VA Planning to Call Veteran-Students About New GI Bill

Full Article at: VA Contacting Veteran-Students About New GI Bill
Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:15pm EDT

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Representatives of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will be telephoning Veterans across the
country to explain their education benefits under the new Post-911 GI Bill and
ensure beneficiaries are able to receive payments due them.

"The Post-9/11 GI Bill is one of our highest priorities," said Secretary of
Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "Instead of making people wait to hear from
us, we're reaching out to Veterans, so they can get the money they need to
stay in school."

"To protect the personal identity of Veterans, VA representatives making calls
will not ask for any personal information, such as birthdates, bank account or
social security numbers, but they may ask family members for information to
contact Veterans who are away at school."

25,000 Veteran Students Apply for Emergency Funds

Some 25,000 Veterans showed up or applied online for emergency GI Bill funds. That seems like a small percentage of all the backlogged claims, which has been said to be something like 244,000.

Full Article at: Post-9/11 GI Bill payments hit another snag
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Oct 5, 2009 13:32:37 ED

"More than 14,300 veterans showed up at VA regional offices on Friday and Saturday to take advantage of an unprecedented offer from VA to provide up to $3,000 in emergency funds while students wait for their GI Bill claims to be processed. Another 10,600 people applied online for checks that will be arriving in the mail."

"VA officials are asking banks to help veterans by cashing the emergency checks as quickly as possible, and have set up a toll-free number for banks or other financial institutions to call so they can verify a check. The number is 800-827-2166."

Starting Oct. 2, $3,000.00 checks for 224,000 Veteran-Students

Full article: Veterans Get Some Relief With Tuition, $3,000 Advances to Bridge GI Bill Backlog
By Emma Brown
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, September 26, 2009


Some 251,000 veterans [students] have submitted claims this year, some 224,000 -- about 90 percent -- have NOT received checks, "according to Veterans Affairs officials."

Many of the 224,000 students are being forced "to take out loans, rack up credit card debt and consider dropping out of school in order to meet living expenses, according to veterans and groups that advocate on their behalf."

"Now, starting Oct. 2, veterans can request a $3,000 advance on their housing and book allowances by bringing a photo ID, course schedule and eligibility certificate to one of the agency's 57 regional offices, including in the District and Baltimore. The agency said it would also send officials to some college campuses and help coordinate transportation to regional offices."