VA Struggling With GI Bill Housing Allowances
Nov 12, 2018
Northville, MI (Law Firm Newswire) November 12, 2018 – An apparent software issue is delaying payments for student housing via the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) GI Bill. The VA is way behind on processing GI Bill housing allowances for thousands of military veterans dependent upon it. That has one of Michigan’s more experienced legal advocates for veterans looking for solutions.
“My legal career started with the GI Bill getting me through law school,” experienced veterans’ benefits attorney James G. Fausone said. “It is critically important to have your benefits in place when you are enrolled in classes, so you can focus on your studies. We’ll help veterans struggling with this matter.”
In addition to being a veteran, Fausone is a partner of the Legal Help for Veterans law firm. He says Michigan has many outstanding colleges and universities, and a long history of military enlistments. That means lots of military veterans in Michigan are utilizing the GI Bill to get an education and improve their career and earnings prospects.
The VA says changes triggered by the recently signed Forever GI Act caused an IT problem that has the agency running up to three months behind on processing housing payments. The problem has caused some veterans to receive underpayments, others to receive overpayments, and others none at all.
The VA says it expects about 360,000 veterans enrolled in college programs across the nation to receive benefits that are the same as those paid in 2017, rather than an increased amount, per the Forever GI Act. The VA has added staff and says it is processing about 16,000 applications every day to catch up on the backlog.
The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency has named as “veteran-friendly schools” some 70 colleges, universities and trade schools throughout the state. Those institutions serve more than 16,000 military-connected students, many of whom are veterans in need of support from the GI Bill.
Military veterans are in charge at Legal Help for Veterans. They have the legal and personal experience necessary to fully serve the state’s thousands of military veterans with virtually any legal issues.
Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC
41700 West Six Mile Road, Suite 101
Northville, MI 48168
Toll Free Phone: 800.693.4800
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