VA E-Mails Advance Payment Explanation

Be Sure to Check Your Junk Mail Folder

By Terry Howell

As many of you have heard the VA has started contacting veterans to give them follow up information on the advance GI Bill payment recoupment. Many of have been told to expect a call from the VA through the JD Power company. So far I have not been called, however I was sent a form letter via e-mail. The following is the letter I received - which by the way was automatically filtered into my "Junk Mail" folder. So keep a look out for it, it's legit.

ACTUAL VA LETTER SENT VIA E-MAIL

Dear Terry Howell,

This e-mail has been sent on behalf of J.D. Power and Associates for the Department of Veteran's Affairs. The Department of Veteran's Affairs is conducting an important outreach effort of Veterans and active duty service members who have applied for educational benefits under the post 9/11 GI Bill, also called chapter 33.

NOTE: I actually didn't apply for Chapter 33, but I did request the advance payment based on my MGIB enrollment.

Our records show that you took advantage of the opportunity VA provided, and received an advanced payment of your VA education benefits. The purpose of this e-mail is to touch base with you so it is clear what that payment represents, and how you and VA will settle any overpayment of your education benefits.

The payment issued to you represents an advance on your future VA education benefit payments. This payment was made by VA in an effort to get funds into your hands as quickly as possible while VA brings up its system of automated claims processing. Simply put: VA didn't want you to wait.

Right now, VA is working through the accounts to make sure that what you have received so far matches your entitlement. Since you took the advance payment there's a good chance you received more than what you are owed. That's fine, and VA did that deliberately so you could get the money you needed to stay in school. VA will simply subtract the “extra” payment from the checks you'll receive automatically in the future. By the end of the academic year, you will have received exactly your full entitlement.

Assuming you have been enrolled in school full time continuously, you should actually be due an amount close to the advanced payment, so you and VA will be easily settled. For example, if you qualified for 100% of the GI Bill benefit and have been enrolled full-time through September and October in a location that has a $1500 a month housing allowance, and VA processes your enrollment certification in November, the back payment for your housing allowance for September and October will be $3000. This is exactly the same amount as the $3000 advanced payment. If the monthly allowance for your location is $1400, then you should get $2800 for September and October. If you received a $3000 advance payment check then VA will deduct the $200 difference from the payments you are due over the next several months. We won't take it out of your checks all at once.

You can help VA with your claim by ensuring your school has submitted your enrollment certification.

If you received the advanced payment but you have not enrolled in school, or do not have sufficient remaining entitlement to VA education benefits, you will need to return the advanced payment. In that case, but only in that case, it becomes an ordinary debt to the government; it will be very important for you return it if you are not enrolled or were not entitled.

If you have any questions once you have received your education benefit award letter from VA, please contact 1-888-442-4551 (GIBILL-1).

Please click on the link below to acknowledge reading this e-mail. If you do not click on this link, we may telephone you to confirm that you were informed of this information.

LINK OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT  (links disabled)

If you would like to be removed from any future e-mails, please click HERE. (links disabled)

J.D. Power and Associates
2625 Townsgate Road Suite 100
Westlake Village, CA 91361

Comments

[A Montalvo]

I never received such payment. I am a retired officer, going to school fulltime and a full time job. I received one payment of over $1,300.00 in October and nothing else. What's going on and what are the real facts about this GI bill?

[Just Wondering]

Does anyone know if you took advantage of the $3000. advance when the next payment is supposed to be? It is great that the VA was trying to help. But.. my wife quit working so that I could go back to school.. Ive read that some people heard not until Jan. others are getting overpaid.. Is there really a method to this madness? We are doing ok.. but Im thinking Christmas is right around the corner.. and we took a paycut which would've been somewhat offset by the extra money.. I work full time and am taking 3 classes. 2 hybrid and 1 in class everyday. It's work.. but the benefits... ie.. advancement at my job is what my goal is :) Grades are good.. It's a sacrifice for my family as I have 3 small kids and my wife is IT for the most part, as I am either sleeping, going to school or working.. but the benefits do outweigh.. and without the extra BAH I wouldnt be able to afford to go to school now ;) so for THAT I am Thankful for the Post 9/11 GI BILL :)

[Tennille]

My certification was sent to the VA in late July. I started school in August. I applied for the advance payment Oct 16 because I am broke, broke, broke! Nothing.. called the VA, check didn't get sent, can't tell me why, can't fix it so I can resubmit it. Closest regional office, 4 hours. I have two small children and am a full-time law student. I don't have 8-10 hours to spare! I can't pay my daycare bill, wondering how much longer I can buy groceries on my almost maxed out credit card! I am really trying to be patient, but seriously? They told me today, "best case scenario on your claim is the end of this month"! It's November, the semester is OVER in December!!!

[Average Joe]

Here is the facts:
-The VA will take the first $3000 you are supposed to receive, the reason is they expect to owe you that much. If you have received a monthly check, be saving it cause they will get their money.
-If you havent received a letter talking about your first monthly payment (I finally got through on the phone today, my letter is being mailed today), you wont receive your payment till 3 weeks after that letter.
-JD Powers called me, the email is for real. The young lady who talked to me, read me the email above. I could tell she was reading. Do not think it is a fake, scam, or anything like that. Be aware of my first point, they gave you that money expecting to owe you that much already. So if you receive a check for the months they owed you (without deducting the advance), they will get their money in later months. Be aware and plan accordingly.

[fabio martinez]

I m a CDR U.S. Navy retiree with a 60% Disabality rating from the VA. I was eligible for the Mont. GI Bill. And enrolled but prior to retiring I disenrolled and never used a penny off of it. Now I want to have accesss to some sort of educational benefit that I have never used, or better yet transfer it to my children. I retired in Jan 1999. Is there any thing / program than I can tap into? or is it all lost?

[Greg]

I applied for transfer of benefits to my daughter (approved) and helped her fill out the VA FORM 22-1990E in Aug09. The school sent in the certificate of enrollment to the VA (in Aug) and they have done nothing with it! I called and actually talked to someone about it and was told that they had everything that they needed they just hadn’t got to it yet! Very matter-of-factly. No idea when they would actually get to her case!

[deb kolb]

Well, I am a returning student (veterans spouse-he is deceased)...anyway..I applied for that advance, as my school did not bother to file until Sept 3rd(although they had my paperwork in JULY). The Gov't very nicely sent me a check (made out to my long-dead husband), which, of course, helped me NONE! Finally after 8 weeks I got my September and October checks...I just can't get passed that they sent a check to a dead man!!! Don't they know he's dead??? It is all been too much for me this year (3rd yr in college) and I feel for all of you!!!

[sammytki]

I also took the 3K advance and what do you know - a couple of weeks later received the Aug and Sept regular payments. Of course the Aug payment was only for the number of days i attended - 10.

This mornig I checked my acct and found the October payment posted.

You bet I am not spending it all. Its staying in the savings acct.

[Veteran]

I started school Aug 10 and I got a letter saying what my entitlements were on the 23 Oct. My account was credited on 4 days later. I started a new semester and the VA said it would take a minimum of 6 weeks. I also requested the advance $3000 and it took 6 days. The VA will subtract the advance over a period of time, that's what it says in the article.

[Tom]

I think the key here is to note that it went to your junk mail. It very well could be a phishing scam. I didn't hear anywhere that JD Powers has been contracted to make contacts for VA. If there were contractors processing your files, you would never know it. It would come under VA letterhead or on an email with VA in the address. don't give them any personal information. If you do have a VA file, VA already has all of your info or will send you a letter by USPS to add or correct info.

[Gerardo]

I applied for the 9/11 on jul. I did receive my advance payment but still haven't received my monthly check. This sucks. We invest money for school and now we can't get it because their falling behind. Here's a clue speed up the process for everyone. Maybe vets would get of your back.

[Renee]

I was just certified 2 weeks ago. This is the 3 time this year my VA official has done this late. I've received 2 checks that were a combination of payments owed. Who can I talk to about this? Several students waited 6 weeks after Aug 31 to see any money because we were told to wait. Well we have to wait longer now because he lied-again.

[Matt]

I haven't received an e-mail, phone call, letter in the mail, Bat-signal, nothing. I certified enrollment August 10, and still nothing. Things are getting scary for me...

[Selma Bonemery]

I am going to college under chp 31 but am also eligible under chp 33. I would like to learn about the benefit, be included in on an info session.
Thanks

[Denise Johnson]

Well I started school August 19th and never recieved a letter or anything. Just my certificate of eligibility and that was handed in by my school the day i started. I still have not seen any money except the advancement and that did not cover everything i fell behind in from not getting paid. The holidays are coming up and still no letter, phone call or email to tell me anything. I live in Maryland not too far from the Baltimore County Va Office. What is going on with this. This is unacceptable the way this is being handeled. I can't even pay my bills either, may be sitting in the dark soon and I have kids so it makes it a lot harder for me. Thanks alot.

[Shane]

This is crazy. Everytime I have to deal with the V.A. there is some excuse.I have had to pay out of pocket for tuition,books, and supplies and now I'm on the brink of being homeless. Thank's Uncle Sam! I miss you too!

[Thomas Booker Braxton(Retired)]

Im going to school now, thanks for that..But I received my POST 911 GI BILL Cert of Eligiblity back in May 2009..I presented this to my school here in bahrain (overseas maryland college)under europe. I gave them a copy of my Cert of Eligiblity on Oct 21 2009, and they said the they would mail it to the main office. What more is needed on my part?

[anne]

By accepting the advance payment does that mean that our payments for the next 2 months will not come or will the amount we received from the advance be deducted from future payments over a period of time?

[The Truth]

I knew Uncle Sam would get his money that's why I waited