Veterans still haven't seen college money

[rainbow4321]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3453910

More than a year ago, Congress passed a law giving extra college money to as many as 175,000 veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan and other actions in the war on terrorism. Specifically targeting activated members of the reserves and National Guard, the benefit is worth as much at $827 a month. But as a second Veterans Day goes by, not a single check has been mailed and most reservists haven't even applied for it.

The program remains in bureaucratic limbo. The Department of Defense is still creating a database of eligible veterans that the Department of Veterans Affairs needs to process benefit applications. Those who are eligible haven't been told they qualify.

Once processing begins, student-veterans who've been called to active duty since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will be entitled to lump-sum retroactive payments, some worth thousands of dollars. Officials at both departments hoped that at least some checks would be mailed before the end of the year, but acknowledged they've missed previous target dates.

<snip>

"We're in the same fighting role with the active-duty guys, but we don't qualify for the same educational benefits," Medina said. Active-duty military personnel are eligible for monthly education payments of up to $1,034.

[shayes51]

1. How can this be when they support the troops???????????

[annabanana]

2. Happy Veteran's Day! -

When are the people who say they support the troops going to wake up and realize that their beloved president considers them nothing more than raw material.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. And they most likely never will.

At least while this administration and the madman Rumsfeld are in office.

[rainbow4321]

6. Yet Halliburton and other chimp contractors get their $....

paid on time, no doubt.


http://www.publicintegrity.org/pns/db.aspx?act=cinfo&coid=964409007

[lonestarnot]

4. Yet another slap.

[Historic NY]

5. My niece has been going through this.........

she was displaced in nursing school because of an 18 month call-up. She tried to get this money to go back to college w/o success and finally got her own loan.