Forever GI Bill

Turn And Face The Strange: GI Bill Changes Are Late To The Party

VA was required by law to update the GI Bill for August 1, but they still have not completed the necessary tech updates to make their new structure happen.

Veterans attending higher education are sure to receive checks for the wrong amount of money in the near future. VA swears these errors will not cost veterans money, vowing to reimburse underpayments and allow vets to pocket overages.

If you have ever been a struggling student, though, you may be aware that a reimbursement in the future is not as good as full payment, on time. There is not a lot of spare money to go around every month. Even a temporary deficiency can get awfully expensive.

The Forever GI Bill, passed last year, was originally slated for July 16, and now VA is whooshing past their new “deadline” at Ludicrous Speed. Their spokesperson refuses to comment about any new projected completion date.

Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN) of the House VA Committee expressed dismay and concern over this development.

“Many of the benefits that [the Forever GI Bill) ensures have already been implemented; however, it’s troubling to me that VA still has not yet finalized the IT systems needed to fully implement the law, despite having a year to do so,” he said.

“It is now a month past the deadline set in the law and two weeks past VA’s self-imposed deadline to have the system fully running, and the department’s failure to do so is unacceptable as it could impact payments for upwards of 650,000 veterans.”

I mean, look. You all have heard me say this before. When the standards that VA invents for ITSELF are still not adequate, you know there is no possible way they can make things look good.

The new version of our GI Bill states that the amount students receive for their housing allowance each month should be based on where they take the most classes. The old version of the bill calculated that amount based on the location of the school’s main campus.

Either way, the calculations are equivalent to what an E-5 active-duty personnel with dependents would receive.

One positive thing I can say for old-school military bills: they really did want us to make something of ourselves, both on and off the battlefield.

Rep. Roe, who is an M.D., plans to “continue to conduct aggressive oversight of VA to ensure this law is properly and quickly implemented and see to it that VA fixes this serious problem.”

Good. Sweet Lord, somebody ought to do so.

Source: https://rebootcamp.militarytimes.com/news/education/2018/09/04/this-gi-bill-change-was-supposed-to-take-effect-aug-1-it-still-hasnt-happened/

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16 Comments

  1. How is it that the VA can makes its own regs and be called law????? I thought the Congress did that…???

  2. Qeustion: How long will the VA/Government screw us older vets trying to retool ourselves to get back to work. Looks like the 9/11 and now the “Forever” GI bill will do just that. Going through Voc Rehab is a nightmare!!!

  3. First off I want to say superb blog! I had a quick question which I’d like
    to ask if you do not mind. I was interested to find out how you center yourself and clear
    your thoughts prior to writing. I have had a hard time clearing my thoughts
    in getting my thoughts out. I do take pleasure in writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are lost simply
    just trying to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or
    hints? Appreciate it!

  4. Tie payment to VA employees to the new system and you will be amazed at how fast things get fixed.

  5. Not for nothin – veterans had to wait until 1948 to get a lot of their benefits after WW2. Our GI Bill was abused during Viet Nam to the point that vets had to sell their car, motorcycle, etc, get additional jobs, or quit because the VA was so egregious in paying the benefits. I had SUNY give me a hard time accepting the GI Bill as part of my values, and they also gave me a hard time on legally mandated NYS TAP. Colleges sucked just as bad – they were not big on having us there, therefore the hassle with finance. Colleges are nothing more than self aggrandized for profit institutions.

  6. To Veterans who read this called your Senators or Representatives contract Veteran Affairs Committee your belief most Veteran Medical Centers how improve Veterans Health Care because the Mayo Clinics Disabled Veterans is 100 service connected get Veterans get your Shit together.

    1. For those of you that would prefer not to be lied to by your congressional representatives there are other options. You can call the VA hotline or the VAOIG. But I would highly recommend watching the new VA self-Help Video now being sponsored by the VA.

      To View the VA Veterans self Help Video go to:
      “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrJrSqA4T1c”

      Guess the VA figures why should they do it when they can tell Veterans to do it themselves.

  7. Still at it I see.
    Some things never change. Always something to bitch about. Never recognizing the “good” or those clearly helped by their educational benefits! Curious how many of the negative commentary even qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill? Im sure VEAP or others were not kind to you, but before knocking something you really dont have true knowledge about – poll the public to see how many honestly benefitted from their entitlement. Im willing to bet there are many many Vets who can say it helped them obtain both bachelors and masters degrees thanks to their GI Bill. Until then. STFU ?

    1. Were one of those that benefited?? If so, GREAT!! It worked for you. People like me are stuck in the middle of ” too old for the NEW GI BILL and to young for the old one”. So unless you speak for EVERYONE which i doubt you do, please STFU, get a life and and go cry to mommy.

  8. This sounds like a trick of some sort if Veterans are allowed to keep any overages…kind of makes you wonder if that’s the way the VA treats their buddy contractors for black hole construction projects that go over in the Billion$?
    Of COURSE the VA is going to UNDERPAY…but don’t in your right mind EVER THINK the VA is going to allow any Veteran without a funny hat obligation to KEEP ANY OVERAGES….HA HA HA HA….that’s VA for prompting another **PLOP* and ~~**SPLASH**~~ deposit into the VA’s Round Porcelain Suggestion Box today! HA HA HA HA HA (Vets keeping any overages….HA HA HA)….(even my cat is laughing)

  9. Question: can a veteran still transfer GI Bill to his children, I was told by said veteran he can not, only allowed to transfer during active duty? part 2… said Veteran said later he transferred to another child, said child never went to college, can GI BILL be transferred again to a different child attending college, how can child #2 gain access to GI BILL information?
    thank you

    1. I was told while in Afghanistan that I could transfer mine when we got to preprocessing in the states.
      When I got to ft.sill I was told I missed my window and should have done it while deployed. I am so pissed and feel betrayed by the system. Thanks V.A.
      I guess I’m the only one that was swindled.
      Pissed in Idaho.

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