VA Delays in GI Bill Payments Disrupt Veterans' Education This Spring

GI Bill Benefit Delays Impacting Veterans' Education

As military veterans return to academic pursuits this spring at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, many are facing significant delays in receiving their GI Bill benefits, vital for funding tuition, textbooks, and housing. The expected checks are postponed until April, prompting some veterans to leave their studies early, an issue aggravated by cuts to federal staffing that were implemented during the Trump administration, according to Jeff Deickman, who oversees veteran and military affairs at the university.

Deickman notes that frequent errors in Veterans Administration (VA) paperwork contribute heavily to the delays, which have tripled the wait time for veterans to access essential benefits. "On bad days, I can spend three hours on the phone with the VA," he shared, emphasizing the inefficiencies that many veterans are experiencing. Last year, nearly 600,000 veterans received approximately $10 billion in GI Bill benefits, but ongoing staffing shortages in both the VA and the U.S. Department of Education are raising alarms among advocates.

The impending layoffs of nearly 30,000 VA employees, combined with cuts at the Department of Education, have sparked concern regarding oversight of for-profit colleges that may take advantage of veteran tuition funding. Barmak Nassirian from Veterans Education Success pointed out the increasing uncertainty felt by veterans who lack adequate information from the federal government.

"The whole process has become chaotic," remarked a 33-year-old Navy veteran from Colorado, echoing the frustrations voiced in social media discussions. A common sentiment among veterans on platforms like Reddit is the struggle to find assistance with stalled benefits. One user expressed, "I just wish I could speak to someone who could help," after numerous unsuccessful attempts to resolve loan-related issues.

Despite federal laws mandating student loan forgiveness for disabled veterans, many report facing denials without adequate follow-up from the Department of Education on acknowledged errors. Gary Kunich, a spokesperson for the VA, clarified that while there are intentions to reduce staffing, there haven't been layoffs, despite the reduction of 1,000 probationary employees in January and 1,400 additional workers in February.

This unstable situation threatens veterans' access to their educational benefits, a concern raised by the American Council on Education (ACE). Research indicates that veterans are twice as likely to attend for-profit colleges, making them particularly vulnerable to losing GI Bill benefits. Lindsay Church from Minority Veterans of America noted that veterans from low-income and diverse backgrounds, who may lack familiarity with higher education systems, are particularly at risk of fraud.

The immediate issues of payment delays and errors in paperwork due to staffing cuts are significant. At Pikes Peak State College, for example, some veterans reported being left without benefits as late as May, according to Paul DeCecco, director of military and veteran programs. Similar delays were reported at Miramar College in San Diego, where long wait times for VA work-study contracts have replaced the previous quick processing times, as highlighted by LaChaune DuHart, director of veterans affairs.

The ongoing frustrations are causing many veterans to reconsider their educational paths, with some choosing to work instead of continuing their studies due to inefficiencies in the VA system. Phillip Morris, an associate professor at the University of Colorado, highlighted the consequences of these delays, stating, "If you can’t pay your rent because your benefits are not flowing the way you’re expecting them to, that increases anxiety and stress that translates to the classroom."