Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the selection of Accenture Federal Services, LLC to assist with implementation of benefit payment changes required by the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit payments under the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Forever GI Bill).
Effective March 21, Accenture will act as the systems integrator, coordinating planning, development and integrated testing of all systems associated with implementation.
The scope includes the development of new software, interfaces with legacy systems, systems architecture and testing.
“Securing this IT contract is our most recent step to enhance our software programs, correct the payment issues we had in the fall and reset our strategy going forward,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “We are continuously working to provide better customer service for our Veterans.”
Sections 107 and 501 of the Forever GI Bill changed the way monthly housing allowance payments are calculated. In December, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) announced its approach to implement the IT changes by Dec.1, 2019.
Secretary Wilkie appointed Dr. Paul R. Lawrence, Under Secretary for VBA, as the responsible and accountable official overseeing implementation.
Milestones achieved, so far, include:
- Establishing a program integration office to lead integration of all business, technical and functional activities of the Colmery Act to ensure the solution meets stakeholder expectations and is deployed on time.
- Establishing a program governance structure to serve as the decision authority for definition and enforcement of program activities, funding, acquisitions, resources and systems required to achieve successful implementation.
For more information regarding VBA educational benefits, visit https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/post911_gibill.asp.
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You put your life on the line thinking you’re doing the right thing, defending this country and your freedom, just to be cheated out of what’s rightfully yours. Where’s the justice in that? If you can’t trust your own country, who CAN you trust??
Thank you VA, you do a great service to Veterans.
Keep up the good work
Didn’t receive my VA direct deposit yet…any one else too?
I have been weighting 10 years for a favorable decision on my Veteran Claim they now tell me that I am do to have a video conference someday in the near future again, no one should ever have to weight that long. Its a shame how the US government treats its Veterans they ask you to put your life on the line, but when it come time for them to do the wright thing they turn they back on you all they do is lie and delay, delay, we as Veteran should all get together and march on the white house and demand they do the wright thing and truly expose them for the true frauds and lies they are.
My bills are stacking up and I am about to be homeless because my appeal is slow. The decision should have been completed 2/16/2019. Original NOD submitted 5/16/2016. As of today the DRO has not rendered a decision. My credit has taken a hit and my spouse is disabled. I did everything and yet the clock is ticking.
Wow, good luck with that! My claim was submitted 9/1994 and was finally complete on 6/2006! Then they cut some benefit time for my wife whom I have been married to all that time saying they can’t count her being married me for that duration and they could only go back 9 years!!! Just to pay me less back pay that was legally owed to me. Yup don’t count your chickens before they hatch!
Thank you soo much for sharing this article
This is a joke! No helps my disabled Veteran. We even went to Washington DC 3 times. The VA won’t help and I cant work I have to take care of my gulfwar Veteran!
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