VA Reneges on Student Repayments
December 12, 2018
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on November 27 informed Congress it will not follow through on a recent promise to repay student veterans who were underpaid their GI Bill benefits. The announcement, first reported by NBC News, runs counter to the VA’s recent promise to make good on delayed or omitted payments to student veterans.
The VA blamed a computer software issue for underpayment of GI Bill benefits to thousands of veterans across the nation. In some cases, student veterans did not receive any of their benefits. Others saw reduced amounts, and a few received increased payment amounts due to the software issue.
Michigan has more than 100,000 veterans, many of whom use the GI Bill to improve their lives. The state also has one of the nation’s best higher education systems. Yet, many veterans in Michigan and across the nation saw their housing allowance and other benefits payments delayed by up to several months.
Many veterans and their families who depend on the additional support fell behind on rent payments and other bills. In some cases, they had to drop out of college in order to find additional work to help pay bills the VA should have covered via GI Bill benefits.
The GI Bill is one of the best tools America’s veterans can use to improve their lives. An infantry soldier can use the GI Bill to obtain specialized job training, earn a bachelor’s degree and even go on to graduate school and become a doctor, lawyer, professor or virtually anything else.
When the VA delays or omits payments, student veterans and their families do not benefit from the rewards earned via years of military service. Combat veterans in particular are owed a significant debt that never can be repaid. An experienced veterans benefits attorney can help ensure veterans receive their just compensation for years of outstanding service.