VA Vocational Rehabilitation Program
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) is a program whose primary function is to
help veterans with service-connected disabilities become suitably employed, maintain employment, or
achieve independence in daily living.
The program offers a number of services to help each eligible disabled veteran reach his or
her rehabilitation goal. These services include vocational and personal counseling, education
and training, financial aid, job assistance, and, if needed, medical and dental
treatment. Services generally last up to 48 months, but they can be extended in certain
instances.
If you need training, VA will pay your training costs, such as tuition and fees, books,
supplies, equipment, and, if needed, special services. While you are in training, VA will also
pay you a monthly benefit to help with living expenses, called a subsistence allowance. For
details, visit
http://www.vetsuccess.gov/.
Eligibility
Usually, you must first be awarded a monthly VA disability compensation payment. In some
cases, you may be eligible if you aren't getting VA compensation. For example, if you are
awaiting discharge from the service because of a disability you may be eligible for vocational
rehabilitation.
As a disabled veteran you may be eligible for the VR&E program. If you are on active duty,
you do not need to wait until after you are released from military service to apply for the
VR&E program. If you are awaiting discharge from the service because of a disability and
expect to receive another than dishonorable discharge, you may be eligible for vocational
rehabilitation.
Eligibility is based on the following conditions:
- You served on or after September 16, 1940
AND
- You have an other than dishonorable discharge
AND
- Your service-connected disabilities (SCD) are rated at least 20 percent disabling by VA (if you
have not yet been awarded a VA rating for your SCD, a memorandum rating can be established for
VR&E purposes)
AND
- You need Vocational Rehabilitation to overcome an employment handicap
AND
- It has been less than 12 years since VA notified you of your qualified SCD
Note
: You may be entitled to Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services if you are rated
10% disabled; however it must be determined that you have a serious employment handicap
(SEH).
Regardless of your SCD rating percentage, you may have longer than 12 years to use your VR
benefit if certain conditions prevented you from participating in a VR program or it is determined
that you have a SEH.
Contacting VA
There are 58 VA regional offices and 171 VA medical centers located throughout the nation, in
addition to numerous outpatient clinics, vet centers, and national cemeteries.
The toll-free telephone number for VA regional offices is
1-800-827-1000. Also, visit the VA website at
http://www.va.gov.
How to Apply
You can apply by filling out VA Form 28-1900,
Disabled Veterans Application for Vocational Rehabilitation, and mail it to the VA
regional office that serves your area.
You can also apply online at
http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonappDate Last Reviewed: June 29, 2009
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