On Thursday, Democratic U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Richard Blumenthal sent a letter to Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert McDonald requesting information on steps the department is taking to reduce overpayments of Post-9/11 GI Bill funds.
Last year, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found flaws in the VA's ability to track overpayments made to schools and inadequate notification processes for overpayment collection. The investigation revealed $416 million in Post-9/11 GI Bill overpayments in fiscal year 2014, affecting one in four beneficiaries and about 6,000 schools. According to the GAO, the problems could potentially leave veterans unprepared to cover living expenses if the department withheld future benefit payments.
At the time, VA officials said they agreed with the government watchdog's recommendations such as that it improve its guidance and processes related to payments, Politico Morning Education reported.
In their letter, Sens. Blumenthal and Carper called on the department to provide information on how the VA is implementing those recommendations to alleviate the burden on veterans responsible for resolving such overpayments.
"After honorable military service to our country, our nation's veterans have earned the right to attain a high-quality, affordable education here at home with the help of the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit," the lawmakers wrote.
"It is crucial," they continued, "that VA improve its efforts to reduce and collect Post-9/11 GI Bill overpayments to safeguard taxpayer funds and alleviate the repayment burden that falls disproportionately on veterans. VA must ensure that the delivery of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits will enable veterans to achieve a high quality, affordable education without incurring unnecessary debts."
Related Links
U.S. Senator Tom Carper's Press Release
http://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=5EA72A94-1FAE-4DAD-A3E6-FFCB00072CD4
Politico Morning Education
http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-education/2016/05/for-profit-colleges-buying-up-coding-bootcamps-new-war-over-transgender-student-rights-chaffetz-vs-education-department-push-to-count-all-completers-214135