September 26, 2009 - Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki said Friday he's hopeful that many of the tens of thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans awaiting payment under the new GI Bill will get paid next month.

Shinseki said veterans were right in complaining about delays under the newly enacted Post 9/11 GI Bill, which was the largest expansion of education benefits since World War II.

He said a good portion of the delays stem from the wait as universities send in final counts on veterans' class work after drop-and-add periods end. He's hopeful that as that period ends, most veterans will get issues resolved in October.

"We're very much using this as sort of a lessons learned process for how we adjust next time," Shinseki said.

Meanwhile, the agency has reassigned staff members and has claims processors working overtime. He said the process will be automated next year, which should make it more efficient. He said the agency is also working with Congress and veterans service organizations on possible solutions.

Since May 1, the VA has said that more than 277,000 claims for benefits have been filed under the new GI Bill, and more than a quarter of those are pending. The average processing time is 34 days.

"This is good news that kids are taking advantage of it. They're lining up to go to school. This is wonderful," Shinseki said.

Shinseki spoke in an interview with The Associated Press after delivering an address at the Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference.

Associated Press