• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / News / Iowa lawmakers chide Veterans Administration for GI Bill benefit payment problems

Iowa lawmakers chide Veterans Administration for GI Bill benefit payment problems

November 30, 2018 By O. Kay Henderson

Senator Joni Ernst.

It’s unclear when or even if veterans who’ve been short-changed on their “Forever GI Bill” benefits may get what they’re owed.

Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican who is a combat veteran, is among those who’ve asked the Veterans Administration for an explanation. “Someone from the VA had indicated they would not go back and correct the deficient payments that had been made to our veterans for their educational benefits,” Ernst says, “and our stance is if you have promised our veterans that those payments would be made, then they need to be made.”

The Forever GI Bill provides educational and housing benefits to military veterans who go to college.

“And if they were told that they would receive these educational benefits, we need to ensure they are receiving those educational benefits,” Ernst says.

A Veterans Administration official gave conflicting answers to a House committee Thursday, leaving open the possibility benefits may not be recalculated and veterans may not be fully reimbursed for the fall semester. Congressman Dave Loebsack of Iowa City says the situation is causing financial hardship for many veterans who’ve gone back to school.

“We’re hopeful that this is going to get taken care of. I don’t know if it is just an IT glitch or what it is,” Loebsack says. “But this is compounding of course, the Iowa National Guard members who were forced to pay back a part of their salary after a payrolll error was made by the Army.”

Loebsack says Iowa veterans may call his office for assistance in calculating what they’re owed through the Forever GI Bill.

“I’ve held every administration accountable, whether it’s Democratic or Republican, since I’ve been in congress and that’s what we’ve got to do,” Loebsack says. “We’ve got to get to the bottom of it.”

Loebsack has been a member of congress since 2007 — which means he’s served during the George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump Administrations.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Military, News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Dave Loebsack, Iowa National Guard, Joni Ernst

Featured Stories

Summit has easements for 20% of carbon pipeline route through Iowa

Morel mushroom hunters on hold without warmer conditions

Trinity Health aquiring all MercyOne health properties

Field of Dreams site developer wants to bid on state baseball, softball tournaments

Governor gets bill targeting Iowa bars deemed ‘public safety nuisance’

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 5/16/22

Iowa assistant coach Kirk Speraw to retire

Northern Iowa prepares for Missouri Valley Conference softball tournament

T.J. Otzelberger announces staff changes at Iowa State

Iowa State adds transfer guard

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC