Post-9/11 G.I. Bill Update: VA Implements IT Solution; Publishes 2010-2011 Rates

This afternoon, VA announced that its fully-automated G.I. Bill claims processing system is now online and fully operational. Since the new program was delivered in July, VA has meticulously transferred data from VA's analog processing system into the new program with minimal errors, according to VA's Chief Information Officer Roger Baker.

The new system allows for automated data sets to help calculate each veterans' specific reimbursement rates, as opposed to the old system, which required an individual claims processor to enter each unique figure for every enrolled veteran.

VA Director of Education Services Keith Wilson said that throughout the month of August, VA could process a Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, or Chapter 33, benefit claim within 10 days of receipt as a result of the streamlined system. Wilson went on to say that VA's new system can accommodate for changes in compensation figures like housing allowances on the fly, meaning veterans will receive accurate living stipend payments once the Department of Defense publishes its annual rate changes in January.

To date, VA has already paid Chapter 33 benefits to 130,000 veterans enrolled for the fall, compared to last year's mark of only 12,000 claims at the same point. Wilson also said that VA has seen an overall 14 percent increase in enrollment across all chapters of the G.I. Bill for the new academic year.

Yesterday, VA also published its Chapter 33 reimbursement rates for the 2010-2011 academic year. The rates can be found on the VA Web site Here.

American Veteran will continue to follow VA's implementation of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill and the new automated processing solution. We will also closely monitor the proposed Post-9/11 G.I. Bill legislation pending before Congress to make Chapter 33 more equitable. Check back regularly for updates.

Live from Capitol Hill: Senate to Host G.I. Bill Hearing

This morning the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs will listen to testimony from VA administrators on the progress of Post-9/11 G.I. Bill implementation. The hearing will take place in Russell Senate Office Building Room 418 at 9:30 a.m.

Veteran Benefits Administration Director of Education Services Keith Wilson will testify on recent progress in developing a digital education benefits processing system, the ongoing recoupment of emergency living stipend checks, and status of the benefit roll-out, including the issues faced during the fall semester.

Yesterday, Military Times reported that living stipends for the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill would not be adjusted to the 2010 rate until this summer. VA has acknowledged that technological limitations under the current system are to blame, but that all veterans entitled to back pay will receive it this summer and those whose living stipend rates would have decreased will not be required to pay back the difference.

VA said that it has been transparent about this potential shortcoming for months, as VA focused on delivering benefits to all enrolled veterans, rather than attempt to adjust the living stipends in the midst of the program's roll out.

From the time VA was tasked to deliver the new benefit, VA officials acknowledged that there could be technological hiccups until the final IT solution could be activated in December 2010, and that it was more important to ensure all enrolled student-veterans were processed into the system and receiving timely payments. To date, VA says that all claims have been processed for enrolled student-veterans and that all payments are up to date.

American Veteran will follow this morning's hearing closely. Check back later for updates.

Live from Capitol Hill: House Listens to Testimony of Post-9/11 G.I. Bill

This afternoon, the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity will listen to testimony from VA's Director of Education Service Keith Wilson on the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.

To view video from the hearing, Click Here.

During his testimony, Wilson admitted that the VA may not have all claims sorted out by the end of the fall semester. Wilson also explained the issues with processing Chapter 33 claims and answered questions from the subcommittee on implementation issues and VA's potential remedies.

AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley, who watched the hearing, expressed concern over the situation, since VA's digital option for Chapter 33 claims processing will not be online for another year.

Kelley explained that due to the complexity of the benefit and the number of veterans expected to take advantage of the program, VA will likely face similar surges in claims each semester, prompting additional backlogs until the digital processing system can be implemented.

In the wake of a daunting backlog of initial benefits claims for Chapter 33, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki instituted an emergency payment program for veterans experiencing delays. AMVETS leaders have applauded the swift action of VA to implement the successful stop-gap.

To date, American Veteran Online has received dozens of comments from veterans who continue to experience delivery issues with the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.

Patrick Campbell, chief legislative counsel for IAVA who helped to draft the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, submitted testimony for the record on how his organization views the backlog and potential solutions.

Check back regularly with American Veteran Online for updates on the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.

Post-9/11G.I. Bill Update: VA seeks to clarify delays; veterans still waiting for payments

Yesterday, VA Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs Tammy Duckworth and Deputy Director of Education Services Lynn Nelson hosted a conference call to discuss Post-9/11 G.I. Bill payment delays and progress VA has made through the month of September.

During the call, Duckworth was apologetic for the communications gaps that have occurred over the last two months, ensuring those on the call that VA has made a concerted effort to properly disseminate information to affected schools and veterans.

However, when Duckworth and Nelson clarified the most recent figures on enrolled veterans and the number of pending payments, veterans participating in the call balked.

To date, VA claims that only 27,735 enrollment certifications have been received with 24,186 veterans receiving some kind of payment--a staggeringly low number compared to the 277,000 total claims for Post-9/11 G.I. Bill eligibility.

On the call, Duckworth acknowledged that veterans expecting checks on Oct. 1 may experience further delays, depending on when their school submitted their enrollment certification. Duckworth said many schools have waited until the add/drop date to submit certifications, meaning that veterans may have to wait an average of 35 days before receiving their first payment.

Duckworth also stressed the importance for schools to submit enrollment certifications as soon as possible, since no payments can be sent to the veteran until enrollment has been verified. Duckworth clarified that even if a veteran does not have a certificate of eligibility that the school can still verify enrollment with VA.

AMVETS leaders think the veterans' community will have a better understanding of the scope of the problem once the next set of checks are set to go out on Oct. 1. In the meantime, in an effort to improve communication between VA and potentially affected veterans, AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley has drafted a letter to VA's director of education services, Keith Wilson, asking VA to send direct correspondence to each veteran in an effort to stave off landlords and other creditors who may be expecting payments in the interim. To view the letter, click on the image below:


"We want to work with VA to ensure that veterans aren't held financially accountable for this delay, and a formal letter could help reassure private creditors that their money is on its way," Kelley said. "VA sent similar letters to colleges and universities, which seems to have worked for now. The last thing we want to see is a veteran who has done everything right evicted on account of these delays."

In the interim, American Veteran magazine editor Isaac Pacheco is experiencing his own G.I. Bill delays. Pacheco, who participated in VA's Post-9/11 G.I. Bill pilot program last spring while attending George Mason University, first submitted his G.I. Bill paperwork at the earliest possible date.

This fall, Pacheco is attending Georgetown University as a full-time graduate student. Georgetown submitted his enrollment certification on Aug. 12, and the university had credited Pacheco's account to reflect the pending payment. To date, no payment has arrived for either Pacheco or the school.

Pacheco called VA this morning to check in on his claim. While VA acknowledged that the proper paperwork had been submitted, payment "may not" be processed for another 6-8 weeks. This includes Pacheco's missing living and book stipends and tuition payments to the university.

As the story continues to unfold, AMVETS will be tracking the G.I. Bill delays. As always, American Veteran Online is eager to hear what you have to say on the issue.

Post-9/11 G.I. Bill Update: VBA presents figures on living stipends; AMVETS satisfied with tomorrow's projected delivery

This afternoon, AMVETS leaders took part in a conference call with Keith Wilson, Veterans Benefits Administration Director of Education Service and the primary representative responsible for implementing the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, to discuss AMVETS' concerns with purported delays in Chapter 33 living stipend payments.

Last week, AMVETS was concerned over a significant reported backlog in claims for the new Chapter 33 benefits, which VA documents confirmed could have been as high as 236,000. In response to this grim news, AMVETS devised a plan that could have helped veterans avoid financial hardship as a result, which was presented to VA and VBA officials on Friday.

After today's discussion, AMVETS concerns have been addressed and AMVETS leaders say they are satisfied with tomorrow's projected delivery of the first living stipend payments.

According to Wilson, the reported 236,000 claims outlined in the weekly VBA report represented the total number of claims that needed some kind of action--such as a letter to be mailed or a simple query for additional information on G.I. Bill benefits. Wilson reported that the actual number of claims that must still be processed for Chapter 33 was closer to 67,400, and that 168,600 claims should be paid out Sept. 1.

At first glance, the 67,400 figure is still a daunting shortfall. However, Wilson assured AMVETS that two-thirds to three-quarters of those claims were only filed within the last month, meaning that the last-minute influx made it impossible for VBA to process and deliver these particular claims on time.

AMVETS remains concerned that 20,000 veterans who did file their claims in a timely manner will still not receive their first living stipend payments by Sept. 1. However, Wilson assured AMVETS that the claims were being processed and that all accounts should be current by Oct. 1.

In recent testimony before Congress, VBA voiced concerns over a sudden influx of claims prior to the start of the fall semester, which appears to be the situation VBA faces today. From the beginning, VBA advised veterans and schools to file all claims as early as possible to ensure proper payment, noting that the complicated new benefit took a significant amount of time to process--roughly 30 days. A failure to submit a claim on time cannot be held against the VBA.

However, AMVETS will continue to monitor the situation closely and AMVETS Legislative Director Ray Kelley has asked Wilson for a follow-up call in two weeks to discuss progress on implementation and to ensure that everything has gone according to plan.

Though AMVETS leaders left the call optomistic about tomorrow's delivery, AMVETS will continue to monitor the situation closely, speaking with veterans and leaders within the academic community to ensure benefits are delivered on time as promised.

If you have an issue with Chapter 33 benefits delivery, please let us know about it by commenting on American Veteran Online or through an E-mail to AMVETS national communications department.

(Image: VA's official Post-9/11 G.I. Bill logo.)