Emergency Check Disbursement Update

October 4, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Veteran Benefits

Got this response from another inquiry into what is going on with the Post-9/11 GI Bill check disbursements from a high level official in the VA.

Just wanted to provide an update on the emergency check disbursement. On Friday, VA became aware that fraud prevention measures at many banks were causing those banks to withhold the funds for 3-4 days. Of course, this wasn’t VA’s intent. To deal with the issue, VA began contacting banks. At the same time, we created a phone number for banks to call for more information. Therefore, we want to spread the word that if a student-veteran’s bank won’t cash the check immediately, that student-veteran should ask the bank rep to call the number listed below. We’ve got this up on the VA website and it’s linked on the homepage at VA.gov.

http://www1.va.gov/opa/vafeature/cashing_emergency.asp

VA is Seeking the Assistance of our Nation’s Banks in Cashing Emergency Education Payments for Veteran-Students

The Department of Veterans Affairs is issuing advance educational benefit payments to Veteran-students in the form of US Bank business checks. These emergency checks are issued in amounts not to exceed $3,000 for Veteran-students who have applied for educational benefits and who have not yet received their VA payment. VA’s 57 regional offices began issuing these checks to eligible Veteran-students across the country on Friday, October 2, 2009.

VA is soliciting the support of local and national banks to honor and cash these emergency checks written to our Nation’s Veteran-students.

In many cases these checks are handwritten and could pose concerns of fraud from banks. Therefore, VA has established the following special customer service call-in numbers for banks to verify the validity of any US Bank check brought to them by a Veteran.

1-800-827-2166

Banks calling this number will be connected directly to a VA employee who can access all necessary information to verify who the check was issued to, the check number and dollar amount of the check, and whether the check was previously cashed or not.