LAYTON -- A backlog in GI Bill requests has caused the Department of Veterans Affairs to authorize emergency checks for veterans seeking financial aid for college.
National Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki announced that the department has authorized checks for up to $3,000 to be given to students who have applied for educational benefits and who have not yet received their government payment.
The checks will be distributed to eligible students at VA regional benefits offices across the country starting Friday.
Utah veterans enrolled in college can pick up their checks at the Utah Department of Veterans Affairs office, 550 Foothill Drive, in Salt Lake City. Veterans must bring a photo ID, a course schedule and an eligibility certificate to request advance payment of their housing and book allowance. Students can also apply for the payments online at www.va.gov.
"It's a very aggressive program," said Terry Schow, executive director of the Utah Department of Veterans Affairs, of the post 9/11 GI Bill. "And sadly, there is a backlog to get these payments out, but the secretary has really stepped up to the plate to help these vets get the money they need."
Nationwide, more than 50,000 veterans have qualified for tuition, housing and textbook payments under the bill, but only about 25,000 have received the aid.
Veterans officials say they don't know how many students will request emergency funds.
The checks are advance payments for housing and books. The money will be deducted from future education payments.
"Students should be focusing on their studies, not worrying about financial difficulties," Shinseki said in a news release issued Wednesday. "Education creates life- expanding opportunities for our veterans."
Shinseki said students should know that after the emergency payment they can expect to receive education payments on the normal schedule -- the beginning of the month following the period for which they are reimbursed.
"This is an extraordinary action we're taking," said Shinseki. "But it's necessary because we recognize the hardships some of our veterans face."
Sam Agbonkhese, a senior at Weber State University who was deployed to Iraq in 2008 with the Air Force, is still waiting for education benefits from the GI Bill, but said he won't use the emergency funds.
"It is my only means of income right now, but I'm just going to be patient," he said. "I've got a little money saved up and I feel like I can wait a little bit."
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