I would like to recieve phamplets on all my G I ‚benefits

Ok, I just called the VA this past Fri(sept 4th), and they informed me that it is now taking an average of 16–20 weeks to prcess claims, longer if you are living in California or Texas. I was told 22 weeks!!! WTF! I cant believe this. I cant even complete college now.

I would not enroll into this program if I had to do it over again. Nothing but problems and headaches. I use my school money for a morgage payment and I can kiss that out the window hearing these comments and experiencing first hand what it was like to talk with a rep. I had to call twice just to get a direct answer and to hear Sep 22 I should be paid, but now reading this article I am not sure if that will happen. Not sure what the deal is because like the other comment said they had plenty of tiime to plan for this, could this be a ripple effect from one of Obama’s promises, hhhhhmmmmm!

i completed the VONAPP one week after it was available. i’ve been waiting this whole time for something other than silence, and yesterday, found out that the Bravo Fox team (those employed to spend 1.5 hours on each of us) has no information on me. now i have P-​​911GIB-​​TSD. that’s right post 911 gi bill traumatic stress disorder. whiskey– tango– fox, over

I had started the post 9/​11 GI Bill package back in early June. Got my certificate of eligibility from the VA, then started the process for the Service Check through DMDC and TEB. These geniuses have sat on it since June, and still have not finished their part. So once they give the final approval the VA still has to do their part to process the claims. So here I am dead in the water and the college wants their money. Have had to take out student loans to pay for this. Who do we veterans turn to to get this mess corrected. Maybe our Congressmen or Senators could put some fire under the tail ends of the people who are slowing this down. If anyone has been having the same problems and have had success in getting your claims processed, please give the rest of us poor slobs some advice.

I’ve read almost all of these posts. And no one has received benefits. Is there anyone who has in fact received benefits?? My university is putting my financial tuition costs on hold until October when the MGIB money is suppose to come in. Is it really going to be backed up farther than October? My letter was submitted to my tuition one week after classes started.

I too applied for my certificate of eligibility back in June. The same day that I got the letter in the mail letting all of us know about the Post 9/​11 GI Bill. I got my certificate about 2 weeks later and immediately enrolled in school. I started class on August 10. I waited until about mid August to call the VA. When I did call them they told me that my school had not certified my enrollment. I immediately called the school and the VA was right, So they certified my enrollment that day. Since the 15th of August I haven’t heard anything or recieved any money. What frustrates me the most is that I have done everything that I was suppose to do and now I’m in finnacial hardship because of this whole deal.I quit my job and was depending on this money to survive with.If I dont get this money soon I will probably have to quit School and go back to work. I have wrote my Govenor and intend to write all of my Crongressman. Guys we need to do something. We need to set people straight.This is not a gift. We earned it, now give it to us.

I applied for the Post 9/​11 GIBILL in early June, I recieved my Certificate of Eligibility just about 5 weeks exactly afterwards, and that is what i was promised but I have also been getting mixed answers of when i will recieve the BAH part, first I was told 2–4 weeks, I call the second week and was told 4–6 weeks, i called the 4th week then was told 6–8 weeks, I also haven’t even recieved the book stipend so i had to pay that portion out of pocket, this is getting rediculous but I do have faith in the VA, they are trying, they have a very busy job trying to take care of us and I cannot complain, then again I still do…Anyways it all takes time, patience, and hope…Good luck to you all

What really bothers me is that everyone is expecting the BAH to pay for not working. Money isn’t free. I understand you served your country, but don’t use this program as a way to pay for anything else except your education. What really upsets me is that everyone who is complaining, probably complained during there whole time in the service.

Chief E, You don’t understnad what this is for. It gives the men and women who gave up 4+ years of their life a chance to get noticed. Corporations say they want leaders and all they care about is a degree. I say crawl bck in the porthole you came out of, no one asked for your input Chief.

I don’t want to make light of all the horror stories of how the VA is so horrible to everyone, but I have a good story to share. I applied online and by mail on the very first day applications were being accepted. I received a letter in the mail from the VA saying my application was being processed. I received my letter of eligibility approximately 6 weeks later. I have started school in September and have not applied for the housing stipend yet. I imagine that if I don’t get it within a few days it won’t matter much. I have a job and as long as I eventually receive the money no harm, no foul.
One last comment I want to make. All of us veterans know how the VA works. There are some very decent humans, some of them veterans themselves, who are working to take care of us. Have a little patience and realize that things take time. Remember the rules about prior planning and become a little more proactive in your relationship with the VA, not reactive. I retired in July of 2008 and so far my experiences with the VA have been commendable. I want to thank the Bay Pines VA Hospital, the VA educational benefits office in Atlanta, and the Winston Salem VA office for making my experiences pleasant.

I am a veteran awaiting funds from the VA because I decided to go back to school while I worked. But, I have recently been let go from my job. It would have been nice to fall back on these benefits as a veteran and say that the sacrifice made for my country paid off “literally”. But, I will say that I am just grateful that I am able to receive this money. I am grateful that its available for us.

Gennaro, I too did my budgeting based on my wifes salary and the GI Bill.I knew that I could make it through school without getting in to debt. Now that all this has happened, I am going to be late on my mortgage for the first time ever. My mortgage company is certainly not going to be “patient” with me. I too have thought about quiting school as well. With four kids working and school is not possible. We are left with hard decisions to make. Good luck to you

cheif e whatever we have to pay for with our benifit money we do what we have to im sorry but not all of us are in it for the long hall some of us got in to go to college in the first place .

All this mess sounds normal for the VA/​DOD. I have been wanting to use it,but sounds like a mess and I dont have any extra to put out if I have no idea when I am getting it. They sound like CHASE. They give you the run around and cant find your payments you make.
Good luck all.

I rather agree with Chief E’s sentiment. We are not a socialist country, I have always looked at the MGIB as a shortened pension for my five years of service. Anything greater than the 1800 dollars I invested and I’m grateful, which has been surpassed a long time ago. Lets not forget the conscription laws of some countries, Thank God we even get paid in the military. We could just as well been forced to service and compensated with three squares and a cot. Not to mention we wouldn’t get jack when we’re done. Lets keep this in perspective people, I’m sure we’ve all been compensated well during our military journeys, if not in monetary terms then at least in cultural/​experience terms. Thank you. As a read more of this responses, I get more angry. Phillip W. Dugan says “We want our money!!” hey *&^% you hog, how dare you say its your money, man! Fellow veterans and there holier than thou attitude, I got news for you, You’re not any better than a civilian who worked for wal-​​mart age 18 through 24, what about their supposed free ride for four years, you veteran socialists are really starting to scare me. The very fabric of this great nation is being torn apart by supposed “republican” veterans, AKA disguised Socialist/​Communists, you want benefits, than move to Cuba!

Just an up date to my G.I Bill Problems, I have called the VA and I had to go through 2 supervisors to have them tell me SOMEONE DID NOT PUSH MY FILE FORWARD SINCE IT WAS DONE!!! I said “If my file was done and no one pushed it forward why was it not FLAGGED? They blamed it on someone else!!! So then 2 weeks have gone by and I called the VA again and went through 3 people to get to a Supervisor and that Person told me that my file was DONE but someone did not send it to Finance… I EXLPODED!!! What the hell I have been at this for alone time and 2 weeks ago someone blamed someone one else. I ask if it takes 1.5 hr to finish someones file how come someone dose not take 2 hrs and do it right the 1st time? The supervisor said“I don’t make those decisions.. Oh yea did I tell you I still have not got my file done or got my money.. So I will have to call and wait on the phone for another SUPERVISOR» Come on VA/​DOD Get your people working and make them do it RIGHT the 1st time..

Hey,
What’s all the whinning about. Thanks for serving your Country. But quit pissin and moanin. What’s with the sense of entitlement attitude. I, me, mine. Do you realize your suppose to represent America’s finest. Selfless and Honorable. Some of you sound like spoiled little brats. Be patient and remain in line. The money is coming. Be thankful your getting money. There are some that paid into the Bill that died on the field of battle. They won’t get to see there money. You should have contact your college VA rep first place.
Semper Fi!

I can’t believe some of you people. Of course people are complaining! This is messing with our ability to LIVE. This is something we were promised and now we’re not getting it.
I don’t know if those people who are saying we’re “babies” and are “whining about college” have ever tried to raise children and go to school full time and work full time.
We were promised this when we signed up. Fortunately, just wanting to “do a job and serve your country” is not the only reason many of us served. It was also for this lovely benefit we were PROMISED.
Call it socialism if you will, but take that up with the gorvernment.
We just want what is ours.

I can’t believe some of you. When you sign up to serve this country, your signing a contract.We are held to that contract. So is it “Un-​​American” to hold this government up to their end. The fact is that there are alot of soldiers out there having a hard time getting a job due to the economy. When you have aline filled with College grads and a transitioning soldier. The College grad is going to get the job everytime. To reference us to communist/​socialist is outrages. I got news for you. This is an all volunteer Military that has recruitment incentives. One of those incentives was a College education. I think that the frustration comes from the VA claims that it will begin paying out in August. Why put that out there when you cant meet that deadline. For all of you who are waiting just like me, do what you have to. We will get through this, we’re soldiers. For the rest of you who say that it is wrong to complain and demand payment.Goodluck to you, be that “good American”, the one and waits patiently in line. Because there will be a soup kitchen at the end of it.

I am truly sad that most of the comments are negative. I received my book stiped and a pro-​​rated amount for Aug 09. Everything seems to be going on time for me. I did my paperwork back in May and it did take a long time to get it back, but once it received it and took it to my school. They was on it. All I can say is hold on. We are servicemember should know how to hurry up and wait. I just pray I receive my regular payment the end of this month and the program goes weel for all.

I am really upset about this because it seems they are trying so hard to get the Post 9/​11 finished the chapter 30s have fallen by the wayside. It makes no since for it to take 8 weeks especially if you are already in the system and have received the GI Bill previously. Thank God that I am married and we do not depend on the money but what about the people who do? They should have been more prepared.

I wish we could all be on the same side here. I hate to be the “why can we all just get along?” person, but I guess I am.
All this ridiculous Marine-​​pimple-​​garbage is not getting anyone anywhere. I would hope that we could all just agree that the system is flawed and something needs to be done.
I am very thankful for the legislation that enabled me to be eligible for this education benefit. Now all I would like is for the leaders in this country to see that the method of processing needs reform.
Join “I want my G.I. Bill Money” on Facebook… and write Oprah!

I a appalled by all you who are complaining about some perceived slight the VA has subjected you to. I challenge you to go to your local VA hospital and see the condition some of our fellow veterans find themselves in. Stop complaining and realize that you have more than many veterans have and they do not want your pity or your sympathy. Stop crying because every one of you will get what you have coming! Be patient and understanding or you will work yourself up about nothing. One more thing to all you who want to call Oprah, she has created the mentality in our country that is causing you to act the way you do. She does not care about you. She wants publicity to make Oprah richer. If you allow her to get rich off your dumb *** then you deserve each other.

Part 2 continued from my first post, posted on September 15, 2009 at 05:27 P.M.
Well its now September 15, 2009 and I have received no payments of any kind; no book stipend, no tuition payments. There are veterans who submitted all required documents before me who still have not been paid. I’m fortunate only because after years of dealing with the government and its bureaucratic nature, I expected this would be a complete and total disaster and had around $3500 saved. In addition, because I was unsure of the actual cost of living in this area, I opted for the maximum amount of the Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. Its a good thing I did, because so far I’ve had to pay out all my tuition and fees ($2900), my books ($1300), rent ($1380 thus far, including deposit & 2 months rent), utilities ($340), and telephone and Internet service ($238), directly from my savings, my grants, my scholarships, and my loans.
The funds are getting tighter and tighter, and I’ve given up calling the VA, since for the past 8 days I’ve called, I’m not even allowed to wait in queue, instead my call is dropped because of all the other individuals calling about their benefits.
Every person who is raising concerns here is absolutely justified. This is a completely unacceptable situation. There are veterans here at Mississippi State University who are in the same situation I’m in, although even more dire. Several of them can’t even afford books, even while working a job, because the cost of living is absorbing all their funds.
I don’t normally call people out directly on the Internet, primarily because it reminds me of the old adage of two retarded people fighting… you’re still retarded no matter who wins, however, some of comments here are so poorly thought out that I simply can’t allow you amnesty for your callousness and/​or ignorance.
Anthony USMC: I’m not sure where to even start with you. Instead of trying to console your fellow veteran, you belittle and berate him. Is that typical for the Marines? I know in the Navy, we pick our shipmates up when they fall down. Furthermore, the world may not owe anyone a living, but Corey (and every other veteran who is eligible) *is* owed his benefits from the Post 9/​11 G.I. Bill — this is a federal law, an Act of Congress. It it absolutely his right to claim these benefits. And while you may have the luxury of working a full-​​time job while being enrolled full-​​time, I do not. I’m a pre-​​medicine major out of college for 11 years who was allowed exceptions to several of my classes to move past simplistic courses so I could move into the pre-​​medical pipeline faster and better prepared. I don’t have the luxury of working a job for extra money. I have to make my funds ‘work’ so I can spend every moment pouring over my textbooks and supplemental resources to become as best prepared for medical school as possible. You choose to work sir, no one forces you to, and in that same vein, no one should be required to work to attend college. You go to a university to learn, not to work a job. In another comment you bring up that we should be thankful we are getting our money. You can’t be thankful for something you haven’t received. That’s a contradictory straw man argument. Your only valid recourse to be upset with someone’s behavior would be after they receive their monies, then you can make that statement in a justified manner.
J. Miranda: This benefit wasn’t ‘granted’ to us by our government. Queen Elizabeth II did not touch us on the shoulder with a ceremonial sword and bequeeth us educational assitance. The Post-​​9/​11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 is a federal *law*. It is a guaranteed benefit for those eligible.
wounded warrior: You make an appeal to sympathy by trying to remind veterans that their active duty counterparts may (or may not) still be serving. The appeal to sympathy argument is a poor one in this nation for two reasons. 1. We have an all-​​volunteer military, so no one has been forced to join against their will, therefore whether they are still on active duty or not is inconsequential to the argument. 2. You’re trying to equate your reasons for joining the military and force those beliefs on everyone else. It doesn’t work that way son. You may not have joined for educational benefits, but quite a few current active duty, guard, and reservists did (and continue to do so, even now). Its asinine of you to begrudge anyone who joins the military for a college education, especially when the services themselves enforce a culture of education so wholeheartedly (for instance, there are many Navy programs with $50,000 additional college benefits on top of G.I. Bill benefits, along with tuition assitance programs for active duty servicemembers; I could go on, but most of us are familiar with these programs). It must be a terrible thing to be unable to do something you love, but you shouldn’t begrudge anyone else for not sharing your viewpoint. Remember Aristotle — “The mark of an enlightened mind is being able to entertain an idea without believing in it.“
Bill Samson: I’m not sure what to make of your comments. You’re comparing an Act of Congress that was engineered by a democratic Congressman, former Sectarary of the Navy, and veteran himself, Senator Jim Webb, and then the subsequent passing of this law by nearly the entire Senate and House of Representatives with socialist ideals that are held by Cuba? At least that’s what it sounds like you’re saying. It sounds more like you’re the one who should be ashamed, and while you might be angered about people expecting their benefits (which are guaranteed to them by law), I’m rather angered that you’d compare our Congress to Cuban leadership. Shame on you sir.
Chief E: You raise some very good points which I think no one has really addressed. While its certainly possible to live on your 9/​11 G.I. Bill and attend school as well, it takes diligence, proper planning, an a willingness to scale back your standard of living a bit. In regards to this, I opted to take out Stafford loans so I could focus more thoroughly on my degree program. Others may want to consider doing the same. Since I’ll be attending medical school, I already expect to be $130,000 to $240,000 in debt, another $20,000 won’t make a tremendous difference.
Many of you made good points, and many of you made truly abyssmal, poorly considered ones. There seems to be a tremendous divide between veterans who joined the military to pay for a college education (and possibly escape into a different social class) versus those members of the military that are careerists. On top of that, there’s another group somewhere in between that seems to be apologists for the government and specifically the Department of Veterans Affairs. I know nothing more to say to you except, “For shame.” Patriotism, despite what someone may have told you, is not condoning everything your government does. Patriotism is defending as vehemently as possible the visions, concepts, and ideas our nation was founded upon, and just as vehemently opposing any who would attempt to stifle them.

An update first today I recieved my first payment, but no Eligibility Litter, it’s in the mail. My payment is only around $200 short along with the other $1300 of brake payment I have not received. I know I should be happy with what I am getting it will help. The thing here is that I only received 80 percent due to the fact I only served 30 months after 9/​11. O one more thing two lines down from were my DD form 214 says Honorable Discharge, it says reason for separation PERMANENT DISABILITY. Now I know we are talking about the government here, but when I call VA today I was inform that I should have recieved a 100 percent, but due to the their overlookinng the fact the I was retired disable, I would have to write a letter and it will take 6 more weeks for them to correct it. So maybe by Christmas I’ll have all that back payment.

Im frustrated too but it was hurry up and wait then so its hurry up and wait now. What do you expect rite? Im sure people are trying their hardest. Its a lot of people that signed up for this new one. Im having the same problems as everyone else. So in the meantime write who you want or bitch at someone hopefully something works. I just that I’d y’all know that people are starting to receive their proper funds (not me but people are). Good Luck BIAS

Many of you raise good points and @Chris, you’re right, the VA had a lot of time to get its act together. They tried to outsource the benefits, but they couldn’t get any serious bidders who could tackle the crap that the lawyers [read: Congress] and DoD pricks developed.
You’re incorrect on one major issue, they’ve hired a lot of employees, but not soon enough. The computer system was a huge problem because it didn’t exist till recently and the people are new using it. Hiring many temporary employees as the VA did, I can say that you’re in for a real surprise down the road when those jobs go by the wayside.
Supposedly, we’re going to get a automated system to process claims by December 2010. In case you weren’t aware, we already had a similar program that was an utter failure. Basically, they need to get rid of the unionized offices and leave the non-​​unionized offices to hire more employees.
FYI for everyone: school officials hold a lot of control over whether or not you’re going to be paid. They could begin sending in enrollment certification no earlier than July 7, 2009. For many of you who have not gotten your payments, ask your school why they sat on it for so long? I look at claims all day long, the vast majority did not come in until well after August 1st.
It’s true you did earn this benefit (its not a right, you’re not going to find it in the Constitution buddy) but when you have the command structure who literally does not produce anything making decisions on how claims are to be worked, school officials who couldn’t find their ass from a hole in the ground and some (not all) unionized VA employees who only do the minimum work required, you’re created a recipe for disaster.
I’m not so optimistic this program will be better because the pool of eligible people is too large and you haven’t even factored in the scoundrels who use the benefits instead of working and drop out and we then have constant adjustments to make. Plenty of blame to go around, but Congress and the DoD created it and the VA command did practically nothing to make them aware of how reality works because frankly, they’re overpaid yes men.

I think everyone here has a legitimate right to complain. The main thing that matters in the real world is GETTIN YOUR DEGREE! To the crusty old lifers that say we shouldnt complain remember you are living off retirement while we need this money to help our transition. PS I finished 3/​4 of a bachelors while was in and most lifers never even got their associates, what does that tell you.

I guees ill add my sad story,
Checked with my school (United Education Institute) was told school qualified for new gibill. I switched over, turned in my paperwork in June. Waited till Sept. only to find out at some point my school lost its cert. and never told the students. Unable to switch back to the old GIBill, I’ve been out of benefits for almost 3 months now. With my school just getting allowed back into the Post 9/​11 program. It will be another 2–3 months before I can see any money. I give it another week or so before I start using my training to rob,steal,cheat,lying and hurt whoever to feed my family. How sad to serve and now ill be a criminal just to keep a roof over my son’s head.

Well the VA said “That the Student will get paid 1st before your school” WELL THATS WRONG!!!! The School got there money before I did and I am still waiting. I had to fight evey week to make sure my GI-​​Bill was processed correct, week after week they blamed it on someone else at the VA and my file never got processed until 3 weeks ago from the 4 supervisor. And still they say I would get paid for my BAH and Books, and way before the School. Well I am still waiting. I had a hard time since the start and am hoping and praying that this will end for others. Good luck, because I still don’t think the VA processing center are doing a complete job of everyone’s file.

I am very upset, as a single mom and I have paid for my MGI Bill while I was active duty. I am going to school for more than 12 credit hours, I submitted my attendence and I am only getting half of what I am owed. The claim was put in back in August and still haven’t been processed. I am not able to pay my rent today due to them not able to process the claim or pending documents. I have three kids go to school full time and work two ten hour days. I need my back money, and when I called the VA rep said there was nothing he could do to fix my credit hours and process my back payment for August. What am I suppose to do? I am need of help, and the people I thought that could help me have failed me.