“We have heard from some Veterans who are experiencing delays in receiving their benefits for the spring term. This is not a nationwide issue, but we have received more enrollments than we had anticipated at one of our regional processing offices. “
Source: VAntage Blog | Brandon Friedman
Since the Post-9/11 GI Bill was enacted in 2008, VA has issued approximately $17.24 billion in benefit payments to 702,576 individuals and their educational institutions. And while it got off to a bit of a challenging start in the fall semester of 2009, VA has since developed and implemented new technology to improve and enhance the processing of Post-9/11 GI Bill claims. This new solution has enabled VA to cut processing times by more than half. For the most part, the Post-9/11 GI Bill has been a resounding success, and it’s become the most generous education benefit for Veterans since the original World War II GI Bill.
But this semester we had an unexpected bump in the road that has impacted some Veterans.
What this means, essentially, is that we’ve now surged additional staff and resources to resolve this situation as quickly as possible. So if you know someone who’s been affected, please pass this information along. We appreciate your continued patience as we work through this, and as Veterans ourselves, many of us at VA understand what you’re going through.
And one more thing to remember: Students using their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits must ask their school officials to complete an enrollment certification, which the school official will send to VA to confirm that they are taking classes, the number of credits, and the costs for tuition and fees. On average, VA processes these certifications in about 13 working days for a returning student. First time applications take 30 days on average to complete.
[UPDATE: According to news sources, the backlog is occuring at the Buffalo NY RPO, which as of last week was about 7 weeks behind.]
If you are experiencing delays in your payments help can be found at the VA’s GI Bill customer help website.
Often we forget that on the other end of these computers are investors and employees that make it possible for those of us who are on this end. Government reorganization, new systems, or cleaning an old system adds to cost and workload. May we be patient in the delays.
Do students get their late fees covered?
Elijah, I have been patient. I submitted my paperwork based onthe 30 day rule they claimed they were processing at. Wa patient when they told me it would be another 7-10 days after that. Now on day 56 when I'm told an additional 30-60 days, after paying out of pocket for tuition and living expenses for my daughter my patience is at an end. This is not a matter of reorganization, this is a matter of incompetence, even if there were 200,000 applications they could be processed by hand in 9 weeks.
There is help available for those Vets having trouble staying in housing. The Veterans Homeless Prevention Demonstration Program was funded with $10,000,000.00 to help Vets (mainly those returning OEF/OIF) obtain a stable living environment. The e-mail address for the POC is ********.******@**.***. The situation with VA Education is that it is for VA Education programs. Deserving Veterans having trouble with a stable living environment while going to school need to contact the part of the VBA that handles the benefit. Only by claiming the HPDP benefit will the problem be properly addressed and the program developed to do what it is intended to do- help keep Vets from being homeless.
I have been patient for around twenty years waiting on the VA to regroup, recently they have turned me down for a rate increase because some dumb a
can not read medical records or anything else, why should any part of the system work any better, every time these people change the system all they do is create more delays and more paper work.
Every year a lot of people all over the world suffer from such disease as sinus infection and many of them don’t even realize that it is not just a cold and it can lead to harmful circumstances. If you want to know everything about this disease, this article is just for you.
not so bad…
May my mortgage company be patient in the delays. May my boss be patient when I delay my arrival at work. May you be patient with the contractor you hired to complete a job for you! May those that are messing with our benefits make it a top priority to NEVER miss a suspense or deadline. May they work around the clock as many of us in uniform have to ensure that the mission is accomplished without delay.
Just food for thought.
Amen brutha!……Amen!
I know the feeling. My 100% disabled spouse died in July 2011 and I have not yet received my monthly pension. Patience please mortgage company, electric company, water company, credit union, etc. Glena
May you be late in filing your taxes!
My wife was late three times now i have three little girls..Awsome..
May God Bless You Joe for telling it like it is and may your family be blessed.
You should not rely on this money to pay bills
It's true – we should not rely on the VA to pay us. However, some of us may be in a situation where we have no other choice but to rely on them for the time being. For instance – I'm a single mother and I love to work to make my own money especially because I know (better than some) that a person cannot and should not always want to rely on the government to pay us, BUT I had been unable to get a job because my daughter was not old enough yet to start kindergarten, and the hours that she's allowed at daycare are not long enough for me to work. With no help or support from family; I had to wait until just recently for her to start school so that I may get back out there in the workforce and earn my own money.
..And "Right on" to Joe for telling it like it is!!!
Amen! I am in the same exact boat as you are.
why shouldnt you if you are a full time college student then times are suppose to be rough. If not then you would have no need to be in school unless furthering your career. It pisses me off to hear ignorance from someone who has no need for a BAH allowance if you dont rely on the money. When I signed up for the service I went through two tours to Iraq and lost battle buddies during my service. If we knew that there would be no gi bill entitlements guaranteed then most wouldnt have signed up for the military in the first place. I called a VA rep the other day and she lied to me saying that BAH is not guaranteed. If you were told that The U.S. Army wasnt gonna guarantee your safety here in America people would have a big problem. So to that soldier who risk his life everyday for his country is not guaranteed his future of educational benefits that should bother everyone point blank. These VA reps are very unprofessional and I think that schools should be required to have Real VA reps in the schools to guarantee on time enrollments.
What about single mothers who have small children that can't go to work?
Why not? Why shouldn't we? Should we not rely on our Active Duty BAH to pay our rent or mortgage? Who the hell are you to be so condescending because you may be in a good spot right now, while others are not. Not everyone has it so well that they can just shrug off $700-2400 that is to be paid on a monthly basis. Because they failed us we should not depend on it? Go away!
Please say that again and LOUDER.
Maybe they will stop blowing smoke up our ass, and do the right thing.
WONDERFUL response. I need my benefits now. My school isn't going to give me a break because the VA has a backlog. In fact, they have already added on a late fee!!
I agree with the person who said you shouldn't be relying on a Government benefit to pay your bills. You should be thankful the Government is offering this benefit to you in order to better your future. Be patient and focused on the end goal. The fact that you can't pay one or two months bills because of this delay says a LOT more about your ability to plan ahead, budget and sacrifice than it does it does about the VA.
i havent received a va payment in two months… in the meantime, i used my savings to pay my bills, now my savings is on its last leg. how long can i not rely on the va to pay me?
You say that as if it's not a government benefit that we EARNED! This isn't welfare or food stamps. What should we be using the money for if not to pay bills. That comment was extremely stupid smh.
You should go away and judge someone else. This is a HOUSING STIPEND due on the first. Why not depend on it? Should we also not depend on our employer paycheck to pay our bills? Give your 2 cents somewhere else
And we disagree with you. Good for you. You are better than all of us because we depend on this benefit we EARNED. We should be thankful? Maybe you should be thankful that we fight for your right to be an ass hole on this comment section?
My thoughts exactly bro, Full-time student, supposed to be graduating this semester with an Associates in Science, unemployed, bills… few days from now things will be getting shut off…
Umm. The people hired to create the system we pay the Post 9/11 Gi Bill with is SPAWAR. That is the Navy. Just saying, and I am currently in the Navy Reserves.
The VA is not accountable to the Congress. Congress can only pay the bill and has offered to do so if the VA performs? The VA reports to the President, who seems to have forgotten that he is supposed to be "in charge?
The VBA is a culture of denial and disinformation. The entire bureaucracy is dedicated to deception and the denial of benefits (service connected) by whatever means available. If the benefits backlog is screwed up, it is intentionally screwed up and it is screwed up under the authority of the President.
Too EXAGGERATED. The president has nothing to do w/many of those “LAZY ****” working in some of the VA offices. The presidents involvement in the VA is MUCH HIGHER than “Document Processing”….get_a_life OR apply for work @ VA
higher " I know it seems like they plan on thc however, there is so much we don't consider before we get pissed. For example my school rep told me for her some students change there program five time in one term, or how they are in a constant learning cycle. Demands are on everyone so we all need a grip or our service was and will be for ever worth a fucking dam.
Jacquesdaspy,
Your comments are so off the wall, generating a response becomes a task all on itself; nevertheless speaking from 22 years of service in our armed forces and currently working for the Department of Veterans Affairs, I would confer to you that you are misinformed. There are some incompetent people in our organization who are decision makers, however , for the most part we are comitted to ensuring veterans received the benefits they are entittled!
Frankie, Frankie;
I to am a 22 yr and yes it does take time for somethings, somethings. After my injury I was told I had to go, "COULDN'T PERFORM MY DUTIES ANY LONGER. They gave me the traditional 10%. After 8 years of me running around submitting my claim for increase and providing them each time what they the VA asked for, they the VA would raise the bar and ask for something else. After 15 years of being out disabled and submitting to the VA for 100% PT ( Permanent and Total ), the 100% was approved in 3 months.
But without the (PT), Cervical Spine and Lumbar Spine injury with surgeries, pain still at 8 constantly and peaks at times to 10 and I'm totally unable to get out of bed a least once or twice a month and sometimes not for 3 months, I disagreed with the 100% because of not getting the PT. I was told I had to be 100% for 5 years before I could get PT. I sent the VA a comment off their web site where a vet showed show he was given 100% PT in less than 3 months. The VA in did not just deny my claim for the PT but they took back the 100% they gave me for the 5 year period.
I then sent them a document from my Pain Management Doctor and my Supervisor, answering their question to them about how much time I was absent from work and what was my medical condition, because I had to be absent from work at least 6 months out of a 12 month period. WE VETS are serious about our condition and supporting our families because of what we've done for everyone who hasn't served to enjoy the freedoms they have, we shouldn't have to be told "OUR OFFICE IS BACKED UP. Also, when I ask a governs office just to monitor my transactions to the VA, I got a call from that office stating they the VA were not looking at anymore of my paperwork, and all I know now is it's pending sense October 2011, but it only took 1 month to stop my 100% approval. Yes they are backed up and yes they do have those people you mention, however, it’s VETs like yourself should week out those kinda folks and attempt to end what you know what’s going on, I appalled you for your job in yet another war. If you think you could help. COMMENT TO MOE BETTER4YA
I agree totally. It's the job of the VA to deny and delay. They exist to save the government as much money as possible. The interests of the veteran recieve only verbal attention, but the actual goal of the Secretary of the VA is to cut costs at all cost. The veteran's most dangerous enemy is the Veteran's Administration.
ya know what, I'm so sick of everybody talking about the president did this or he did that…..who's to say he even knows that VA is backlogged? How many times have you sat in a meeting and said "I got it or its under control?" Did the CSM know that you or someone you know, drove after having a drink? Or that one of your troops were late? Does your parents know everything that you've done??….probably not. So ask yourself this one question before pointing the finger, "Can I manage a billion people everyday?"……probably not.
Stop defending the white house. Commander and Chief- nuff said. First rule of leadership; everything is ur fault. The individuals in charge of this country are elected or appointed and ultimately paid to know what’s going on. Ignorance is not an acceptable excuse.
The buck stops here! Oh and may I say that the person that the buck stops here? He gets free medical and 10% retirement for the rest of his life, and his wife also. SO he either is resopnsible or he is not. My vote says he is responsible. But then I am just a 61 year old Viet Nam vet, that was treated like **** for 34 years, then finally give a PTSD check. In other words all they could find that was wrong with me was that I was crazy! COME ON don’t give me that **** about a PTSD diagnosis as not being crazy! Find one PTSD person who does not exibit crazy atributes. ONE!
Stop defending the white house. First rule of leadership; everything is ur fault. The individuals in charge of this country are elected or appointed and ultimately paid to know what’s going on. Ignorance is not an acceptable excuse.
HOOAH TO THAT! The Judges do not accept ignorance of the law, when you are accuse of braking it. So, the President and the government in general are at fault. We put them there, let all of us impeach them, like we did with Nixon.
Thats dumb! Lets see you in the President's seat. You wouldn't know what to do with the pressure. He's handling his business pretty well. Patience grasshopper…patience. Delays happen. Mature people learn to adjust to them. Complainers just make matters worse and dim the light for the followers who depend on a positive attitude and good leadership to make it through the day!
Funny how so many folks here are coming to the defense of the President when someone points the finger at him. Especially since his presidency revolves around deceiving the less fortunate and lazy people in our society by convincing them he's trying to take from the upper and middle class folks in order to give benefits to them. If the VA had as many education benefit recipients as the Government has welfare and public assistance benefits the President would be on national television insisting he's working to fix the problem. Since this administration doesn't consider veterans as 'blind supporters' of President Obama then a blind eye and deaf ear is turned to us. He's already attacking Tricare, anyone here doesn't think the G.I. Bill is far behind on his list of things to reduce or cut?
Under the old GI Bill WW1, WW2, Korea, and Viet Nam, by law no one can cut or alter that bill. It is the new GI Bill, that can be changed. The VA learned just how important our Vertrains are and just how much they promised us and them change the bill for you young guys. Spread the word if you do not file a claim within 2 years after you release from active duty, you loose everything even your medical insurance.
Why don’t you pull your head out off your colon. The pres. Has stated no cut in veterans benefits. Why dont you blame your hero bush who caused all this.
WOW!!! It figures the moderator here pulled my comment explaining how the President is partly to blame but allows all of the comments DEFENDING President Obama remain posted. Good Job MILITARY.COM, show your liberal bias just like the rest of the mainstream media by squelching free speech.
RetiredArmySGT, your comment is on the site right where you left it. I wouldn't normally say anything, but you got personal when you accused us of squelching free speech. I can assure you, we're all about freedom of speech. Thanks for visiting the site, and please continue to engage.
ED:
Not the President! I have been waiting for 13 years so it is the VAB, I was told I was not in the Navy, never servered. Submitted a bougas DD214, and never wen to Viet Nam. Back log? No you are right it this the VAB that causes the back log. I had to get them to get copies of my service record 3 times to get it right? Well after I asked for help from Barbara Boxer, they jumped through hoops. Oh my. 3 weeks later she got a letter saying that I had fallen through the cracks. Cracks my ass. It was what they were smoling. But they still screwed with me and only gave me 50% disability for only 2 1/2 years. Their doctor said I was 70 to 100% diabled, appealed. Back paywas missed and I had to appeal that also. Thay was 3 years ago, still waiting. Maybe the VAB is hoping I will die and go away?
Not exactly true, a congressional IG may not be able to directly control any action, but it certainly can put the issue in the forefront.
Perhaps if all of our troubles were put in one cohesive complaint and forwarded to the Inspector Generals office, the VA, and the DoD and we tied in how it is creating a financial hardship on verterans and actice duty personnel they might be moved to action.
There is a case now in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit called Kidwell v. DVA exposing that the VA Office of General Counsel destroies VA Records, lies to the Courts, hides witnesses, and commits any criminal act to make sure Veterans do NOT receive the benefits they earned.
tin foil hat much?
Amen to that. The VA does so much for so many, yet the sense of disappointment and disouragement prevails. There seems to be no accountability, no business sense. Why do appeals take so long? And without any explanatory correspondence?
Denial and disinformation is absolutely the problem…Where is the competency among Staff? Members are not being taken care of on case by case basis (just lied to) and they keep dealing with the same repeat cases over and over. Close the case truthfully that eliminates the backlog/excuse. Don't blame the President for this simple administrative bs.
You hit the actual nail, my friend. The 1st reason is because the people that are reading the records they do not what are they reading or looking for, because they do not have a medical background at all and I know this by personnal experience one on one. The other reason is, that the President or the government brach in general, do not want us to get anyhting, but yet the expend their money in stupid Wars, that we should not have our noses in. Why did the President eliminate the housing portion if we take short brakes between classes? Why VA education is letting themselve convince by UOP THAT WE ONLY ENTITLE TO BE CERTIFY FOR 4 WEEKS ONLY WHEN IT IS 5 WEEKS? We do the same on the last week as the one before, it is not just attendance.
They should not set any boundaries period. Who the President and Congress think they are? We the people put it them there and could take them out too. Also, Why does not the President put his pants in place and use his power and impeach the Governor of Arizona as well as the Sherrff Arpallo for crimes against Humanity (like Hitler) and the Constitution?
Why do not the President punish the all the ICE or Customs agents that were involved (even if they were just observers) in the beating and death of that immigrant at El Paso, TX? Why he allowing these discrimination and abuse of powers, when he is a minority too? Does he think he is better than anybody else, since he became a President? Did he forget his roots? Is these, what Martin Luther King would it want it? Are we becoming what the white supremacy /Neo Nazis stand for? Has somebody ever question who is the one planting and picking our fruits and vegetables? For that the minorities are good while the season is in process, then when is over, then and only then we do not want them here. Then they are ilegal! For those who does not read or like History, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Texas did belong to Mexico before, and we did steal it from them when we bough it from General Santa Ana ( Mexican Traitor) and not from Pancho Villa, like they make people believe. This information came from my Mexican ex wife and their true history. She was the Grand Granddaughter of Profirio Diaz, another dipose President of Mexico.
Ya I am sure the president is micro managing everything at every lvl because that is practical lol. I don't know that I would hold him accountable for the VA's incompetencies until I know that he knows it is fubar.
Its always hurry up and wait when the government has do something for us, but when I was in the navy. there was no hurry up and wait we the sent me to the middle east for a 8 months. gi bill is a joke
The GI Bill will pay for 100% of my son's tuition this year and he can keep the 7500.00 scholarship for living expenses, to me thats not a joke. Only people that complain about a program like this probably did one tour and got out and expects the same benefits that someone that does 3 deployments overseas and retires with 30 years. If you dont like the GI bill dont use it.._
It is not how many time’s you have depoloyed that earns you the right to recieve the gi bill, it is a length of service requirement. The people complaining about this topic here are not complaining about the gi bill itself they are complaining because they have not recieved what has been promised to them. We no there is a back logg because of the drawdown of the military, thus causing the va to recieve more claims then ever before. The big problem is that these soldiers trying to go to school to bettere themselves have families to feed, and bills to pay. Without the GI bill coming in, they are facing the possibility of damaging their credit as well as the posiibility of becoming homeless with their families because of a back log of paperwork.
Look My husband was only in 3 years and deployed only once for 8 months and lost his leg in an IED in Iraq and your telling me he doesn't deserve to gripe when it takes 3 moths to get what he was promised in 30 days? This is the only thing he can do now is go to school.
It does not have nothing to do with retirement or deployment, but how slow the VA is to process certifications and the President putting caps if you take 1 or2 week vacation between classes, in order to received the full payment of the housing stipend. He also put a cap on the Peel Grant of 6 years rather than 8 or more that it was before, and did not think about the Veterans that could not finish their BS before they retired or got out, because of moving and changing Universities or deployments. I got Deployed two times and Retired after 27 years, but the GI BILL benefit does not have anything to do with it, just the benefits offer at the time you got out. What is wrong is wrong and I use to work for the VA, so I know how slow and ineficient they work. I am glad I was working as a Nurse and using the training they gave me as a Supervisor.
Gi bill sucks, especially in the time they take to send you the money. They should give us 100% across the border, even if we are 100% on line. I am refering to the Housing stipend. Also th President just put another differen cap on the Pell Grant ( 6 years cap instead of the 8 from before) without thinking about the Veterans that could not finish their BS, while on active duty and had to change programs, every time they move because they have to change Universities. What about the promises to Veterans and why they question so much about your servise connections, especially if your records are in order and the evidence do stair them in their faces? Do the people reading the records have a medical background, or did they hire stupid people so we do not get the service connection and the money for it?
Ihad been working on my service connections for over 27 years.
As a prior E.R. medic in Baghdad, Iraq and Mosul. I shouldn’t have to mention what a delay might have as an effect upon soldier survival percentages. I ask the simple question to those whom have had their children go overseas. How much would you write your check out for if I could return your blood ridden, limb missing, guts spewing child home alive without delay? Constantly we’ve been asked to answer the call and an answering machine has never been an option. Wake up America. The V.A. is a go between. It’s a band aid on a flood plain. You’ve managed to screw up health coverage beyond recognition. Can we try to get education simplified?
Way to go……HOOAH! When we were told to deploy, we did not tell the Army, wait until I get my personnal affairs together, before we went, did we? So, we should not have to wait so long to get service connected or wait for any money due to us or GI BILL money for living expenses that we are entitle to. Wake up American Veterans! Enough on getting screw by the Government and their promises to us, no matter who is the President! Let all of us complaint to our Congressmans and Senators and put them to work. Ater all we pay their salaries!
Mike:
Thank you first for your service and yes…when it comes to we Veterans we are shut out. Yes, I know there are a number of folks out there who will defend the VA but my experience with them on healthcare and now on my GI Bill has been nothing less than distasterous. So much so I contacted my Congressman. I was surprised that he actually has hired a staff JUST to deal with the VA as he has been inundated. Pathetic. I still don't have my tuition assistance after 6 months having had to borrow money from family in the meantime. The VA is and really always has been frought with incompetence and lethargy. They don't need more money – they need new leadership and better systems and folks who care. How about out-sourcing the whole broken bureacracy?
The GI Bill is not a joke and I am sure the thousands of GIs who have benefited from it will agree. It is, however, understaffed and everchanging to the point of being hard to keep up with exactly what it does/does not cover. I work in an MBA program at a top university and some of our students have gotten a FULL ride. Unfortunately, last August, they changed it to not cover out of state tuition. In my opinion, they should not set such boundaries on our soldiers who have sacrificed so much.
@ JANICE – You are correct! The GI Bill isn't a joke. However, the fact that lobbyist's are effecting all of the recent changes is. The only reason it's such a hot-topic now is because there's so much money in the pot to be had, the schools are all acting like crabs-in-a-barrell trying to step on the others to get the most government money from the VA students. If out of state schools offer better costs and incentives for Vet's to attend then I say let them have at it. For the VA to change the requirements about in-state or out of state is an attempt to stifle competition amongst the schools and inevitably screw the student.
Amen. There are many veterans who work for the VA. Maybe if they were all veterans we'd have less mess ups. Thanks, Janice, for what you do in helping vets get their funds while they are getting their education.
Opps, 2what you do not understand that is part of the new GI Bill, it is not true for the older VETS.
There is high unemployment, so they need to hire more people…….no excuses.
I have been using the GI Bill for over 2 years, and let me tell you, the first year was fine. For the last 16 months have been horrible. I stated the year with a really nice surplus for expenses, with the payments ALWAYS LATE like clockwork, I have exhausted my funds and have again been waiting 7 weeks for payment to arrive, that means my payments are so late I have not received 2 months in payment s if I don't get one shortly, and I cant afford bus fare to get to school, AND I have a family to feed. What the hell is taking so damn long? I served over 20 years and lost pieces of me along the way in some damn country, you have dropped the ball so god damn bad I will never buy your bull$#!7 excuses, get it????
We transferred my dh's beneift to our son and luckily they are very understanding. Its now been about 3 months since the college submitted the paperwork! First we were told it was done wrong so it was resubmitted. Turns out that was a lie to cover this backlog. I can't imagine that all college will be as easy going about not getting paid as ours is. If they weren't we'd have to pay for this semester ourselves and he would not be able to register for his next semester. Come on let's get it together here. You're messing with people lives – people who were willing to give up their life, if not permanently at least for a time. Hooah!
that wouldn't perhaps have been the Buffalo,NY office woud it? They're doing very simimar things to me.
We have a daughter starting college in the fall, my husband transferred his benefits to her. We called the VA to get the ball rolling and we were told we would have to wait until she graduates from high school to contact them. That only gives us from mid- June to early Sept to have things handled. Seems like not enough time in a big bureauracracy.
My son has been in school almost three weeks now with no site of the monthly allowance coming anytime soon.
What would he do or how would he live if it was not for his parents.
But you can sit on wait for over 40 minutes for them to tell you the school screwed up the paperwork. Then the school calls and tells you the VA screwed up the paperwork.
Don't even get me started on medical benefits. He has a documented 40% hearing loss from Iraq but the doctor just told him to quit smoking and loose weight and that would solve everything.
Joe you are 1000% right
Buffalo, NY?? I go to LSU and my regional office is in OK. I wonder what the holdup is there… The VA is a JOKE! When I started graduate school in August of 10' I almost had to drop out because I didn't see one dime until October. They were trying to make me forfeit about $20,000. I refused to accept their gracious offering. Finally, when I was about to have to drop out of school a lady called me and said that they had received all of my emails empathizing that she knew I was having a hard time(my case was actually in “hardship”). She then proceeded to tell me that if I really needed money, I should go ahead and accept what was on the table.
I went OFF on her and read all of the communication that I had from them (save all of your paperwork!). I informed her that she might want to address this with her supervisor because, I borrowed money from my grandmother so that I didn't have to drop out of school and I was prepared to take the matter as far up the chain as need be- Shinseki. After this, and reading all of the communication that I had from them she said your right Ms. Air Force (pseudonym ;-)) you will have your money in 3-5 days. I knew I was right and I stood my ground, but that made it hell and had I not had my grandmother I would have been SCREWED! Do not ever let somebody take something from you that you have earned!
I wouldn't go as far as to say the GI Bill is a joke. I sure appreciate the fact that my school is paid for and I get a housing stipend on top of that. I lost my job shortly after starting school and the Gi Bill helped BIG TIME.
Yo Sgt B,
I said the VA is a joke not the GI BILL. I hope that you apply more astue reading comprehension skills in your collegiate studies.
Yo Eli,
Chill dude. Despite the delay in reimbursement, I'm also thankful for the educational benefit.
Quit cha-bitching and drive on.
that's is supposed to be they made it hell! The VA!
It so funny that we should be having this discussion about VA benefits. In 2010 my unit send me to Military Training for 45 days and at the same time I had to de-enroll / drop my college classes , after a year I received a letter from VA stating that I owed the VA $1200.00. Which I clearly provide VA with a copy of my documents from college stating the classes was dropped due to my call me to active Duty. The Money was send back to VA fom the college and VA never updated their records. It took me 24 months to correct this issue and along with letter comes from VA & Credit collection company.
How is that they are saying it is a NY office that has a backlog. I'm located in GA and my school has me on academic hold because the VA hasn't made a payment since Fall 1 semester. I cannot take another class until the VA pays so what am I supposed to do now? I called the VA only to get a recording saying they were having a high call volume. They called me back a week later and tried to blame my University saying the University never sent them a bill. Talked to the University and they told me they have sent the VA three bills in the last six months and each bill includes all charges owed. I got back with the VA and they said they now have a bill but they said it only has one course on it. That was a over a month ago and they payment still hasn't been made. My Master's classes are $1650 a semester and there is no way I can pay that out of pocket. Looks like I'm going to have to call Fox and see if they can draw some media attention to it!
My husband is in online classes and his GI Bill benefits are through Buffalo, NY. He sent everything in Dec 12, and it just paid out last week. Thank GOD!
hi everbody hope all veterns and military familys are doing well .i know that the VA can be challenging ,but i have been in the VA for 38 yrs and it is true that the VA is slow ,but the system is broken (NOW) so all involved be patient the ckecks will be in the mail. money in the bank. also get uses to this ,because this how the VA works!!!!! god speed!!!!! SMILE AND BE HAPPY IT COULD BE WORSE.
SMILE?!?! Why don't you smile when you're telling your landlord you don't have rent money or you eat a $1 slice of pizza for breakfast, lunch, and dinner you jackass. How can you (who has a job by the way) tell others who are stuggling after coming back from getting shot at, not eating, sleeping in dirt / 130 degree temps to f***ing smile and be happy? Better question: inform all of us why it takes 13+ days to process a claim? Seems pretty damn simple to me; fax paper work, recieve paper work, input paper work into computer, THE END! Enlighten us please on what really takes that long!
Where is this 13 days coming from? As a 2nd quarter student, mine was 6 weeks.
Hey s***bag!!! WTF. How can it be worse. And why is it right for you to tell people to "Smile". The problem with your system is that there are too many people who have been working there way too long. 38 years in the VA. Most people are fortunate to work just 10 years in a Fortune 500 company nowadays. #8 years ago you were trained on typewriters an dhow to paperfile. The problem with the VA is that the technology is there but old people can't handle the processes. I see it all the time as Active Duty where civilians run most of the garrisons. A new program comes out but people are too slow on the uptake to make it work. Solution: Everybody who has worked for the VA for more than 20 years gets retirement and start hiring high speed college kids or people from industries where changing technology is the norm and there is no time to learn. The older someone gets the slower someone gets.
Hey FUCKTARD guess what? Your paycheck is late! Smile motherfucker! How do you like that? Get used to it, its how life works. What a WORTHLESS PIECE OF GARBAGE you are! This is why the VA is broken, because the entire system just says, "Oh this is how it is honey. It could be worse, get over it." Well guess what, new policy fckers. When our money is late, your money is going to be late too. Worthless civilians. You think I can tell my O-3 "Sorry sir, I cant hit that objective on time because we have a backlog and my vagina fucking hurts"? YOUR WORTHLESS GO KILL YOURSELF
go educate yourself.
He probably can't afford to educate himself because the execution of paying out education benefits is pathetic at best. While Colin's language may be a touch vulgar, it accurately displays the frustration of many Veterans who rely on these funds to improve their education. I'm sure Colin would love to educate himself; but unfortunately, as he pointed out, the general attitude of the VA is displayed in Joseph's insulting comment. I understand the VA is under-manned, but to suggest that veterans should just smile and deal with not being able to eat, provide a roof over their head and further their education because "that's just the way it is;" that is a miserable disposition.
I'm not a veteran, but three of our kids served in the Marines. The youngest one hasn't had one thing go thru correctly since he enrolled in school. They don't submit his paperwork as a full time student, he only gets half of his living allowance most of the time, the chick who processes his paperwork at the college is inept (or a crook, I really don't know which), and won't return phone calls or meet with him in person at the school. He and his family are now hanging in limbo, may become homeless, because he and his family were trying to move to a better neighborhood and needed his check this week to help make the deposit on the new place. Once again, he only got half a payment. The system is not "challenging", it's either corrupt or broken. I'm guessing corrupt, judging from the way government is usually conducted on a national level.That money is going somewhere, just not to the people who a) were promised it when recruited; b) sacrificed time with their families to serve our country; c) put their lives on the line, and d) have had to fight tooth and nail for everything they were promised once they got home. If some of those fat cats in Washington had kids in the service or had to get off their own lard butts and go to war, things would be a WHOLE LOT different where the veterans are concerned. Let's hope that the next President will be Veteran-Friendly.
yea, people are getting their cars repossessed, being dropped from class due to no payment from the VA, having their water, and electricity shut off, being evicted from their homes, and barley being able to feed themselves all because the VA is behind on payments that these people earned in the first place, but I guess it could be worse right..?
The VA is another example of this huge government's inability to reward those who have served. I agree %100 that they will do everything to deny you your service connected diability. I am using my GI Bill for an apprenticeship program and it is great. However, I never count on getting it because they are so far behind all the time. My house would be foreclosed on if it was riding on the VA payment. Whats worse is if you try to call them, you get an answering machine telling you to set up a phone appt. What a joke.
It's obviously the St Louis office that has a backlog too. I have not yet been able to verify my attendance for January or February even though I have done everything on my end and my university has as well. I called the VA and was told that they haven't finished processing my paperwork from December yet, but that I should be squared away to verify my attendance for March. I sure how so, because my school only deffered my tuition payment until the end of the semester.
Atleast they could’ve notified somebody. I just found out about the backlog from this article. Good thing I wasn’t holding my breath. It’s not just the CS its all government employees, they don’t care if the work gets done but they had better get their smoke break. And when 1530 rolls around forget about them staying late.
I personally have been working 7 days a week to help this situation.
Well I finally was evicted by my landlord and dropped from my classes due to nonpayment and had to send my daughter to live with family in another state. Thanks VA! Now I’m homeless, disabled and can’t find work due to not being paid my GI Bill for nearly 3 months.
That breaks my heart, I am so sorry to hear about this & will pray you are taken care of appropriately. I hate to hear of other vets (my dad served in WWII, husband in 19 years reserve now, active duty son-in-law just back from Afghan) who are suffering due to the inactions of our own gov to step up & pay what is due. God bless your family. You have our sincere thanks.
My school is holding back my loan money because they have not received the money from the VA. So now they aren't getting paid and I owe for the loans, and I still don't have a dime. I am in FL and My office is in St Pete. SO I ask… what is this crud about it just being in NY?!
Your claim is in Atlanta.
Not only is the V.A. having problems paying everyone but Congress is screwing us as well. I graduated from community college and transfered to a university to earn a B.S. degree. When I transfered my school my BAH payment droped over $300 a month! The address of my school is different not the address of my house. My cost of living has not moved because my school is in a different zipcode contrary to what Congress might think. I save the V.A. $6,000 a semester on a scolarship that I earned but can not get in cash (it is taken off tuition) and they screw me $300 a month, how is this fair. I have had to get a second job and go to school full time to make end meet. Something needs to be done. I'm tired of the "big green weenie"!
Matt,
The BAH rate based on the zip code at which you are attending school. It is not based off of where you live. I hate the VA just as much as the next person, but the VA didn't screw you out of $300.
That figures: What did they think was going to happen? Just let the big Army take care of things instead of each state in the National Guard. It was working pretty well before and of course they had to go jack up the system by getting them involved.
Most definitely do not COUNT on your GI Bill for anything of great importance. But dont worry… The government is working on it. My office is St. Louis and they are always 45-90 days behind for the apprenticeship program.
“Holy ****!” is all I can say! I just got out last month, and I’m scared to use my GI Bill right now, because I don’t want to have my life ruined by debt to a school cause the VA is all f’ed up.
I think it is wise for you to be wary. Prepare to be ahead 2 months in all bills and payments. You won't have to worry about tuition or anything, but you may have to deal with creditors calling your phone every day for them despite what you tell them. I don't know where this 14 day processing thing is coming from. Mine is 6 weeks. I'm glad I got my tax return when I did and I have a cool landlord, or I would've been fucked. I had to pick up a fulltime job while taking 20 credit hours and was failing every class because I didn't expect me, as a returning student, to have such a delayed payment.
Hahaha Adam very correct i must say http://www.free-asvab-test.com
There is always a backlog, it seems as though the people that are holding those jobs really do not care as long as they get their 8 hrs in and get paid. After we get the job done there are a lot of promises that are made and broken just as quickly.
Ha waiting , I will bet you the people dealing with our claims are not VETS
If they are they are screwing the pooch
The VA is a sort of monopoly, I mean in reality who are you going to complain to, ensure that these people are actually doing the job they are supposed to do in a timely manner. You can't even get ahold of them on the phone!
I started school on February 23. There was one hang-up on whether or not I was waiving REAP and I filled out another form. Even with the delay for that form, I got my first three checks today! Thanks VA – Good Job!
Must be Muskogee OK too. I submitted in December and it hasn’t cleared out here in CA yet either. Love the smile and be happy comment cause I’m losing my car this month and that’s what I’ve been loving in since I got kicked out of my house last month. That’s ok though I had no gas anyway. Really it’s cool that you government employees are taking your time. No rush.
Interesting. The government's worried about "delayed" tuition benefits makes the news. I've been waiting on the VA to correct my disability pay for over 9 months and when I sent them an inquiry, the replied with a letter say they've got a backlog… really? A nine month backlog?
I’m still waiting on the VA to process my change in my disability rating as well. They have been processing my paperwork since January! Hopefully, we will hear something soon.
It took them 18 months to fix mine. I just received my letter yesterday. When I called about 6 months ago they told me it was due to all the new Agent Orange claims. They have priority. I still didn't get my back pay but hopefully it will be fixed on 1 April.
I retired from the Army after 24 years in March 1986, I am 69 years old and living in Germany at this time.
I plan to return the the United States in 2015 for good, Am I elgible to get a loan to either go into a business or get a GI Loan ro buy a house/home in Virginia, Georgia, or maybe Tenn?
If I am, I think I should be, let me know what I need to do or who do I need to talk to find out what I need to do, where do I go to apply, and about how long is the waiting list? Or do you think I maybe dead before it gets approved?
Thanks you..
Email: jimmy_crook@yahoo.com
I do not work for the VA, but use to and I just bought me a house. You have to go through a real state company that does VA loans and as long as your credit score is ok and is your first loan/home, it does not take long. Their is a Real State office that I know that work for an organization called Home for Heroes, that was started for all Heroes since 9/11, like Police, Fireman, Nurses, Paramedic, Veterans. They help with some of the fees of closing if any and they give you money back at the end with $0 down and owner paying closing cost.
Frank Barbagallo, Vice President
Universal Home Lending- Homes For Heroes Affiliate
500 Fairway Drive Suite #110
Deerfield Beach, FL. 33441
office 954-771-5041 ext. 102
fax (954)-949-9166
frankbarbagallo@yahoo.com
Eileen Scates, CDPE, PSC, SFR, WCR
Broker/Owner
Scates Realty & Investment Properties
a Homes For Heroes Affiliate Office
723 W Montrose St., Clermont FL 34711
(321) 229-2265 ~ Call or Text
(352) 404-8960 Office
(866) 224-2083 Fax
Homes For Heroes – giving 25% back towards closing costs to buy or sell for those that make our community a better place to live – Retired, Active, or Reserved! Its FREE – ask us how you qualify!
I do not know if they cover all the states but here it is! Just tell them that Ret. SSG Dennis Rodriguez from Sprig hill, Fl, refer you. They will even order your certification from the VA if you do not have an update one.
Started school 31JAN…still no check. Barely scraping by, if not for the generousity & ability of my mother-in-law to keep up going, we'd be on food stamps.
quit your belly achin'. i missed out on using my gi bill over 22 years ago. which is absolute bull sh**. if it were any other organization or company, they would have to either give me back MY $1200.00 or give me what i paid for, an college education. and in some cases it would be payback of $1200.00 plus interest!!!!! 22 years ago, the va clinics/hospitals would not even see me, i have ptss/ptsd, suffered multiple mst's, have depression, anxiety, insomnia, un-nerving to be around people – including my own family, i'm jobeless, no unemployment, homeless, the va docter i just recently saw at mare island va in vallejo, humiliated, bullied, intimidated, degraded, etc. i see why there are so many homeless vets that live on the street. maybe we should have a occupy mare island va – for vets who have been, and are being screwed over. and i'm still not getting the help i want or need. some of you people have gotten a lot more than i'll ever get, so suck it up and move on!!!!!
yes….the VA stinks….don't use it!!!! (this way it'll be there when it's my kids time to attend college in 2016) VA stinks!!! Thank you VA!!!! I'm happy to have 36 months to transfer to my kids!!!
Delay in getting disability process! I was told by a gov't employee, my area in Salem/Winston,NC is 311 days average time to process claims!! After that period, it will take an average of 90 days to move it to the next level. They don't give a dam about Vet's…………………….
Winston Salem, NC – Nine years, and still waiting for SC (service connection.) Do have Aid&Attendance. Really want to have a decision. Limbo for so long…
It took the VA 13 years to recognize I had a major back problem from the Air Force with a slip disc pinching my nerves. The VA doctor that listen to me in 2009 agreed. Up to then, the VA try to mask it with pain pills and muscle relaxers. IN 2009, that doctor told me I would have increasing problems with my back and to get back with him when it does. It has been a year since I requested to see a VA doctor in 2012. To date, no response from the VA with an appointment.
If you are not proactive, you will never get the treatment you deserve. I have been fighting for over 27 years and I finally gor to 90% service connected. You need to get one of the Veterans organizations to fight for you, like American Legion , DAV and others; or get yourself a lawyer that work like the Social Security Lawyers, which they do not charge you unless they win ant they get a percentage of what you get, with a cap on the amount they can get. They are usually posted on the local newspapers that they have at the VA Hospital,
We should all be used to this kind of crap. We were getting screwed while we were still in the military, THE BIG GREEN WEENIE STRIKES AGAIN!
If you have an injury and need the money and other services you would wait as many time is needed just have to talk to the people you own money if you are not working and they will work something to help you out. I was 6 month without work and I was real in need and injured I wait it wasn’t easy but I made it. For those who just want to play with the system those are the one’s who are desperate and can’t find help.
If you want to blame someone blame your friendly neighborhood Congress persons. I am a veteran myself and I used to work for VA. In the regional office and the VA Hospital, there have been MAJOR budget cuts. As workers retired in the regional office they weren't replaced. So it got down to one person doing the work of three people. Then if they hired someone it would be on a temporary announcement. There is a lot of turnover because most people are looking for permanent positions, so if they found another job somewhere else, they'd leave.
On the VA hospital side of the house, because VA has a shoestring budget for hiring personnel, the only real doctors there are old as dirt or interns. VA Hosp. Networks have gone from 23 to 8, putting quite a few longtime workers out of work. All because of budget cuts. So if it is taking too long for you to get your benefits, or multiple errors are being made because of inexperienced workers or the lack thereof, or if you go to the VA hospital and you find you are being seen by a bunch of interns from the nearest college, blame your Congress the people you put in office who make all the decisions about what VA can and can't do.
Well.. what about this.. Lord.. MEMEBERS OF CONGRESS and their families, NONE OF WHOM HAVE SERVED, are not being denied crap. Nothing. We ARE.. WHY???? Are we in a Military Industrial Dictatorship? Yes!
(cont.)On the VA hospital side of the house, because VA has a shoestring budget for hiring personnel, the only real doctors there are old as dirt or interns. VA Hosp. Networks have gone from 23 to 8, putting quite a few longtime workers out of work. All because of budget cuts. So if it is taking too long for you to get your benefits, or multiple errors are being made because of inexperienced workers or the lack thereof, or if you go to the VA hospital and you find you are being seen by a bunch of interns from the nearest college, blame your Congress the people you put in office who make all the decisions about what VA can and can't do.
Wake up people, Goverment control is why we all are in this funk together. If congress had to be on the front lines to get something passed by the house, We would truly know the meaning of opression. Lets all just take our time and vote the way gongress does when they need our help in supplying funds for there paycheck's. ROFLMAO…… Have fun with that Mr. President. p.s. they will probable sensor my e-mail now.
Must be union workers, union workers mimic government workers, no sense of urgency!
The problem isn't so much that the VA is understaffed or that more Vet's are applying for benefits. The overwhelming problem is that the Post 911 G.I. Bill was designed to benefit the Universities, not the Veteran. Consider this. When I enlisted back in the 80's the GI Bil and College Fund were incentives to join the military. What happened over the 21yrs I served was that most of the folks who contributed their $100/mo for their first year of enlistment never even used the benefit. Partly because many people didn't have the discipline to do college work without someone looking over their shoulder making them do it, and partly because folks did their time, got out, and found it was extremely difficult to attend school and work in the economy back in the 90's and such, especially since the military was QMP'ing and RIF'ing many good servicemembers.
Everyone knows University is a business!!! These business got wind of the tons of money sitting at the VA that was being unused and could not be reallocted to other programs or entitlements so the wise ones came up with the Post 911 G.I. Bill which – ironically – pays the schools upfront instead of reimbursing the Vet or paying after successful completion of the coursework. Now, the VA is backlogged trying to run-down all of the students who enrolled in school then didn't complete their coursework. The VA should be going after the universities for the money they gave them 'upfront' but they can't because they make the Vet acknowledge that they are responsible for the money the VA gave the university when they should have given it to the Vet via an Education Debit Card or other means. Universities are getting rewarded with the GI Bill now which is why we suddenly have Ivy League universities suddenly accepting Vets and conducting online courses which they staunchly denegrated in recent years past.
The VA does a good job if you know the right agency to help, regarding disability. When dealing directly with the VA after several years of no response
I called and they had no record of my submission? I was disgusted and since I was not starving to death I gave up. My next door neighbor kept insisting I contact the VFW. I did and they did. My disability increase request was submitted through them and 3 months later, WHAMO! It was approved.
I don't know if the other vet agencies have the same success or not but I sure recommend trying through them. Don't go it alone is my advise. Rapid
I would like to know how much do the VA pay to a person with Diabetes.
0
I have been waiting over 365 days plus with no response waiting to hear from the VA is like waiting to see the wizard of OZ dont know if he exist. that is for a claim and 8 years for an appeal. so dont feel bad just listen to what they tell me sit back and enjoy the ride And get this i still havent gotten my cola something so simple i dont know whom is mad at or what
I called last week and told I wouldn't get paid until the beginning of April. I live in northeast Florida and attend a local community college. I had to have the college resubmit my enrollment certification the first week of February and I still don't understand why I have to wait a full 7-8 weeks to get paid from the VA. This is unsat and is creating a hardship for my family. You should have a better process in place to handle this by now.
I guess theres no hurry after seven years of crap to give my husband his benefits. Since they're waiting for him to die so they don't have to, guess what? he's almost there. Happy now? Since he's now sitting in a chair sleeping, not talking, can barely walk and they are going as slow as they can for job security. Now that I have been through seven years of this, guess what? I've lost all respect for the VA period.
I've started getting letters every week from them telling me they are behind.
Really how does it make sense they got time to send me a sorry letter but not my award letter now that it's been four months. ?????
My husband is supposed to be getting the GI Bill for on the job training as an electrician's apprentice……….they've had his application for 6 months! It's supposed to supplement the low pay grade so you can start low level and get yourself into a good career. Instead, during the cold months, when work was at it's lowest, we had nothing. They've had his application for over 6 months and we've only heard from them ONCE, to say we were missing one form. We've sent in EVERYTHING and had it confirmed and they STILL haven't given him anything!! We have 4 small children and have had to choose between electricity and paying bills (electricity won and the bill collector's don't understand). Shame on them!! H's not begging for a hand-out, he's trying to get benefits he EARNED.
Call your Congressman or Senator for the area and get names, times and dates and if you have a copy of this application,and submit all these to them. You have to give permision for them to intervine for you. Do not be afraid of them, because they put the pants the way we all do. VA is famous for been slow, but no excuse is good. They are there for us, and I use to work for them at a Hospital, so I know. Make their life a living nightmear. They do that to us. Do the same with any s/c claim. I do it all the time and right now I have them in hot water with my Senator.
Ret. SSG Rodriguez
Quit complaining , the Viet nam veterans got screwed even worse especially in EDUCATION.
Randy i guess i was forunate to have had the va pay my 4 year college education with no problemn at all and i too am a Viet Nam vet and proud to have served but yes some of our brothers were screwed by the system just don't know how i did it think i went thru the dav. Don't remmember , but they paid on time all the time for tuition and books etc. and pay but for diabilitiy thats another story its like they forgot about us.
Most Vietnam soldiers did not fight for what they were entitle to, because they did not want nothing to do with the system and because the heard of the bad fgame the VA had. My father was from the era of WW2 and my brother in law, never bother to ask for anything until it was late. If they got screw, they let themselve get screw, for not been brave enough to fight the system, but yet they fought in Vietnam or WW2
This, Randy, is just the nose of the camel.. Meantime, look for the soon to be taken 23rd vacation by our Supreme Commander in the White House. Hello? Anybody hear me? Can you hear me? Are you there?
Vietnam (one word)-yeah I guess you did get screwed in "EDUCATION"!
If you do not complaint they will get away with it. Be proactive! They put the pants the same way we do. Do not be afraid of them. That lasy General that is the Secretary of the VA, need to quit or get fire by the President.
Why you did not fight for it? quit crying now!
Everyone I’ve spoken with at VA has been polite, courteous and helpful, although I’m still patiently waiting since December.
They might be, but that does not put food or school on your table. But, wake up, that is just a front and not all of them are helpfull. I got 30 years experience on this and use to work for the VA Hospital.
RET. SSG RODRIGUEZ
Never rely on your GI Bill to actually make any important payments or pay for stuff that you cant afford, but disability is a different story, my disability has been arriving on time.
Shinsiki is a political wimp. He is no different that the rest of sleeze-bag politicians
and the lobbiest pimps that stuff their pockets with $$. The fact that he chalked up
35 yrs in the Army does not make him, "one of us". The lousey grunts that will never look into a camera lens, or have a mike jammed in their face, who are out of ammo, will never have their story told. If Shinsike ever decideds to kick his "tour guide" in the butt and get outside the wire, he will see real troops in need.
He is very photogenic
Years ago when I got back from Nam. I went to the VA for help it is on my medical records . I did not push the issue when the blew me off back then . I was young and making good money . Now things are a lot different . I have the same problems however much worse. And ya know they are still given me the same line of crap as they did 40 years ago . Even when the VA doctors agree with my problems . SAME OLD CRAP. By the time they will grant me my claims I will be DEAD. Thanks AMERICA DAV
Dave.. YOU and the rest of us are in the same boat. We are being driven into a Socialist/Communist FORM of a Military Industrial Dictatorship, by the monkies in the say so. Why? I am shocked that Americans by the MILLIONS are not out in peaceful protest. WE MUST TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK, or it is GONE.
Guss is 100% CORRECT!!!
I live in Marietta Ga and am a Viet Nam era vet. I CANNOT even get anybody on the phone to make an appointment with the doc in Rome, GA, 60 miles away, no matter how many tijmes I call. I was on hold the last time I tried, for two hours, before I hung up and gave up. This stems from many things, in my opinion, but I truly, honestly think that much of this is due to a racist policy that Obama admin. has established, directly, or indirectly.
All of the facilities close to me, Austell, GA. Atlanta at the main VA hospital, REFUSE TO SEE ME TELLING ME THAT THEY CANNOT SEE ANY MORE PATIENTSS, and I therefore must go to Rome, 60 miles away. At the start of this it was suggested that I drive to Alabama to seek medical care from VA.
The current regieme is horrid.. We are in trouble, MORE than most people realize. Saddest of all is the position that is taken by the minorities, and I DO NOT take this position because of any garbage that is "racial", something that I am so sick of hearing that I could throw up.. it is NOT about race.. to hey with race and the old trump card that is pure trash.. it is ABOUT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY.. simpe as this. Communism/socialism DOES NOT WORK, HAS NOT WORKED, AND WILL NOT WORKED. Central government, taking away States Rights, DOES NOT and will not correct what is wrong. What is wrong is that the American people are not doing their own thinking, making their own decisions, solving their own probems. Take our government back, America, ~~WE MUST HAVE FREEDOM! FREEDOM!
I submit to you all that the only difference in Socialism and Communism is that Communism is Socialism with a gun pointed at our heads. Please, America, wake up. Get involved, vet the candidates, CHANGE is absolutely necessary in November. We MUST take our nation, our beautiful and loved country, BACK. Please, for those of you who may misundertstand me.. mis-read what I am sharing, attempting to get across.. please.. think! Just think, get involved, and take our nation back.
My nation has abandoned me. My country has been taken over
Now.. it would appear that I am OUT OF STEP, with the ESTABLISHMENT .. those who are now controlling our FREEDOM of speech.. I see that, here again, my comments are being WITHHELD form this site, and redacted, or CHANGED.. PREVENTED.. My FREEDOM is taken from me. Nothing here is anti-American.. ALL that I say is from my heart, my love for my country, and my people, AMERICANS.. one and all.. This is sad.. a shame.. THIS is what is happening to our great nation.
I am an AMERICAN vet.. I joined the military at age 17. I served in Viet Nam. I have 4 holes .. wounds, from my combat service.. Now.. HERE.. my comments, comments expressing my love for my country, ARE being, BY SOME "PERSON", REDACTED and refused publication here. FREEDOM! There is nothing in any that I say except TRUTH, my love for my great nation, BUT some "person" is deliberately withholding my comments, COMMENTS that are to unite and strenghen our nation. This is scary and dreadful and WRONG.
MORE of my comments expressing my love for my country, and as I plead for Americans of all stripes to stand up and TAKE THIER NATION BACK, all that I say in this effort is blocked.. SOMEBODY HERE REFUSES TO PRINT my plea.. Why? What is this? By what RIGHT is my FREEDOM being ripped from me?? Why?
This is what I get in the comments section here for what I express, as I plead with my fellow Veterans, my fellow Americans, to stop the injustices that are being done to us.. Why? This is what is being shown when I share with you all, what I know in my heart you will agree with~~ read this. please.. and comment.
"Your comment must be approved by the site admins before it will appear publicly"
Read more: http://military-education.military.com/2012/03/va…
Military Education Blog
STILL.. some monkey .. anti-American, is refusing to post my comments? Is this what we want, fellow Veterans? THINK.. What next? I can tell you. We are being silenced!! CENTRAL GOVERNMENT CONTROL, everywhere in DC.. and now.. here.. on OUR site.. WAKE UP Americans.. TAKE OUR NATION BACK.
STILL, yet another is being refused. WHO THE HEY IS IN CHARGE OF THAT BOVINE DEFECATION move.. and WHY?
Can somebody on this site, the anti-American dweebs who are in charge here on this site, GET ME AN APPT. WITH VA MEDICAL PERSONNEL? Hello? Anybody here? What is being done to me and to others here who are having the same issues, it is just a matter of time before it happens to more of us. WHY?
VETERANS.. WAKE UP !! Before it is too late!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We hear ya brother, the country we fought and bled for don’t want us. Every time somebody ” thanks me” I say don’t thank me call the VA and scold them. I’d much rather treated fair in a dump then treated like dirt in a pretty new bldg.
Not only is the education section behind but also the benifits for compensation for our vets. I feel that we need more advancement to rush these things in . I was advised on mine that it could take up to 3 plus years to start my benifits. Lets get the ball rolling and GET-R-Done
I transferred my benefits to my daughter as soon as it was allowed. As the OIC of Personnel Support Detachment I've verified the enrollment 6 ways from Sunday. We applied for benefits on 18 January through the Buffalo Office. We're now in week 9 waiting just for the verification that she can get benefits to come through. Every call we've made has resulted in a different answer from the Buffalo office. The school has sent in the enrollment verification, but it has yet to be posted in the system. I've now come out of pocket $2,700 waiting for her benfits to kick in, and the last word was that it would take an additionla 30-60 days to process…that's 5 months. This office is broken, either it doesn't have the manning, the tools, or the personnel to get the job done correctly, doesn't matter its wrong and its NOT BEING ADDRESSED.
I concur, the Buffalo Office is broken. Contavt your Congreesmen and Senators and maybe they will isten to the veterans who actulally work there to fic the problems.
I've had two surgeries at the Buffalo VA, excellent treatment, heart surgery at the L.A. VA, terrible treatment, should have gone back to NY for the treatment.
I submitted my disability claim thru the DAV back in September, just been getting the thanks for waiting letters occasionally, but I never figured it would be a fast process, kind of sad that I expect to be denied and have to appeal my claim, possibly multiple times, guess its a good thing that I'm still young.
I used up my 1607 benefits back in the fall and am now attempting to use the post 9/11 bill. I applied back in early Jan. and just got the acceptance letter from the VA at the beginning of the month. I was told to expect a six to eight week delay in payment.
Thankfully I work when I'm not in class and drills have been longer than normal the past year so I'm not going to end up homeless, although if the delay last longer than eight weeks there is a chance that I could end up on the street, been scrapping by right on the razors edge of poverty for the last two years now.
My post 9/11 gets processed at the Muskogee office as well.
I was in the US Army (1966-1968). I was drafted and went in..I never used one single VA benefit. I am now retired so I decided to apply for my Va medical benefits..I was denied..The reason was, I make to much money….The funny thing is the never had me pass a means test when they called me up…The VA in my estimation is a farce,they made a promise to me,but are now reneging….
I am a twenty year retire and file for benefits in march 2008 and for the last four years i have waited . First thay told me that I fail to report for a physicsl and after two years I found out why.I was never notify about date and time to get a physical at my present address and come to find out that all my paper work was senf to a address where i live 12 years earler and on all my claim form had my current address.I was injuries on a parachute jump and had a broken foot in 1959 in Germany.Also when I retired I had high blood persure after retuning for two tours in vietman and prostate cancer from agent orange.I send a letter to the head of VA and never received an answer..
Currently waiting on mine from the Buffalo office…being patient though, I understand it takes time for these things
the VA only gives the minimum of the amounts available for the injury and i have to keep appealing for each increment of the scale. they give me the minimum each time an appeal goes through the process, and that appeal takes years to complete for each increment. when i got injured on active duty i was not giving the minimum i was giving my all to beyond the maximum. the paltry 10% increase is going in someone's pocket or else they would not be so stingy. it's bad enough i have all this pain & restriction without the insults from some investigator(that has a preset figure) and is not even a doctor!
I can't totally throw the VA under the bus. I submitted in Jan for spring semester for my son and just recieved school payment in mid Mar. Trick you can do is ask for a deferment with your VA rep at the university. It's helps keep the university finance off your back, until they get their money. The VA will not pay for some types of classes like band and some elective classes. Your kid fails you have to pay the money back, beware. Im not sure why some of these financial aid programs where the university gets their money quickly and the VA is usually the last one to pay. Im afraid its going to get worse than better, with the govt going broke.
Betrayed.
Before this new change the Post 9/11 GI Bill was a blessing. It was an answer and solution to a stagnant employment environment. It was a beacon of hope to get through the hard times ahead that all of America is facing. Unfortunately the corruption from the financial turmoil of 2008 eventually trickled down.
Everyone feels it’s pains now, and we few, who had the opportunity, became the next victims of a system in place that will enslave us in debt, hopelessness and futility.
Now veterans face the pains of the significant absence of funding between semesters; becoming further delayed by processing times and vulnerable to losing (if not already) their livelihood and visions of higher education:
To make at least 1 more step up the ladder of social stratification.
To give our families hope beyond the nightmares of living paycheck to paycheck.
To become seasoned, educated and Virtuous professionals able to fill the roles of the retiring baby-boomer generation.
To be in a position where we could help and unite other victims of a failing system.
Yet now:
To make the Post 9/11 GI Bill function we need to save 2-3 months living expenses twice a year, if not three for the summer transition between semesters. Highly unsustainable and unlikely is the result…
and unfortunately, so are our visions.
Our voices can be louder than this buried thread, take the time to share and get the word out.
Did anyone's Post/911 bill money change? I get $200 less a month now
I am supposed to be handled through the Muskogee RPO. VA received my paperwork on Feb 16th. Still have not received anything. What does a backlog in Buffalo have to do with my situation? A sudden spike in enrollments is understandable with the Iraq theater drawing down, Reservists being deactivated, and Active units getting cut down. VA should have anticipated this. If they are robbing Peter (other RPOs manpower) to pay Paul (Buffalo RPO), they're not helping the situation, they just taking a problem from one office and making it a nationwide problem.
ARE WE SUPPOSE TO GET A COST OF LIVING THIS YEAR? OR GET SCREW OUT AGAIN! THESE RICH PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON CAPITAL HILL JUST DON'T GET IT YET! LET'S SEE THEM LIVE ON DISABILY, (CLOWNS)!
THERE, GOT THAT OFF MY CHEST!
i agree the people i have spoken with at va have been polite and helpful but i sent my application in and it was recieved for post 9/11 in dec i started school jan 16 and nothing the same was the case in spring semester of 2009 where it was so bad that the va president issued emergency funds to veterans
As we pursue our educational benefits and understand that a problem exsists. Lets not forget to give back for future service members by using the education benefits we receive to encourage public service to improve and protect our benefits. It's not just about making profits with a better education but improving conditions for all citizens. Maybe this was lost by a great few concerned about getting and making more money with higher education.
I noticed that the Washington politicians voted themselves a raise again for 2012. They were doing this the same time benefits were being decrease. I am into my sixth month waiting for my disability claim, although I do get a letter every three months saying they are still working on the claim. I am grateful that our field medics and our medical practioners didn't work in the same manner. If they did, I wouldn't be able to complain about the VA :)
As a customer of the Buffalo office, it's no surprise that they are backlogged. It's not the first time, and it won't be the last. I don't find fault with the Buffalo Office specifically. In the end, it's just another indication of the failure on the part of the government to honor their social contract with Veterans.
This, coupled with the recent move to change Tricare benefits for retirees points to a government that loves to count on the convenience of a volunteer force, but doesn't like the reality of taking care of those who serve our country. Shame on our politicians who continue to target Veteran's benefits as a simple fix to a complex problem. I pity the future members of our Armed Forces.
The VA has been late on payments every semester, every year. People are loosing so much investing on this GI Program. Some people that work for the VA do not even get paid on time. How is this fair? When does the Better of Beureu Business come in play? What is the VA was sued for damages?
There is absolutely no investing in the Post 9/11 Gi Bill.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill was enacted in 2008 and executed Fall 2009, and yet over the years I continue to read stories of our Veterans still experiencing unresolved issues with timely payments. I am utterly amazed this problem continues to be an issue. I can understand an “unexpected bump in the road” and appreciate the VA, however, the schools and landlords won’t. Establish a protocol with the elected officials in the affected areas so these Veterans won’t be removed from school or worst, evicted – I’ve read of both instances over the years. I think they have earned and deserve it!
Search
GREAT…
If u need a reliable and genuine loan help for any purpose,and don't want to be a victim of loan scam,I think this is for you.All posts of loan lenders giving loans on-line especially on these sites are SCAMS..The referrals here as well are bunch of scammers.Don't contact them for your own good.This is a story of how I was ripped off my hard earned cash by some idiots on-line that calls themselves lenders and how I finally got my financial freedom from a God sent loan officer within 36 hours at just 5% as interest.For more info and interest,email me via "kenshawwjeanne@gmail.com"
I've had a few friends from the Army and Navy who've gotten shafted. Recently this has begun to happen to me as well. After changing my course load, I assumed that a month would be enough time for those at the Georgia branch (I'm in Florida) to update their records. Seems that I was wrong. What's more, I'm receiving letters claiming that I was overpaid and owe them money, when the very idea is insane. I've been getting thoroughly shortchanged. If anyone is owed money, it's me. I understand that this is what I get for depending on a government organization for my education and living, especially after the CFR basically confirmed everything the Ron Paul crowd's been saying for decades: the US is facing a financial implosion to make 2008 look like a lovetap, and which is basically a continuation of it, made worse by postponement. Nevertheless, one would figure that the State would have the wherewithal to serve those that serve it. Alas, it is not meant to be. My best wishes to those of you who have been screwed more readily than me. Seems we're all in this together. Also, my apologies to those members of the VA that do a fine job, despite an inane organizational structure.
When the country wants someone to go to war, its hurry up and go.
When I need something done for me, its hurry up and wait.
-How are people supposed to even eat or feed their families when they get out of the service on a late check. I think the V.A. should add a couple hundred dollars for our inconvenience for something so tardy as being late.
so it is now 9 days after the date when i was supposed to get paid, still no check, not even up for processing yet. i've got a mortgage, car payment and other bills that i have, i depend on my VA check on the 1st of every month, don't get me wrong, i have a wife that has a job to help out, but im a disabled vet going back to school and its kinda hard when i don't get paid on time. the va says there is nothing they can do and they are working mandatory overtime to get all of the veterans processed. i have no idea when i will get paid. im kind of nervous.
my husband has been going to school for 18mos. full time no brakes well all of a sudden we have not had the BAH part paid in over 3 months, we can't pay our house payment, we cant pay our car, have shut off on the lights, he cant add extra hours a work because of class's so
we are about to loss everything for the schooling.
:( but we are told to be patient well our morgae company has already raised our payments and have fees so high over this but oh well,
I have never, ever had a problem with my GI Bill until now. For two years, my tuition was paid on time, my allowances arrived, and I supported myself on my BAH. Then they instituted the cap on ptivate schools and I panicked- for a week, then it was fixed. Now, my rent is a month late because i used that money for books. Now I find out, today, that i might not get my BAH on 01OCT? That pays my rent and car insurance. I'm glad It's being addressed, but it needs to be FIXED. Preferably before my husband works himself into the ground trying to pick up the slack.
there's no excuse for the gi bill applications to be so backed up.
None.
I have been on the phone all day so far, because this is month 2 that I have not received any of my Post-911 GI Bill housing benefits. The VA regional office redirects calls until they drop or cannot be answered further- NO live personnel. The regional office of Saint Louis called their lack of ability a "Blip" in the system. That's what they told LCCC administrators anyway. I called SIUE's vet's office. Their office has had complaints across the board regarding the same issues. I called Dave Cueto, the manager of Rep. of Madison County Jerry Costello's office and he suggested that since I go to LCCC, that this is not his office's problem, and that perhaps it's another representative's cause to take up. There are hundreds, and potentially thousands of school-bound veterans who are not receiving any benefits and many of them (such as myself) rely on the VA stipend to pay for rent and food. I wonder what KMOV or KPLR would think about this?
I heard through the grapevine that the contractors that worked for the VA were laid off effective 09/30/2012. I hope that the money they are saving from that is going to the vets!
on the Pacific Northwest coast I have never had any issues with a late BAH payment from the VA, when I check on my ebenefits I dont even see that I am enrolled for this fall semester when my school stated they have already sent my paperwork. My school said they got a call from the VA this past Friday 28 SEP telling them the VA is 2 weeks behind…
If I waited 2 months to pay my cable bill, they would shut off service. Just sayin……
How is it i can call an give them my info an they say yes we have it its processing. what are you processing. If ive been approved, if you have my info, my attendance and everything else, then what am i waiting for? If you see i did everything right to get the education i deserve then what am i waiting on? if there understaffed ill gladly take a job there to help the process go faster (im going to need another job soon at this rate).
my thoughts exactly!!
I find it interesting that my class is full of Veterans. Every one of them with the exception of myself have been paid their September housing allowance and book stipend. As a matter of fact I have the highest grade in my class. I have a 4.0 average with 100% attendance. It is now October 7th. The VA is closed for a holiday tomorrow. That means I will again go without food. I called the customer service hotline on October 1st. I called again on the 4th and 5th of October. The customer provided me with an hour wait time and no resolution to my situation as usual. If I do not receive payment by the 15th of October I will receive a lower credit score. I will also be delinquent on my car payment and insurance. Did I mention I will not retain my 4.0 because I don't have money to put gas in my car. I can't go to class. The VA assures me they can't do anything to help the delay. Actually I was told they received all my information from my school verifying my enrollment the same day as other members of my class. My classmates were paid September 29th. One other member of my class was not paid until the 3rd of October. The voice prompt from the VA customer service hotline does not acknowledge the release of my funds for September.The representatives on the other hand assure me all my information is in the system and has been for quite some time. They assure me that my money is on its way. I sure hope it gets here because it looks like I will be starving on the side of the road just like all the Vietnam vets I am sure everyone is aware of. Is there any higher authority that cangive some sort of resolution to my situation before I am broke and homeless drowning in debt?
The best you can do is file a complaint with your local Congressional Representative. This may or may not work, depending on how bad they want your vote. I've been enrolled since September and still haven't seen a dime.
Been over 3 months since the Semester started for me and not one single dime have I seen. The VA keeps saying it takes 6 to 8 weeks, but this semester ends in 3 weeks!
Us veterans cant get our money but a cracked head who needs welfare can get money ist absolutely absurd how this is ran they just dont give a shit and when you try to get a human on the phone you get a generic automated system screw that its bull
I heard they get paid or get bonuses for denying claims with service connection disabilities. And I haven't even received my money yet for my tuition for the September classes. The VA got the certification of enrollment on like sept 14th or sometime and I still have not gotten anything. And sometimes my school will resubmit everything to the VA which takes even longer.
Maybe if they took into account that many of us truly depend on this benefit that we have earned but then again you won't see Obama calling my car company to tell them I can't make the bill or tell the grocery store to put it on his tab until I am paid for what I am supposed to receive in monthly compensation. Unlike welfare, I actually gave back to my country to EARN this benefit but I don't see those people missing welfare checks. I guess I'll just tell my girls we can't afford food this month because our gov't doesn't give two cares about our vets. God Bless America.
Why does this process take such a long time? It's not like we're sending in our requests written in Latin on scrap piece of paper. It's not rocket science!!! It's all automated data!!! Are there only 5 people working up there in that giant *** building in buffalo? I'm tired of waiting, I'm tired of the excuses, I want my money now!!! Our society is broken. POS like Mike Vick and the like can make millions of dollars a year playing a game and being idolized despite their lack of contribution to the bettering of society. Yet, us service men and woman can't get our measly VA benefits after we've been blown up, shot at, and too often killed keeping this world safe. I long for the day when the good and the honorable forsake the ones who take advantage of our goodwill. But, I'm sure I'll be long dead by then… At least then my grandchildren will finally receive the back pay from my GI Bill benefit.
Phone got shut off, insurance is lapsed, 1 credit card is late with 4 late fees, bank is negative, and internet is overdue. Thank you VA for doing a swell job! Yes I DO DEPEND ON THESE BENEFITS to pay my bills if you have an opinion idc to hear it. I will do what I want. I can accept blame for trusting the VA to pay me on time, sure! But I am not the one not doing my job. I have done what they asked. Go to school full time and keep a 3.0 GPA minimum. I did it, so where are the benefits.
This is ridiculous, fall semester is almost over and I still haven't received anything from the GI bill. Cant get a good enough job because most my time is at school now like everyone here Ive got bills to pay cant afford my place car and internet for my internet classes I'm most likely going to get kicked out from where im living now. So tell me I did my time was at work every day of my contract never late deployed why am I facing the fear of being homeless. GI Bill sounds so sweet and everyone tells you 30 to 60 days youll get your first check. bunch of crap this is how we the people who fight for you get benefited!
I heard that the (or a) reason for the delay is because of the raising of the BAH rate. If this is true, why didn't the president take into consideration the effort and resources it would take to implement the change? Mr. Obama wants to fix the economy. Well let me be the first to tell you that delaying payment of due benefits to a country full of veterans trying to get a better education to get a better job is BANKRUPTING this country even further. Now you have a country full of people who were floating with thier heads above water drowning in debt or worse. Guess if he thought this slick move would earn him more votes, he should be eating his shoe about now.
Informative and nice post.Thank you for sharing. Please visit http://www.graduategapyear.com/india-gap-year
Assignments Web provide college homework help solved by the experts who have vast experience in their subjects.
Assignment Writing Help
Assignments Web provide college homework help solved by the experts who have vast experience in their subjects.
Assignment Writing Help
Assignments Web provide college homework help solved by the experts who have vast experience in their subjects.
I work in the veteran's services office of a community college. While processing times have improved somewhat, this semester, a few of my students had particular issues like records that needed to be transferred, that delayed their payments. After a visit to their congressman's office, the matter was resolved in a few days. Your representatives are making and changing the laws that govern your veterans' education benefits. The military taught you to do your job and not complain. But the lawmakers need to understand the impact of their decisions and the real life results of VA delays in everything from approving disability claims to paying college tuition. Veterans have significant political power and NOW is the time to use it.
I work at Brookline Collegein Phoenix Az.. We do except GI Bills. Contact me at 602-589-9954 and I will help as much as I can. We offer medical and criminal justice programs. Ask for Carol Oliverio!