Benefits for our Student Veterans: September 30, 2009

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is quickly responding to the thousands of veterans who applied for educational benefits under the Post 9-11G.I. bill who have not received their government payments for tuition, housing and books.  The VA announced this week that they are providing emergency checks, of up to $3,000, to help students make these payments. The checks will be distributed to eligible students at VA regional offices starting this Friday, October 2. Students can go to a regional benefit office - the closest are Milwaukee and St. Paul - with a photo ID, a course schedule and a certificate of eligibility to request advance payment of their education benefits. This money will be deducted from future payments, which are expected to arrive on the normal schedule – the beginning of the month following the period for which they are being reimbursed.

I’m am pleased that the VA has moved quickly to remedy this problem to ensure that our brave veterans have the resources they need to take full advantage of the new G.I. Bill college benefits they were promised.

Click here for a full list of regional benefit offices.