The VA this morning announced significant changes in the processing of monthly housing allowance benefits as they continue to work to address their IT systems.

 

Per the VA,

  • Effective Dec. 1, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) will reset its implementation efforts for sections 107 and 501 of the law to give the department the time, contracting support and resources necessary to develop the capability to process Spring 2020 enrollments in accordance with the law by December 1, 2019.
    • This includes soliciting bids from contractors for support in the areas of program integration, systems implementation, and software development.
  • During this time, VBA will pay monthly housing allowance rates for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the current academic year uncapped Department of Defense (DoD) Basic Housing Allowance (BAH) rates.
    • For many students, this DoD BAH rate will be equal to or higher than their current payment.
    • VBA will also correct retroactively any underpayments resulting from section 107 and 501 implementation problems.
    • If a student was overpaid due to the change in law or because of VBA’s challenges in implementing the law, the student will not be held liable for the debt.
  • Also, for the current academic year (2018-2019), VBA will pay housing allowances based on the location of a school’s main campus, rather than the physical location of the student.
  • This interim policy will terminate by December 1, 2019, upon implementation of a fully developed IT solution for sections 107 and 501 of the law.
  • Finally, VBA will define a training site as a “campus” when the following conditions are true: the physical site of the training is either owned or leased by the school, and the school has ownership or control over the student’s classroom instruction or the faculty conducting the instruction. This approach reduces the administrative burden for schools and students from VBA’s initial interpretation of the law.

Here's a link to their blog with more info:

https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/54520/post-9-11-gi-bill-housing-payment-rates-update/

 

As always, campus feedback is encouraged.  Thanks

 

Craig

 

Craig Lindwarm
Assistant Vice President, Congressional & Governmental Affairs
Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
(202) 478-6032 direct

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