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![handle is hein.gao/gaobaawra0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
ccVXtUT RESUlt
0S064 - ( B0525426 ]
Further Actions leedod To Resolve VTras aducation Assistuace
Owerpaymeat Frobles. ERD-T7SO; 3-13304. Vehruaiy 1?. 1978. 48
pp. * appendix (1 pp.).
Reprart to Sea. illiaa Proxmire Chairman, Senate coanittee on
AwroprLatlaRs: iGD-Zedepeadeat Agencies Ssbcouamttee; by 91eer
D. Staatsp Comptroller General.
Imse area: rederally spoavred or Assisted IdUcaticn Pzograms
133001; tderatty Sponsored or Assisted 7_mecation Programs:
Postering Mucatiomal Opportunities (3302).
Contact: E1ma aeources Div.
Sudget !taction: Veteran* Gemefits and Services: Veterans
Mucatias. Training, and Rebabilltation f#02).
Organization Concerned: Veterans a4inistration.
Coagressional lelevance nouse Coumitvae an Veteranas affairs;
Senate Committee Of Veteram' If fairs. Sen. Hilliam
Proxmire.
Authority: i-Indopendent &gcacia AppmOpriatiou Act of 1977
(P.L. 96-378). 38 U.S.C. 1700. 38 U.SC- 31, 36 U.S.C. 34.
P.A. 92-50.
Th Veterans Administration's (VAls) educational
assistance programs provide funds for tuit ion and living
expenses to veterans and eligible dependents while in training.
Since 1973& overpaymeats of these benefits has I-csce a serious
problem. During the 3 1/2 years ended December 31, 1975,
overpayments totaled almost $1.3 billion, of which $298.2
million renained unollected on December 31, 1975.
Findings/Conclusionst At the VWes Los Angeles office.
overpayments were caused by delays in reporting training
changes, issuance of special paysents, poor pxocessiang
practices, and the prepayment and advance payment provisions of
the TA educational assstance law. the VA has taken soms actions
on recommendations in GAO's artch 1976 &eport. but it still
needs to: acquire add'taonal compliance survey specialists;
chane its listing of overpayments to show accurate current
bealaces; idettify schools which may Le liable for overpayments
so that prompt collection action can be taken if the courts
uphold VWis amtkority to do so, conduct an additional test
progzam which considers costs and benefits for automating the
processing of states changes; further reduce speci,1 payments;
sake better determinations of the use of teletype nt.'ices to
Stop overpayent.; implement impovemeats in collection letters;
and set a date for completion of a data system an overpayment
collection costs. If VA concentrated on minimizing causes of
overpayments, its need for an elaborate collection system would
be lesened. aeooameadatiens tA should: increase the use of
its on-campas msources is Identifying and correcting
overpayments and improve the timeliness of collection actions on
speci1 Payments resulting In overpayments. i831)](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaawra0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)