in the service, you are stuck with a bad job in the service…forget cross rating, so forget going back to the Montgomery GI Bill. I would have been better off going to school part time, while working full time, then participating in this garbage experiment. Now I see why there are so many homeless veterans out there. And with an apartment eviction notice and an automobile letter of intent to repossess on my desk, all I can say is hello sidewalk, here I come! Disgusting! The VA is foul and the government is even worse for doing this to veterans…but what do they care; most of those a**holes probably never served the country anything other than sh*t!
So I don’t guess anyone knows what is going on with this GI Bill money. He started school in August…no money…September…no money…then he got the $3K advance…then the next month they paid him…the next month they only gave partial payment to compensate for the advance even though they still owed him for the previous months and they won’t pay it…this month NOTHING at all and they don’t answer the phone, they don’t answer email, the GI Bill link on their website is blank. He called the local VA office and they have no answers for him. We aren’t rich (who in the military is?), we have one son in college and a daughter soon to be…he is driving 60 miles (one way) to go to school…we still have to pay for gas, supplies and all with money we need for bills. They office is now closed Thurs-Sunday and Monday is a holiday…hope they enjoy themselves while we are trying to make ends meet. I’m disgusted.
I have spent a good half an hour reading blogs and multiple posts about the ch. 30 and ch. 33 failures. The sad part isn’t the fact that the disbursments are late, or shaddy- it’s the whole promise of getting them. Had I known that I’d get out of the service just to suffer and helpessly watch everything I’ve worked for vanish due to a crappy economy and over-reliance on a broken program that I bought into- I would have just stayed out of the military and worked. My time in the service, like most of you, was not pleasant- enduring more than 3 years of deployments, a divorce, losing a child to SIDS and not being able to see my brothers wedding or my mothers funeral was more than one should ever bear- my only hope was to get out and try to put my life back together, starting with school- the whole reason I joined in the first place. Since then I’ve had nothing but trouble. I’ve completed full terms before seeing any payments- just to have the VA send me letters saying that I OWED THEM (since the courses they were paying for were already complete). I had to pay them back, with interest, before I could receive further benefits, which ended up costing me money just to be able to use the program- on top of the fact they removed months off my entitlement for courses that I ultimately paid them for. I’ve had to short sell my mother’s house and move into a shitty apartment on the bad side of town, and I’m still struggling to pay the bills.
Enough complaining- let’s act. I believe that if the GI BILL processing was in the hands of actual military men this “delay” wouldn’t exist. I’ve seen what a handful of PFC’s- lead by a couple corporals and sergeants- can do. If we did that, I’m sure retention would be much higher, recruiting will rise, and the lack of manpower and money to pay civvy govt. workers will never again be an issue- hell, the money saved on that alone could be delved back into the pockets of the service women and men, the ones depending on these benefits to make ends meet.
Does anyone have any advise on what to do for a lost COE for Post 9/11 GI Bill? I cannot seem to locate my copy. I have searched the worthless VA site with no luck. I tried to call (several times) the va with no luck either. WTF?
hi, i started the whole application slash headache process on october 4 2009, here it is feb 15 2010 and still have not recieved anything. so thats 5 months of nooooooooo benefits that i am entitled to. good luck everyone, hopefully you have more luck than i.
Phillip,
i know its painful but you have to call the va as soon as they open. i believe its 7am central time??? i may be wrong. but they will send you another one.
prehaps the veterans adm needs to have each state run the
GI Bill/9-ll benifits. that way veterans of their state
could contact their federal/state veterans to submit their
application, issue the checks.
Yes indeed, for four months in a row and numerous calls to VA, they still did not get the BAH payment correct!
Instead of paying 100% of the BAH, they continue to pay 50% inspite of the fact the award letter states 100% entitlement. All told, they owe nearly $4K in back BAH. The unfortunate part is the VA only makes payments at the end of the month, so it would seem, we’ll be waiting another 30 days to see if they get it right. In the interim, more telephone calls will be attempted.
A.D. Steffen: You might be on to something there…
Help its a nightmere can some one please help me make heads or tells of this. I am qulifed for 100 precent of my post 911 GI bill benefits. I am enrolled full time 12 credit course hours. this lady who run’s the Va office at my college is saying that my computer class and my math class don’t meet the reqierments for my gi bill benefits there for I will not receive any BAH nor is the Gi bill paying for any of my classes can any one please explain to me what’s going on i need help! sorry about the spelling
My husband applied for VA benefits in June was approved for post 9/11 Benefits and began school in November. When we began receiving funding monthly it was not for the full amount of BAH we expected to receive. Our surprises continued when we were informed by his school that they had not received any tuition payments.
We have three young children and attending full-time classes at night was cutting in to his hours at work making it tough to pay all of the bills. After being assured by many at the VA’s regional office that the paperwork was delayed and everything would catch up we applied for and received the $3000 emergency funding to help with bills. It has been 4 months, my husband finished his first two courses with A’s and the problems have not been corrected.
Another phone call today informed us that there was a mistake, his school is not eligible for Post 9/11 Benefits, Montgomery GI only. Oh and by the way Mr. Henry you owe us $3000 and your school 4 months tuition. We are now required to pay for their mistake! Has anyone else experienced anything like this? As soon as the school finds out and we tell them we don’t have 4 months tuition I worry that will be the end of school for a while.
Kenitha: In order for you to get certified and paid for the classes you are attending, they MUST be on your Degree plan that you have filed with your VA office. If the class does not fill a requirement, they will not certify you for the class, and the VA will not pay for it. Also, you must be enrolled in more than half time of VA qualified classes to be paid your BAH, therefore if you are not enrolled in at least 7 hours of qualified classes for the spring term, you will not get paid. Hope this helps.
Is there an echo in here?
“I believe that if the GI BILL processing was in the hands of actual military men this “delay” wouldn’t exist.”
^ Quoted for truth, we pay civilians 6 times as much to work to 1/2 as hard as someone in BDUs–gotta love it!!
God if you can hear me please god please let this work I get out in a month gona keep praying and keep my fingers crossed
Can anyone tell me why you have to pay back the Va if you drop a class or fail one, te last thing I heard was that you earnd these benefits and that you had to use them.
I think the intent is to keep people from just collecting the cash or have the VA to pay for some partying college years. I am pretty sure most scholarships require that you pass the courses with a decent GPA also.