| VA TO CUT EMERGENCY
CHECKS FOR G.I. BILL RECIPIENTS
Secretary Shinseki: "Students should be focusing on their studies,
not worrying about financial difficulties."
NOTE from Larry Scott, VA
Watchdog dot Org ... This is a very good move. It
doesn't solve the VA's G.I. Bill processing problems ... but, it
will sure take a lot of stress off many veterans now attending
school who haven't yet been paid.
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Secretary Shinseki Orders
Emergency Checks to Students Awaiting Education Benefits
September 25, 2009
Thousands of Checks to Alleviate Student Financial Burden
WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki
announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has authorized
checks for up to $3,000 to be given to students who have applied
for educational benefits and who have not yet received their
government payment. The checks will be distributed to eligible
students at VA regional benefits offices across the country
starting Oct. 2, 2009.
“Students should be focusing on their studies, not worrying about
financial difficulties,” Secretary Shinseki said. “Education
creates life-expanding opportunities for our Veterans.”
Starting Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, students can go to one of VA’s 57
regional benefit offices with a photo ID and a course schedule to
request advance
 payment
of their education benefits. Because not all these offices are
located near students, VA expects to send representatives to
schools with large Veteran-student bodies and work with Veteran
Service Organizations to help students with transportation needs.
A list of those VA regional offices is available at
www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/offices.asp.
“I’m asking our people to get out their road maps and determine
how we can reach the largest number of college students who can’t
reach us,” VA’s Under Secretary for Benefits Patrick Dunne said.
“Not everyone has a car. Not everyone can walk to a VA benefits
office.”
Although VA does not know how many students will request emergency
funds, it has approximately 25,000 claims pending that may result
in payments to students.
The funds VA will give to students now are advance payments of the
earned benefits for education. This money will be deducted from
future education payments.
VA officials said students should know that after this special
payment, they can expect to receive education payments on the
normal schedule -- the beginning of the month following the period
for which they are reimbursed.
“This is an extraordinary action we’re taking,” said Shinseki.
“But it’s necessary because we recognize the hardships some of our
Veterans face.”
More than 27,500 students have already received benefits for
housing or books under the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, or their schools
received their tuition payments.
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TOPICS:
veterans, veterans' benefits, VA, Department of Veterans' Affairs,
G.I. Bill, delays, Shinseki |
