Comments on: Post-9/11 GI Bill Falls Flat

By: Frustrated

Frustrated — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:34:36 +0000

So I just recently transitioned from Chp 30 to Chp 33. I just found out that since I am only taking 6 units this semester I do not qualify for the BAH, which is ridiculous. Why can’t they just pro-rated and give me half? I wonder if the VA is not aware of the current class reduction in the Universities due to the budget problems. Is there a way to appeal this? I currently work for the University I attend as a Student Assitant and make close to minimum wage, and during the semester I can only work 20hrs per week. I have this job to gain experience and all, so it’s ok, but then I get this news and I am now so frustrated with them. Not only that, but the VA reps can be so out of touch and non-sympathetic. Plus the VA rep at school only hands you information that she feels you need. So if there is something I haven’t asked about then nothing is provided.

By: William

William — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 02:40:15 +0000

They might as well call Chapter 33 the Get Fucked Bill.

Last summer the VA tried to fool my school into thinking they needed a copy of my certification of eligability from the school – which is a document the VA provides. I can’t imagine why they needed to see a copy of their own document but ironing out that question took 45 days, during which I did not receive BAH. I was homeless, sleeping in my jeep because the VA can’t do their job right.

This summer my schools certifying official tells me that I’m not going get BAH until august because the VA has to comply with some new change in the Chapter 33 benefits. Then I’m told that they are processing starting June 6th. I’m told I’ll receive back back pay for June and that I”ll get it in July along with July’s BAH. Today is July 1st and I haven’t received ANYTHING.

Wait, I got more BILLS. Just no money to pay for them.

I’m very curious to know why the VA can turn off any portion of my benefits with out so much as a slap on the wrist for damaging my credit report, but if I was 1 second late for formation in the Marine Corps, or didn’t do my job perfectly, that I would have had my bag smashed for it and made to do stupid shit for a month strait.

My concern is that it’s basically illegal to hold the federal government accountable and they they play on our inherent ability to endure difficult situations to keep us from thinking things are as bad as they are. We live in a country that has a very deep divided line between the pay of the college educated, and the uneducated and or vocationally educated.

It’s a buyers market right now when it comes to labor. Companies can hire anyone they want at whatever price they want because the economy is still tanked. The flippant advice from the VA of “get a job” just doesn’t quite fit into the economic reality we Veterans find ourselves in. Very little of our military credentials transfer into the civilian world, most employers are afraid to hire veterans because we won’t work for peanuts and we generally are geared towards leadership positions. We also tend to be told that we are over qualified. This absolutely bizarre externality of military service coupled with the absolutely intolerable complacency and negligence of the VA makes it impossible to get a job at the level of compensation we need to make ends meet, with a schedule that leaves enough time for the 3 hours of study you need for every one hour of class time.

With this particular set of rather daunting challenges and the sheer lack of accommodation on the part of the VA I’m curious to see how long it will take for the program to fail. The only problem is that when it fails, it’ll leave home homeless for a -second- time.

Completely Fucking Pissed,

- William

By: Brian Chandler

Brian Chandler — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:02:18 +0000

Wow. This sounds so typical nowadays. Im really sorry this happened to you. I recently got out of the Army myself and still trying to find work. I’m currently staying with my inlaws with my wife and son. I’m in the process of finding a good school for physical therapy assistant and use the post 911 bill. I hope I dont experience what you did.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:45:33 +0000

My wife has had nothing but problems with the Post 9/11 GI BIll for 2 years. Every time she registers for classes the VA Madness begins and she gets the same series of letters form the enrollement people and the debt management people. I am just about done with my Bachelors degree using Voc Rehab and would like to go back and begin my Masters using my Post 9/11 but after all the problems she has had, no way! It is to the point now that she is requesting a Congressional inquiry into the whole thing through our Congresswoman. Her degree would have been done over a year ago but with all the issues she has had with them, they delayed it all. It is obvious VA has a SERIOUS problem yet nobody wants to do anything about it. Congress doesn’t care and neither does the VA.

By: Paul Phillips

Paul Phillips — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:34:39 +0000

Jimmy, I totally agree with you. We were briefed when we returned from Iraq that we would be able to transfer out benefit to a child. This was in May of 2008. Then they decided to change the rules. Heres the take I am currently getting. You have to have been serving on or after Aug 1 , 2009, and you had to transfer the benefit while you were still in the service. This is a bunch of crap. Does anyone else out there agree. We have to start a campaign to get this straightened out. Get back to me, and we will see how to get this front page. I served, and was even stop lossed in the IL Army National Guard. November 1986 through October, 2008.

Gourdman

By: Sumdude

Sumdude — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 07:12:51 +0000

u should have finished college while you did your 20 years.

By: Sumdude

Sumdude — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 07:08:57 +0000

I would suggest for your wife to apply for FAFSA. Quit depending on VA – they suck.

By: Sumdude

Sumdude — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 07:04:38 +0000

I don’t remember how long it took for VA to process payments to my account, but I think it was 2 to 3 months. When you skip a semester like I did, you tend to forget how long it takes to get paid. I do remember the anxiety of being completely broke and swallowing my pride by begging my room mate to give me 6 to 8 weeks before I can pay rent. Focusing in class was the last thing in my mind since my pocket was empty. No one can study with an empty stomach. Asking my older siblings for money was not an easy task since I had to beg and cry. There were no jobs last year and there are still no jobs today. There was a time when I thought about selling my body for money because I needed to buy food, gas, and pay for rent. I should have done it, but I am better than that. If you are like me, depending on VA to pay us for school could be one of the worse experience we could ever have after separating from active duty. Serving in the US military can make you too dependent with the government, so be aware that it is a different lifestyle when you get out.

Don’t be a victim due to lack of planning. As much as I want to blame VA, it is not their fault. Remember your military training and be a survivalist.

I highly recommend planning ahead, buy an RV if you’re single so you don’t pay rent, apply for FAFSA seven months before starting a semester, apply for GI Bill 45 days before the semester starts and do everything you can to survive as long as it is legal. (*hint * legal as in sue bad employers for asking if you’re a homosexual during interview).

By: waiting in texas

waiting in texas — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 15:30:14 +0000

To Alex E.:

There is supposed to be a TEB users manual on the TEB application website. Try here: https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/TEB/

By: Alex E.

Alex E. — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:15:29 +0000

Has anyone heard of this? My wife, a former Army soldier, used up 48 months of education benefits through a combination of Chapter 30 and chapter 33. This was nice because it allowed her to complete a Masters degree. But she decided to continue to her PhD, and obviously exhausted her benefits. I am still on active duty, so I transferred 12 months to her (to allow her to finish without racking up huge student loans, as her school is rather expensive). However, she was denied because the “most” entitlement you can get is 48 months regardless of which benefits she’s using. So even though I transferred MY BENEFITS to her, she can’t use them because she already exhausted HER BENEFITS. Is this for real? I feel she is being discriminated for being a former soldier and a military spouse at the same time. And before anyone lashes out at me for being selfish (since she is on her PhD), I am not looking to blame anyone or create anarchy against the VA, I just want to see it in black and white where it says that because I can’t find that “regulation” anywhere. Can anyone point me in the right direction?