Our son recently got out of the Army. He was an Intelligence Analyst and served 4 years and 10 months with two tours of Iraq. He actually signed up for 4 years but got the stop lost and ended up doing an extra tour of Iraq and served an extra 10 months. We were very proud of his attitude about the extra time in the Army.
He got out officially in June and immediately started college. We sprang for his summer classes and decided he would start on the new GI Bill in the fall semester. With the new GI Bill they are supposed to pay for tuition, books and a living expense. His living expense is $1500 a month. Here's the frustrating part. THEY ARE NOT PAYING THE LIVING EXPENSE. He got his first two months in October by putting in an emergency request. It is now the middle of December and he has not received anything else. He is trying to live off of this money while he goes to school full time. They are making it hard for him though.
This last week was final week and in the midst of taking finals he called the emergence hotline that has been set up to help with the GI bill. He would spend hours on hold only to finally get through and get a recording that said; all lines are busy call back later. This happened Monday through Wednesday. He called on Thursday and thought he was getting through but this time got a message that said we are closed on Thursday and Friday.
On Friday I had the idea that he should call our congressman. He made a special trip over to our house to sign the disclosure form. I was told he would be assigned a case worker. I'm thinking hooray maybe we are getting somewhere. He calls today to find out the progress and is told they will be able to help him in 30 to 60 days. Well so much for that avenue.
One of my clients is the Director of US Vets Initiative which is a non-profit helping homeless Veterans. I called him today to see if he could give us some advice. He gave us the number for the County Veterans coordinator. Tarren called them and they gave him another 800 number. He called that number and they looked his benefits up and said yes you should be getting benefits; we show that you have not been paid since October. They however told him they could not help he has to go through the hotline that has been set up.
He also tried to get helps from the Veterans Counselor at Lonestar College where he is going. Her 
response was I'm sorry but this is becoming a big problem. This is obviously not an isolated incident. I don't even know where to tell him to go for help from here. We are helping him financially as he is totally out of money but he does not like having to ask for our help.
When I tell this story to people I'm getting tired of the response that the federal government is out of money (so please don't type that in the comments.) They are finding money for all kinds of frivolous things and so that excuse is just not flying with me!! These Veterans served us and now we should be serving them.
It is now Monday afternoon and he is still not able to get through to the hotline. He can wait past the message that says they are closed Thursday and Friday but then gets a message that says we are sorry there is no one to take your call; please call back later. If you have ANY IDEAS of any other avenues we can take please let us know. We feel like a dog chasing their tail.
Since writing this post I have spoke to a gal at the Texas Veterans Commission here in Houston. If there are other Houston Veterans having problems she said I could put her name on my post. Her name is Melanie Moynahan and she is the Program Specialist for the Houston region. Her phone number is 713-818-1630 and her email is melaniem@tvc.state.tx.us. I can't tell you how many people I have contacted senators/congressmen/media and she is the first person who is responding as an advocate for our son.
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Copyright © 2009 Marchel Peterson, All Rights Reserved. *New GI Bill is NOT WORKING!!!!!*
Oh, Marchel what a terrible way to treat someone who served extra for his country. The only thing I could think of is to contact your US senators and see what they could do. I have heard horror stories about all the red tape in dealing with veterans affairs, and I wish I knew what to do to help you.
Marchel - I agree with Sharon. Have your son call his Senator or Congressman and see if they have any inside info. They (congressmen and senators) love to be the hero of the day. During my time in the military, I knew several soldiers that had to get their senators and congressman involved and they always seemed really excited to help. It can't hurt.
Marchel-How terrible! You should call a reporter for your local newspaper. And I would contact someone from a local tv station from the news. That should get your problem moved right to the front of the list. Always works here! Please keep us updated.
Marchel, I am helping someone with this issue as well. I stayed on the phone Friday and then again today. First we called the number we were given to call; the person who answered gave us another number only to be given a third number when we called the second number. We just get a recording saying they have an "unprecedented number" of requests to work on, etc. Probably all the same messages you got. They are closed on Thursday and Friday so they can devote time to processing these requests or applications.
Marchel, Let me know if you are able to get through and how you did it.
Marchel, I am sure that this would be a story that the local news media would be interested in. Since you have already called your Congressman and basically did not get any help, I would emphasize that to the media. Politicians do not like bad publicity and that would surely light a fire under their donkey.
Marchel, I'm thinking along the same lines as George. Most of us like to work things out on our own and not make a fuss. But it's time for a fuss and no one can make more noise than the press. Go local and go loud. All the best and please keep us updated. Kate
Marchel - I have no advice to offer, just that your son and all the other maltreated vets will be in my prayers
Call Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBS and see if you get a response. How about Hannity, he supports our vets. Yell loudly for all our VETS. What a shame to do this to our fine young folks that served our country. I'm serious, call the media.
Marchel - Didnt the Senate propose that they get a 2% pay raise yesterday? Then, we should tell our Vets that the Senators' needs are more important than those who actively put their lives on the line to defend this country... This is plain wrong but I'm sorry you are getting the run around.
Pardon my ignorance... but why is his expenses $1500/mth? Is that a little high?
Marchel
Even though I am not a fan, you might try representative Chet Edwards ( from my district) he is really big on Vets here.
SHARON, My Mother tried to call Kay Bailey Hutchinson's office today. I told her it would be futile and she ended up calling me back to let me know that she does not even have a secretary. I have tried sending letters to her office before and did not even get a response. At least Senator Cornyn responds back with an email.
BOB, I thought we were making headway with our congressman but then was told it would take 30 to 60 days for them to help us. This is the money our son was planning on living on so that makes him SOL as far as help from our congressman goes.
DEBRA, I don't watch the local news so I'm not even sure where to start. At Bunco tonight someone told me Channel 12 got back quick with them so I guess I will start there.
SHIRLEY, I know he is not an isolated case. That this is how they treat our Veterans is a shame. I will let you know if we get through. Please let us know if you figure a way.
GEORGE, I really had not thought of the media but I'm going to give it a shot. We are getting nothing but frustrated trying to call the hotline.
KATE, It is a shame that you have to squeal to get what has been promised to you.
CARL and CEIL, It is daunting to me to try and figure out how to call the media. I don't watch local television. I guess the first step is trying to figure out who to call.
LOREENA,The new GI bill has been set up so our Veterans can go to school without having to work. The $1500 is supposed to be his living expenses for a month. That would be rent, food, utilities etc. He has no other bills so can squeak by on the $1500 but not if they don't give it to him. They promised it so he does not have a job as he expected them to do what they said they would do.
TREY,I'm not sure if they will even talk to you if you are not in their district. When I called Mike McCalls office they first checked to make sure we were in the district.
I certainly would alert the press.. 60 minutes.. cnn... and then all your congressmen! This is an outrage!
I would go so far as to call this a disgrace. Our veterans deserve better treatment.
Featured in the Group "Whacked!!!"
How frustrating this must be for your son Marchel! This should be a priority for the government since he and many others probably going through the same thing fought for our country. I hope he can work it out in time before the next payment is due! I wonder why this is happening?
Marchel,
I am hearing more and more about the lack of payment and then a long wait...
Hang in there.
Ann Hayden in Wildwood, MO
Hello Marchel. I will keep following this post to see the progress generated from this story being exposed. Prayers going up for you and your son.
Marchel - It is just another case in point that government cannot serve the people in every capacity. Less government the better, too bad we have the biggest power grab in the White House. If he gets his way, we will all be on the phones for hours....
Marchel, Why am I not surprised. The new GI Bill is a great improvement but I am sure this is a story that many can tell. What time-zone is the 800 number in - do you know. I guess I would just keep calling. Is there a address to contact? I would contact the media, your local paper, news channels. I so have issues when it comes to the "red-tape" of all things military!
Fox News - Glenn Beck - Go to his website and send him an email and hope that he will get it. I would think if you can get anyone featured on Fox News you may get some help. Don't know about the local stations. This would not only be for your son but for all young folks that are in the same situation. It is a disgrace, broken promises.
JOAN, I have emailed all our local stations and all the Fox News people. I guess I should check out 60 minutes also. We tried the congressman and we were told they could help us in 30 to 60 days. That sure helps for Christmas; doesn't it!!
RICHARD, Thanks for featuring this in Whacked. I know your group gets a lot of attention and I appreciate the feature. This is so FRUSTRATING!! If he could even talk to someone!!!
PATRICIA, I am so proud of how he is doing in school. He is now on break and instead of enjoying the time is dealing with this!! He went today and took a test so he could go straight to Calculus without taking Pre-calculus. I had no idea he was so good at math!!
ANN, He has no other option but to hang in there. It is frustrating as he can't even get to a person to talk to. No one ever answers at the hotline.
DIANE, All prayers are appreciated. I have just now emailed every news organization that I could think of.
NICHOLAS, I expect it is going to be all of us on the phone for whatever if the government gets the grab that they want. If someone says they are going to do something I think they should do it. That however is not how our government works.
JO, Our son was so excited to get to go to college without having to get a job. He has made straight A's so far and that is with taking Chemistry and Trigonometry. That they are doing this just makes me so angry. It is even more frustrating that he can't even contact someone to tell them there is a problem!!!
CARL & CEIL, I just emailed Glen Beck, Bill O'Relly, Greta VanSustrum and Mike Huckabee. I have also emailed all our local news affiliates. I guess I just now have to wait and see if ANYONE replies.
it sounds like you are doing everything you can to solve the problem. I guess the next thing to do is to tell the politicians you are going to organize a movement to get them out of office. Good luck and thanks for your son doing protecting our country.
How terrible this is happening.
I know you are doing everything you can...call FOX it is a human interest story and they cover these all the time. They are also very supportive of the military.
WOO HOO!! To all of you who commented our son FINALLY got paid! I found out that our son was one of the lucky ones who had a family that could help him while he waited for his pay. In my research I found there are Veterans who are living in their car while they are waiting for this money. This is so NOT RIGHT!! I hope they get this glitch straightened out for the spring semester so this does not happen again.
I had zero zippo luck from our politicians here in the state of Texas. The only letter he got was from our state senator who of course could not help him as the federal senators/congressman had to be the ones that helped. From them we were told it would take 30 to 60 days for them to help. I wonder if we will ever hear from them.
I did not get calls back from the media either. Someone from Channel 13 called my cell phone but did not leave a message. I hope they still call as I think this is a story that needs to be reported. That 800 number that the government has set up is a totally non functional phone number and useless.
We received the most help from the Texas Veterans Commission here in Texas. Melanie Moynahan was wonderful. She answers her own phone and did research for us. She told us yesterday that she found the money was on its way.
I'm not sure the answer but I sure hope these Veterans who are living in their cars receive their money soon also. You can live in your car here in Houston but what about those Veterans living up north.
Marchel: Glad things worked out but this should never happen in this country. I hope you do get a call back from some of the above mentioned, you need to give them the scoop \ this would be a news worthy story.
Marchel-I know a reporter if you would like to get in touch with him. I know it is up here but hey a story is a story and this is an IMPORTANT ONE that needs to be fixed!
Marchel-My husband used part of his GI bill for his EE degree and he has been trying to use the rest of it up for his graduate degree. They have been delaying him as well. I just thought it was typically red tape, but I'll have to let him know this could get serious. Luckily, it's not necessary but it would be nice. I hope your son gets resolution asap since he needs it. It's a shame that our veterans have to fight for their benefits. Please keep me posted on the result. I think this would be newsworthy to Hannity or Fox that might be able to draw some attention to the matter.
That is really outrageous, Marchel! I hope the situation improves for your son and others trying to use the GI Bill to further their education.
Cheers,
Robin
CARL & CEIL, I got Nada from anyone that I called. Our son finally got paid but months late. It is sad that these is how we treat our Veterans trying to use the GI bill to further improve themselves.
DEBRA, They are finally getting money out; so we shall see how it goes from here.
MICHELE, Our son was lucky that he had a family who was able to help him out while he waited for the money. In all the calls I made I found that there were Veterans here locally who were living in their car as they waited on the money for the GI bill. That is SO WRONG!!
ROBIN, It is outrageous! Our son finally started getting money but he has no idea exactly what it is for and there's obviously no way to call anyone to get a break down. The system is not working correctly but I don't know how you would even figure out how to correct it.
UPDATE. I finally received a call from all the emails I sent out to the media. Our local Channel 11 will be interviewing Tarren tomorrow. The reporter told me that they have had a lot of calls since I sent my email. Tarren has now received his money but who knows what the Spring semester will bring. It was especially upsetting when I found out that Veterans who did not have a family to help them were living in their cars.