Vets waiting for education benefits will get emergency funds

Vets waiting for education benefits will get emergency funds
Story Highlights
Backlog in tuition payments forces VA to authorize millions in emergency funds

VA estimates 75,000 veterans are eligible for the emergency funds

Delayed payments makes vets fear they may have to drop out of school

By Adam Levine
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A backlog in processing education benefits has forced the Department of Veterans Affairs to authorize millions of dollars in emergency funds for veterans who need the cash to pay for school


The department announced Friday that it will issue up to $3,000 to students who have yet to receive the funds that the VA's various education bills -- including the recently passed Post-9/11 GI Bill -- provide to help veterans pay for college.

"This is an extraordinary action we're taking," VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said in a statement. "But it's necessary because we recognize the hardships some of our Veterans face."

The VA estimates there are 75,000 veterans eligible for the emergency funds, including 25,000 veterans who have served since September 11.

VA statistics show more than 27,500 vets have already received benefits for housing or books under the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, and hundreds of thousands more have gotten benefits under its other programs.
read more here
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/09/26/veterans.education.benefits/index.html