This article by Jim Absher originally appeared on Military.com, the premier resource for the military and veteran community.
The VA has reported that GI Bill payments for the spring semester are experiencing "longer than usual processing times".
Many veterans whose spring term began in January are reporting that they still have not received any GI Bill payments for their schooling as they begin their midterm breaks.
For its part, the VA apologizes for the delay and says the delays are due to high claim volume during spring enrollment season and installation of computer system upgrades. They also say that claims are being processed in the order in which they were received.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill normally consists of three different payments: tuition & fee reimbursement directly to the school, and a monthly housing allowance and book stipend which are paid directly to the veteran. Many veterans who rely on the regular payment of their monthly housing allowance in order to make their rent or mortgage payments are facing financial difficulties due to the delay.
The VA says that anyone experiencing a hardship due to the delay should contact the customer service center at 888-442-4551 or via the online portal. Depending on the circumstances, VA may be able to expedite any delayed payments.
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Pentagon Plans Changes to Post-9/11 GI Bill Transferability