Adam Stump, a 51-year-old retired Air Force senior master sergeant, stands with his daughter, Natalie, during a family vacation this year. Natalie Stump was approved in August for college assistance, called Chapter 35 benefits, through the Department of Veterans Affairs that has not been delivered to recipients. (Courtesy of Adam Stump)

WASHINGTON — Tuition and housing payments are backlogged for more than 75,000 college and trade-school students who are the dependents and survivors of former military members after a software problem stopped automated delivery of their benefits.

The Department of Veterans Affairs expects the slowdown to continue as payments are processed manually. Computer technicians who can fix the error are furloughed in the federal government shutdown that started Oct. 1, according to the agency.

Although VA acknowledged the payment delays earlier this month, the number of students impacted was not disclosed. Families of students using the benefits continue to express frustration and complain they cannot get their questions answered while federal agencies are closed.

Adam Stump, a 51-year-old retired Air Force senior master sergeant and 100% disabled Afghanistan veteran, said his 18-year-old daughter, Natalie, received notice from George Mason University informing students about the delays in payments known as Chapter 35 benefits.

Adam Stump is a 100% disabled Air Force veteran who served from 1993 to 2014 and deployed twice to Afghanistan. His daughter, Natalie, awaits Chapter 35 benefits from the VA to help with her college costs, but the payments are delayed. Adam Stump is shown in Afghanistan in this 2010 photo. (Courtesy of Adam Stump)

Stump said his daughter, in her freshman year, is still waiting on delivery of her benefits approved in August. “VA had six full weeks before the government shutdown to process that payment,” Stump said. “What happened?”

Chapter 35 benefits are sent directly to students to help cover the costs of higher education and job training, including tuition and housing.

Payments typically are made for the month just completed. Students must verify enrollments monthly by email or text, according to VA.

But the problems slowing delivery are not likely to be resolved until late November or December, according to VA.

The GI Bill hotline for answering student questions on educational assistance is closed during the shutdown. A separate hotline for certifying benefits also is not running.

Peter Kasperowicz, VA secretary, said earlier this month that students with delayed Chapter 35 benefits will be paid in full “as soon as possible.”

“VA deployed a new benefit delivery system in August and anticipated having the ability to pay staff overtime and deploy automation solutions as needed to ensure a smooth transition and process fall enrollments on a timely basis,” said Kasperowicz, who added the government shutdown “deprived” VA of these resources.

The American Legion urged the VA to develop a post-shutdown plan to “effectively and efficiently catch up on missed paperwork to ensure there is no further lapse in benefits for veterans and their dependents.”

“Military students utilizing the tuition assistance program are now at an impasse with the lack of new approvals or support in any kind for the program,” the American Legion said.

Chapter 35 payments rates for 2025-2026 are $1,574 per month for full-time enrollment and $912 for half-time enrollment. Rates may be less for on-the-job training and apprenticeships.

Stump shared a notice his family received from George Mason about delays in Chapter 35 benefits, also known as dependents’ educational assistance.

“The VA has recalled some furloughed employees who have veterans claims experience to assist with processing the backlog,” according to the notice. “Due to the ongoing government shutdown, overtime is not authorized, which is further slowing down processing times.”

“Unfortunately, the software personnel required to fix this issue have been furloughed, which is delaying the necessary patch,” according to the notice.

The university said it forwarded the information from Ken Smith, acting executive director of education service at the VA.

The university also referred students and families facing hardship to the university-based Patriot Pantry, which provides free food and personal hygiene items to enrolled students.

Stump said he has another adult child who graduated from George Mason University after using Chapter 35, and the benefits always arrived on time. Stump faulted VA for lack of communication and creating uncertainty among families.

“The delay doesn’t make sense. There seems to be something going on from the VA’s end that they are not disclosing fully,” Stump said. “The program wasn’t broken before. What’s the problem now?”

Students eligible for Chapter 35 benefits are dependents of veterans permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability or who died from a service-connected disability.

Beneficiaries also include dependents and survivors of service members missing in action or captured in the line of duty by a hostile force.