VA to Issue Emergency Checks to Student Veterans
October 1, 2009, WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced that starting Friday (Oct. 2) emergency checks would be available to student veterans to cover costs guaranteed under the new G.I. Bill signed into law in 2008. Thousands of veterans who applied for educational benefits under the program have not yet received their payments due to delayed processing.
“No veteran should have to dip into their savings or postpone buying books for class because of outdated technology and backed-up claims,” said Congressman Bart Gordon. “Now student veterans will be able to obtain the promised funds by visiting the VA’s regional office in Nashville or by applying online.”
VA regional offices will start distributing checks of up to $3,000 on Friday, October 2, to eligible students across the country. Tennessee’s regional office is located in Nashville (110 9th Avenue South; 1-800-827-1000). Students should bring a photo ID and a course schedule. Student veterans can also apply for an emergency check by visiting www.va.gov. Online applicants will receive their emergency payments through the mail after processing.
“Thousands of Tennessee’s National Guardsmen served our country in Iraq and Afghanistan,” explained Gordon. “These veterans and the other members of our Armed Forces who defended our country abroad deserve the full, four-year college education promised to them when we passed the new G.I. Bill.”
The emergency checks will help student veterans make payments towards books and housing. The money will be deducted from future payments, which are expected to arrive on the normal schedule – the beginning of the month following the period for which they are being reimbursed.
Qualified veterans were able to apply for the new college benefits beginning in May of this year, and started receiving tuition benefits in August, along with housing and book stipends which are paid retroactively. Almost 300,000 claims have been submitted for the program.
