Military Education & G.I. Bill Information - Military Times

VA speeds emergency GI Bill payments

Students waiting on delayed Post-9/11 GI Bill payments can get emergency financial help fast or easy — but not fast and easy.

In its effort to get checks of up to $3,000 into the hands of students who have yet to receive their education benefits, the Veterans Affairs Department has come up with a solution that provides immediate payments for those who go in person to one of the VA’s 57 regional offices, and payments in five to seven days for those who apply for help via the Internet.

The online option was included because VA officials say they recognize that travel to a regional office is out of the question for students who lack transportation or who may be busy with full course loads.

Payments will go to students trying to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill who are eligible for monthly living stipends, which excludes active-duty service members and their spouses, anyone using the GI Bill only for distance learning and anyone attending school half-time or less.

For those who need cash immediately, a visit to a regional office is the only option, VA officials said. (Related: Some vets have trouble getting banks to cash checks) Students who need help with transportation may be able to arrange travel through the nearest VA medical center, officials said. Volunteer traffic coordinators at each medical center, who oversee a mix of government and volunteer vans, have been ordered to help get students to benefits centers, officials said.

For those who don’t need a check right away, or who cannot make it to a VA center, requests for emergency claims may be filed by logging in or registering online. In this case, electronic payment will be in five to seven days. Students can call 1-888-GI BILL-1 for assistance.

VA’s Web site also contains a list of and directions to VA regional offices, and a list of medical centers and phone numbers so students can call to arrange transportation, officials said.

Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman, said he is “a little nervous” about the emergency check process because veterans may have problems applying, even in person.

GI Bill payments have been delayed and emergency checks are needed because of “problems in determining eligibility and in processing enrollment certification,” Filner said. “Those problems continue.”

VA officials said students will not have to show eligibility or enrollment certificates to get paid. Photo identification and a class schedule that shows the number of courses and credits for the student are enough to get a payment, VA officials said.

In some cases, students whose GI Bill benefits are based on less than three years of active service or who are taking less than a full course load may get less than the maximum $3,000 emergency payment, VA officials said.

The $3,000 is an advance on living stipends and book allowances and will be deducted from payments once a student’s claim is fully processed, VA officials said. If students receive emergency checks but end up being ineligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, they will have to repay the $3,000, officials said.

While some concerns remain, representatives of two veterans service organizations at the center of the GI Bill problems say they are glad VA is trying to do something.

Derek Blumke of Student Veterans of America said he had heard from a student at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Mich., who was worried about having to drive 7½ hours to Detroit to get a check.

“We are happy to learn VA has decided to improve the emergency situation many veterans are facing,” Blumke said. “However, we will reserve judgment on this initiative until checks are in hand.”

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America said in a statement that it appreciates VA’s “responsiveness” to complaints about delayed payments.

“This isn’t a permanent solution, but it should help student-veterans focus on classes, instead of on how they will pay their bills,” the statement said.