Well. . . I did it now

[rero360]

I actually wrote my Congressman.

I'm sitting here on my spring break from college, halfway thru the semester, and have yet to receive so much as a cent from the VA in post 9/11 GI bill money and decided something needed to be done.

There was an article on Military.com regarding the VA experiencing a delay do to a backlog of claims, but only at the Buffalo, NY office, whereas my claim is filed thru the Muskogee, OK office. Thankfully drill weekends have been longer than normal and I've been actually skipping classes just so I can get a few more hours in at my paid internship each week so I can stay on top of my bills, however this is simply unsustainable, something has to give.

I mean I understand disability claims taking an extended period of time to process, to a degree, but educational benefits? its sad really, makes me wonder how many veterans have had to drop out of school so they could find work full time to keep from becoming homeless.

People can say what they want about Neil McCauley, however, he has been one heck of an understanding landlord with all this nonsense with money being delayed, both GI Bill money and Drill pay (twice now within the last year has it been messed up)

[todd2968]

You need to call the va or log into ebenefits and find out if paper work is wrong or missing

[rero360]

Its not, though, the one thing the VA has been really good about is contacting me promptly about missing or incomplete info. I remember them calling me up once back in NY because they had a question regarding an answer I had given on some paperwork.

Also when I submitted the acceptance letter from the VA to the school's rep they said there was a delay, however, its just nonsense that its taken this long. I know of at least one other vet who has dropped from school so he could work full time to support his family.

[phaseshift]

Its not, though, the one thing the VA has been really good about is contacting me promptly about missing or incomplete info. I remember them calling me up once back in NY because they had a question regarding an answer I had given on some paperwork.

Also when I submitted the acceptance letter from the VA to the school's rep they said there was a delay, however, its just nonsense that its taken this long. I know of at least one other vet who has dropped from school so he could work full time to support his family.

I was in this same situation, how long did the VA say it's taking to process paperwork?

Call them and tell them you need to be put in the Hardship que, that you use the BAH to pay for rent, school and expenses and that you already are late for rent. Tell them that you are afraid of being evicted and that in itself will cause more trouble for you.

If they put you in the hardship que usually takes a week or two max for them to process all the necessary paperwork.

They'll probably tell you that the hardship que is the same as regular and blah blah, insist that you be put on it.

BTW I've never got a call from the VA about missing documents or anything.

[rero360]

The VA didn't give me a timeline, the rep at the school said it would be 6 to 8 weeks when I turned in the acceptance letter, just totally unsat, I'm continuously given deadlines of days if not hours to get stuff done and turned in, but they are free to take months to do their job? not acceptable. I'm sure other vets have written their congressmen about this long delay, I've been reading that vets all over the country are experiencing this, hopefully it will light a fire under someone's butt to get this mess fixed.

[phaseshift]

The VA didn't give me a timeline, the rep at the school said it would be 6 to 8 weeks when I turned in the acceptance letter, just totally unsat, I'm continuously given deadlines of days if not hours to get stuff done and turned in, but they are free to take months to do their job? not acceptable. I'm sure other vets have written their congressmen about this long delay, I've been reading that vets all over the country are experiencing this, hopefully it will light a fire under someone's butt to get this mess fixed.

I wrote a letter to my Congressman when I had the issue, my Congressman is Buck Mckeon never got a response back from him or is team.

However putting myself in the hardship que made the process alot faster.

[jmsenk]

Have they paid your school for tuition yet? Check with the registrar to see if you still owe them money. If you do, it is a serious delay... if not, then yeah, they should be cutting you a check on the first of every month. If not there is something wrong that needs to get fixed most ricky tick. As far as taking a long time - yeah, same here. I am usually 2 months in before I get a check, but when I do it is all of my back pay too. The GI-Bill is a process that you have to go through every semester, so don't let up.

[laabstract]

Took me a little over 2 months to get my Post 911 GI Bill money, but I really have a bone to pick with the VA. Good thing I have a side business because if I were solely relying on my VA benefits for survival my wife, daughter and myself would be homeless. They have forgotten to pay me for 2 months straight then have constantly messed up the amount they are supposed to pay me, at this point I just look at it as extra money.

[rero360]

Well, looks like I finally got someone who does their job on the phone, called again, this time to request hardship, didn't have to, the woman I talked to, Liz, found my application, said it got misplaced or something, and finished the process, so I should see the funds in 3 to 5 days. Thank goodness for those who are willing to do their jobs and not just fill a seat and collect a pay check.

[todd2968]

You need to call the va or log into ebenefits and find out if paper work is wrong or missing

That sounds like dejavue all over again


Let that be a lesson for the rest of you that you should have learned in the military. Follow up, follow up, call up, show up, give me my money!!!!

[steelrain82]

Just remember brother, document the **** out of phone calls to the VA.

[Linh]

Also when I submitted the acceptance letter from the VA to the school's rep they said there was a delay, however, its just nonsense that its taken this long. I know of at least one other vet who has dropped from school so he could work full time to support his family.

It's always been a painless process for me. About a month before school I submit my documents through the school, then a few weeks later get a letter from the VA then the 1st of the month I get a deposit in my bank account.

Never had to deal with the VA during the whole process other than getting a letter from them.