From application delays to concerns about inadequate benefits, the new Post 9/11 G.I. Bill is posing challenges to recent military veterans who want to return to school.
Billed in many quarters as the greatest investment in veterans’ education since World War II, the new law is facing some speed bumps in its early implementation. With delays in processing payments to colleges, the federal government instead sent checks directly to some veterans in late September. However, not all banks honored these largely handwritten checks, adding another obstacle to those already hard-pressed to pay their tuition bills.
These developments have put added pressure on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve implementation of the law that took effect Aug. 1.
“The VA is taking, on average, 35 days to process a G.I. Bill claim,” said Patrick Campbell, chief legislative counsel for the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). In a statement distributed via YouTube, he said, “We know this is too long.”
