Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program — Chapter 31, Title 38 U.S.C

Eligibility

Who is Eligible?

Active Duty Service Members are eligible if they:

  • Expect to receive an honorable discharge upon separation from active duty
  • Obtain a memorandum rating of 20% or more from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
  • Apply for Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) services

Veterans are eligible if they:

  • Have received, or will receive, a discharge that is other than dishonorable
  • Have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10%, or a memorandum rating of 20% or more from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
  • Apply for Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) services

How is Eligibility Determined?

A VA Counselor decides if a veteran has an employment handicap based upon the results of the comprehensive evaluation. Entitlement to services is established if the veteran has a 20% service-connected disability and an employment handicap. If the disability is 10% service-connected, then a serious employment handicap must be found to establish entitlement to vocational rehabilitation services (see definitions for more details).

After an entitlement decision is made, the veteran and the counselor will work together to develop a rehabilitation plan.

Period of Eligibility

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 Department of 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.

Requirements to Maintain Eligibility

A Comprehensive Evaluation is completed with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor that includes:

  • A full assessment of the veteran's interests, aptitudes, and abilities to determine whether the veteran is "entitled" to VR&E services
  • An assessment of whether service-connected disabilities impair the veteran's ability to find and/or hold a job using the occupational skills already attained
  • Vocational exploration and goal development

See also: VA.gov Information on Chapter 31.

Entitlement

  • Comprehensive rehabilitation evaluation to determine abilities, skills, and interests for employment
  • Vocational counseling and rehabilitation planning for employment services
  • Employment services such as job-training, job-seeking skills, resume development, and other work readiness assistance
  • Assistance finding and keeping a job, including the use of special employer incentives and job accommodations
  • On the Job Training (OJT), apprenticeships, and non-paid work experiences
  • Post-secondary training at a college, vocational, technical or business school
  • Supportive rehabilitation services including case management, counseling, and medical referrals
  • Independent living services for Veterans unable to work due to the severity of their disabilities

Make sure that your start and end date of classes for the term reflects your intended Monthly Rate!

Payment Rates

VA students who are eligible to receive a monthly housing allowance (MHA) or Subsistence Allowance rates, please refer to the GI Bill comparison tool at https://www.va.gov/gi-bill-comparison-tool or call the General Education Hotline 1-888-442-4551.

Required Documents

Student Category Submit To Valencia

Completed During the Initial Certification Appointment
First Time Using Benefits
  • Purchase Order from counselor
  • Initial Certification Request
  • Statement of Understanding
Transfer Students
  • Purchase Order from counselor
  • Initial Certification Request
  • Statement of Understanding
Transient Students
  • Purchase Order from counselor
  • Initial Certification Request
  • Statement of Understanding

Document Details

  • Obtain a purchase order authorization and Certification of Entrance or Reentrance into Rehabilitation and Certification of Status.
      • Issued by the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor assigned

DD-214 - Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

      • The DD-214 is issued upon a military service member's retirement, separation, or discharge from active-duty military.

Certification - Valencia College Veteran Affairs Certification of Enrollment Request

    • The Certification needs to be submitted every semester and can be obtained at your local Valencia Veterans Services Campus or Online.