WASHINGTON, D.C. –Representative Ann Kirkpatrick, who serves on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, responded today to reports that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking to recoup emergency payments sent last year to 80,000 student-Veterans whose Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits were delayed. The Congresswoman released the following statement:

“Veterans should not have to pay the price for the VA’s mistakes. This is yet another sign that the claims process needs to be fixed so that our student-Veterans can focus on their classes instead of how to pay for tuition and books.”

BACKGROUND:

The VA issued emergency payments in the form of $3,000 checks to 80,000 student-Veterans from October through December 2009, after complaints that some Post-9/11 G.I. Bill payments had not arrived by the start of the school year due to delays in the claims process.

Officials at the VA, which considered the checks to be advance payments of benefits, have said that they will contact applicable student-Veterans about repayment options.