General contact numbers for Vocational Rehabilitation Services: 360-696-4061, ext. 34130 or 31274 Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist (VRS)
- Resources and support.
- Call us. 800-698-2411.
- Visit a medical center or regional office. Find a VA location.
How does voc rehab work va?
Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31) provides assistance to veterans who have a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent and are in need of vocational rehabilitation. Vocational rehab covers a student's tuition and fees, books, school supplies and also pays a monthly housing allowance.
How do you get approved for VRE?
At least one of these must be true:You have a 20% or higher pre-discharge disability rating (memorandum rating) and will soon leave the military, or.You're waiting to be discharged because of a severe illness or injury that occurred while you were on active duty.Jan 12, 2022
Does voc rehab affect VA disability?
This veteran has a rating that is static meaning VA believes the rating or ratings will not change in the future. Generally, any kind of employment or use of Voc Rehab for training will not result in a disability rating reduction.Apr 11, 2018
What is the new name for voc rehab?
Veteran Readiness and Employment ServiceWASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) service announced today it's changing its name to Veteran Readiness and Employment Service to better reflect the needs of Veterans.Jun 22, 2020
Can I use voc rehab twice?
And before you ask, you cannot use your GI Bill and voc rehab benefits simultaneously. You can, however, use both for the same degree. For example, if you pursue a two-year MBA, you may use Chapter 31 Benefits your first year. Then, you may use Chapter 33 benefits again your second year.Apr 16, 2020
Will VA disability benefits go up in 2021?
2021 VA Disability Rates 2021 VA disability pay rates, which are effective beginning December 1, 2020, have increased by 1.3% based on the latest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The rate is slightly lower this year due to less inflation as a side effect of the pandemic.
What is the VA 5 year rule?
The five-year rule states that the VA can't reduce a veteran's disability that's been in place for five years, unless the condition improved overtime on a sustained basis. The veteran will likely need to present medical evidence to prove the material improvement of their condition.Apr 7, 2022
Can the VA take away my 100% disability?
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can take away your disability rating if it determines you received your rating fraudulently, or if it determines it made a “clear and unmistakable error” when issuing your rating.
Can I work if I have a 100% permanent and total PTSD rating?
Can I work if I have a 100% Permanent and Total PTSD rating? No. Veterans who have a 100% Permanent and Total PTSD rating can not work while receiving benefits.Apr 21, 2018
How do I check my VA benefits?
Need more help?VA benefits hotline: 800-827-1000.MyVA411 main information line: 800-698-2411.If you have hearing loss, call TTY: 711.Feb 8, 2021
What is Veterans VRE?
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) is an employment-oriented program that helps transitioning Servicemembers and Veterans with service-connected disabilities and an employment handicap to prepare for, obtain and maintain suitable employment.
What if I’m a service member who hasn’t yet received a service-connected disability rating?
You don’t need to wait for a rating. Instead, please fill out VA Vocational Rehabilitation - Getting Ahead After You Get Out (VA Form 28-0588). Get...
What happens after I apply?
After you apply, we’ll schedule a meeting for you with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) to find out if you have an employment handicap a...
What’s included in a rehabilitation plan?
A rehabilitation plan is a written plan that outlines the resources we’ll use to help you find employment. Depending on your situation, your VRC wi...
What happens after my VRC creates my rehabilitation plan?
Your VRC will help you put your plan into action. They’ll also provide ongoing counseling and help you get tutorial assistance, job training, work-...
How long can you get a VR&E if you lost your housing?
If you’re participating in a VR&E employment program and lost your housing because of a natural or other disaster, you may qualify for 2 more months of the Employment Adjustment Allowance. Contact your VRC for more information. Last updated: June 8, 2021. Back to top.
What is a vocational evaluation?
A complete evaluation to determine your abilities, skills, and interests for employment. Professional or vocational counseling and rehabilitation planning for employment services. Employment services such as job training, resume development, and other work-readiness support. Help finding and keeping a job, including the use ...
What does it mean to have a handicap?
Having an employment handicap means your service-connected disability limits your ability to prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment ( a job that doesn’t make your disability worse, is stable, and matches your abilities, aptitudes, and interests).
How long do you have to file for disability benefits before you leave active duty?
Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD): If you have an illness or injury that you believe was caused—or made worse—by your active-duty service, you can file a claim for disability benefits through the BDD program 180 to 90 days before you leave active duty.
Can I get GI Bill if I am on VR&E?
If you’re participating in a VR&E program and also qualify for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, you can choose to get paid the GI Bill subsistence rate instead of the Chapter 31 subsistence allowance rate. In most cases the GI Bill rate is higher.
Can you get employment if you are disabled?
If you're a service member or Veteran and have a disability that was caused—or made worse—by your active-duty service and that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, you may be able to get employment support or services to help you live as independently as possible.
How to get a rehabilitation plan?
A rehabilitation plan is a written plan that outlines the resources we’ll use to help you find employment. Depending on your situation, your VRC will work with you to choose one of the following support-and-services tracks to help you find and keep a job, and live as independently as possible: 1 Reemployment with a former employer 2 Job placement and counseling services for new employment 3 Help with starting your own business 4 Long-term training or services to help you find work in a different field that better suits your abilities and interests 5 Independent living services if you can’t return to work right away
How long do you have to file for disability benefits before you leave active duty?
Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD): If you have an illness or injury that you believe was caused—or made worse—by your active-duty service, you can file a claim for disability benefits through the BDD program 180 to 90 days before you leave active duty.
What is an employment handicap?
You have an employment handicap if your service-connected disability limits your ability to prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment (a job that doesn’t make your disability worse, is stable, and matches your abilities, aptitudes, and interests).
What is a job placement service?
Job placement and counseling services for new employment. Help with starting your own business. Long-term training or services to help you find work in a different field that better suits your abilities and interests. Independent living services if you can’t return to work right away.
Contact us online through Ask VA
Ask VA (AVA) is our new online tool that replaced the Information Routing & Inquiry service (IRIS) and the GI Bill Help Portal. Use Ask VA to send us your questions, updates, and documents online.
Call us
You can call us at one of these phone numbers to ask questions about VA benefits and services.
Contact your local VA facility
Find the phone number and address for your local VA health facility, regional office, cemetery, or other location. Find a VA location near you
Explore our FAQs and other resources
Our FAQs, step-by-step guides, and other resources can help answer specific questions you may have about these topics:
Helpful online tools
Find out how to change your address and other contact information in your VA.gov profile. This will update your information across several VA benefits and services.
Who reviews VA rehabilitation reports?
A report is prepared and reviewed by a VA rehabilitation counselor who then makes the entitlement determination. If entitled, additional counseling is provided to assist in identifying an appropriate goal and developing a plan of services to achieve that goal.
Who is Benjamin Krause?
Benjamin Krause is an award winning investigative journalist, attorney, and disabled veteran of the US Air Force, where he served in its Special Operations Command. He wrote his guide, the Voc Rehab Survival Guide for Veterans, after winning his long fight for benefits against VA to help other veterans do the same.
What is suitable employment?
Suitable employment is a term meaning entry level employment which is not inconsistent with your general pattern of interests, aptitudes, and abilities; is not contra-indicated by your service-connected or non service-connected conditions; and is generally available in the area you live.
Can disabled veterans be gainfully employed?
We can do extraordinary things to assist the most severely disabled veterans become gainfully employed. If, however, employment is not reasonably feasible, there are many services we can provide to help you become more independent in your daily living.
Do VBA counselors work in rehab?
At least some counselors in VBA are not functioning like they should and in accordance with CRC Ethics Rules. Until they do so, some VA Voc Rehab Counselors will remain mere bean-counters rather than partners in your rehabilitation. One qualifier, the VA Voc Rehab program has some amazing counselors in it.
Voc Rehab
I'm going through a similar situation and it seems my vocational rehab counselor feels he has too many clients. I was told about his client list being so demanding and I haven't received my book reimbursement since I paid my money back in Sept. I have been getting my payments late, this month it was eleven days late.
Tracking correspondence
Try to take someone with you at your meetings, and try to correspond by email and fax, so all of the remarks are in writing. Even if you leave phone messages, also email her at the same time, asking the same questions, as you are usually more likely to get an emailed response. They seem to avoid phone calls in my experience.
Idiots abound
Yep Futurevrc, I am battling this one! She's been doing this job for 5 years, and she's yanking my chain! I thin she is trying to get me to give up and go away! I've been patient enough, and will be forwarding her emails to her boss.
Too funny!
No, Nancy Pel**i isn't my VRC, but thanks for the warning! Mine is named Kadine, but I'll leave out the last name for Freedom of Information Act purposes (since she constantly throws FOIA in my face when requesting records)! With that name, its pretty easy to identify her! Thanks!
Form 21-4138
Form 21-4138 should be requested and filed by the Veteran in order to have your case reviewed. VRC's especially the bullying types need to be reigned in. I have had 3 VRC's in the 3 years in the program. The 2nd one i was assigned to won the state award for best VRC.
The good the bad and the ugly . .
It really shouldn't matter who your VRC is and the benefits you get. I have a 4.0, and my counselor blocks me every chance she gets.
How to communicate with veterans?
Written communications are always better when it comes to moving the ball (your claim) forward. Emails and letters are the best ways to communicate. You can send a letter by fax or US Mail.
What happens if a counselor goes dark?
Counselors sometimes “go dark” – fail to call back or write back – for many days, weeks or months. This can result in delayed tuition payments, delayed stipends payments or other hardships.
How to get feedback on a counselor email?
In your emails, put a normal heading for the subject you wish to get feedback on. If you do not receive a communication within 5 business days, forward the same email you sent back to the counselor but place “SECOND EMAIL” at the beginning of the same subject line. Then resend.
How to avoid writing antagonistic emails?
If you think about your communications from a sales perspective – that you are selling the counselor on you – you will avoid writing antagonistic emails or letters. Focus on the meat and potatoes of whatever your communication is hoping to accomplish. Be professional in what you do at all times.
