VA’s Automated Post-9/11 GI Bill System Not Fully Functional

10/13/2010
Advocate for the Disabled
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VA’s Automated Post-9/11 GI Bill System Not Fully Functional

October 13, 2010 - The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Post-9/11 GI Bill has certainly seen its share of problems since it was implemented. First it failed to timely process applications. Then the payments were not going out on time. Then new payments had to be made to cover payments that were never recived. Finally, a new system was developed in order to more efficiently process Post-9/11 GI Bill applications and it was implemented for this school year. Since the beginning of fall semester 2010, no major problems have been reported, for the most part.

The automated process the VA put together to process Post-9/11 GI Bill applications came online at the last possible minute. Now it appears the system has not been performing as the VA had first announced, According to the VA's Office of Inspector General (OIG).

The Veterans Benefits Administration and the VA's Office of Information and Technology are working together to solve this problem, and are utilizing the Project Management Accountability System (PMAS). They are attacking the problem with two solutions and they are working towards both simultaneously.

First, they are attempting to create a "patch" to the system to fix it in the interim. They are also working towards building steps, which will serve as a long-term solution. The goal is the same as it was when the automated system was announced: total automation of delivery of education benefits.

The first two steps in the long term goal of full automation were implemented this past March and June. Like any new system, however, it had bugs. These bugs, which presented presumably unforeseen complexities, prevented the system from operating at full capacity.

The VA is not where it would like to be as far as being able to completely automate the delivery of education benefits. It is, however, lengths ahead of where it was last year. Although their system is not working as they planned, there are seemingly no veterans currently going without their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits at this time.

Category: Veterans' Disability

Labels: Automated System Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits Project Management Accountability System (PMAS) Veterans Educational Benefits

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2 Comments to "VA’s Automated Post-9/11 GI Bill System Not Fully Functional"

The VA is terrible when it comes to telling you the truth in regards to the status of your paperwork for the new post 9/11 GI bill. My school submitted my certification to the VA on 08/20/2010. To this day 10/21/10 it still has not been processed. I have already begun the next semester with more certifications sent on 10/18/10. Every time I call the VA just says that it hasn't been processed and that my office (buffalo, NY) is really behind. It says on the internet that it is only taking 10 days compared to last year which was 24 days. Last year I had to get the advance because my school wouldn't accept that the VA would pay for the classes eventually. I have had so many problems with the VA and this supposed housing allowance that I am entitled to on a monthly basic so I can go to school is so erratic. How am I suppose to go to school full time and pay my rent when VA takes their time processing paperwork and lying to the veterans. I waited over an hour on hold to speak to someone who said that they would take over my paperwork and try to get it done this week. I can not buy my books for the new semester due to lack of funds since I have not received any money for the last semester where I had to buy books for three classes out of my own pocket. I would like to say the last person was helpful but I have not recieved any payments yet. 2 Months is way too long and is crazy. I was told that I should complain to the buffalo and state financial hardship. I was originally told it could take up to 24 business days. Which is a complete lie and they are putting out that it is taking 10 days. Completely FALSE! I which someone would help and tell the truth.

Posted by Laura on October 21, 2010 at 08:17 AM

Really, there aren't veterans going without benefits? http://www.facebook.com/#!/gibillEducation
On this facebook page, you can find a ton of veterans who have been evicted, cannot pay their bills, and cannot put food on the table because they aren't seeing their benefits. There are plenty of veterans who have been in school since June or July and have not seen a dime from the VA. I am also included in these veterans who have not seen my benefits yet and have resorted to pawning things off in between my husband's pay days to feed my family since September. I quit my job and went back to school because this was supposed to be a good thing, but believing the government would actually pay the benefits was probably the worst mistake I ever made.

Posted by Kristen Massey on October 18, 2010 at 11:16 AM

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VA’s Automated Post-9/11 GI Bill System Not Fully Functional

2 Comments to "VA’s Automated Post-9/11 GI Bill System Not Fully Functional"

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