VA says it can handle strains of new GI Bill

[November 19, 2008]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government sought Tuesday to dismiss concerns that it might try to delay rollout of the new GI Bill, pledging to be ready to handle growing claims in veterans education benefits after abandoning plans to hire a contractor.

Testifying before a House panel, officials with the Department of Veterans Affairs acknowledged the potential for glitches as they scramble to upgrade government IT systems before the new legislation providing millions of dollars in new GI benefits takes effect next August.

But the VA contended it was on track to implement an IT system "in-house" just one month after abruptly scrapping plans to hire an IT contractor that the government previously contended was critical to get a system up and running on time.

"We have the resources. We have the working functionality," said Keith Wilson, the VA's director of the Office of Education Service, reversing course from comments made by the VA in September. "We have a full pool of people to do the testing and manage all the efforts under way."

Congress voted in June to dramatically expand the GI Bill, which was first signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944 for returning World War II veterans but hasn't been updated much since then.

Under the old measure, veterans can receive $1,321 monthly to cover all college expenses. Now, the new GI Bill will cover tuition and fees of any in-state public university. It also provides a monthly housing allowance and a $1,000 yearly stipend for books and supplies.

At least 520,000 veterans are expected to take advantage come next fall, up from about 250,000 who are currently attending colleges and universities on the GI Bill, drawing concern that the VA might not be able to keep up. In September the VA said it would hire an IT contractor due to inadequate staffing and "skill sets" to handle the education benefits at its agency. But amid criticism from veterans advocacy groups and then-Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama who didn't want the work outsourced, the VA abandoned those plans in October.

On Tuesday, Wilson told the House Veterans subcommittee on economic opportunity that the VA would build on existing government systems to help deliver VA benefits for about two years beginning in August 2009. That process is fully under way with a timetable that will meet the August deadline, he said.

The system will have some limitations, such as fewer checks on a veteran's enrollment status from month to month, and will require the hiring of about 400 more VA staff to help process payments as the agency develops a longer-term IT system scheduled to be put in place in 2010.

Lawmakers expressed concern that the VA meet its deadlines as required by the new GI Bill. They said they will keep close watch to ensure the agency keeps its word so veterans will receive their full benefits next fall.

"A lot of work remains to be completed before benefits are to be received," said Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., who chairs the panel.

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On the Net:

House Veterans Affairs Committee:
http://veterans.house.gov/

Department of Veterans Affairs:
http://www.va.gov

[Associated Press; By HOPE YEN]

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