Sixty-five Cal Poly students were impacted by a Veteran Affairs computer glitch that lost direct deposit information in the departments switch to a virtual system, according to Kari Leslie, Assistant Director of the Center for Military-Connected Students at Cal Poly.
These missing payments are for those under Veteran Affairs’ Chapter 35, which includes spouses or children of veterans who have died, are missing or have a permanent and total service-connected disability.
“It has been hard to plan for the money and what I can use it on because it is not very reliable. Although I know I’m going to get it, I have to edit how I’m going to spend money based on how I hope to receive it,” said Julian Hernandez, a public policy graduate student in the Chapter 35 program.
Even with the government reopened, it will take some time to manually move the direct deposit data from the old system to the new system, according to Leslie. The VA anticipates payments around December, leaving some students without payments for three months.
Veteran Affairs (VA) education benefits support veterans, active-duty members and their eligible family members with housing and tuition costs, career guidance and choosing the best school or training program.
The government shutdown slowed down these benefits, and delays have continued as the government reopens.
The government shutdown occurred only a few months after the Veterans Affairs Department began transitioning to a virtual system. Veteran Affairs had a computer glitch during the move of students to this new system, resulting in the loss of direct deposit information for 75,000 students, according to Stars and Stripes.
The GI bill hotline, which allows students to check on their benefits, closed as soon as the government shut down. The hotline for school-certified officials was also closed, meaning there was no way to check on students’ benefits. The hotline returned after the shutdown ended.
In addition to Chapter 35, Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) helps injured veterans, and in some cases their family members, find employment. During the shutdown, every VR&E counselor was furloughed. Twenty Cal Poly students and those awaiting approval could not contact their counselors and get career help from this program, according to Leslie.
Cal Poly’s Center for Military Connected Students, located at building 58 room 109A, was helping students in many ways, including addressing food insecurity.
“Food insecurity is a big issue for a lot of our students. The military-connected students struggle in a lot of ways, and the GI bills give so little money that it really doesn’t support them for how high the cost is in San Luis Obispo,” Leslie said.
Leslie explained that since the closure, at least 50% more students have visited the center’s free food pantry, which is stocked with quick meals and snacks. Additionally, the center has been writing to landlords to explain the situation and assure them that the student will receive their housing benefits to use for rent.