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Posts Tagged ‘veteran-students’
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012
The Disabled Veterans National Foundation’s (DVNF) scholarship program is offering several veterans the chance to receive $1000 to further their education.
This year, the DVNF will award 50 $1,000 scholarships to veterans to attend an accredited college, university, or trade school. The response to the scholarship program has been so overwhelming that the DVNF has announced the extension of the application deadline from February 1 to March 1, 2012 to give more veterans the opportunity to apply.
Interested veterans must complete the following for consideration:
- DVNF Scholarship application;
- State-certified Veterans DD-214 form;
- 3-4 minute video or 500-750 word essay (topic provided in the application); and
- a letter of recommendation from a non-relative.
The DVNF will make their decisions in March and notify the winners at the beginning of April. Scholarships will be sent to the recipient’s school by the end of May.
Precilla Wilkewitz, president of the DVNF, said that her organization is highly aware that many veterans aren’t entitled to every part of the GI Bill benefits. The DVNF strives to fill the gaps many veterans have in their benefits by providing scholarships for continuing education.
Programs like the DVNF can help provide additional benefits and resources when a veteran doesn’t qualify for full disability benefits through the VA. If you’ve only received partial benefits or a low disability rating, you may need to talk to a veterans’ disability attorney to review your case.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: Disabled Veterans National Foundation, veteran-students, veterans assistance, Veterans' Benefits, Veterans' Resources
Posted in General, Veterans' Benefits, Veterans' Disability, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Friday, October 7th, 2011
The Post-9/11 GI Bill–which covers veterans’ tuition, fees, stipends for housing and books–has been dispensing educational benefits to veteran-students for about 2 years, during which there has been a backlog of claims. While it seemed that backlog would grow to mirror the veterans disability backlog if corrective action was not taken, according to an article in The Houston Chronicle, there is no more backlog for GI Bill benefits.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) initially developed a backlog so severe when it first launched the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the VA had to issue thousands of “emergency checks” to veteran-students just so those students could remain enrolled. The VA has paid out $12.98 billion in payments to almost 600,000 veterans attending college under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and there is no sign of slowing.
At its highest point, the VA faced 65,000 backlogged claims, and each claim took about 60 days to process. The VA has brought that number down to 23,000 pending claims, which is different than a backlogged claim. Each claim now takes about 10 days to process.
The VA took on the backlog by not only hiring more people to process claims, but by automating the claim processing. When the Post-9/11 GI Bill first started issuing benefits, the claims had to be processed by hand.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: Educational Benefits, Post-9/11 GI Bill, veteran-students, Veterans disability
Posted in General, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has placed VA counselors at 8 college campuses to help veterans transition from their roles as soldiers to their roles as students. The shift from a military lifestyle to a civilian lifestyle can often be stressful. Coupling that transition with entering college can be overwhelming, which is why the VA offers the VetSuccess program.
The counselors involved in the VetSuccess program are trained in specific areas. Because of the distinctive issues veteran-students face, such as being non-traditional students, the VetSuccess counselors utilize peer-to-peer counseling, among other services. Along with the full-time counselor on staff, the VetSuccess program employs a part-time outreach coordinator. That coordinator’s job is to help veteran-students with:
- Benefits;
- Support; and
- Meeting health and educational needs.
In addition to academic and adjustment counseling, the VetSuccess program also provides such services as vocational testing and referrals. The program was born as a pilot program on the University of South Florida’s campus and has since grown to exist on 8 different campuses across the country. Today’s version is much more balanced and effective than the original program and helping many more veterans where it is needed.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. You may be entitled to certain programs and benefits so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Non-Traditional Students, veteran-students, veterans education, Veterans' Resources, VetSuccess Program
Posted in General, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Thursday, November 18th, 2010
There are significantly more veterans attending college this year than last through their Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits. Many soldiers enlisted solely for the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, and are now cashing in on their earnings. Like most things military related, however, many veterans are also complaining about the amount of red tape they have to push through. The bureaucracy involved with the bill is causing both uncertainty and irritation, according to a new study.
The report is probably the most inclusive study about the effectiveness of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Researchers used surveys and various focus groups in an attempt to capture the reality of what soldiers endure as they cycle into a classroom from the military. One of the biggest complaints is the seemingly insurmountable labyrinth created by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the colleges veterans attend. Other complaints included:
- Confusion as to the intended use of VA checks;
- Delayed payments;
- Lacking an online payment tracking system;
- Credit transfer policies within colleges and universities being consistent; and
- Long wait times when calling VA hotlines for help.
Almost 50% of respondents complained of the VA’s payment backlog as creating unnecessary challenges. For those students attending public 2-year colleges, the percentage of students struggling to get benefits is significantly higher. Many veterans did respond as being happy with the amount of benefits available beyond tuition, e.g., money for books and living expenses.
The red tape, however, did not provide the only challenge to these veterans. Many complained of not being able to balance school with work and family time. Military veterans will usually always attend college as non-traditional students and will therefore face stressors many other students do not. Many veterans also return to the civilian world suffering from various mental health issues.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. You may be entitled to certain programs and benefits so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Post-9/11 GI Bill, VA Education Benefits, veteran-students, Veterans' Benefits
Posted in General, Veterans' Benefits | No Comments »
Thursday, September 9th, 2010
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has had problems processing claims for veterans’ Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits since last year. Because the VA did not have a 2010 rate table for housing allowances, veteran-students did not receive their housing increases this January. The VA will issue checks to every veteran-student who did not receive their proper housing allowances dating from 1Jan10.
The beginning of 2010 brought higher housing costs for most veteran-students. The housing stipend from their Post-9/11 GI Bill was supposed to adjust for this increase, but that did not happen due to the VA’s faulty claims processing system.
Just weeks shy of the beginning of this fall semester the VA went live with their new, partially automated, Post-9/11 GI Bill claims processing system. When the military updated their housing allowances, however, those increases were not integrated by the Post-9/11 GI Bill system. Therefore, veteran-students’ housing allowances were not increased in their stipend checks.
When the new Post-9/11 GI Bill system went active, it made the adjustments dating back to the first of the year and began issuing checks. Those checks are retroactive for 153,000 veteran-students who were attending college in Spring, 2010.
For most veteran-students, the retroactive check for the difference between the 2009 and the 2010 housing allowances will not amount to much money. For others, the checks could be as much as $250 a month. The difference in rates depends on where the veteran-student attends college and how much housing was raised for the Spring semester. On average, veteran-students will receive checks for just under $100 a month.
The checks will be directly deposited within the first 3 weeks of September. The checks will cover housing allowances covering 1Jan10-31Jul10. Hopefully this new system will prevent the VA having to play catch up with veteran-students again.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. You may be entitled to certain programs and benefits so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: Housing Allowances, Housing Stipends, Post-9/11 GI Bill, Retroactive Housing Checks, veteran-students
Posted in General | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has signed more than 3,200 agreements with over 1,100 schools for the next academic year. Under the Yellow Ribbon program, the VA is allowing veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill to attend higher-priced schools. The program provides for a sharing of financial support between the VA and every educational institution participating in the program for those veteran-students attending higher-priced educational institutions.
Under the current Post-9/11 GI Bill, the VA repays veteran-students for any amount of tuition not exceeding the highest in-state undergraduate, public institution tuition rate. With the Yellow Ribbon program, however, schools can contribute to cover the difference in costs between their tuition and the maximum amount allowed under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The VA matches the schools contributions up to 50% of the total difference between the two.
The VA has put on a strong drive since January to get as many schools as possible involved in the program. They extended deadlines for schools to participate, they sent letters, and even used reminder emails to encourage participation. Not every veteran-student qualifies for the program, however. In order to qualify, veterans must have:
- Served at least 36 months on active duty; OR
- Served at least 30 continuous days prior to being discharged for a service-related injury.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a wholly comprehensive educational assistance program. The program pays not only for tuition, but books and a housing allowance. Every eligible veteran can take advantage of this program and seek an in-state, no cost education at a public institution.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. You may be entitled to certain programs and benefits so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: Post-9/11 GI Bill, veteran-students, veterans education, Veterans' Benefits, Yellow Ribbon Program
Posted in General, Veterans' Benefits, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
Veterans returning from deployments face obstacles on many levels. While substance abuse, mental health issues, and medical conditions top the list, many veterans are also struggling with simply finding a job. Fighting against unemployment, veterans are enrolling in college to give them an additional weapon in their personal arsenal.
The Higher Education Coordinating Board’s (HECB) statistics show a significant increase in veterans having enrolled in college since the beginning of the recession. Coupling the sparse availability of civilian jobs with the general inapplicability of military skills to the private sector, enrolling in college seems to be the best way for veteran-soldiers to become more marketable to employers.
Enrolling in college helps veterans, the institutions in which those veterans enroll, and the states’ economies. In the State of Washington in fiscal 2009, Washington veteran-students used $119.5 million in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) money on educational and vocational training. The VA’s statistics report this as being a 25% increase over the previous year in federal education benefits being put into Washington.
Because of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, more veterans are enrolling in college to increase their skill levels and become more employable. Many skilled jobs in such fields as construction have declined. Because of this decline, fewer veterans are enrolling in skills-oriented training such as:
- Apprenticeship programs; and
- On-the-job training programs.
While more veterans enrolling in college is generally considered a good thing, their presence resulted in both public colleges and universities being over-enrolled to the tune of almost 11%. Over-enrolled schools result in:
- Crowded classrooms;
- Greater difficulty registering for classes;
- Fewer teaching assistants; and
- Less lab time available for students.
While there may be some drawbacks to a mass amount of veterans all enrolling in school at once, it’s wonderful that these veterans are able to enroll in college and train for their future.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. You may be entitled to certain programs and benefits so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: Post-9/11 GI Bill, VA Benefits, VA educational benefits, veteran-students, Veterans' Benefits, Veterans' Resources
Posted in General, Veterans' Benefits | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
The VA is in arrears on their payments to veteran-students going to college on their new GI Bill. In an effort to rectify the havoc in the lives of the veteran-students this delinquency has caused, the VA hired additional personnel and is working overtime in an attempt to process the thousands of backlogged claims that still exist.
According to the VA, the amount of unprocessed claims numbered in the tens of thousands at their peak; approximately 5,000 still remain outstanding. The VA fully admits their outdated system could not handle the 260,000 claims they received.
The VA believes the colleges will wait for the money they are owed from the new GI bill and veteran-students will not be denied admission because their last semester bill has not yet been paid. The VA’s top priority is allowing the veteran-students to focus on school rather than their tuition being paid. As of August 1, veteran-students were given very good benefits through the new GI Bill and more veterans than anticipated sought to take advantage of them.
The new GI Bill was intended to be the most inclusive set of benefits for veteran students since World War II. A veteran qualifying for the maximum benefits would receive enough aid to cover the cost of tuition at the highest ranking public college or university in the state for 4 years. Additionally, veteran-students receive $1,000 annually for books and housing allowance.
The issue the VA has encountered with processing these claims, and what has been slowing them down, is the intricacy of the formula that must be used to decide what each veteran will receive. Couple each claim taking approximately 1 1/2 hours to process with the antiquated system the VA uses and you create one huge backlog of claims.
Tags: new GI Bill, veteran-students
Posted in Veterans' Benefits | No Comments »
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