Some veteran benefits 'bottlenecked'

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Retired Army veteran, Ryan Stewart returned home to Indiana after serving three tours in Iraq.

When planning his future post-service, the 26-year-old decided to enroll in Indiana Tech to be a physical education teacher and football coach.

Stewart and thousands of other post-9/11 veterans took advantage of a new educational benefit through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Yellow Ribbon Program funds tuition, books and housing allowances. The problem for Stewart is he has not received any money.

"I was supposed to get paid in August," Stewart said. "I got out of the Army thinking, 'OK, I can make it if I have this additional money.' It's just not there."

Allen County's Veterans Service Officer, George Jarboe said Stewart is not alone.

Men and women across the country are returning home from service and are struggling to get by. Jarboe said that is because the VA received too many applications and the payment process is bottlenecked.

"It was a great idea and a great benefit for veterans," Jarboe said. "It's just that [the VA] got it on the street and put a target date on this thing [for when] it is supposed to start without realizing what they need to do to get these things accomplished to get them adjudicated and get the money out to the veterans."

Stewart said he has exhausted all of his savings and is leaning on his family while he waits.

"I know that when I was in the Army, if I was in charge of something and I took care of it how the VA is taking care of us right now I would have been reprimanded hardcore," Stewart said.

Stewart said he has no idea when to expect his benefit payments.

A representative of Indianapolis' VA office told NewsChannel 15 there are emergency advanced payments available for some veterans while backlogged benefits are processed. 

Anyone wanting to see if they qualify for those emergency funds should call:
1-800-827-1000