Since mid-September, Phillip Ybarra has been anxiously checking his mailbox and inbox on a daily basis.

“I recently took a cut in hours at work so I could study more so I need the money I was promised to supplement my income,” said Ybarra, a professional writing senior.

Like many recipients of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Ybarra will probably be waiting for some time thanks to updates in the bill, particularly the addition of dependents to the list.

According to the GI Bill Web site, effective Aug. 1, those who are members of the armed forces may transfer benefits to their spouse or dependents.

The average waiting time to receive the payment for tuition, fees, monthly housing allowance and book stipend the bill offers is six to eight weeks, but this change has caused major blockage at Veterans Affairs in processing applications.

“I believe there is currently a 230,000 claim backlog,” said Patricia Ingram, OU veterans coordinator.

The VA is working to handle claims as quickly as possible.

“All VA regional offices are working seven days a week and mandatory overtime to help expedite claims ... [and] they are searching for a contractor to assist with claims processing,” Ingram said. “They have also hired over 300 additional personnel.”

Veterans Affairs at OU has also made provisions to deal with the increase in applicants.

“I have four student employees this semester and I was fortunate in that I was able to hire a part-time employee, who just happens to be my predecessor,” Ingram said.

Those in charge of filing the applications are currently having problems with the paperwork as well.

“The new GI Bill is very complicated and administratively challenging,” Ingram said.

This is exacerbated by the lack of preparedness at the VA’s regional offices.

“The VA does not have all of the IT processes in place to do applications and claims so they are processing them manually,” Ingram said.

Ybarra believes this delay could have been avoided.

“I don’t think they should have added the dependents. It is only complicating an already overburdened VA,” Ybarra said. “It would be like adding 100,000 students to OU but keeping the same staff.”

Although they did not serve in the military themselves, many students are in the same financial situation as Ybarra.

“The only problem for me is that I don’t have a job this semester since it’s my first year of college ... so that extra money would help pay for gas and other things and I don’t have that,” said Mikaela Perry, whose father is a captain in the U.S. Army.

Despite the long delay, OU has been accommodating for those awaiting benefits.

“All we had to do was show proof that we got approved for me to use the GI Bill,” said Perry, a University College freshman. “As long as they know the money’s coming, they’re not going to kick me out of school or anything.”

For those waiting for benefits to help pay for bills and other necessities, Ingram has a few suggestions.

“Occasionally, I become aware of new scholarships mid-semester and most require that the student has made application to FAFSA. The VA has offered up to $3,000 for advance pay/emergency funds for all GI Bill recipients except for dependents. Students can apply for the emergency funds either at the regional office, Oklahoma’s is located in Muskogee, or on the VA Web site. OU also offered a no interest, short-term loan of $500 for those students who were waiting on the processing of their benefits,” she said.

There is one way to check on payments.

“The only way to check the status is to call the 1-888-442-4551 number or create an account at www.gibill.va.gov and ask online,” Ingram said. “I am fairly certain that you will not get a definitive answer but you are welcome to try.”

Although Ingram reassures recipients that they will be back-paid benefits, many will just have to remain patient until they recieve their payments.