Who's to Blame for Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefit Delays?

By Terry Howell

Last week's Blog covered news reports warning that a huge backlog of GI Bill "work items," which includes applications and payment claims, is causing a delay in Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits of up to 10 weeks. This week the backlog grew nearly 11 percent to over 234,000. To their credit, the VA has processed over 140,000 "work items" overall. In addition, it appears that at least 13,000 veterans will soon begin receiving benefits, if they have not already.

Note: It takes approximately 1.5 hours for VA to process each Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill application.

In a recent Chronicle of Higher Education article, Post-9/11 GI Bill Applicants Wait for Colleges to Certify Enrollment, Department of Veterans Affairs Director of Education Services, Keith Wilson, responded to the question about delays by suggesting  that school certifying officials were to blame, saying that to date the VA had received only 13,000 certifications from the schools. “We have no control over when a school official will submit that enrollment certificate to us,” added Mr. Wilson.

Needless to say this has triggered an angry response from veteran’s program administrators and school certifying officials nationwide, denying that they are the bottleneck in the process.

Many of the certifying officials interviewed, said they were shocked to read the article and felt they were being stabbed in the back. A school certifying official, who wished to remain unnamed, said “the quote that stressed me is the one where he said they had no control over when a school sent an enrollment in. We have it in writing that we were to hold certifications until July 7, 2009.”

Another certifying official pointed out that there is no logical reason for a school to purposely delay the process, “not only is it bad for the student; it is bad for the school.” He also questioned the legitimacy of Mr. Wilson’s claim of receiving only 13,000 certifications.

Teri Gravenmier, veterans program administrator for the University of Alaska Anchorage, addressed Mr. Wilson’s assertion by explaining that in addition to other duties – including providing counseling and support for veteran students – “school certifying officials must verify not only that the student is qualified and how many credits they are registered for, but also that the coursework applies to their degree plan.” By comparison, “VA processors have one task to perform - process Chapter 33 [Post-9/11 GI Bill] applications,” Gravenmier points out.

Since early August, school certifying officials have been reporting serious payment errors made by the VA, including underpayments made because the VA failed to update their own database when the rates increased in August, duplicate tuition and fees payments, payments sent to the wrong schools, and payments made without supporting data including the student names. School officials have been told by the VA that they would not make any corrections to the payment issues until “Phase 3,” slated begin sometime in October.

Many of these errors and delays are easily attributed to a newly hired, inexperienced VA workforce, an understandable learning curve, lack of technical support systems, complicated requirements, and a huge flood of claims. But, many find it unfair for the VA to blame the schools for delays while they continue to have issues that still need to be addressed at the VA level.

Comments

[Linwood]

@EX_Marine_Toopin........Now aint nothing wrong with an 55inch LCD TV....LOL!!!!! you gotta stay entertained somehow right....But absolutely understand. It cost me a good amount of money to get back and fourth to school 2 to 3 times a week on top of bills and rent. I sure hope my name is in the "payment processed" pile.

[Ex_marine_Toopin]

I'm in the same boat like everyone else, got my certification from my school on Aug 18, now just waiting to get paid. I'm living on my last 20 bucks, but It'll most likely be spent on gas to get to school. The school in which the VA has yet to pay. Oh well, I know they're going to pay but its seems like forever. I should have applied for FA but I thought this plan would make FA obsolete. So on the bright side, at lease when the payments does come in, I can learn to appreciated the value of the dollar instead of spending on useless crap I don't need, like a 55 inch LCD TV, a i phone, or drinks at the bar. Right now I need to get paid and my school needs to get paid, then everyone and their mothers would be happy...so the VA needs to double time and step it up with the left foot and run all day till the run is done.

[Upset Vet]

Progess is not being made for those on the east coast !

[sammytki]

Over 12,000 payments were processed yesterday - the 22nd - almost twice what they processed the day before.

Looks like some progress is being made.

[lost]

I feel all of your pain. I applied for my COE in May, got it in July, submitted my paperwork and they told me the 1st of Sep. Then they told me 18th of Sep and now the 1st of Oct. I had to cut back my hours at work to go to school full time and my car broke down. I am a single father and my lights got turned off yesterday. Staying with my sister until that check comes in and my landlord wants all of their money and I have to pay the babysitter. My school told me my classes would be suspended if they didnt get their payment. Hang in there everyone. Have faith.

[sammytki]

naomi

that number is for the payments processed for that day only - not the total so far.

Each day they post the previous day's total payments processed

[Naomi]

I just got on the VA GI Bill Website and they have a running ticker on how many payments they have processed to date. ONLY 2,300 for Post-9/11 and 3,500 for other education programs. HOW CAN THAT BE? The article above dated 08/24 stated that there have been over 13,000 veterans whose enrollments have been certified. And one month later they have only processed payments for 2,300?? There is something very wrong with this picture. They shouldn't have promised something they couldn't deliver. Especially when it deals with money because it can ruin peoples lives when they can't pay the rent or buy groceries. Yes, most of us have jobs while in school, but when you go to school full time it is difficult to keep working full time too. People left careers behind to go back to school full time when this benefit was announced. Now all we ask is that they follow through with their promises.

[K]

I feel a little better knowing I am not the only one being ignored. I submitted my application for the Post 9/11 GI Bill back in May. I called in August because I hadn't received anything from them concerning my enrollment in the new GI Bill. I wanted to sign up for classes for the fall semester, so I decided to give the school a call and ask them what to do. They told me to go ahead and register for classes and that the school (UMUC) is working with the VA on payments. Long story short, the VA received my app on 12 May and had no idea why it had'nt been completely processed. They advised me to post a question on their q and a page on their website because the Buffalo Office would have to respond to my inquiry. They took nine days to respond and changed the status to Resolved without resolving anything. Miraculously, I actually received my certificate of eligibility in the mail about a week ago. The school hasn't gotten paid despite the fact that they've already sent my certification of enrollment on 19Aug09. Obviously, I wont be getting a dime before the school does. It is really unfortunate that the VA is not communicating with vets. Every time I have called you get the standard message that they are busy and the call is disconnected. How about having a message that explains a little bit about the delay and when they anticipate people getting payments. Their site hasn't been updated for almost a month. This is a real shame and I feel badly for all who's livelihood depends on this.

[James]

Submitted all my paperwork over a month ago. Still have no word from the school va rep or the va. This is pathetic. Sad too considering how great the program will be once it is actually being implemented. Any updates?

[Amy]

Im starting to get worried. I waited a while knowing it would take forever to start getting money but now Im 4 weeks into school, dont have any books, Im starting to get tested and I have no books to study. My rent is due and I dont know how Im going to pay for it. Im late on my car payment and my daughter and I had a whole $20 for groceries last week. I have no more money to live off and I dont know what to do anymore. I know tons of people are in my situation too.
I called them and one guy said that everything was approved and all I was waiting on was the payment to be approved. He told me it would be another week. Well, its going on 3 weeks and nothing. Not even my books. I called again last week and another guy said that I would get my money by the end of the month, well its almost here and nothing. I do hope I get it though, I am moving into a new house end of October and I dont know what to do.
Has anyone gotten any money yet?

[Dickie09]

this is insane, I cannot believe this is actually the reality of the situation so many people are relying on this money and are just being dicked around... I don't mean to be offensive but I just don't understand why this situation is even occurring something must be done your voices must be heard! This shouldn't be happening.

[Linwood]

@Sherman.......How can you possibly tell these people to "be patient, temper your frustration" when they are facing eviction and other sorts of things like that?

[gabriel]

Usually those " Suck it up " people are retired ones, that get their disability and retirement. News flash, not all of us are.We didnt told the government to wait up,we'll deploy on a certain date and then messed it up.If they cant get us what we earned it, how about a "get outa jail" card from the government, because everybody is trying to kick us outa the school,our houses and taking our cars.

[Wilson P Morris]

I served with 82nd (ABN) Division for almost nine years. I was discharged out of the military in Feb of this year and had enough money to get through until August, when my G.I Bill money was "supposed" to come in.

I filed my claim in January and processed all of my paperwork. I verified with my school official and the VA rep over the phone that they received all of the correct paperwork. August 13th I decided to call and just check up to see if everything was going according to plan.

I was then told that I needed to file another VA fORM 22-1990 that the other one was under Chapter 30 and not 33. This was after 8 months of consulting with VA officials. Now, I'm broke with maxed-out credit cards, 1/2 of the books I need and had to apply for a Federal Loan. The VA told me to wait 6 weeks at first. Now they are telling me its 8-10 week process. I NEED MONEY!

[Joe]

Just to clarify, VA told schools in CA not to process certifications until late August. So it's not the school's fault.

[Joe]

If the new GI Bill was handled by contractors which was originally proposed, this wouldn't have happened. The VA knew they couldn't handle it but they selfishly chose to keep their jobs at the cost of our expense. They can't get penalized for it. Contractors can so there's an incentive to work more efficiently. Also, the schools in California will likely be more delayed than any other school. My certifying official told me they weren't allowed to certify enrollment until late August which means 6-8 weeks on top of that for processing by the VA. I also confirmed this with a VA certifying official at another school as well.

[christiana]

I don't care who is to blame, who did what, or whats gonna happen. Can I please just get some money? I've been receiving benefits for two years, now all of a sudden nothing for the last two months! I've got kids to feed, a mortgage to pay and my credit card is maxed out with tuition, this months tuition hasn't been paid, and I certanley can't pay the credit card bill. I just need to be able to survive, money any money PLEASE!!!!!
-Hungry in Arkansas

[labuconn]

Just got of the phone with VA. They said ooops the Buffalo office computers are down until tuesday, 22 Sep. They said they are updating system....which is another accuse for stop calling everyone we are overloaded so lets just tell people...oh sorry VETERANS OF THE ARMED SERVICES, who put there time in and went above and beyond the call of duty. We have quota's....whew I have quota's also there called obligations. We all know when congress gets involved in anything...ex. YOU LIE statements. that pretty much we're screwed. It seems to me when DFAS over pays you that it doesn't take long for them to take there money back. Look how fast that process is. Quick as hell. Maybe that's what the VA needs some people from DFAS to help out. Well maybe not, you see when they owe you it takes awhile, when you owe them ..SNATCHED UP back.
To all those shipmates who are telling people to stop crying...why don't you just take a back seat and shut up yourselves. You don't know peoples situations. I joined 20 some odd years ago and was told to donate money to this and we all know back then you didn't get paid alot, with the thought of being able to go to school and it would be paid for. Well it's not like this just started overnight. I'm being told everyday that this is the most claims ever in any one year, well guess what you should have planned on that before implimetation of new plan and had the people in place. I was always tought "the hurry up and wait program". Sounds like they should have adopted this mentality also.
Getting back to my original comment. I'm bemused to the fact that I don't even know if I'm going to get paid Oct 1. Frightening, when your dogs are hungry and your broke because you quit your job to go to school fulltime. I just want someone to tell me the checks in the mail or in my account. Simple answers. Yes or no 12 more weeks. Reality check for the VA and it's not just the Education Dept it is the Healthcare also. Six months for a cardiologist appointment through that system. So maybe there are worse vets out there than us...oh that's me also.

[James B]

Has anyone else had the problem of trying to log into WAVE and it says, "NOTE: You MUST have a current benefit award with activity in the last 12 months."? Ive had all my paper work done now for months...and the school says they have mailed it back to them. The file number is your social right? All I know is if I dont get the money soon ill be kicked from school.

[sammytki]

robert

talk to the va rep at the school - the certifying official. Mine made sure I was put on a deferrd payment list.

The VA still hasn't paid my tuition, but I was not dropped.

Good luck

[Robert]

I think it really stinks!!!! here we are getting this benefit, but then I am told I may be dropped from my classes because the check I wrote; thinking I was going to get my book stipend soon, according to the VA. well it has bounced and the school is threatening to drop me if I don't pay it soon! so what's the point of starting school and being told we will get paid for it, then being dropped! ridiculous!!!!

[Insider]

Well not all VA offices are the same. For instance, Muskogee is the only non-unionized education office. Our processing blows everyone out of the water. The unionized Buffalo, Atlanta and St Louis offices have a quota to meet and so once they meet their simple quota, they're not going to go above it.

Wonder why claims take 8 weeks just for an application? Beside the fact that we now also have plenty of children and spouses applying for this benefit through the TEB, we also have a new computer system to enter information into. Our 1970's era system is pretty much useless for the new benefit and so everyone who applies has a new system file created.

As an employee, I blame the command center in DC for their inability to tell Congress and the DoD no to the new benefits. It would have been so much easier to simply increase the rate of pay of existing benefits rather than all of these silly payments for this and that and having so many steps along the way. People who have never touched a claim get to decide how they're processed and it shows.

@ David: complaining to a person on the phone when you call is completely useless. We do not control the policies... you want change? Then contact your congressmen and work that route. If you're not going to do that, then be quiet and wait your place in line.

[Sherman]

Wow!! Some of the comments posted by some of you are amazingly ignorant! I am a 26 year vet retired from active duty. I have never seen any new VA program work smoothly during start up. So, I guess President Obama or Congress is to blame for that as well. I am unemployed, didn't qualify to receive unemployment, and now out of money. I received my eligibility, 100%, and am attending school full time right now. I have not received a dime yet from the VA, but I know that this problem with the VA is no one person’s, no one’s party, and definitely not the President’s or Congress fault. If a meteor hit earth or the earth gets invaded by aliens, then I guess that’s President Obama’s fault too. Stop the blame game! Veteran’s should act more responsibly, and you know like I know, that when you were or even if you’re still in the military, “hurry up and wait” has plagued the military way before the President took office. The Department of VA and you getting your benefits on time got nothing to do with Health Care reform, nothing to do with politics, nothing to do with Congress, and definitely nothing to do with the President of the United States. The good news is, you will get paid every prorated dime, when is the bad news. Be patient, temper your frustration, and stop misdirecting blame.

[USAF8405]

Storm...really? That's weird and crazy. The school gets paid and you receive your book stipend and housing allowance AFTER the school sends your enrollment certification to the VA and the VA processes it. And, the school should not have sent an enrollment certification to the VA unless you have given them a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility from the VA showing what percentage you have been qualified for.

Something definitely smells funny here.

[Storm]

I've received my books payments as well as my BAH stipend for august but the V.A.has sent me no paper work on anything. No award letter no certificate of eligibility, nothing.

Without the award letter,the money the V.A. has sent to my school for tuition payment cant be processed. That is at least what the school's v.a. counselor has told me. Twice the V.A. has told me they mailed the letter to me on (insert date) and i never recieved anything.

I'm out of pocket paying for school as of right now. The letter is coming from the same state, why am i not receiving it? Are they lying to me? How hard is it to mail a simple letter?

[Erin]

I submitted my paperwork in May and my VA Official sent my certification July 13th. They VA lost my certification, I had to get the transaction number and certification number to give to them and now it says on their screen that my school sent my certification on August 19th. That's not true. Needless to say I'm still waiting but luckily I have a job to pick up where the VA is definitely not! It's very frustrating but hopefully they will get everything squared away!

[Monkey]

With all these issues we are having, we should flood the Sec of Veterans (Shinseki) email with our complaints. Unfortunately, there is no email address available. Does anybody know his email address?

[Miguel]

My case:

July 28th: VA received my verification of enrollment (from my school)

I'm supposed to receive my housing allowance 4-6 weeks after that, correct? Well, it's September 13th and I haven't received anything...YOU do the math.

[Dean]

If the GI Bill is this messed up, I can't wait for universal healthcare.

[None of your Business]

I am the wife of a war veteran and my husband started school on 17 August. The VA Rep at the school did not submit his paperwork until a week later when my husband and I went into her office personally and asked why she had not submitted it. Well, its 3 weeks later. No money for books or BAH stipend. Every time my husband calls the GI Bill phone number it tells him that all the representatives are currently assisting other veterans and to call at another time. He calls every week like we were told to do. We are living on his unemployment from the Army since his return from Afghanistan. I just had back surgery and I am unable to work. Now, how the hell are we suppose to survive if the VA doesn't do their part?

[sammytki]

I was informed yesterday (10 Sept)that my tuition had been paid by the VA on the 27th of august. Nothing yet on anything else.

[amp]

Elf... You get your fist BAH Check after the first month that you attend school. For instance, if you start on 01 September, you will receive your check on 01 OCT, etc. etc. Ryan from Houston - no tax on BAH and the stipend.

[Matt C]

I enrolled in my particular school as soon as the program was announced for the fall term. I immediately used the VONAPP to process my conversion to the 9/11 program. I have already received a payment of $667 dollars for the book stipend. I have not, however received any sort of BAH payment to date. I am starting to feel the pinch a little bit, but should be able to get by. Some more communication / information would be nice.

[Naomi S]

Thursday, September 10, 2009
Live from Capitol Hill: House VA Committee to host hearing on VA/SPAWAR partnership of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill

This afternoon, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs will host a hearing to discuss the partnership between VA and Navy SPAWAR tasked with developing an electronic filing system for the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. AMVETS will be on hand in Cannon 334 at 1:30 p.m. for the hearing.

To view the live video feed of today's hearing, Click Here.

In recent weeks, AMVETS has been tracking the implementation of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, tracking payments and the backlog of claims. Though today's hearing is supposed to simply address the next phase of implementation, AMVETS wants to see Congress address the outstanding issues facing veterans already enrolled for the new Chapter 33 benefits.

Since the VA started accepting enrollment verifications on July 6, it has come to AMVETS' attention that most veterans will not receive timely payment of their living stipends and that VBA has also missed its deadlines for reimbursing schools for tuition.

While many schools have been understanding of the situation, landlords and utility companies will not be so understanding of the financial hardships.

American Veteran has already received numerous comments from veterans who have been forced to take out student loans in order to make ends meet.

After numerous calls and meetings with VA leaders to discuss the G.I. Bill and the payment processes, AMVETS has only been left with more questions about workload and benefits-delivered. AMVETS leaders will continue to ask these questions, until they receive satisfactory answers and solutions.

Check back with American Veteran Online this afternoon to learn more about today's hearing.

[John Smith]

I have been keeping up with the postings following this article and I have yet to see anyone comment on the regular old chapter 30. I opted out of the new program because I feared such problems as delays and further complications. I have yet to receive my chpt 30 benefits and have been attending the same school for spring, summer, and now the fall semester. I cannot even certify. I know many of you are experiencing the same difficulties under the post 911 bill but what about chapter 30???? When I call its the sam old "all lines are busy" and rather than place me on hold, they disconnect. HELP????

[Nancy]

I visted my CO at my school yesterday and she told me that the VA is telling her that students just need to wait for their money they and their schools will evently get their payments.

She recommended that I contact my local representive and that others should do the same.

For those who think we should just suck it up and get a job, some people may have been let go (like I have, because the minimum wage went up and she could no longer afford to pay me) and have trouble finding jobs at this time. I know some are in tougher situations and was hoping for this money to help them get through.

[Eff This]

The VA told me it'll take 4-6 to receive payment. LIES LIES LIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I applied for the Post 911 MAY 1. My enrollment Verification went out AUG 2!!!!! still no money. They keep telling me 4 to 6 weeks!!! I'll tell you what, you better start getting ready for Spring semester cause these **********...As soon as I can register for my spring classes I will...

[Radar]

Wow!! blame your schools official? come on ... the backlog is now 275,000. Schools have been certifying student as soon as they were able to. Schools want to get paid too, they sure dont need to get calls from us veterans wanting to know when they will be paid everday and they want to make sure ... they are doing the best job they can with the information they receive from the VA. The VA kept changing the process on the schools from what I know (certify after drop add)... and the backlog continues to grow. The rates for each state maximum kept changing, VA had IT issues, and with a backlog of 275K and new VA employees trying to keep up with the workload its going to get worse before it gets better. School just started within the past few weeks ... the back log will get bigger and all of us are in the workflow. If you want things to get better, tell the folk on capital hill how thier new GI Bill is being handled ... again it was congress that put this GI Bill into place ... they need to follow up to insure thier GI Bill is working properly.

[ryan from houston]

--------BY THE WAY, DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THEY ARE GOING TO TAX OUR BAH AND STIPEND?--------------

[B.J.B.]

Were people honestly under the impression that the beginning of an entirely new chapter to the G.I. Bill would be launched without ANY flaws? It should have been painfully obvious to anyone that has ever dealt with the VA in any way whatsoever that things would be incredibly backed up at first but would eventually work themselves out. And by "work themselves out," I mean, we WILL get reimbursed for whatever we rate, so what is the purpose of whining like a child? Funny how quick us veterans are to point out "all our time in the sand" and "what we did for our country" and at the same time sounding like every whiny liberal out there who assumes they are entitled to anything and everything from the government. Yes, I know, we DO rate the benefits but it doesn't mean we have to bad mouth the ones that have chosen to offer us the benefits and sound like the very people that epitomize what is so wrong with this nation that we DO fight to protect (let's hope it wasn't in vain, by the way, as we seem to be more and more accepting of socialism all of a sudden). I cannot imagine how on earth they could possibly be caught up with everything even by October, but if they are, I would be extremely impressed and had absolutely no reason to believe I would be getting my benefits that quickly when well over a quarter of a million people have applied! Perhaps somewhere an article was written guaranteeing veterans prompt payment under this new bill, but I never saw it and if I had, I still wouldn't have believed it. This is not a case of foolish incompetence of the VA, this is an overwhelming task by any standards, but the bottom line is that obviously we will eventually get the money so if you weren't prepared for a longer waiting period than usual, then perhaps ignorance has been the bigger issue and you should've waited to apply for the post 9/11 bill when it was more established.

[ryan from houston]

I'd make a comment, but it seems like whats on my mind has already been said. I am just so disappointed. But you know what i can believe this would happen. with all these government programs failing and all under this new communist regime.Its just so depressing. I am broke. flat broke! I remember how awesome this sounded! I should of known better. Just when you think you can rely on your government for your 4 years of service. for your years of spending b days, Christmas, new years, thanksgivings, valentines days, and anniversary's in the desert fighting the presidents wars. lol just boggles the mind. truly boggles the mind.

[Nancy]

My paperwork was sent to the VA by my school on July 23, 2009 and I still have not received anything since my last payment under Chapter 30 during the summer. I called the GIBill number and was told Buffalo is taking up to 8 eight weeks.

[USAF8405]

"The schools don't/won't certify a claim until AFTER class has started to assure you are going to school and not just trying to get the money..."

The lies just keep on coming. UNBELIEVABLE.

[Michael]

The schools don't/won't certify a claim until AFTER class has started to assure you are going to school and not just trying to get the money...

[Tom]

Make sure you DOUBLE check with your VA official at your school to make sure that they have submitted the certification. They WILL sit on it, such as with my case. I e-mailed the guy twice in July and August, and did not get it done until I showed up in person! Now I'm hoping the VA will do their part in 4-8 weeks....which by that time Fall Semester will be coming to a close.

[Antonio]

The VA is flat out lying. The schools have no reason to submit the paperwork. Everybody knows that the colleges are money hungry and vets equal guaranteed payment. They VA is doing a long audit and are not sensitive to the fact that the vets need the money. These VA caseworkers are getting their checks every month while we suffer. More vets should be case workers.

[sammytki]

Golly Robert

I seriously doubt that they are going to get their knickers in a bunch from one little ol fax from me.

I didn't even mention my case. I told them I was okay financially and could wait, but had concerns about all the stories from other veterans I've read here and at another site. I passed on that information.

It made me feel better and at the end of the day - que sera, sera.

[Robert]

Sammytki,

You can tell President Obama and Senator Webb anything you want, but come on--the president you needed to contact is the President of your school and the senator you needed to contact is the State Senator in charge of your college and university systems if you want to complain about your School Certifying Official failing to send your information to the VA in a timely manner.

The President and Congress can barely pay attention to one thing at the National level, much less wasting time running down some college employee who didn't do their job in sending your information on time. Just about nothing wastes more time than complaining to the wrong people.

Congress: address the failure of a Federal agency (Department of Veterans Affairs) to handle your case fairly and under the requirements of law.

Local Government: address the failure of a State agency or institution (YOUR SCHOOL) to handle your case fairly and under the requirements of law.

That's the point I'm making.

[sammytki]

Geez Robert

Am I not allowed to contact my President and the author of the GI Bill to share my experience with the new benefit?

I'm sure they like to hear what is going on out there.

[Robert]

Sammytki,

Why did you contact the President and your senator? At least in your case, it was your school's fault. You said it yourself, THE SCHOOL didn't send your information until August 19th.

I just don't understand why you think that's the VA's fault, warranting a congressional inquiry involving the President and Senator Webb...