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Vets groups join to assist GI Bill students

As the Veterans Affairs Department begins issuing emergency checks to students waiting for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, two veterans groups are coordinating efforts to help those attending remote schools get immediate assistance.

VA regional offices that are issuing checks will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, VA officials said.

Veterans of Foreign Wars, one of the nation’s oldest veterans groups, and Student Veterans of America, one of the newest, are coordinating efforts to provide transportation to VA regional benefits offices for students who need financial help now and cannot wait for the check to be sent if they apply online.

VA officials said Friday they expect it will take about six days for checks to be sent to those who apply online — three days for processing and three days for mail transit. The payments are a stopgap measure to help students enrolled for the fall term whose living stipends under the new GI Bill have been delayed.

The VA Web site has details about online applications and details about what paperwork and identification are needed to pick up a check from a regional benefits office.

Early reports Friday indicated that interest in getting the immediate checks of up to $3,000 is high, with lines outside the VA’s benefits offices in Washington, D.C., and Roanoke, Va.

Students who need help getting to a VA regional center to apply for an emergency living stipend can call their nearest Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter to request transportation.

Thomas Tradewell Sr., VFW national commander, issued what he said was a “call to action” for VFW posts across the U.S. to contact Student Veterans of America chapters to coordinate transportation.

Tradewell also encouraged VFW posts near college campuses to contact local school officials to offer assistance.

“I urge every VFW Post to reach out to their respective student-veteran communities,” Tradewell said.

Transportation for students also is available by contacting the volunteer transportation coordinator at the nearest VA medical center, VA officials said.