Are You having trouble getting in touch with your voc rehab counselor?
May 13, 2019 · The problem with Voc Rehab’s new approach is that it fails to provide veterans with adequate notice of the evidence evaluated or the real reason why the particular evidence does not support the...
What is VOC rehabilitation?
The 2 main reasons are they could find you a job you would like and give them no excuse to cut off your check. Unfortunately there are many very bad vocational rehabilitation counselors. I also know some very good ones. The problem is that the insurance company usually hires the ones that will document anything to cut a client’s check off. Yes I have clients (usually older clients) …
Why don’t counselors call back to disabled veterans?
Sep 26, 2017 · Voc rehab services are not one-size-fits-all; they are tailored to the injured worker’s individual background and vocational goals. For one person, voc rehab may consist of computer skills training. For someone else, it may consist of resume building and an assisted job search. For another person, voc rehab may consist of assistance with getting a GED or other …
Why are counselors not as responsive as they should be?
Hate the material. I do not want to fucking do this. E-mail my voc rehab. Don't hear anything back. Dropped the programming, but I have a problem. The other classes I was taking I apparently had to drop before Friday or there's a 50% charge. So, don't know what I'm going to do yet. Don't know if I should drop or what. Anyway, I don't know what ...
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
Does voc rehab affect GI Bill?
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
What is a Chapter 31 veteran?
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 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
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.
Is voc rehab better than the GI Bill?
VA Voc Rehab Wins. In my mind, VA Voc Rehab wins out over the GI Bill for most veterans because it covers tuition, pays a stipend, and covers associated fees and funding for reasonable accommodations. Overall, the number of months a veteran can use under VA Voc Rehab is 48 months, period.Feb 10, 2018
How do I get my 48 months GI Bill?
"You may receive a maximum of 48 months of benefits combined if you are eligible for more than one VA education program, the footnotes on the VA website say. So, if you are eligible for VR&E and the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may receive those benefits for 48 months.Jun 18, 2021
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.
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 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.
What is VA VOC?
VA Voc Rehab Denial and Herd Mentality. Voc Rehab is a program rife with the herd mentality. The herd mentality basically means everyone in the same organization things and says the same or similar thing, largely based on emotion rather than using logic and reason. Making it worse, some counselors believe Voc Rehab should never approve ...
Why do counselors write vague denial letters?
Due to fear of being undone or making errors that contradict the herd mentality, counselors err on the side of caution , at least to them, by drafting vague denial letters. Before Appeals Modernization, many denial letters failed to mention regulations or statutes that supposedly supported the denial.
What to do if you are impacted by the herd mentality?
Unfortunately, if you were impacted by the herd mentality the first time, the counselor will likely double down. If you are running into the herd, then your next best option could be to present new evidence and argument to the Board. Now, the time for a Board hearing is still taking a while.
What is the new 38 CFR 21.420?
The new 38 CFR § 21.420 indicates what VA “should include” rather than must, which in itself is quite curious since the lack of the following information would deprive someone of adequate notice.
Is a voc rehab counselor conservative?
Over the past five years, many Voc Rehab Counselors have grown more conservative, sometimes even afraid, when making decisions about benefits. That fear has resulted in counselors banding together at some offices making decisions that contradict regulatory mandates.
Joining the military and then coming back to my hometown made me realize I need new people
During my time, I have grown very different from the rest of my family, relatives, and childhood friends that I can't find common ground with them anymore. In fact I am actually repulsed by and irritated by them.
I hope everyone in this group knows that they are important
I suffer a lot from behavioral health and I know what it is to be alone. My phone doesn’t ring. I have lost so many good people to self harm. I don’t care what your history has been. You deserve to know that you matter and people care. I wish any of my friends who are not here anymore would have called me. I would have been there.
Really lonely today
I could use. A friend . I’m Jack. Recently retired . My interests are working out and going on walks. I am having a Rough time with survivors guilt and ptsd. Is anyone out there?
I regret joining the military
I honestly and wholeheartedly wish I never joined the military...the amount of mental damage and strain on my life and my family was never with it. Then, I got out just to make the VA “try to believe” the effects of my service on my life are actually “real”. It’s like trying to convince a dog that the sky is blue.
What is vocational rehabilitation?
Vocational rehabilitation counselors provide group and individual job counseling to people with disabilities and other employment challenges. Vocational rehabilitation counselors create job plans for patients to help them achieve their employment goals and earn the income they need to maintain the lifestyle they want.
How much does a vocational rehabilitation counselor make?
The average salary range for a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor is from $61,178 to $80,408. The salary will change depending on your location, job level, experience, education, and skills.
What degree do you need to become a vocational rehabilitation counselor?
Being a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor requires a bachelor's/master's degree. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. To be a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role.
Change = $ $ $
Will It Help?
- I have helped veterans better understand what VR&E does for more than a decade. And I can tell you, due to poor messaging from VA and traditional VSO’s, veterans are no less confused today about what the program does by way of vocational rehabilitation services than in the past until they get to our Facebook group. With a $1.5 billion per year budget and a monumental propagan…
Too Sensitive
- Apparently, agency officials think veterans are too sensitive for the old name, which, in my opinion, is at least more specific about what the program does versus the new name. Vocational rehabilitation is a term a person can look up on Google to learn more of what the program is supposed to do. But, because the agency’s own messaging sucks, they need to change the nam…
Holding Veterans in The Dark
- I can tell you agency officials are not terribly excited about you knowing the agency can pay for you to become a physician or attorney. And, it certainly looks as if the new name obfuscates the intent of Congress when it created this program more than 40 years ago. The flip side of this is that veterans, while VR&E is pushing this new form of propaganda, are still waiting and hoping f…
Best Use of Funds?
- Again, in the middle of a COVID 19 shutdown, when veterans cannot get copies of their files after waiting many months, VR&E was spending likely hundreds of thousands of TAXPAYER DOLLARS, not on facemasks, but on ambiguous rebranding. All the while, VR&E asserts the new approach without regulatory authority will somehow help. “We made this change to emphasize our missio…
Honest?
- Is this truthful? A press releasefrom VA Secretary Robert Wilkie suggests the program is changing. So, who is lying? The title of the press release says a lot, “VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment service signals transformation through readiness”. “The new name puts an emphasis on the Veteran and the department’s mission to help them reach their employment go…
Human-Centered Design
- The press release provides more detailed information about the backstory behind the name change that I will FOIA about later. Taxpayers deserve to know how much VR&E paid for this rebranding (mis)adventure mid COVID: “The process of renaming the program began with a comprehensive Human-Centered Design (HCD) research effort to better understand the progra…
Change?
- What do you think about the name change? Does it make you better understand what the program does? For years, I have heard rumors VR&E was slowly transitioning into the Department of Labor, which will result in the program being restricted. Presently, veterans are able to gain approval to become a physician. Tomorrow, veterans might be lucky to gain the approval of a Bachelor’s De…