On Wednesday, VA hosted a conference call to discuss progress on this semester's processing of pending Post-9/11 G.I. Bill (Chapter 33) claims. AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley participated in the call.VA took the time to discuss the current volume of claims as well as the looming backlog from the fall semester when the new benefit rolled out with substantial delays.
VA assured veterans and veterans' advocates on the call that all claims received for the fall semester have started receiving payments and that nearly 70 percent of spring claims had already been processed.
To date, VA says it has received more than 100,000 claims from schools for the spring semester and that all paperwork received by Jan. 19 will be paid in full by Feb. 1.
Though the call presented encouraging trends, the figures left AMVETS confused. Earlier in the week, AMVETS received a critical call-to-action from a student-veteran at Lehman College in New York who was being barred from spring enrollment for an out-standing bill. At the time of VA's conference call, she had not received payment for her fall semester.
However, this does not necessarily mean VA is solely responsible for veterans slipping through the cracks. VA has continued to stress that schools must complete and send the necessary paperwork before any claims can be paid, which is why lines of communication among student-veterans, VA, and schools must remain open throughout the process.
In November, VA retained the services of ACS Federal to assist in claims-processing for the next two semesters while VA and Navy SPAWAR stand up the digital enrollment system. Today, VA has the equivalent of 1,200 claims-processors handling G.I. Bill claims.
As of the most recent VA Monday Morning Workload Report on Jan. 11, 42,220 pending Chapter 33 claims remain. To view the report, Click Here.
If you are still experiencing Chapter 33 payment delays, do not hesitate to let us know through this blog or via email. AMVETS remains committed to ensuring that all veterans seeking to take advantage of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill receive the benefits they have earned.
(Image: VA's official logo for the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill)
Posts
I can give you list of around 37 people close to me that still have not recieved their first checks they were due to get in Aug and their schools have not been paid either.
ReplyDeleteBy all means. We would need to know the school, as well. This is exactly the kind of info we're looking for. We need to fix this. rgallucci@amvets.org
ReplyDeleteStill waiting for my sring payment. I made certain that I had everything turned in in November and checked last week to make sure my school sent in the paper work. I hate this.
ReplyDeleteFebruary 1st, still nothing. I got a second job so I can finally buy books. Just in time, mid terms are next week!
ReplyDeleteI am still waiting on my payments as well. Live in California attending DeVry University in Pomona. According to my Rep at school, all certifications were turned in to meet the Jan 15th deadline. Is there anyone I can call at VA for status?
ReplyDeleteI am still waiting on my payment after being dropped from all five of the classes I am taking this semester for not paying tuition and while the VA has yet to pay anything this semester I just got a bill in the mail for the $3000 advance they had to send me last semester when they were running so far behind!!! This is ridiculous and we deserve better. Take the $3000 out of what you owe me!
ReplyDeleteSCHOOL VERIFIED ME I HAVE THE CONFIRMATION CODE AND STILL NO PAYMENT. FINALLY HAD TO PAY TUITION WITH A CC SO THAT I DON'T GET DROPPED. MIDDLE OF MARCH AND NOTHING. THIS IS GREAT.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine and I attend the same school, both using the Post 9/11. After talking to her I found out that she had already been paid for Jan and Feb and that the school had been paid.
ReplyDeleteBut here I am on Feb 4th still waiting on all payments. I've calculated that they owe me/the school close to $7000 now.
It really sucks because I'm a single Mom who lives on a strict budget thats based almost solely on that living stipend.
And of course everytime I try to call the VA I get an automated message saying that all operators are busy and to please call back later. At this point I would gladly sit on hold for an hour just to talk to someone about when to expect payment.
I can give you list of around 37 people close to me that still have not recieved their first checks they were due to get in Aug and their schools have not been paid either.
ReplyDelete