Dear Mr. President

While I am very grateful for all the government has done for my family, I have a few bones to pick with the lack of efficiency in the Veteran's Affair's educational assistance programs.

My father is a disabled veteran and was medically discharged from the army before I was born. He is unable to work because of his disability and has received monetary benefits from the government. These benefits have been my family's only source of income for my entire life and I am very appreciative of how much the government has taken care of my father. As a result of my father's disability I have been entitled to receive Chapter 35 benefits, however the last few months have been a total nightmare. I have become accustomed to using the Chapter 35 benefits as my only source of income, which was perhaps my first mistake, and as of lately the VA has been withholding money for one made up excuse or another, which has left me without money for rent and bills. I was sent a letter a few weeks ago stating that I was overpaid on a check that I hadn't even received, which turned out to be a computer error on their part. Their whole system is extremely outdated and it takes weeks for paperwork to process. Claims have to be filed by hand. And their telephone representatives have no idea what's going on. I have a friend that receives Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits and his money is always on time, which makes me feel like the government doesn't care as much for dependents of disabled veterans. Why not just get money from my parents if I'm still their dependent, you may ask. Well for one I no longer live with them. And they have done so much for me already that I feel like it's insulting to keep asking for money. Why not just get a job? I'm going to be very honest here, I do not want to work as a burger-flipper for a fast food joint and those are the only type of jobs available in this town. It's not that I look down on those types of jobs, but I love fast food and I don't want to lose my love for fast food as a result of working in the industry. I might as well just get a job as a stripper. I have a feeling that I'd get paid twice as much as I do with the Chapter 35 benefits.