Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment
Program Services
The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program is authorized
by Congress under Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 31. It
is sometimes referred to as the Chapter 31 program. The mission of VR&E
is to help veterans with service-connected disabilities
to prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs. For veterans with service-connected
disabilities so severe that they cannot immediately consider work, VR&E
offers services to improve their ability to live as independently as possible.
- comprehensive rehabilitation evaluation to determine abilities,
skills, interests, and needs
- vocational counseling and rehabilitation planning
- employment services such as job-seeking skills, resume development,
and other work readiness assistance
- assistance finding and keeping a job, including the use of special
employer incentives
- if needed, training such as On the Job Training (OJT), apprenticeships,
and non-paid work experiences
- if needed, post-secondary training at a college, vocational,
technical or business school
- supportive rehabilitation services including case management,
counseling, and referral
- independent living services
To receive an evaluation for VR&E services, a veteran must:
- have received, or will receive, a discharge that is other than dishonorable
- have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10%
- submit a completed application for VR&E services
The basic period of eligibility in which VR&E services may be used
is 12 years from the latter of the following:
- date of separation from active military service, or
- date the veteran was first notified by VA of a service-connected
disability rating.
The basic period of eligibility may be extended if a
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)determines that a veteran has a
Serious Employment Handicap
The veteran is scheduled to meet with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)
for a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether the veteran is
entitled to services.
The comprehensive evaluation includes:
- an assessment of the veteran's interests, aptitudes, and abilities
- An assessment of whether service connected disabilities impair the
veteran's ability to find and/or hold a job using the occupational
skills he or she has already developed
- vocational exploration and goal development
A Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) determines whether a veteran
has an employment handicap based on the results of
the comprehensive evaluation. Entitlement to services is established if
the veteran is within his or her 12 year basic period of eligibility and
has a 20 % or greater service-connected disability rating and an
employment handicap.
If the service-connected disability rating is less than 20% or if the
veteran is beyond the 12 year basic period of eligibility, then a
serious employment handicap must be found to establish
entitlement to VR&E services.
The veteran and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VR&E) work together to:
- select a VR&E program track leading to an employment or independent living goal
- identify viable employment or independent living services options
- Determine transferable skills
- explore labor market and wage information
- identify physical demands and other job characteristics
- narrow vocational options to identify a suitable employment goal
- investigate training requirements
- identify resources needed to achieve rehabilitation
- develop an individualized rehabilitation plan to achieve the
identified employment or independent living goal
A rehabilitation plan is an individualized, written outline of the
services, resources and criteria that will be used to achieve successful
rehabilitation. It is an agreement that is signed by the veteran and the
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)and is reviewed annually to determine
whether any changes may be needed.
Depending on their circumstances, veterans will work with their VRC
to select one of the following Five Tracks of services
(see definitions for more detail):
- Reemployment (with a former employer
- Rapid employment services for new employment
- Self-employment
- Employment through long term services
- Independent living services
After a plan is developed and signed, a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)
or case manager will continue to work with the veteran
to implement the plan to achieve suitable employment or independent living.
The VRC or case manager may coordinate services such as tutorial assistance,
training in job-seeking skills, medical and dental referrals, adjustment
counseling, payment of training allowance, if applicable, and other services
as required to achieve rehabilitation.
A veteran who is eligible for an evaluation under Chapter 31 must complete
an application and meet with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC).
If the VRC determines that an employment handicap exists as a result of a
service-connected disability, the veteran is found entitled to services.
The VRC and the veteran will then continue counseling to select a track of
services and jointly develop a plan to address the rehabilitation and
employment needs of the veteran.
The rehabilitation plan will specify an employment or independent
living goal, identify intermediate goals, outline services and resources
needed to achieve these goals. The VRC and the veteran will work
together to implement the plan and achieve successful rehabilitation.
If a veteran is found not to be entitled to services, the VRC
will help the veteran locate other resources to address any rehabilitation
and employment needs identified during the evaluation. Referral to other
resources may include state vocational rehabilitation programs, Department
of Labor employment programs for disabled veterans, state, federal or
local agencies providing services for employment or small business
development, internet-based resources for rehabilitation and employment,
and information about applying for financial aid.
Please forward comments regarding the technical
aspects of this website (access / functionality) to VRE Service
Webmaster at:
VREWebmaster@vba.va.gov
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