Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP)
NAVPA June 2013 Conference
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Agenda
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
VRAP Overview
Eligibility & Entitlement
Approved Programs & Schools
Certification & Training Time
Payments
Terminations & Reductions
Application Process
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
1
VRAP Overview
• On November 21, 2011, President Obama signed Public Law 112-56, the
VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, which includes the Veterans Retraining
Assistance Program (VRAP) for unemployed veterans.
• Purpose: To offer 12 months of training assistance to unemployed
veterans as of the date of application.
• Applications: The Department of Labor (DoL) will make the initial
determination of eligibility for VRAP. VA will make further eligibility
determinations and issue payments.
• Participant Limitations:
» 45,000 participants during FY 2012
» 54,000 participants during 10/01/12 – 03/31/14
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
2
Overview of DoL Eligibility
The Department of Labor (DoL) will make the initial
determination of eligibility for VRAP. In order to be eligible, at
the time of application a Veteran:
• Must be at least 35, but no more than 60 years of age as of the date of
application;
• Must be unemployed as of the date of application;
• Must not have been enrolled in a Federal or State job training program
at any time during the 180 days prior to the application date; and
• Must submit an application no later than October 1, 2013.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Overview Of Eligibility
Applicants who meet all of the DoL requirements will continue
to the VA portion of the VA Online Application (VONAPP).
• Applicants who DO NOT meet the DoL requirements will be notified by DoL
of their ineligibility and appellate rights. Disallowed applications will not
be forwarded to VA.
• VA will make further eligibility determinations and issue payments.
• Upon completion or termination of VRAP, participants will be contacted by
DoL to provide additional employment assistance.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Overview of VA Eligibility
To establish eligibility for VRAP, Veterans:
• Must have an other than dishonorable discharge;
• Must not be eligible to receive assistance under chapters 30, 31, 32, 35,
1606, 1607 and Post-911 GI Bill (including TOE and FRY) at the time of
application for VRAP; and
• Must not be in receipt of compensation for a service-connected disability
due to unemployability.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Overview of VA Eligibility
Other Than Dishonorable discharges :
• Before awarding or denying VRAP benefits, a Character of Discharge
determination must be completed for all VRAP applicants who received
one of following discharges from their final period of active duty:
• Other Than Honorable
• Bad Conduct
• Undesirable
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Entitlement
• Entitlement
– Veterans are entitled to 12 months of VRAP.
The 48 month rule does NOT apply, so even if a veteran used 48 months of
benefits prior, they are still entitled to 12 months under VRAP.
• VRAP benefits used will count toward the 48 month limit should
the veteran become eligible for other chapters in the future
however.
– Individuals will be charged one day of entitlement for each day of
training (because only paying Full Time)
– Entitlement will end effective the earlier of:
• The program completion date
• The entitlement exhaust date
• The VRAP program end date of March 31, 2014
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
7
Approved Programs
• Eligible Veterans may pursue a program of training that:
– Is approved for VA Benefits;
• Continuing ed. Follows same rules as for other chapters!
– Is pursued on a full-time basis;
– Is offered by a community college or technical school;
– Leads to an associate degree or certificate/diploma; and
– Provides training for high-demand occupations as defined by DoL
– A list of occupations can be found online at
http://www.benefits.va.gov/VOW
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
8
Approved Programs
• Non College Degree (NCD) programs must be listed in
WEAMS in order to be automatically paid or approved by
VCEs.
• If NCD program is not listed in WEAMS, VCEs must contact
the ELR with jurisdiction over the school to confirm program
approval before proceeding with claim adjudication.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
9
Approved Schools
• In July of 2012, discussions with VA
General Counsel resulted in a change • If the 2nd digit of a school’s facility
to the definition of what constitutes
code is a 1-3, verification on the
a "community college" for the
College Navigator site is required
purposes of VRAP. (PA 6/21/12)
to see if VRAP is payable at that
school.
• The term community college will
include those educational institutions
listed on the Department of
• If the 2nd digit of a school’s facility
Education's National Center for
code is a 4 or higher, no
Educational Statistics’ College
verification is required and VRAP
Navigator website as 2-year
institutions.
is payable at that school for
applicable programs.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Approved Schools
College Navigator website:
http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
1) Check the 2-year box under the Institution
Type heading
3) If the school is listed, then it meets the
definition of community college.
2) Search for the school using the
Name of School, State, or ZIP Code
4) If the school is not listed, then it does not
meet the definition of a community college.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Certification
• Term enrollments may be certified for the school year plus the summer term;
or for the entire length of the course if the institution operates year-round.
• Certifications must be submitted to VA electronically no later than January 31,
2014, to ensure all payments are issued before April 1, 2014.
• Unless VRAP rules specifically address it, all ordinary certification rules apply,
such as transcripts/prior credit, prerequisites, dual majors, rounding out etc.
• Advance payment is available.
• Work study and Tutorial Assistance are not available.
• ACCEL pay is not available.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Certification
VA will make payment to the Veteran only after:
• VA verifies that the program leads to an approved associate degree or
certificate at a community college or technical school;
- Continuing education courses are treated the same for VRAP as other
chapters, even if you are a “Deemed Approved” school.
• The institution certifies full-time enrollment; and
• The individual verifies his/her monthly attendance through WAVE or IVR.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
VRAP Enrollment Certification
Training Time is
a required entry
for VRAP
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
VRAP Training Time
For summer and other non standard terms a student may qualify for full time
enrollment with less than 12 credits.
•
For Semester or quarter hour schools: VA will calculate "equivalent credit hours."
Pages 55-58 of the SCO Handbook explains how and provides a chart you can use.
VA has also provided a calculator and the charts online at:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/Training/Job_Aids.html
•
If the student has more than one session within a term you must calculate and
certify each one separately. VA will add them together where they overlap to
determine training time. NOTE: You must remember to add one day to the end
date of the term/session or your calculation may be off.
NOTE: An easy rule of thumb is if the number of weeks in the session is equal to or
less than the number of credits its full time.
For ex, 3 credits over 3 weeks is full time.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
VRAP Training Time Example
A VRAP student is enrolled in 11 SH as follows:
• 2 semester hours: 1/7/13–5/8/13
• 9 semester hours: 1/7/13-3/7/13
The first session above is a standard length term so you don’t need to input
it into the calculator. At 2 semester hours over a standard term the session
is 1/4 time, by it self.
The student would not be eligible for VRAP based on the first session
alone.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
VRAP Training Time Example
Input the 2nd session: 1/7/13 - 3/8/13 (adding one day) & 9 credits
The calculator tells you it is equivalent to 18 credits &Full time.
Remember to add
one day to the end
date of the term or
session
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
17
VRAP Training Time Example
11 total semester hours:
The SCO would certify:
• 2 semester hours: 1/7/13–5/8/13
• 9 semester hours: 1/7/13-3/7/13
So if the first session is a standard
term with 2 credits or 1/4 time
and
The 2nd session is equivalent to 18
credits/full time
What would the SCO certify and is the
student VRAP eligible?
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
•
•
1/7/13–5/8/13 2 SH ¼ time
1/7/13-3/7/13 9 SH full time
VA would pay:
•
From 1/7/13 - 3/7/13 for 11 total
credits, as the student is full time
during the over lapping period.
•
The student would not be eligible for
payment from 3/8/13 – 5/8/13, as they
are only 1/4 time
Payments
VRAP participants will receive a monthly amount equal to the MGIB
(ch30) 3 year full-time rate. The rate is subject to the annual
COLA increase.
• Rate from 10/1/12 to 9/30/13 is $1564/month.
• All benefits are paid directly to the Veteran.
• Veterans will be responsible for all expenses including tuition, fees, and
books.
NOTE: VA will not make any payments for training after March 31, 2014.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Terminations/Reductions
Terminations
VA will terminate VRAP payments the earlier of the training discontinuance date
(including completion or Graduation), or the VRAP end date of March 31, 2014.
NOTE: Mitigating circumstances and 6 Credit exclusion do not apply. Students will be paid
through their last date of attendance.
Unsatisfactory Attendance, Conduct, or Progress
You will follow your normal guidelines for Standards of Progress.
Reductions
Individuals who reduce their training below full-time will no longer be eligible to
receive assistance under VRAP. Benefits will be terminated on the date of
reduction.
Note: VA will re-establish benefits if an individual increases his/her training time back to
full-time.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Termination: 22-1999b
To ensure individuals receive job placement assistance by DoL all
completions and terminations must be certified using the appropriate
termination reason in VA Once.
Graduation or completion
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Non-Payment
Non-duplication
Veterans who are receiving VRAP benefits and subsequently become eligible for
another education program (e.g. ch30, 31, 32, 33, 35, etc.) may not receive
benefits concurrently.
Incarcerated Veterans
Veterans who are incarcerated due to a felony conviction are not eligible for
benefits under VRAP.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Change of Program
Change of program
• Changes of program are now allowed under VRAP, however, the program is
still limited to 12 months. Individuals may change his or her program of
education as long as the program of education meets the approval
requirements for VRAP.
• Individuals who change their program and/or school must complete a VA
Form 22-1990R through VONAPP on the GI Bill website. They cannot
complete a VA Form 22-1995, due to high demand occupation affirmations
they must make. If unable to complete a supplemental VA Form 22-1990R
through the GI Bill Website because of DoL denial reasons (i.e. age and
unemployment), the Veteran should request a paper VA Form 22-1990R. All
original applications for VRAP must be completed through VONAPP on the GI
Bill website.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Application Process
• Step 1:
– Veterans interested in applying for VRAP should visit
www.benefits.va.gov/VOW for additional information
and/or access to VONAPP.
• Step 2:
– Veterans should select the VRAP application (22-1990R)
from the available options.
• Step 3:
– Veterans should complete the initial questions for DoL to
determine their eligibility.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
24
Application Process
• Step 4:
– If the Veteran is not eligible based on DoL’s initial
questions, a denial letter will be generated (with an option
to print) that includes appellate rights, and instructions. At
this point, the application process will terminate.
• Step 5:
– If the Veteran is eligible based on DoL’s initial questions,
the Veteran will continue completion of the VONAPP
(1990R) application for submission to VA.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
25
Questions?
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
26