WASHINGTON - A government report says members of the military are having trouble grappling with the confusing patchwork of student loan benefits they can receive, and often end up taking on tens of thousands more dollars of debt than they should.

The report says financial institutions often give service members bad information or are improperly denying them the reduced interest and other benefits they are entitled to receive.

The findings are based on complaints and requests for help from service members, including many who saw their loans balloon when they left active duty. Many complained that financial institutions did not explain their loan deferrals, or say how much interest would accrue.

Officials at the Pentagon could provide few details Thursday and acknowledged they can't quantify the problem.