VETSUCCESS
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment: Chapter 31
V ETERANS
BENEFI TS
WACRAO
Veteran
ADMI NI STRATI
ON Certifying Official Workshop
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
June 2015
VetSuccess: VR&E-Chapter 31
Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E) Program Goals:
Assist service-connected disabled Veterans and transitioning
Service Members:
– In transition … through services to support transition back to civilian
life
– At work … through services resulting in suitable employment
– On campus … through services to support them during education and
training
– At home … and in their communities … through services to maximize
independence in daily living
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VR&E Eligibility and Entitlement
• Eligibility: Once a Veteran or Service Member is deemed eligible to apply
for Chapter 31 benefits, they are scheduled for an evaluation. If the
applicant is found not eligible, they will be informed of that finding and
provided due process notification.
• Entitlement: Following an evaluation, the Vocational Rehabilitation
Counselor will determine if the applicant meets criteria for entitlement to
services and if so, begin to explore service options. Employment Handicap
– Serious Employment Handicap
– Achievement of a Vocational Goal Currently Reasonably Feasible
– Track Selection (Five Tracks to VetSuccess)
• If they are found not-entitled, the counselor will refer them to other
resources and provide due process notification.
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Eligibility: Service Members
• To receive an evaluation for Vocational Rehabilitation &
Employment (VR&E) benefits, a Service Member must:
– Have a VA memorandum rating of 20% or more, or
– Have a proposed disability rating (IDES) of 10% or more
and
– Expect to receive an honorable or other than dishonorable
discharge from active duty
and
– Apply for VR&E services (VA Form 28-1900 or apply online
www.ebenefits.va.gov)
• To receive an educational/vocational evaluation only, Service
Members may apply for Educational/Vocational Counseling:
Chapter
36ADMINISTRATION
(VA Form 28-8832) within 6 months of discharge
VETERANS
BENEFITS
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Eligibility: Veterans
• Other than dishonorable discharge
• A final VA service-connected disability rating of 10 percent or
more
• Apply for Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment services
(VA Form 28-1900 or www.ebenefits.va.gov )
• To receive an educational/vocational evaluation only, Veterans
may apply for Educational/Vocational Counseling: Chapter 36
(VA Form 28-8832) within one year post-discharge or during
entitlement period for a VA Education benefit.
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Entitlement Determination
• Employment Handicap: Impairment of one’s ability to
prepare for, obtain, or retain suitable employment. Serviceconnected disability must contribute to this impairment in a
way that is identifiable, observable, or measureable.
• Serious Employment Handicap: Significant impairment of
one’s ability to prepare for, obtain, or retain suitable
employment, based on a number of factors, including, but not
limited to: neuropsychiatric conditions, AODA issues, reliance
on government support programs, criminal history.
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Entitlement Information
• Maximum of 48 months of entitlement
• May be utilized within 12 years from the date of initial
compensable VA disability rating notification, or date of
separation from active duty-if using VR&E services at the time
of separation
• Exceptions for Veterans with Serious Employment Handicaps
(S.E.H.) Determination of this is made during the evaluation
by the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.
• Veterans beyond 12-year timeline or with 10% disability rating
must be found to have a S.E.H. in order to be entitled.
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Services Offered
• Comprehensive Vocational Assessment (All applicants)
– Veterans and Service Members who only want an assessment to help
them determine how to best use their VA Education benefits, or who
don’t have a service-connected disability rating to qualify for Chapter
31 VR&E benefits, should apply for Educational/Vocational CounselingChapter 36 (VA Form 28-8832)
• Employment Assistance (If entitled)
• Medical Referrals (If entitled)
• Independent Living Services (If entitled)
Veterans or Service Members can request paper applications by
contacting local regional office or calling (800) 827-1000
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Five-Tracks to VetSuccess
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Re-employment
Rapid Access to Employment
Self-Employment
Employment through Long-Term Services
Independent Living
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Re-employment
• For individuals separating from active duty, National Guard, or
Reserves.
• Services focused on returning to previous employers
• Services may also include:
– Job accommodations
– Job modifications
– Work adjustment assistance
– Consultation with employer
– Personalized case management support
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Rapid Access to Employment
• For individuals seeking employment:
– Soon after separation, or
– Who already have the necessary skills to be competitive in the job market
• Services may also include:
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Resume writing
Interview skills training
Job accommodations
Refresher courses
Licensure and certification
Job search assistance
Employment adjustment services
Personalized case management services
Special Employer Incentive (Effective January 2012)
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Employment Through Long-Term Services
• For individual needing specialized training and/or education
to obtain and maintain suitable employment
• Services may include:
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Apprenticeships and Internships
On-the-Job training (OJT)
Non-paid Work Experience (NPWE)
Higher education or vocational training
Tuition/fees/books/tools/supplies
Tutoring
Subsistence Allowance
Personalized case management support
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Self-employment
• For individuals, who because of their disabilities:
– Have limited access to traditional employment
– Need flexible work schedules, or
– Need a more accommodating work environment
• Services may also include:
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Analysis of viability of business concept
Assistance with development of a business plan
Training in small business operations
Guidance on obtaining resources
Guidance on obtaining adequate resources (marketing, finance, etc.)
Personalized case management support
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Independent Living
• For individuals who are not able to work at the current time
and need rehabilitation services to live more independently
• Services may also include:
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Comprehensive in-home assessment
Assistive technology
Independent living skills training
Connection to community-based support services
Coordination with VA’s Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) program
and/or VA’s Home Improvement Structure Assistance (HISA) program
– Personalized case management services
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Subsistence Allowance
• Paid to Veterans enrolled at least ½ time in a training program
(college, OJT, etc). Service Members do not receive
subsistence allowance.
• Rate varies based on rate of enrollment (FT, ¾, or ½ time) and
number of dependents
• Full-time Veteran with no dependents receives $603.33 per
month as of October 1, 2014. Rate normally increases a small
percentage each October 1.
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Subsistence Allowance
continued…
• As of August 1, 2011, interval pay is no longer authorized for any
VA education benefits—this includes VR&E
• As of August 1, 2011, a Veteran can elect to receive subsistence
payment at a rate similar to Chapter 33 Basic Allowance for
Housing (BAH), called the Post 9/11 Subsistence Allowance
(P9/11SA) rate, IF he/she:
– Is eligible to receive Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill, and
– Has at least one day of remaining entitlement to Chapter 33
• The Veterans entitlement to Ch. 33 is not reduced WHILE pursuing
Ch. 31. However, upon any re-election or change of benefit
election, the amount of remaining entitlement will be updated.
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Subsistence Allowance
continued…
• Unlike Ch. 33, the P9/11SA rate is not pro-rated based on length
of service. All eligible Veterans receive 100% rate.
• Use rate of E-5 with dependents for zip code of primary training
facility to determine payment rate of full-time attendance
• Payment rate is prorated based on rate of enrollment (FT, ¾, and
½ time rates)
• Online or foreign training is paid ½ of the national average BAH
rate and then prorated based on rate of enrollment.
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Employment Adjustment Allowance (EAA)
• Veterans that have progressed through training and have been
determined “rehabilitated to the point of employability” to job ready
status may be entitled to EAA.
• The Veteran must satisfactorily participate in planned employment
services for at least 30 days before a payment of EAA may be authorized.
– job search or obtained/maintained suitable employment
• EAA is paid at the rate equivalent to one month of full-time subsistence
allowance. Up to two months of EAA may be authorized.
• EAA is always authorized and paid in arrears after the VRC has verified the
Veteran is entitled to receive the payment.
• EAA can also be paid at the P9/11SA rate if this is the subsistence
allowance rate the Veteran was last paid at (based last subsistence award)
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Special Employer Incentives (SEI)
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The purpose of SEI is to facilitate the placement of Veterans who are generally
qualified for employment but may lack some specific training or work experience
which the employer requires or who are difficult to place due to their disability.
Allows VR&E to offer financial benefit to employers who hire certain Veterans
participating in the VR&E program.
The Veteran must be determined qualified by VR&E: to be in need of an on-job
training situation or generally qualified for employment but such on-job situation
or employment opportunity is not otherwise available despite repeated and
intensive efforts on the part of VA and the Veteran to secure such opportunities.
As of November 21, 2011, SEI may be offered for Veterans who are receiving solely
employment services from VR&E (expanded beyond those who have completed
training under VR&E).
The Veteran may receive EAA if the criteria are met.
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Revolving Fund Loan
• The Revolving Fund Loan (RFL) may be authorized to provide
advances to Veterans who would otherwise be unable to
begin or continue in a rehabilitation program without such
assistance.
• Non-interest loan repaid at the minimum rate of 10% of loan
amount per month, deducted from subsistence or disability
compensation payments. Must be in $10 increments.
• Maximum of twice the full-time subsistence rate for a Veteran
with no dependents (currently approx. $1200).
• Station dollar limits and other regulatory limits apply
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Veterans Employment Center (VEC)
• www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/jobs
• Federal Govt’s. single authoritative internet source for
connecting transitioning Servicemembers, Veterans, and their
families to meaningful career opportunities.
• Job Tools
– Job Search
– Skills Translator
– Profile and Resume Builder
• Link to other VA benefits and services
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Other Services Provided
• Chapter 18: Vocational training and rehabilitation benefits for
children born with Spina Bifida of certain Veterans who
served in Vietnam or Korea
• Chapter 35 : Educational counseling for children and
widows/spouses of Veterans who have a permanent and total
service connected disability
• Chapter 36: Educational/vocational counseling for Individuals
who are:
– Within six months prior to discharge from active duty, or
– Within one year following discharge from active duty
– Eligible for entitlement to other VA education benefits (Chapters 30,
32, 33, 1606 and 1607)
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Questions?
What questions do you have?
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION