VA reports ineligible Soldiers received
education benefits

by Paula M. Fitzgerald
Paraglide



If you are an active-duty Soldier who has recently received money for educational benefits from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, don’t cash that check.

The VA is reporting that thousands of Soldiers who are ineligible for the benefits have been approved for a $3,000 advance from the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

According to Keith M. Wilson, director of the VA Education Service, this emergency advance money was designed to help veterans who are enrolled in the VA’s education program, but whose benefits were delayed.

“During the application process, there wasn’t a filter to make sure that the people applying for the advance were actually eligible veterans,” said Trent Stanfield, an education services specialist with the Army Continuing Education System. “Active-duty Soldiers are not eligible for the benefits.”

The VA caught the error and is attempting to recoup the money that was sent erroneously. Because the problem has affected thousands of active-duty Soldiers, Stanfield does not foresee punishment for anyone who received the money. However, if it is found that Soldiers applied for the benefits fraudulently, or continue to apply for the benefits and supply inaccurate information, consequences could be severe.

Stanfield explained that the best thing to do at this point is to return the money. This could cause hardship for Soldiers who received the money and have already spent it, but the VA is demanding that every dollar sent in error be returned in full.

Wilson sent out a letter to the Soldiers affected by this mistake. In it, he addresses the fact that the VA made the error but gives explicit directions on how Soldiers can rectify the situation. A filter has been added to the application process to prevent this mistake from occurring in the future.

Another letter will be sent addressing the procedures for refunding the VA. If you have received a check but have not cashed it, send it to U.S. Department of Treasury, Financial Management Service, PO Box 51318, Philadelphia, PA 19115-6318.

Do not send personal checks or money orders to the VA until you receive the letter from its Debt Management Center explaining repayment options and telling you where to send payments. If you have already returned the check, no further action is necessary.

For more information, visit the GI Bill Web site at www.gibill.va.gov, or call 1-888-442-4551.