Today I bring you good news, and somewhat discouraging news about a system without any rhyme or reason.
First, the good news: After I completed my Veterans Online Application to elect Chapter 33 Benefits (Post 9/11 GI Bill) on Jan. 5, I helped two Marines, who I knew were getting out this year, apply for Chapter 33 benefits. Yesterday they both let me know that they’ve received their ticket to college money courtesy of the VA — the Certificate of Eligibility. That one slip of paper is worth a minimum of $17,500, and worth much more when coupled with the Yellow Ribbon Program.
The bad news I mentioned earlier? I completed my VONAPP at least two whole weeks before they did. And I am still waiting for my letter in the mail from the VA.
Please don’t get me wrong. I am very happy I was able to help fellow Marines navigate a very complex system to obtain what is rightfully theirs. Not complex in the actual application process, but in just knowing where to go and where to start.
I called the VA’s hotline for GI BIll related questions, 1-888-442-4551 (888-GI-BILL-1). An automated prompt informed me that due to an overwhelming call volume, my expected to time would be more than 20 minutes. I set down my iPhone and put it on speaker for the next 29 minutes.
I was actually lucky — sometimes the VA gives you no other option but to set a phone appointment that could be as far out as one week or so. A rep finally came on the line, and after verifying my personal information, let me know that they do have my application, but have not processed it yet.
Luck. That was the answer I was given when I asked why some applicants who had applied after me received their GI Bill Certificate of Eligibility way before me. The VA rep told me that the system is so overwhelmed with GI Bill benefit applications and payment requests, that at this point they are pretty much blindly processing and responding to requests, in no chronological order. No “first-come, first-serve” basis.
So what now? Wait. Again. The “average” processing time is 6-8 weeks for the Certificate of Eligibility. Yesterday marked Week 6. I wouldn’t have sweated it if the flawed system didn’t smack me in the face. The VA recommended to call back in two weeks if I still had not received anything in the mail, and they would be able to take immediate action.
But today, there is nothing they can do. Luckily for me, I do not begin classes at DePaul University until Sept. 5, leaving me about six months to coordinate dialogue between the VA and DePaul.
Moral of the story? Complete your VONAPP early.
I received my CoE last week. Now all I have to do is wait for my acceptance letter and go from there. Keep your chin up, you’ve got plenty of time!
That’s great! At least the system is working for some of us. I really am glad that people I know are getting their benefits in a very timely manner, I just wish it applied across the board.
Sock it to ‘em! You’ll receive your benefits, but there should definitely be a better system in place. “Luck” is not an appropriate course of action.
Semper Fidelis!
The VA is a fucking joke. As a friend of mine who works at the VA hospital I go to once said: “you’re entitled to your respective benefits, but don’t expect (us) to make it easy getting them.” Here’s a quick example of their brilliance:
Like many veterans, I receive my medication through the VA and am incredibly grateful for the service. However, the process to get said meds is ridiculous; every month I have to call a telenurse to refill my scripts. Rather than just automatically refill and send each month, I have to call this woman and pray I get either get through to her or she returns my call…not a good start. Once I talk to her, I have to wait for my doctor to sign off on the meds, and unfortunately my psychiatrist is extremely forgetful and routinely prescribes me the incorrect dosage or forgets to sign the scripts altogether (she has twice given me a prescription that belonged to a completely different person). After that, I have to physically pick the prescription up from my clinic, go to the pharmacy waiting area, take a number, and wait between 30-90 minutes…just to speak with a pharmacy tech who THEN puts my order in.
Does this make sense to anyone? Why isn’t it just automatically directed to the pharmacy via the prescribing doctor immediately? Why is there a need for this extra step?
After waiting my turn and giving my information to the tech, I then wait an additional 30-45 for the prescription to physically be filled (like everything else, the waiting times fluctuate wildly; you can never predict how long you’ll have to wait). Then I receive my meds, provided there have been no mistakes made. I once spent five hours going through this exact process twice because my doctor wrote the wrong script, so I essentially had to go through this step-by-step TWICE. No apologies from them, nothing). Because one of my medications is a controlled substance (Ambien), it typically takes longer.
I have had to miss both class and work multiple times due to their constant mistakes, it drives me insane. The real people I feel bad for are the older veterans from the Korean War/Vietnam era who have to do the same thing; I’m sure that is exactly how they want to spend their retirement.
Also, they have been “overwhelmed” with paperwork for years; it’s the same tired excuse I heard nearly four years ago when I applied for the GI Bill.
Great writing, as usual.
And in responding to the comment you left on facebook:
…and that is exactly how they want it to be. It took me two years of constant stress and bullshit red tape to have my disability rating readjusted to the correct level. Twice, the VA “lost” critical documents I had sent to support my appeal, and it took them six months to mail my proper separation physical I had done in Oceanside prior to discharge. My experience was deliberate and typical of the process; they know most people either lack the motivation or know-how to navigate the system, so it is a game they typically win.
I actually want to work for the VA when I graduate, just so I can do my part to unfuck the system.
Good luck, and do not ever give up with them (not that you would anyway).
To aleclk: I’m sorry the VA “lost” critical documents” of yours. I attempted to get my Dad’s military WWII records and found out there are no records (except his discharge)… everything was distroyed in a fire. Hopefully this won’t ever happen again.
Here is the link to the web site with the info:
http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/fire-1973.html
On July 12, 1973, a disastrous fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) destroyed approximately 16-18 million Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF). The records affected:
Branch — Personnel and Period Affected -Estimated Loss
——— —————————————- ——————–
Army – Personnel discharged November 1, 1912 to January 1, 1960 – 80%
Air Force – Personnel discharged September 25, 1947 to January 1, 1964
(with names alphabetically after Hubbard, James E.) 75%
“No duplicate copies of these records were ever maintained, nor were microfilm copies produced. Neither were any indexes created prior to the fire. In addition, millions of documents had been lent to the Department of Veterans Affairs before the fire occurred. Therefore, a complete listing of the records that were lost is not available. However, in the years following the fire, the NPRC collected numerous series of records (referred to as Auxiliary Records) that are used to reconstruct basic service information.”
Ugh, I found typos and all kinds of crap while looking this over, woops; that’s what happens when you’re trying to play with your kid and write at the same time.